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Archives for January 2018

Metropolitan Notes: Cullen, Sheary, Prince

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Wild center Matt Cullen surprised some when he decided to leave Pittsburgh in free agency to return to Minnesota.  While there’s no indication a trade is imminent, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes that a return to the Penguins could still happen depending on how Minnesota fares in the coming weeks before the trade deadline.  He adds that while Cullen could draw interest from other contending teams, his preference would be to return to Pittsburgh.

Cullen’s second stint with his hometown team in Minnesota hasn’t gone as well as his first as the 41-year-old has recorded just four goals and seven assists in 49 games this season after putting back-to-back 30-plus point seasons with the Penguins.  While Cullen isn’t an ideal fit for a third line pivot which is an area Pittsburgh is looking to improve, he would add some desired depth down the middle, presumably at a fairly inexpensive acquisition cost if Minnesota decides to sell in the coming weeks.

Elsewhere in the Metropolitan:

  • Still with the Penguins, winger Conor Sheary is dealing with a lower-body issue, the team announced on Twitter. Sheary was able to finish Tuesday’s game against San Jose despite the injury but there’s no word on whether or not he will be available for their next game on Friday against Washington.  If he can’t play, winger Ryan Reaves will likely draw back in.
  • The Islanders have transferred winger Shane Prince (upper-body injury) to injured reserve retroactive to January 18th, the team announced (Twitter link). The move was made in order to activate winger Andrew Ladd off IR as he returned to the lineup against Toronto.  Prince last saw action on the 18th and because of the retroactive designation, he will be eligible to be activated at any time since more than seven days have passed from the injury.

Coyotes Unlikely To Make Major Move By The Trade Deadline

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With Arizona sitting dead last in the standings league-wide, it would be reasonable to think that GM John Chayka may be looking to shake things up.  However, he told Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports that this isn’t likely to be the case:

“I’ve had numerous discussions on a lot of different players. If there’s a chance to make our team better I’ll do it, but in the past there was a lot of need for guys to get a fresh start or to infuse youth. There were some underlying changes we were trying to make. I don’t think that’s the case any longer.

“I think the core players are in place and they need some time and some experience surrounded by the right players. We’ve got some pieces in place that we like. Now, we’re just seeing if there are some things we can tweak to try and improve. There is nothing underlying that I think needs a significant change.”

While the Coyotes may inevitably need more than tweaks, Chayka may also prefer to wait until the offseason to make his more significant changes.  That was the case over the summer when he added center Derek Stepan and defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson in a pair of significant draft day deals.  His statement should also pour more cold water over the notion of moving defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, an idea that continues to linger despite Chayka dismissing the idea earlier this season.

One player that Arizona will have to make a decision on soon is goaltender Antti Raanta.  The pending unrestricted free agent could be one of the more prominent goalies to move in the next month but that’s only if they’re unable to agree on a contract extension.  Chayka stated in an interview with Arizona Sports (audio link) that they are going to start having conversations soon regarding a new deal but that he doesn’t believe there is any urgency to get something done.  Raanta is making just $1MM and will undoubtedly be seeking a much larger salary on his next contract.

Beyond their Finnish netminder, the Coyotes have a handful of other unrestricted free agents but they would be more depth acquisitions for contending teams and not ones that will add to or change Arizona’s core.  Among those is center Brad Richardson who, despite being classified as week-to-week back on January 25th due to an upper-body injury, skated with the team yesterday and could be ready to play on Thursday night against Dallas.

Lightning Acquire Eddie Pasquale From Oilers

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The Lightning and Oilers have made a minor trade as Tampa Bay announced (Twitter link) that they have acquired goaltender Eddie Pasquale from Edmonton in exchange for future considerations.

Pasquale was in his first season with Edmonton’s organization after joining them from Detroit’s AHL team in the summer.  He has played in 16 games with their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield this season, posting a 2.60 GAA and a .910 SV%.  He will be assigned to Tampa Bay’s minor league team in Syracuse where he will serve as extra depth with starter Louis Domingue currently up with the Lightning.  The 27-year-old carries a $700K cap hit in the NHL and has a salary of $150K in the minors with a total of $200K in guaranteed money in the deal.

This deal was made as part of a minor league swap that was made between the two teams as Edmonton’s AHL affiliate picked up netminder Nicola Riopel and winger Ty Loney in exchange for future considerations, a deal that was announced by Syracuse.  Both Riopel and Loney are on minor league contracts.

