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Archives for January 2018

West Notes: Benning, Horvat, Dunn, Folin, Elie

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After the Blues locked up GM Doug Armstrong to a four-year extension last week, the focus has shifted to other managers in the final year of their contracts.  One of those is Canucks GM Jim Benning.  Speaking with the press, including Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre, team president Trevor Linden indicated that there will be no discussions on a new deal anytime soon.  While he stated that he is pleased with the current direction of the team, Linden prefers to leave those discussions for the offseason.  Benning is in his fourth season at the helm of the team.

Linden also indicated that center Bo Horvat may take longer than expected to make it back to the lineup than originally anticipated.  While he was initially supposed to miss four-to-six weeks after breaking his foot on December 5th, the Canucks are now expected to be without their top pivot until after the All-Star break which falls three weeks from now.

Elsewhere out West:

  • Blues defenseman Vince Dunn did not accompany the team for their two-game road trip, notes Tom Timmermann of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Twitter link). He is dealing with an illness that kept him out of the lineup on Thursday as well.  The rookie rearguard has been a pleasant surprise this season, logging just under 17 minutes per game of ice time while recording seven points in 39 games.
  • Kings defenseman Christian Folin is expected to be cleared to return to the lineup in advance of Saturday’s game against Nashville, reports Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider. He has been dealing with an upper-body issue for the last couple of weeks.  As Los Angeles is at the maximum roster of 23 active players, they will need to make a corresponding move before they can activate Folin off injured reserve.
  • Stars winger Remi Elie has recovered from his illness and is available to suit up on Saturday against Edmonton, notes Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link). He had missed the last two games and is expected to slot in on the fourth line.  Elie has four goals and three assists in 34 contests so far this season.

Latest On Anthony Duclair Trade Talks

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Word broke yesterday that Coyotes winger Anthony Duclair had requested a trade.  Despite the fact that he has struggled for the most part this season and did not play well in 2016-17, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported in an interview with TSN 1200 (audio link) that GM John Chayka is seeking either a comparably-aged player in a similar situation or a draft pick with the initial price believed to be as high as a second-rounder.

The first of those two options is palatable as that would make it a swap of underachieving players who could use a change of scenery and deals like that have happened with some frequency over the years.  Getting a second-round pick for someone who has been a healthy scratch recently is a tough ask though, even if Duclair is still just 22 with a 20-goal season under his belt already.

Anthony DuclairSportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported in a radio hit with Sportsnet 590 (audio link) that there hasn’t been much interest in Duclair throughout the league.  He adds that though the request was only made public on Thursday, teams have known about it since at least November.  Craig Morgan of Arizona Sports adds that the winger has been available considerably longer than that, stating that he has been available for over a year now.  Accordingly, Friedman notes that the asking price has dropped over time but clearly, there hasn’t been the right fit yet.

One team that isn’t believed to have interest is the Calgary Flames.  Friedman theorized that there could be a connection with them since Don Maloney, a pro scout with the Flames, was the GM with the Coyotes at the time that Duclair was brought over from the Rangers as part of a trade for defenseman Keith Yandle.  However, it doesn’t appear there’s any traction on a deal with them.  He adds that Montreal doesn’t appear to have much interest at this time as well as their focus is on finding a fit down the middle.  Meanwhile, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Penguins don’t appear to be interested either.

Duclair is playing on a one-year, $1.2MM contract and will be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights in the summer.  The arbitration rights probably don’t help his value either as if Duclair were to struggle, they may serve as a deterrent to a qualifying offer which presents the potential of him working out more as a rental player than someone that could be a longer-term piece.  That makes acquiring him a higher-risk (albeit with the potential for a higher-reward) proposition, one that other teams haven’t had the appetite to do just yet.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Atlantic Notes: Dorion, Borowiecki, Lightning

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Although the Senators find themselves well out of the playoff picture at the moment, should they be hesitant to truly sell off the roster?  Jared Clinton of The Hockey News makes a case for GM Pierre Dorion to be wary of entering a true rebuilding process.

It all stems around defenseman Erik Karlsson.  It has been well-documented that he will become an unrestricted free agent following the 2018-19 season and that it is going to cost considerably more than the $6.5MM cap charge he currently carries.  If they decide to opt for future assets in the form of prospects and draft picks, ones that won’t be ready to contribute to Ottawa’s lineup when he hits free agency, that could potentially sway him away from re-signing.  Accordingly, Clinton suggests that Dorion look more for younger players that have already established themselves or could break out with more playing time.  Those would represent retooling moves instead of rebuilding which could make staying with the Senators long-term a more appealing option for Karlsson.

