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Archives for February 2018

Seattle To Start Season Ticket Drive On March 1st

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Seattle has officially submitted their expansion application, and now will start their season ticket drive in just a few days. On March 1st, fans will be able to put a deposit down on season tickets for a potential first season, helping to indicate support for the franchise. By no means does this guarantee the NHL will be heading to the Pacific Northwest, but it is a key next step in the process.

The plan is for Seattle to enter the NHL for the 2020-21 season, meaning teams will already need to start preparing for a potential expansion draft. Though rosters will substantially change in the next few years, teams will have to make sure they’re not left in a position that Seattle can leverage into draft picks and prospects like Vegas was less than a year ago. With teams like Anaheim and Columbus, the Golden Knights were able to use their fear of losing a key player to gain valuable assets like Shea Theodore, William Karlsson and several high draft picks.

Fans of Seattle will hope for a similar situation, but it seems highly unlikely that they’ll be able to replicate the Golden Knights’ immediate success. That is, if the season ticket drive and application go according to plan and a franchise is awarded.

Jake McCabe To Undergo Shoulder Surgery

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The Buffalo Sabres will be without Jake McCabe for the rest of the 2017-18 season, as he’ll undergo shoulder surgery that will keep him out for four to six months. According to GM Jason Botterill, McCabe had been dealing with the problem for a while:

Jake has been progressing well in his recovery from his previous injury, but we decided that this was a good opportunity to take care of a problem that he has been dealing with for a while. Jake will have time to fully recover before the beginning of the 2018-19 season.

Even though the Sabres are struggling through another disappointing season, McCabe is one of the hopefuls to be part of a turnaround. Just 24, the defenseman has shown potential to become a solid player in his own end and a top-4 defenseman in the NHL. Though he’s clearly not done developing, there is reason to think he can be a solid piece going forward.

McCabe has one more season on his current deal that carries a $1.6MM cap hit, after which he’ll be a restricted free agent. Starting July 1st, the team could consider an extension to buy out some of his UFA years, or wait to see what he can do coming off this latest injury. Four months gives him plenty of time to get ready for training camp, while six is starting to cut it pretty close. Regardless, unless he faces a setback in his rehab he’ll be ready to go on opening day.

Snapshots: Karlsson, Raanta, Iginla

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Erik Karlsson’s name has come front and center once again as the last few days tick down before Monday’s trade deadline. There have been several reports that the Ottawa Senators intend to listen on offers for their superstar defenseman, but Darren Dreger of TSN has thrown some cold water on the speculation. Dreger tweets that the chance Karlsson is dealt by the deadline is low, even if GM Pierre Dorion is listening to offers.

Any team seriously interested in Karlsson at the deadline would need to put together a huge package, and perhaps even take Bobby Ryan’s contract back as well. Those obstacles are in addition to a 10-team no-trade list that Karlsson has submitted, making a deal increasingly difficult to pull off. Still, if there is movement on him in the next few days the acquiring team would be getting one of the best defensemen in the world for two playoff runs, something that would surely vault them into the Stanley Cup contender list.

  • Antti Raanta is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer, and many wondered if the Arizona Coyotes would move him at the deadline for whatever asset they could. According to Pierre LeBrun of TSN, that isn’t the plan for GM John Chayka and the rest of the Coyotes front office. Instead, they plan on trying to re-sign the 28-year old goaltender and keep him in the crease for the foreseeable future. Raanta is having an excellent season when healthy, with a .924 save percentage that puts him fourth among goaltenders who have started at least 30 games this season.
  • Jarome Iginla is back skating after his latest injury, practicing with the Providence Bruins today. According to Mark Divver of the Providence Journal, Iginla is just testing out his health and doesn’t have any contracts pending in the NHL. If Iginla does find a taker this season, he’d need to sign by the trade deadline on Monday to be eligible for the playoffs.

Vancouver Canucks Sign Erik Gudbranson To Three-Year Extension

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After early reports that a deal was close, the Vancouver Canucks officially announced that Erik Gudbranson has signed a three-year extension worth a total of $12MM. A cap hit of $4.0MM will be a raise over his current $3.5MM, and delays his unrestricted free agency until after the 2020-21 season. The contract comes without any trade protection, and the salary is broken down as follows:

  • 2018-19: $4.4MM
  • 2019-20: $4.6MM
  • 2020-21: $3.0MM

Erik GudbransonGudbranson is a polarizing figure when it comes to scouting the NHL these days. While more and more small skilled defensemen are entering the league, he remains a throwback to a slower, more physical style. The third-overall pick from 2010, Gudbranson has just 53 points in 380 career games but is a big body that can be used on the penalty kill and hold his own in the defensive zone. Analytical critics may point to his bad (and declining) possession metrics as a point against him, but obviously the Canucks felt he was important enough to lock up.