While Pasquale could have been included in that same trade, moving his NHL rights gives the Oilers a little bit of wiggle room on the 50-contract limit.  This move drops them down to 48 which gives them some flexibility heading into the trade deadline or to add someone via the college free agent market in March and April.

Poll: Who Will Win The Metropolitan Division?

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The Metropolitan Division is the most exciting in hockey these days. All eight teams are separated by fewer than 10 points, with the Washington Capitals out in front with 63 and the Carolina Hurricanes bringing up the rear with 54. In a matter of weeks the entire division could be completely flipped, especially after some trade deadline acquisitions.

The New York Islanders, currently sitting in seventh, have a lot riding on this season if they want to keep John Tavares in the organization. While he remains unsigned, success this season would be a nice way to show him where the Islanders are going with him at the top.

Pittsburgh of course can never be ruled out, thanks to their back-to-back Stanley Cup championships. Sidney Crosby is suddenly on a 10-game point streak (3 goals, 17 assists) and still isn’t the leader on the club. That’s Phil Kessel, who trails only Nikita Kucherov and Nathan MacKinnon in scoring this season.

Even Philadelphia, who have dealt with a roller coaster season for the ages this year are within striking distance of the top. Looking at the assist leaderboard in the league you notice that Jakub Voracek and Claude Giroux are first and (tied for) second respectively, and the team has three games in hand on the Penguins.

So who out of this meat grinder of a division will come out on top? The Capitals have the lead, however tenuous, but have shown cracks in their armor at times. They also have very little room to make any deadline moves, which could shift the balance of power somewhere else in the division. Vote below and explain who you think will win the division!

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Justin Holl Recalled By Toronto Maple Leafs

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Justin Holl is finally getting a chance with the Maple Leafs, even if it is just as last-minute insurance. The team has recalled the defenseman under emergency conditions, placing Roman Polak on injured reserve with a viral infection, and labeling Ron Hainsey as a game-time decision due to an illness.

Holl was a second-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010, but after spending four seasons at the University of Minnesota failed to land an NHL contract. Instead, he worked through two years of AHL contracts before signing a one-year entry-level deal with the Maple Leafs in the summer of 2016. For the past three years, he’s been a huge part of the Toronto Marlies blue line and is having the best offensive season of his professional career with 20 points in 39 games.

The 26-year old can skate very well for a player of his size, and actually takes more risks than you’d expect. If he does get into the Maple Leafs lineup tonight, it would be his NHL debut and could even lineup beside Travis Dermott, who he has played with at times in the minor leagues. As we discussed in Jack Johnson’s recent trade profile, the Toronto defense depth is razor thin as evidenced by this call up.

Nikita Zaitsev is returning to the lineup for the first time since December 15th, and will likely have to handle quite a bit right away. Hainsey and Polak have been the team’s main penalty killing options with Zaitsev out, a role that would now have to be split among the other defenders.

Trade Candidate: Jack Johnson

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With the trade deadline approaching, we will be profiling several players in the weeks ahead that have a good chance to be dealt by February 26th.

After a public bankruptcy case and a diminishing role with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Jack Johnson requested a trade. He felt backed into a corner, and needed to act to ensure financial stability for his family after his player career ends. Since news of the request broke, Johnson’s ice time has once again increased. Will the Blue Jackets move him somewhere else, or give him the important minutes he needs to showcase for his next contract?

Jack JohnsonContract

Johnson is in the final season of a seven-year, $30.5MM contract—$4.36MM cap hit, $5.0MM salary. He will be a UFA in July, and holds no trade protection.

2017-18

With the increased roles of young defensemen Zach Werenski, Seth Jones and Markus Nutivaara, Johnson has seen his impact on the Blue Jackets decrease in his final year under contract. Once a powerplay quarterback and perennial 30-40 point producer, the 31-year old has been limited to defensive specialist and penalty killer for nearly two seasons. His offensive production this season has been non-existent, with only seven points through 50 games.

Tough matchups and starting nearly 60% of his shifts in the defensive zone are part of the explanation for that lack of production, but so is a normal decline in mobility and explosiveness as he navigates his thirties. He’s turned into a solid penalty killing option for the Blue Jackets, and has astoundingly taken just four minor penalties all season. There is clearly still a role for Johnson in the NHL, but with other more dynamic offensive talents on the market like Mike Green, it will be hard for him to secure an opportunity better than the one he still enjoys in Columbus.

