Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Archives for January 2018

Minor Transactions: 01/23/18

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The NHL will be taking another break in a few days for the All-Star festivities, and with that tonight’s schedule is packed full of games. With 12 games and 24 teams in action, several minor moves could be made to shore up the edges of a roster. We’ll keep track of all those moves right here.

Five Russian Players Not Invited To Participate At Olympics

at CDT | by 3 Comments

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has extended invitations to 42 of the 47 players submitted by the Russian Ice Hockey Federation (RIHF) for consideration for the upcoming Games. Interestingly though, the IOC did not invite the following players to participate:

D Anton Belov
D Alexei Bereglazov
D Mikhail Naumenkov
F Valeri Nichushkin
F Sergei Plotnikov

The RIHF released a statement following the decision, stating that the five players have not been banned from international competitions and are not guilty of any doping violations. Still, the reasons for the snub have not been given and the RIHF has reached out for some clarity.

These would seem to be fairly important omissions for Russia, especially on defense where the club is relatively thin. By looking at the remaining names that did receive invitations one can start to see how the team will be made up. 25 names that make up the roster will will be released on Thursday.

F Sergei Andronov
F Alexander Barabanov
F Anton Burdasov
D Vyacheslav Voynov
D Vladislav Gavrikov
F Nikita Gusev
F Mikhail Grigorenko
F Pavel Datsyuk
G Vasily Demchenko
D Artyom Zub
D Andrei Zubarev
F Sergey Kalinin
F Kirill Kaprizov
D Bogdan Kiselevich
F Ilya Kovalchuk
G Vasily Koshechkin
F Ilya Kablukov
F Evgeny Ketov
F Pavel Kraskovsky
F Yegor Korshkov
F Roman Lyubimov
D Ilya Lyubushkin
D Alexey Marchenko
F Sergei Mozyakin
D Nikita Nesterov
F Nikolai Prokhorkin
D Yegor Rykov
G Ilya Samsonov
F Andrei Svetlakov
G Ilya Sorokin
F Viktor Tikhonov
F Ivan Telegin
F Vladimir Tkachyov (unclear which one)
D Nikita Tryamkin
F Maxim Shalunov
G Alexander Sharychenkov
F Sergei Shirokov
F Vadim Shipachyov
F Sergei Shumakov
G Igor Shestyorkin
F Dinar Khafizullin
D Yegor Yakovlev

Conspicuously missing is Andrei Markov, who has had a very successful season for Ak-Bars in the KHL after leaving the Montreal Canadiens, scoring 28 points in 52 games. Why he was left off the preliminary list is unclear, though perhaps they wanted to go in a younger direction on defense.

NHL Trade Deadline Trends

at CDT | by 1 Comment

With two (albeit minor) trades today, it seems as if the annual pre-NHL Trade Deadline flurry of activity is underway. NHL analytics guru Rob Vollman was ready for it yesterday, releasing some new, interesting statistics related to trade deadline trends. With the last day to make deals this season coming up on Monday, February 26th, these correlations may indicate what we can expect in the coming weeks.

Vollman’s first chart shows the distribution of deals made in the month leading up to the trade deadline. On average, there have been close to 41 trades in the month leading up to the deadline since 2005. There tends to be nearly a trade per day beginning 30 days prior to the deadline and going throughout the month, with the numbers increasing exponentially in the final three days. In 2016-17, there were five trades made in the month of January, which slowed down the early February pace somewhat. However, deals came with a more torrid pace beginning in the middle of the month, leading to a total of 41 trades made in the month – on par with the trend over the last decade plus. On average, one can expect 12 trades over the next month leading up to 29 swaps over the final two days prior and deadline day combined. On the 26th, it would be reasonable to see more than 20 trades made, as that has been the trend of late.

So who will be making those deals? Vollman’s second chart shows the frequency that each NHL team has made trades since 2005. The Anaheim Ducks stand out as having made far more deals in that time than any other team in the league, including quite a few deals prior to deadline day. Could the Ducks make a deal this deadline season? Of course, although GM Bob Murray and company may need some more clarity on the Western Conference playoff picture before deciding to be buyers or sellers. The last-place Arizona Coyotes, also common deal-makers, aren’t in that position, but with no impending free agent rentals outside of Brad Richardson, Luke Schenn, and maybe Antti Raanta, there may not be many trade options for GM John Chayka unless he makes some bigger splashes. Eastern Conference contenders Tampa Bay, Toronto, and Washington have all been known to make a few trades, so don’t expect anything different this season. On the other hand, the Red Wings, Stars, and Predators have a history of being hesitant to make moves. If Dallas does make a deal, expect it to come early, as they have far more trades made earlier in February than at the deadline. Conversely, the Avalanche often wait until the last minute, which should be no different in 2017-18 with Colorado being a team that could benefit from a clear look at the Western race.

The trading mania is about to begin, so even if John Ramage, Jeff Zatkoff, or even Anthony Duclair don’t interest you, don’t fret, more moves are on their way.