More from the Atlantic:

  • Still with Ottawa, defenseman Mark Borowiecki has received the green light to return to full-contact practice, notes Postmedia’s Ken Warren. He has missed the last 19 games due to a concussion with the Senators winning just four of those.  The 28-year-old is targeting either January 9th (versus Chicago) or January 10th (against Toronto) as a return date.
  • Tampa Bay is likely to pursue a top-four defenseman who can play the right side between now and the trade deadline, reports Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic (subscription required). While Jake Dotchin has fared relatively well alongside Victor Hedman, Lightning GM Steve Yzerman will probably want someone that is a bit more proven in that role once the playoffs are underway.  However, that is a common need for a lot of teams (LeBrun adds division-rival Toronto is another team looking for help there) so it will be interesting to see if they can find the right fit.  Given their group of quality prospects that they could deal from, they could have a leg up on some of those other teams.

Poll: Who Will Win The WJC Gold Medal Game?

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In what has been a tournament filled with outstanding performances—except perhaps at the ticket offices—Canada and Sweden have outlasted all the rest and will come together in the World Junior Championship gold medal match tonight. Neither team lost a game in regulation during the tournament, with Canada only falling in a snowy shootout at the hands of the United States in the outdoor game.

Both teams are loaded with future NHL talent, including the almost consensus 2018 first-overall pick in Rasmus Dahlin. Dahlin has been incredible all tournament long, looking just as poised and confident as always. The 17-year old defenseman plays for Frolunda in the SHL, where he has 11 points in 26 games and has graced highlight reels all season. While other 2018-eligible players have impressed at the tournament, Dahlin has cemented his spot as a franchise-changing prospect and the prize of the draft lottery.

It’s not just Dahlin starring for Sweden though. Their group of 2017 first-round picks—Elias Pettersson, Lias Andersson, Erik Brannstrom and Timothy Liljegren—have all shown moments of brilliance throughout the last couple of weeks, and all look like they’ll make their NHL debuts before long. Alexander Nylander has shown off his elite offensive skill, and reminded Buffalo fans that even though he’s struggled at the AHL level he still has tremendous upside.

For Canada, a team that has just a single first-round pick on the whole roster, the scoring responsibility has been spread throughout. Every Canadian player save for Dante Fabbro has at least a point in the tournament, with St. Louis Blues prospect Jordan Kyrou leading the way. Perhaps the biggest surprise has been Cale Makar (that aforementioned first-round pick, fourth-overall to the Colorado Avalanche last year), who has worked his way up from the seventh defenseman on the roster. Makar has been a dynamic powerplay quarterback and will be relied upon again tonight against the tough defense of the Swedes.

It will be a very tough matchup for both sides, as neither has given up very many chances. With the quick-strike offense both teams possess, the game could hinge on which experienced defense corps makes the fewest mistakes. It also could be an Olympic preview for some of the players, as Kyrou and Victor Mete are possibilities to go to Pyeongchang for Canada, while several of the Swedes (including Pettersson and Dahlin) playing in the SHL could crack their squad.

So who will take home gold tonight? Who will win MVP? Who have you been most impressed by in the tournament? Vote below, and use the comment section to discuss.

[Mobile users click here to vote!]

Snapshots: Olympics, Sergachev, Sanford

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Ken Campbell of The Hockey News is reporting that despite no official announcement, CHL players will be allowed to participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics. That goes along with what Bob McKenzie of TSN tweeted earlier today, regarding Victor Mete and his potential selection to the Canadian squad after the conclusion of the World Juniors.

Nothing has been decided on Mete yet by the Montreal Canadiens, who would have to send him back to junior for the remainder of the year in order for him to be eligible to play in the Olympics. Other potential options for Team Canada would be Jordan Kyrou of the St. Louis Blues and even Colorado prospect Cale Makar after his powerplay performance at the junior tournament.

