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Archives for February 2018

Brian Gionta “Optimistic” About NHL Contract Following Olympics

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39-year old Brian Gionta didn’t want to uproot his family and chase a contract somewhere around the NHL last offseason, and instead pursued another Olympic medal as captain of Team USA. Now, as Gionta tries to bounce back after an early upset in the tournament, his agent is still working the phones for his next opportunity. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic (subscription required) spoke with agent Steve Bartlett about Gionta’s future, and it seems promising.

…I think he’ll have a landing spot when all is said and done. We’re optimistic. I’ll continue to have discussions with interested teams, but right now our list is getting pretty short as far as what we think is a good fit for him and vice-versa.

While LeBrun can’t pry out who the interested teams may be, it’s no surprise that there will be a landing spot for Gionta. Despite his age, Gionta is coming off a solid season in Buffalo in which he scored 15 goals and 35 points. That level of production has never escaped the undersized winger, and it could come in handy down the stretch for a playoff-bound team. Gionta is revered as an excellent leader around the league, and comes with 112 games of playoff experience.

Though he likely won’t play a top-six role wherever he goes, what better player to add to your fourth-line mix than a proven leader that can play in all different situations. LeBrun speculates on a fit in Tampa Bay (which is not one of the teams that has reached out, according to Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times) and Boston, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see any playoff hopeful add Gionta. He’ll have to sign before the February 26th trade deadline to be eligible for the postseason, but the gold medal game is luckily just a day before that.

Minor Transactions: 02/16/18

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The trade book got another couple of entries yesterday, as the Toronto Maple Leafs sent Nikita Soshnikov away and the Ottawa Senators took a risk on Ville Pokka. Today could bring much of the same, but for now we’ll just focus on the minor transactions teams make around the league.

West Notes: Maroon, MacKinnon, Sekera

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The Oilers are expected to speak with Allain Roy, the agent for pending unrestricted free agent winger Patrick Maroon in the next 24-48 hours to discuss a contract extension, Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic reports (video link).  However, given Edmonton’s salary cap constraints, a trade is still the likelier outcome.  With that in mind, LeBrun notes that a late first-round pick is a possibility for a return but GM Peter Chiarelli would prefer a prospect that is close to making an NHL impact.  The Bruins are known to have interest in the 29-year-old and have several youngsters that are on the cusp of being ready to be recalled so they may be a team to watch for here.  Darren Dreger of TSN adds Winnipeg as a team that is interested in Maroon.

Elsewhere out West:

  • Colorado is getting closer to getting their leading scorer back. Mike Chambers of the Denver Post notes that center Nathan MacKinnon participated in an optional skate today with a non-contact jersey.  However, he has been ruled out of their game on Friday in Winnipeg as he did not make the trip with the team.  However, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar classified MacKinnon, who will miss his eighth straight game tomorrow with shoulder troubles, as questionable for Sunday’s tilt against Edmonton.
  • While the Oilers are only saying that defenseman Andrej Sekera has a facial injury after taking a puck to the face on Wednesday versus Anaheim, Postmedia’s Jim Matheson suggests that the blueliner might be dealing with a concussion as well. Edmonton has already shifted him to injured reserve.  This has been a rough season for the 31-year-old who missed the first few months after tearing his ACL back in May and he has struggled considerably when he has been in the lineup.

Trade Candidate: Max Pacioretty

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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.

Although he has a reputation of being a streaky scorer, Canadiens winger Max Pacioretty has been one of the more prominent goal scorers around the NHL over the past several years.  With Montreal floundering in the standings, his name has been floated out in trade talks and as a result, he is one of the top players available heading into the deadline.

Contract

Pacioretty is in the fifth season of a six-year, $27MM contract.  He is earning a salary of $5MM both this season and next and will be an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2019.

2017-18

As is the case with a lot of Montreal’s players, this season hasn’t gone to plan for Pacioretty.  He has had his usual hot stretches but his slumps have lasted longer than normal and as a result, he has yet to hit the 20-goal mark which puts his streak of four straight years with at least 30 tallies in serious jeopardy.

However, for teams interested in acquiring him, there is some cause for optimism.  His shooting percentage of 8.1% is his lowest since becoming a full-time NHL player back in 2010-11.  He also has been in a situation where his center has primarily been a winger playing out of position which certainly hasn’t helped.  A move to a team with quality options down the middle would likely result in him getting closer to his career numbers.