It’s important to note that Gudbranson was set to be one of the youngest defensemen on the free agent market this summer, and likely would have gotten a similar deal from someone else. His draft pedigree and experience are still seen as positives for teams looking to get a bit stronger on the blue line, and there was interest in him from around the league as the deadline approached.

Unfortunately though, this takes away a potential trade asset for the Canucks in the next week. Vancouver is in the beginning stages of something of a rebuild, with Henrik and Daniel Sedin getting closer to retirement and a new wave of young talent coming through the ranks. Gudbranson could have been used to supplement that young talent with even more draft picks or prospects, though GM Jim Benning was clear that he would surround those players with experience to help them develop.

There is also an argument to be made that Gudbranson still has another level that he’s been kept from due to injury. He’s never been able to complete a full season without facing some injury, and played just 30 games in 2016-17. There are plenty of examples of defensemen taking a step forward in their mid to late twenties, and Gudbranson has only just turned 26. The deal is far from cost prohibitive for the Canucks, especially as it is front loaded and contains zero trade protection.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Boston Bruins Acquire Nick Holden From New York Rangers

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The Boston Bruins have found their defensive depth, acquiring Nick Holden from the New York Rangers in exchange for a 2018 third-round pick and minor league defenseman Rob O’Gara. There is no salary retention in the trade. Boston had been sniffing around for a defensive addition, even linked to fellow Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh at one point.

Nick HoldenIn Holden, the Bruins add a legitimate NHL defender for a relatively low price. Scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, the 30-year old carries just a $1.65MM cap hit and has shown an ability to log big minutes in the past. Coming off his career-high of 34 points last season, Holden has just 12 this year while starting to show the beginning of a decline. A solid puck-mover, he nevertheless gets his team in trouble sometimes due to bad turnovers and like the rest of the Rangers defense has had trouble with defensive zone coverage this year.

Boston may be a perfect fit for the undrafted defenseman, as he’ll be able to play less significant minutes and face easier competition. The Bruins defense corps is already a good one, and just needed some depth for what looks to be a long playoff run. Where Holden will fit in is unclear, but Boston now has plenty of options on the blue line.

Getting a third-round pick for Holden is another good return for the Rangers, as it was unlikely they would retain his services in free agency. The team now has seven picks in the 2018 draft, and will likely add to that over the coming days. Rick Nash and Michael Grabner are the other big rental pieces the Rangers hold, and both are expected to be on the move before Monday’s deadline.

New York though has said that they’re looking for players, not just draft picks at the deadline. O’Gara is an interesting addition even if he hasn’t made much of an NHL impact just yet. The 24-year old has played 11 games with the Bruins over the last two years, but has shown an excellent shutdown ability in the minor leagues. The 6’4″ defenseman has a good active stick and is willing to engage physically. Whether he gets a chance in New York right away will likely depend on how active they are over the next few days, but as a restricted free agent he can stay in the organizations plans going forward.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Gabriel Dumont, Taylor Chorney On Waivers

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According to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, the Ottawa Senators have placed forward Gabriel Dumont on waivers. The 27-year old forward was claimed earlier this season from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Joining him is Washington Capitals defenseman Taylor Chorney, who was absent from the team’s morning skate after they acquired Michal Kempny yesterday.

Dumont is in the first season of a two-year deal signed last summer, that interestingly turns into a two-way contract in 2018-19. His entire $650K cap hit can be buried by the Senators if he clears and is assigned to the minor leagues, but he could potentially be claimed by a team looking for a player with experience at center. He offers little offensive upside, as he has scored just two points this season and nine in 87 career games.

Chorney on the other hand is a veteran defenseman with ten seasons of professional hockey under his belt. The 30-year old has played 24 games for the Capitals this season, but was made expendable by the Kempny addition. The Capitals can bury his entire $800K cap hit in the minor leagues if he clears, giving them a little more flexibility at the deadline.

Injuries Pile Up For Philadelphia Flyers

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The Philadelphia Flyers were already without Brian Elliott for some time as they headed into the trade deadline, and then were given some other bad news. Michal Neuvirth will be out four to six weeks with a lower-body injury, leading to the team’s acquisition of Petr Mrazek last night. Mrazek won’t start tonight for the Flyers, but should get an opportunity to prove himself as a true #1 goaltender once again.