  • Mikhail Sergachev played in his 40th NHL game last night, which meant the additional draft picks involved in the trade that brought him to Tampa Bay in the offseason will now be staying put. It also means that Sergachev is one year closer to free agency, as this season now counts as a full NHL campaign. Players can become unrestricted free agents after seven accrued seasons in the league, meaning Sergachev could potentially hit the open market just a few days after his 26th birthday.
  • In the wake of a season-ending injury to Robby Fabbri and subsequent long-term maladies for Jaden Schwartz and Jay Bouwmeester during the season, some may have overlooked Zach Sanford’s absence from the St. Louis Blues roster. The organization sure didn’t, and Sanford was back on the ice skating with assistant Steve Ott yesterday and continues to try and work his way back from shoulder surgery. There’s no clear timetable on when he’ll return, other than the original estimate of five to six months (which puts him somewhere in February or March), but getting back on the ice is a good sign. The young forward, acquired as part of the Kevin Shattenkirk deal last season, comes with excellent potential as a power forward that could fit into the Blues’ top-nine at some point down the road.

Submit Your Questions For The #PHRMailbag

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2018 is upon us and the NHL is less than two months away from the trade deadline. With that in mind, we’ll run another edition of our #PHRMailbag, with our very own Brian La Rose answering all your questions. Interested in his thoughts on the top rental options? What about the players with several years left on their contracts? Who will be the biggest sellers, and who will add for a postseason run?

Brian will be answering the mailbag on the weekend, but be sure to submit your questions now! Leave a comment below or tweet at @prohockeyrumors using the #PHRMailbag.

Make sure to check out our last mailbag, where Brian answered some questions about various superstars that may be on the market in the coming months. He sure didn’t make any new Bruins fans when he wrote “I don’t think [John] Tavares is a great fit in Boston,” but perhaps you can change his mind.

Next Steps For Jaromir Jagr & The Calgary Flames

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Speculation over Jaromir Jagr’s future has been running rampant for the last few days, with thoughts that he may retire in the face of his latest injury and season-long struggles to fit into the Calgary Flames system. Bob McKenzie of TSN chimed in on Twitter, explaining that it has been long believed that the two sides have an “understanding” that if their marriage wasn’t working they’d mutually terminate the one-year deal Jagr signed at the beginning of October.

Jaromir JagrMcKenzie quickly points out that nothing is imminent for Jagr, but that it could become clear over the next few days one way or the other. An interesting consideration though, is the upcoming Olympic Games. If Jagr feels he can be healthy enough to contribute for the Czech squad, but isn’t fitting in well in Calgary, perhaps a termination to allow him to participate in his sixth Olympics would be a good solution for both sides.

Jagr has seven points this season for Calgary, and has received just over 13 minutes of ice time on average when he is in the lineup. That’s a huge drop-off for a player who has only once averaged fewer than 17 in a season, and still believes that he can contribute.

One thing to remember about any potential Olympic participation, is that the tournament ends just a day before the deadline to be on an NHL roster for the playoffs. That means Jagr could—and one must stress that this is all hypothetical—terminate his contract with the Flames, head to the Olympics, and then re-sign with an NHL team for another chance at a Stanley Cup. Either way, it’s a story to watch over the next few days and weeks as we get closer and closer to the Games.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Toronto Maple Leafs Recall Travis Dermott

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have been searching for help on defense this season, tenuously linked to players like Erik Gudbranson and Ian Cole in trade rumors. Now, some of that help may come from inside the organization as the team has recalled Travis Dermott from the AHL, while sending Martin Marincin back down. Should he get into the lineup, it would mark the NHL debut for Dermott, a second-round pick of the Maple Leafs in 2015.

Playing in all situation for the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, Dermott has recorded 17 points on the season including six assists in his last two games. He was also just named to the AHL All-Star team, along with teammate Kasperi Kapanen. The defenseman turned 21 years old just before the Christmas break, and had been pushing for a spot in the NHL for some time. A minor injury to Roman Polak last night, and the continued struggles of Marincin and Connor Carrick on the bottom pairing necessitated a change for the Maple Leafs as they continue to deal with the absence of Nikita Zaitsev.

Still, Toronto seems ripe for a defensive addition at some point. Even if Dermott makes an impact right away, the team could use someone to help on the penalty kill and provide some depth for a potential playoff run. Since Marincin once again did not stick with the NHL club, one has to wonder whether he’s destined for non-qualification in the summer.