Season Stats

50 GP, 2 goals, 5 assists, 7 points, -7 rating, 8 PIM, 61 shots, 19:35 ATOI, 45.9 CF%

Potential Suitors

There is never a shortage of teams looking for experienced help on the blue line as the stretch run approaches, and Johnson’s name will certainly be among those that draw inquiries. Tampa Bay, Winnipeg, Los Angeles, Washington, and the New York Islanders could all fit Johnson in under the right circumstances, though it’s not clear if any have reached out at this point.

One fit that does seem to stick out is that of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have been looking for defensive help for some time. Though Travis Dermott’s debut has gone well to this point, their depth at the position is still razor thin as showcased when Morgan Rielly and Nikita Zaitsev were both out of the lineup. If the Maple Leafs decide to acquire another veteran option, Johnson could stick out as a possibility. The defenseman’s handedness (left) doesn’t help him in this scenario, but with the ability of Rielly, Dermott and Ron Hainsey to play their off-side, Mike Babcock would still have plenty of options.

Likelihood Of A Trade

A few weeks ago a trade seemed like an inevitability in the case of Johnson, who was struggling on the ice and seeing the bench more than ever before. Now though, a move doesn’t seem quite as certain. Every team needs depth on defense, and Columbus are in an absolute dog fight for the playoffs in the Metropolitan Division. With Ryan Murray—a trade candidate himself—still fighting to get back from injury, Johnson is needed to soak up minutes on the PK and shelter some of the more offensive options the Blue Jackets have.

It wouldn’t at all be surprising to see him on another team come February 26th, but it is far from certain. If the Blue Jackets decide that they’re going for it this season, and can’t find a deal for the top-nine forward they desperately want, holding onto Johnson could be the best option. Though he doesn’t come with much playoff experience, he does come with incredible success. In 23 postseason contests, Johnson has 21 points and logged a whopping 26 minutes a night last playoffs for the Blue Jackets.

Including Pittsburgh as an example from last season, the playoffs can grind through a defense corps and put you on your seventh, eighth or ninth option quickly. If there isn’t a deal for a forward to be found, maybe Johnson will have to prove himself once again in Columbus.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Snapshots: Tavares, Schmaltz, Hall

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As we close out January, we’re still waiting for the rush of trade deadline moves to start. It’s been awfully quite on the market for some time, and as Craig Custance of The Athletic (subscription required) writes, that might be because of John Tavares. It’s not so much that Tavares is available in trade, but that if he is really going to hit the open market in July, teams want to make sure they have enough cap space to take a run at him.

Custance mentions the San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues and Montreal Canadiens as potential players in free agency for Tavares, though those are all speculative at this point. All three could turn into big factors at the trade deadline—in different ways—and could be delaying their decisions as long as possible. For now, we’ll just have to hold tight and wait for the first real foot to drop in the rental market.

  • Speaking of the St. Louis Blues, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet included a note about Jordan Schmaltz in his latest 31 Thoughts column, writing that the AHL All-Star is basically blocked from making an impact at the NHL level. That’s because of the Blues’ impressive depth on the right side, and it could lead to him being a trade chip in the next few weeks. Again, that’s just speculation, but Schmaltz certainly would hold substantial value. A first-round pick of the Blues in 2012, Schmaltz has found nothing but success in the collegiate and minor pro ranks, but has received just 13 games of NHL experience to this point. He’s also heading into restricted free agency this summer as he finishes his entry-level contract, and holds arbitration rights.
  • Taylor Hall has been fined $5,000 for his hit on Kyle Okposo last night, avoiding suspension. Hall hit Okposo into the boards from behind, resulting in a minor penalty and will have this incident added to his record with the Department of Player Safety. While Okposo suffered no apparent injury on the play and was back at Sabres’ practice today, it easily could have resulted in more serious damage. Now, only Hall’s wallet will feel that pain.

Minor Transactions: 01/31/18

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On the last day of January, teams around the league will have to take stock of where they sit in the grand scheme of the NHL, and start to decide whether this is really the year they want to pursue a championship. Bubble clubs will either push their chips to the middle, or muck their cards quickly and prepare for next season’s hand. As they prepare, we’ll keep track of all the minor moves right here.

Cap Casualty: Washington’s Deadline Play

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The Washington Capitals have surprised a lot of people this season. After getting bounced out of the playoffs by the Pittsburgh Penguins once again, many looked at a roster which was losing the likes of Karl Alzner, Justin Williams, Kevin Shattenkirk, Nate Schmidt and others, and thought they’d take a drastic step backwards in 2017-18. Instead, led by a resurgent Alex Ovechkin the team has 63 points in the standings and leads the Metropolitan Division once again.