Vancouver Canucks Interested In NCAA Free Agents

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

As the NCAA season moves along, several names are starting to emerge as possible free agent signings at the end of the year. Even those who went undrafted and are in their first few years at the collegiate level could decide to turn pro if a team shows enough interest, and the Vancouver Canucks could be just that team. Rick Dhaliwal of News 1130 reports that the Canucks have interest in Brogan Rafferty from Quinnipiac and Max Veronneau from Princeton.

Rafferty is just a sophomore but is already 22 years old and now listed at 6’1″ 191-lbs, quite a bit bigger than his draft year. After recording 24 points as a freshman and getting noticed by scouts from all around the league, he’s put up nine in his first 25 games this season and could still be on the radar of several clubs. He’s not the splashy addition that some college free agents are, but could turn into a solid professional even if he is limited to minor league work.

Veronneau on the other hand was nominated for the Hobey Baker this season, his third at Princeton. With 25 points through 20 games, he’s continued his offensive outburst that started as a sophomore. Veronneau played in the CCHL growing up to maintain college eligibility, and has done extremely well at the Ivy league school so far.

As Vancouver continues to rebuild, adding undrafted college talent is an easy way to fill out the prospect ranks and hopefully strike gold with an overlooked talent. Players like Tyler Bozak and Conor Sheary are some of the best examples of players finding NHL success soon after leaving college, the former only attending the University of Denver for two seasons before signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs. While Rafferty and Veronneau aren’t the very top names in the NCAA, they’re interesting nonetheless for a club looking to inject young talent into their ranks.

Columbus Blue Jackets Acquire Jeff Zatkoff

at CDT | by 1 Comment

After trading away one minor league contract earlier today, the Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired another. The team has acquired goaltender Jeff Zatkoff from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for future considerations.

With Jack Campbell and Cal Petersen splitting the net for the Ontario Reign of the AHL, Zatkoff hasn’t actually played in a single game this season. It’s not entirely clear where he’ll fit into the AHL picture for Columbus either, though they’ve experienced struggles from all of their goaltenders this season for the Cleveland Monsters.

Zatkoff of course brings with him plenty of experience, as the 30-year old has 48 games under his belt in the NHL including 13 last season with the Kings. A third-round pick in 2006, he has repeatedly put up healthy save percentages in the minor leagues and could provide some stability in Cleveland.

The goaltender pushes Columbus back up to 46/50 contract slots filled, and actually will cost them a relatively large amount of money to play in the minor leagues this season. Zatkoff is in the second year of a two-year, one-way contract that earns him $900K regardless of whether he’s in the NHL or minor leagues.

Charlie McAvoy Undergoes Procedure To Treat Heart Condition

at CDT | by 3 Comments

Boston Bruins rookie defenseman Charlie McAvoy underwent a procedure today to treat an “abnormal heart rhythm” that was first noticed after a game on November 26th. McAvoy will remain in hospital overnight, and has a recovery timeline of two weeks.

McAvoy was diagnosed with a supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and though it was not immediately dangerous, a decision was made to treat it now before any recurrence. The 20-year old had obviously continued to play after the initial diagnosis, but underwent a procedure called an ablation today according to the team.

The Bruins, who have been the hottest team in the NHL for quite some time, will have to adjust to playing without their young Calder nominee, who had been logging big minutes and playing a key role on their blue line. The first-round pick has 25 points on the season and was averaging more ice time than any Bruin not named Zdeno Chara. He was a replacement candidate for Victor Hedman in the All-Star game, but won’t be able to take part now.

Ondrej Palat Out Six To Eight Weeks With Lower-Body Injury

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Tampa Bay Lightning have been dealt a huge blow to their forward group, announcing today that Ondrej Palat would be out for six to eight weeks with a lower-body injury. Palat suffered the injury at the hands of the Minnesota Wild on Saturday, likely when Jared Spurgeon speared him in front of the net.

One of Tampa Bay’s most consistent two-way players, Palat has 30 points on the season and has received Selke votes three times in his career as one of the league’s best defensive forwards. His loss will be felt at both ends of the rink for the Lightning, whose lead in the Atlantic Division is slipping after losing three games in a row.

Eight weeks would put Palat’s return around March 19th, meaning the team will have to navigate the trade deadline without him. Whether that means the Lightning will go out and add to their forward group is unclear, but with Victor Hedman also out at the moment their overall skill level has taken a huge hit.

Snapshots: Prospects, Olympics, Savard

at CDT | by 1 Comment

The NHL’s Central Scouting has released their midterm rankings for North American and International skaters, with Andrei Svechnikov and Rasmus Dahlin leading the way respectively. Dahlin is about as locked in as a prospect can be for the first-overall selection, but several others will be battling for the number two spot. Svechnikov, Filip Zadina, Adam Boqvist and Brady Tkachuk are all top options who could be in the top three selections, and should b considered blue chip pieces for whoever ends up with them.