Minor Transactions: 01/05/18

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Last night was filled to the brim with hockey all across North America, with a dozen games in the NHL and a World Junior semi-final. There were some shocking finishes, with the Coyotes taking down the Predators and Canadiens icing the Lightning. Now, as we head into another weekend full of hockey, teams will be making minor changes to their rosters and we’ll keep track of everything right here.

  • The Buffalo Sabres have sent Taylor Fedun back to the minor leagues, meaning he must be healthy enough to get back on the ice. Fedun hasn’t played since November due to a foot injury, and has just seven games in the NHL this year. The 29-year old is ticketed for the AHL until another few spots open up on the Buffalo blueline.
  • Zac Dalpe and Dean Kukan are on their way back to the AHL again, another cap-saving measure for the Columbus Blue Jackets as they await their next game on Sunday. Columbus has been sending the pair down to get into some game action between Blue Jackets matches, allowing them to also bank some cap space for any potential moves at the deadline.
  • Filip Chlapik has been reassigned to the Belleville Senators of the AHL, ending his short stint in Ottawa. The NHL Senators are getting Zack Smith back into the lineup tonight, and Chlapik needs to continue to play for his development. The 20-year old recorded one point, but is still looking for his first NHL goal.
  • The St. Louis Blues have activated Samuel Blais from injured reserve and sent him to the minor leagues. Blais had been dealing with a lower body injury and has played just 22 games this season split between the Blues and San Antonio Rampage. The sixth-round pick will have to prove he’s back to full strength before getting another chance with the big club, who still haven’t found their optimal mix of forwards for the stretch run.
  • After only two days on injured reserve, Marcus Kruger has been activated by the Carolina Hurricanes. Kruger’s IR stint could be retroactive to the last game he played on December 27th, but it will still mean and end to Aleksi Saarela’s first NHL call-up. Saarela didn’t get into a game, meaning he’ll have to wait for another chance to make his NHL debut.
  • The Vegas Golden Knights have moved Jon Merrill to injured reserve with an undisclosed injury, making room for Luca Sbisa to be activated. Sbisa is expected to be in the lineup tonight against the Chicago Blackhawks, while it’s not clear how long Merrill will be out.
  • The Arizona Coyotes have sent both Kyle Capobianco and Lawson Crouse to the minor leagues, with no corresponding moves given. The Coyotes don’t play until tomorrow night, and could activate Brad Richardson for the game after he returned to practice.
  • The Columbus Blue Jackets have also sent goaltender Joonas Korpisalo to the minor leagues to get a start, recalling Matiss Kivlenieks to stay complient in the NHL. Korpisalo will get into a game for the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters to stay sharp, but should be recalled later this weekend.

Oilers Acquire Al Montoya

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The Oilers have made a move to bolster their backup goaltender position, announcing that they have acquired Al Montoya from the Canadiens in exchange for a conditional fourth-round pick in 2018.  Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston notes (Twitter link) that Montoya must play in seven games with Edmonton in the regular season for Montreal to receive the fourth-rounder.  If he does not, the Oilers will send a 2018 fifth-rounder instead.

Al MontoyaIt’s not surprising that Edmonton was looking to upgrade their backup goalie as Laurent Brossoit has struggled in that role so far this season.  In 13 appearances, he has a 3.22 GAA and a .886 SV%, numbers that are below-average for a number two netminder.  It appears likely that he will be heading for waivers once Montoya gets the green light to be activated off injured reserve.

Montoya has seen very limited action this season, making just four appearances before suffering a concussion in early November.  While his numbers this year are worse than Brossoit (a 3.77 GAA with a .863 SV%), the veteran has a much longer track record of being a capable second option.  In 159 career regular season games between the Coyotes, Islanders, Jets, Panthers, and Canadiens, he has a 65-47-22 record with a 2.63 GAA along with a .908 SV% and seven shutouts.

The 32-year-old carries a cap hit of $1.0625MM and is signed through 2018-19 so Edmonton is making a commitment to Montoya for more than just the second half of this season.  While they have more than enough cap space to take on his deal this year, this trade now puts them with 13 players signed for next year with a combined cap charge of nearly $61MM.

As for Montreal, the trade means that the Canadiens will likely stick with Antti Niemi, who was acquired via waivers while Montoya was injured, as their backup for the time being while opening up a spot for Charlie Lindgren, who impressed in an early-season stint, to take over the backup job next season.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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