Season Stats

56 GP, 16 goals, 17 assists, 33 points, -12 rating, 22 PIMS, 198 shots, 19:10 ATOI, 53.5 CF%

Potential Suitors

Nov 4, 2017; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Montreal Canadiens left wing Max Pacioretty (67) warms up during the pre-game before a game against the Winnipeg Jets at Bell MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: James Carey Lauder-USA TODAY SportsMost contending teams with some cap room will have interest in Pacioretty and it’s possible that non-playoff teams may kick the tires knowing that he’s signed for one more year (that might be more of an offseason inquiry, however).

In the East, Tampa Bay is likely to make a splash at some point and adding a top winger would make a potent offense that much stronger.  The two teams have already made a significant swap recently as well with the Jonathan Drouin–Mikhail Sergachev deal back in the summer.  Garth Snow is on record saying he doesn’t want to move picks and prospects for rental players but with Pacioretty being signed for one more year, there could certainly be a fit with the Islanders.  The Blue Jackets need scoring help and have more than enough room to fit him in on the salary cap this season.

Out West, Nashville has solidified their depth down the middle and can turn their focus to the wing where Pacioretty would slot in well inside their top six.  Los Angeles has shored up their back end with the Dion Phaneuf acquisition and will now turn their focus up front.  However, GM Rob Blake may be hesitant to part with the top pick and/or prospect considering they’re a team on the bubble for the postseason.  Meanwhile, San Jose is going to be on the lookout for help in their top six with Joe Thornton out and they are well-positioned both this season and beyond for the salary cap; they can add Pacioretty’s deal without any difficulty.

Likelihood Of A Trade

Does Pacioretty have more trade value now where the acquiring team can have him for two playoff runs or in the offseason when more teams have cap space to work with and the Canadiens could be open to retaining on the contract?  The answer to this question may play a role in what happens here.  GM Marc Bergevin has set a steep asking price and with other scoring wingers on the market, he may have a hard time landing it unless several of them get moved in the coming days or someone decides Pacioretty is worth paying a premium for.  As a result, the summer appears to be the likelier time for a trade to take place.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Metropolitan Notes: Penguins, Kruger, Jenner

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The Penguins have expressed an interest in Senators centers Derick Brassard and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, reports Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch.   However, the scribe notes that Ottawa isn’t likely to deal either player and it was reported earlier this week that the asking price for Brassard was quite steep – a first-round pick, a top prospect, plus another piece.  The ask on Pageau is obviously lower but with two years at $3.1MM per season left on his deal, it might be a challenge for Pittsburgh to fit that into their salary structure.  It’s well known that the Pens are still looking to add help down the middle but they will likely have to look elsewhere for that assistance.

More from the Metro:

  • The Hurricanes may be willing to retain on center Marcus Kruger’s contract in an effort to move him before the trade deadline, notes Luke DeCock of the Raleigh News and Observer. Kruger recently cleared waivers and has played his last three games with Carolina’s AHL affiliate in Charlotte.  Even with retaining on his contract, it still may be a challenge to find a taker as the 27-year-old has another year after this one on his deal with a cap hit just under $3.1MM although his salary dips to $2.3MM.
  • Aaron Portzline of The Athletic relays (subscription required) that Blue Jackets forward Boone Jenner is out there as a possible trade option. 2017-18 has been a down year for Jenner as he has just five goals in 50 games after tallying 48 over the previous two seasons combined.  Given his size and ability to play center though, he would undoubtedly garner a lot of interest.  Jenner has a $2.9MM salary and cap hit this season which will stand as his qualifying offer this summer as a restricted free agent with arbitration rights.

Snapshots: Carter, Stars, Kamenev

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The Los Angeles Kings changed the look of their defense corps with the acquisition of Dion Phaneuf, but are reportedly still interested in bringing in a forward to help them increase their offense. That offense has struggled for much of the season, and sits 17th in the league in terms of goals for. Luckily, that all could change very soon even without an outside addition.

According to Josh Cooper of LA Kings Insider (temporarily at least) Jeff Carter is hopeful to return to practice after the Kings’ current road trip, which ends after their Tuesday matchup in Winnipeg. If Carter is able to get back in the lineup soon after that, he will give the team a huge offensive boost up the middle. The 33-year old center is coming off three straight 60+ point seasons, including leading the team with 32 goals in 2016-17. He’s played just six games this year, and is probably the best trade deadline acquisition the Kings could make.