Unfortunately, that’s not where the injuries end for Philadelphia. The team also announced that Wayne Simmonds would be out up to three weeks with an upper-body injury. Simmonds’ loss is perhaps even more troublesome than the goaltending issues, as the veteran winger is in the midst of another excellent season.

With 20 goals on the year, Simmonds extends his streak to five straight campaigns with at least that many, and had a good chance of cracking 50 points once again before the injury. The 29-year old winger is one of the league’s biggest bargains, carrying a cap hit of just less than $4MM. That contract extends for one more year, putting Simmonds on track to be part of the superclass of free agents in 2019. If the Flyers are to make the playoffs and cause any problems in the first round, they’ll need Simmonds at full strength.

Oskar Lindblom has been recalled by the team and could make his NHL debut tonight.

Erik Gudbranson “Getting Closer” To Extension With Canucks

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Tuesday: Bob McKenzie of TSN tweets that the two sides are on track to complete the deal this week, explaining it will be a multi-year contract. McKenzie speculates that the deal will be around three years and $4MM per season, though the exact numbers are still being hammered out.

Monday: Though there has been trade speculation swirling around Vancouver Canucks defenseman Erik Gudbranson for much of the season, GM Jim Benning has also been clear that he would explore an extension with the pending unrestricted free agent. Rick Dhaliwal of News 1130 now reports that those negotiations are going well, stating that they are “getting closer” to signing an extension.

The 26-year old is scheduled to be one of the youngest players on the open market this summer, but has several questions surrounding his game moving forward. While the league continues to get smaller, faster and more skilled, Gudbranson remains as a throwback of sorts to a more physical brand of hockey. The defensive defenseman has just 53 points in 380 career NHL games, but is a force on the ice and is a key penalty killer for the Canucks.

With rumors surrounding Chris Tanev’s future in Vancouver, the Canucks could be looking for Gudbranson to stay on as that defensive presence. Even if Tanev isn’t traded, the team is clearly happy with the contribution Gudbranson can make, and don’t want to just give him away at the deadline.

Minor Transactions: 02/20/18

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The trade market is heating up, with two deals yesterday that indicate a willingness to sell. Though much of the action may come down to the very last day, this week will be filled with preparations. We’ll keep track of all those minor moves right here, as teams set their roster for a big deadline splash.

Flyers Acquire Petr Mrazek From Red Wings

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The Flyers have added some goaltending depth with the absences of Brian Elliott and Michal Neuvirth, announcing that they have acquired Petr Mrazek from the Red Wings in exchange for a conditional fourth-round pick in 2018 and a conditional third-round pick in 2019.  TSN’s Bob McKenzie reports (Twitter link) that the 2018 selection will become a third-rounder if Philadelphia makes the playoffs and Mrazek wins five regular season games and will become a second-rounder if they reach the Eastern Conference Final with Mrazek winning six postseason contests.  The 2019 pick will transfer to Detroit if Mrazek re-signs with the Flyers at the end of the season.

Petr MrazekMrazek has had an up-and-down year with Detroit.  In the first three months of the season, he posted a GAA of 3.64 with a .892 SV%, numbers that are well below average.  He has turned things around considerably since then.  In his past 11 games, he has cut his GAA down to 2.29 and upped his SV% to a strong .925.  As a result, he had started to wrestle away starts from Jimmy Howard as of late.  On the season, Mrazek has a 2.89 GAA with a .910 SV% in 22 appearances.

With Elliott out for roughly another month and no word yet on how long Neuvirth will miss, the Flyers were down to Alex Lyon and Dustin Tokarski on the depth chart.  (They did get some good news earlier in the day as prospect Anthony Stolarz was activated off season-opening injured reserve and was assigned to their AHL affiliate in Lehigh Valley.)

The 26-year-old is in the second and final season of a two-year, $8MM contract signed back in July of 2016.  Craig Custance of The Athletic adds (Twitter link) that Detroit is retaining the maximum 50% of his deal.  He has a $4.15MM salary in 2017-18 which will stand as his required qualifying offer in June.  Both Elliott ($2.75MM) and Neuvirth ($2.5MM) are already signed for 2018-19 so at first glance, Mrazek may very well be a non-tender candidate but he will at least give them a boost between the pipes as they continue to battle for a postseason spot in a tight Metropolitan Division.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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