Mike GreenNow as the trade deadline looms, many are trying to find ways in which the roster may be supported. The Capitals are buyers once again, knowing that the longer they go without a Stanley Cup appearance for Ovechkin, the less likely he’ll ever get one.

In a specific example, a return home for Mike Green of the Detroit Red Wings has been written about extensively over the past few days after the defenseman took part in the All-Star festivities on the weekend. There’s no doubt that the puck-moving defender would be a nice fit for the Capitals, but he comes with a large, snarling caveat.

The Capitals don’t have any money.

Not in terms of actual dollars available to give out, the Capitals are among the most financially stable teams in the league and could certainly afford to pay Green what’s remaining on the final year of current contract. But the league wouldn’t allow it, as Washington is already carrying a heft cap hit.

Smartly, in preparation for the trade deadline the Capitals have been trying to bank cap space all season. Madison Bowey and Jakub Vrana have each been sent down at least six times, usually just for a single day to spare their cap charge between games. The team, which started the season with very little room to operate, now has a little flexibility for the trade deadline. Just not nearly enough for Green.

The Red Wings defenseman comes with a $6MM cap hit, three times more than the projected salary the Capitals could take on at the deadline. They’d need to clear some real salary to bring someone like him on board, and there aren’t many obvious options to get rid of.

Lars Eller could be one, but he’s been a key part of their forward group since coming over from Montreal in 2016. He’s even on pace to set a new career-high in points as he heads towards unrestricted free agency. Moving his $3.5MM cap hit would certainly give them some extra room, but would blow a hole wide open in their center depth and force Jay Beagle or someone even less experienced into tough minutes.

There’s Brooks Orpik, the much maligned defensive defenseman who was a buyout candidate last summer. His $5.5MM cap hit for this season and next is likely almost immovable, even if he is still logging more than 20 minutes a night. That role is another reason why it would be tough to part with him, especially just to bring in another defenseman. The Capitals are trying to get deeper, not just replace spare parts.

Of course in any deal, Green included, the trading team could retain salary. Up to 50% of the remaining contract, that might have to be case for any acquisition the Capitals make. Whether it is a big name like Green, or even just a minor tweak, Washington is in a weak negotiating position. After sending several assets for Shattenkirk last season, will they really sacrifice more of the future to get a half-priced rental at the deadline?

All cap numbers provided by CapFriendly.

Canucks Prefer To Re-Sign Erik Gudbranson

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The Vancouver Canucks were in a strange situation this past summer when it came to extending restricted free agent defenseman Erik Gudbranson. After trading away Jared McCann and a pair of draft picks to the Florida Panthers to acquire Gudbranson the off-season prior, the big rearguard was held to just 30 games in 2016-17 due to injury. Still unsure of what kind of player Gudbranson could be in Vancouver but cognizant of what it took to get him, the Canucks gave the 2010 #3 overall pick an identical contract to the one inherited from Florida: one year and $3.5MM. Fast-forward to today, and the situation is still unclear for the Canucks. Gudbranson will now be an unrestricted free agent this off-season and the struggling squad faces pressure to get what they can for him by the trade deadline. However, even in another limited season – having missed 17 games due to injury and suspension – Gudbranson has shown his capable defensive game and, at 26, still has room to grow. So what do they do?

Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre has an idea. MacIntyre spoke to GM Jim Benning, who made it clear that they would like to extend Gudbranson if possible. “I know he’s had some ups and downs, but until he got hurt he was playing well for us. As long as a player can play in today’s game, you’re always going to need a defencemen who can play physical, especially in our division. There’s always going to be room for a guy like that”, Benning stated, summing up the value that Gudbranson brings.

However, an extension is not done yet and the clock is ticking toward the February 26th NHL Trade Deadline. If a deal cannot be struck, the rebuilding Canucks have no choice but to trade Gudbranson and hope that they get a good return for him. Gudbranson’s agent, Mark Guy, said as much in talking to Sportsnet’s Rick Dhaliwal, ackowledging that the season will likely either end with an extension or with a trade. Benning knows that his job may be on the line and needs to get whatever he can for Vancouver’s impending UFA’s. A trade also wouldn’t rule out the team simply bringing Gudbranson back in free agency too, perhaps adding to the intrigue of shipping him out in the next month. Benning may prefer to re-sign Gudbranson, but it still seems like all signs point to a trade.

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