  • The Dallas Stars’ AHL affiliate has announced extensions for both head coach Derek Laxdal and assistant coach Karl Taylor, guaranteeing them another year with the Texas Stars. The team is 25-18-7 this season, but has graduated several players to the NHL in the past few years. Laxdal, a former NHL forward, has coached teams at both the ECHL and WHL levels to championships and won a Calder Cup as a player.
  • Adrian Dater of BSN Denver reports that Vladislav Kamenev has been activated and will head to the San Antonio Rampage to start playing again. Kamenev broke his arm in his first game with the Colorado Avalanche after being acquired in the Matt Duchene deal, but is a good two-way forward prospect for the team that could help down the stretch. With Colorado still fighting for a playoff spot, a player like Kamenev could make a name for himself with some big contributions over the next few months.

Ottawa Senators Acquire Ville Pokka From Chicago Blackhawks

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After clearing waivers today, Chris DiDomenico is on his way to Chicago. The Ottawa Senators have traded the forward to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for defenseman Ville Pokka. Both players can immediately be sent to the minor leagues, since that was where they were assigned when the trade occurred.

DiDomenico was finally slipped through waivers after being claimed and then re-claimed by Tampa Bay and Ottawa earlier this season. With that came some flexibility, and Chicago has decided that was enough to pull the trigger to bring him into the Rockford picture. Whether he’ll get time at the NHL level is unclear, but he can now be moved up and down for the time being.

Pokka on the other hand has yet to make his NHL debut, and didn’t look likely to make it anytime soon for the Blackhawks. The 23-year old defenseman was selected 34th-overall by the New York Islanders in 2012, and has shown good offensive ability in the minor leagues. Unfortunately, that has come with a lot of struggles in the defensive end and a lack of any real consistency on the ice. That sort of wildcard is exactly the kind of risk Ottawa is willing to take as they try to build their club back up.

Interestingly, DiDomenico is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent this summer and won’t help the Blackhawks at the NHL level in any meaningful way unless they re-sign him (provided the team doesn’t go on an incredible hot streak and slip into the playoffs this season). Whatever value he’ll bring this season to Chicago or Rockford was apparently enough to give up on Pokka, who clearly had been passed over several times by other prospects in the organization. Pokka is a restricted free agent and could become a Group VI UFA in 2019 if he isn’t given an extended opportunity at the NHL level between now and then.

Toronto Maple Leafs Trade Nikita Soshnikov To St. Louis Blues

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As we wrote yesterday, the Toronto Maple Leafs found themselves with an excess of wingers heading toward the trade deadline and today have moved on from one of them. The team has traded Nikita Soshnikov to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for a 2019 fourth-round pick. Soshnikov is technically still on injured reserve, though he has completed a conditioning stint in the minor leagues and from all accounts is ready to return to NHL action.

Nikita SoshnikovThe Maple Leafs had been at the 50-contract limit for some time, and needed to make a trade to open up room for some flexibility into the deadline. Moving Soshnikov not only gives them that flexibility, but also an asset in exchange for a player who would have a hard time cracking the lineup. The 24-year old winger has dealt with injury for much of the last calendar year, including a concussion suffered when he collided with Zdeno Chara at the end of last season. That has clouded his future, but there remains upside for the Blues.

In Soshnikov, they’re acquiring a hard working winger capable of engaging physically and playing a few different roles on the team. Though he’s not guaranteed to score at the NHL level, he has shown that ability in the minor leagues and possesses a good shot with a quick release.

Unfortunately, two things made a departure seemingly inevitable in Toronto. First, Soshnikov lost his waiver-exempt status earlier this season and would have likely been snatched up had they tried to pass him through. Second, his contract includes a European Assignment clause, meaning he could choose to go back to Russia if sent to the minor leagues. Though Soshnikov has not made any indication he would exercise the clause, it likely played into the Maple Leafs decision.

The Blues will have to decide in the next few days whether Soshnikov is fit to return from injured reserve, and where he fits into their plan for the last part of the season. As a pending restricted free agent, his camp will surely be pushing for an opportunity to show that he can contribute in a meaningful way down the stretch.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Submit Your Questions For The #PHRMailbag

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Just a couple of weeks remain until the NHL trade deadline, when teams are forced to finally make a decision on their future. Will they push their chips to the middle and try to take home the ultimate prize, or sit back and fold this season to try again another day? The trade market hasn’t opened up just yet, but now is your chance to ask our own Brian La Rose when he thinks it will.

Is Ryan McDonagh really going to be moved? What additions will the Boston Bruins make? How many Norris wins is Rasmus Dahlin guaranteed? He has all the answers.

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

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