Interestingly, players like Ryan Merkley (#21 among North American skaters) and Bode Wilde (#22) find themselves relatively far down the list despite their previous top-10 projections. Whether that has more to do with their own play slipping this season or the influx of talent throughout the draft class is unclear, but it should excite even teams in the playoff picture with the prospect of adding an impact player on defense.

  • Many of the Olympic rosters have now been released, with young players like Dahlin, Miro Heiskanen and Eeli Tolvanen dominating the headlines for Sweden and Finland. Rosters for the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland and host Korea are available on the IIHF website. Igor Eronko of Sport-Express reports that the Olympic Athletes from Russia squad will release their roster on Thursday, which should be one of the powerhouses of the tournament.
  • Marc Savard has officially announced his retirement, exactly seven years after his last game in the NHL. The exquisite playmaker was forced from the game due to concussion problems, but was still technically under contract through last season. His career ended in 2011 with the Bruins after 807 games, in which he registered 706 points including seasons of 97 and 96. According to Chris Lomon of the NHLPA, Savard is looking to move up the coaching ranks after spending some time behind the bench of his sons’ triple-A teams.

John Ramage Traded To Arizona Coyotes

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Columbus Blue Jackets have traded minor league defenseman John Ramage to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for future considerations, giving some veteran experience to the Tucson Roadrunners. Ramage hasn’t seen any NHL action since the 2015-16 season, and has just two games under his belt in his career.

A fourth-round pick of the Calgary Flames in 2010, Ramage was a top amateur player in the US Development Program, winning a gold medal with the 2010 World Junior squad before returning as captain a year later. He also would have a “C” sewed into his sweater at the University of Wisconsin, where he played for four years. In the minor leagues, Ramage has taken home a Kelly and Calder Cup as champion of the ECHL and AHL, continuing his winning streak at nearly every level.

The Flames would eventually allow him to go to free agency without a qualifying offer and after just a single NHL game, at which point the defenseman signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He’ll now head to the desert to join the Arizona organization, where he’ll hope to get his first real crack at the NHL in the coming months. In the last season of a two-year deal, he’s set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Minor Transactions: 01/22/18

at CDT | by 4 Comments

When the Vegas Golden Knights woke up this Monday morning, they found themselves all alone in first place in the entire NHL. The expansion club has 66 points on the season and show no signs of slowing down. While the playoffs were a likely afterthought in the summer months, the team now has its sights set on the Presidents’ Trophy and the top seed in the postseason. As always, any minor moves made by the Golden Knights or any club will be collected here throughout the day.

  • The Ottawa Senators have recalled Chris DiDomenico and Erik Burgdoerfer from the minor leagues as they deal with injuries and prepare for their game tonight against Minnesota. The Senators will head to St. Louis tomorrow for the second half of a back-to-back romp through the Central Division.
  • The New Jersey Devils have recalled Mirco Mueller from his AHL conditioning stint, but haven’t actually activated him from long-term injured reserve. Mueller played two games for the Binghamton Devils and was held scoreless. The Devils don’t necessarily have to activate him right away, but with their defensive corps not playing up to the standard set at the beginning of the year he could lend a helpful hand as soon as he’s healthy enough to contribute.
  • After playing in his third career NHL game last night, Roland McKeown has been sent back to the AHL. The Carolina Hurricanes prospect has some impressive potential, but hasn’t been able to crack the NHL squad full-time just yet. After turning 22 on Saturday, he’ll try to show they can’t keep him in the minor leagues for much longer.
  • Brendan Lemieux is back up with the Winnipeg Jets, recalled today from the Manitoba Moose. Lemieux has dominated the AHL this season scoring 25 points in 27 games and even scored his first NHL goal earlier in the year. He’s another interesting piece for the Jets forward group that continues to show off its depth and versatility.
  • The Philadelphia Flyers have sent Travis Sanheim back to the minor leagues to keep him playing, recalling Mark Alt in his place. Sanheim is a big part of the Flyers future on defense, but had been sitting in the press box as a healthy scratch recently. Now he’ll get the chance to log big minutes once again for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and wait for his next opportunity in the NHL.
  • The Dallas Stars have brought Jason Dickinson back up, giving him another chance in the NHL. The 29th-overall pick from 2013 has seven games with the Stars this year, but hasn’t registered a single point. In the minors though, Dickinson has 16 goals and 21 points on the year as he continues to develop as a two-way center.
  • The Toronto Maple Leafs have recalled Rinat Valiev from the AHL while placing Morgan Rielly on injured reserve. Valiev is likely only up as insurance for the club as Rielly nurses his injury over the All-Star break. If Valiev does get into an NHL game, it would be his first since the 2015-16 season, when he suited up ten times for the last place Maple Leafs.
  • Daniel Sprong has been officially assigned to the AHL, as the Pittsburgh Penguins prepare for Bryan Rust’s imminent return. Sprong has played in just eight games for Pittsburgh this season despite a solid rookie season in the minor leagues where he has 28 points in 29 games. Fans hoping for a full-time role for Sprong will have to wait a little longer, as he continues to learn the defensive side of the game and develop further in the minors.

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

scroll to top