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Archives for March 2018

Minor Transactions: 3/11/18

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With a busy 11-game schedule Saturday, the NHL has a lighter schedule today with just four games. With all the injuries, many teams will look to make moves to shore up their roster for the upcoming week.

  • The Arizona Coyotes announced they have assigned defenseman Andrew Campbell to Tucson of the AHL. Strome, the Coyotes third-overall pick in the 2015 draft, has had trouble finding a role with the Coyotes so far as he has just one goal and no assists in 11 NHL games, but has been dominant with the Roadrunners. He has 22 goals and 27 assists in 44 games with Tucson. Campbell was recalled last Sunday as an emergency while defenseman Alex Goligoski was with his wife, waiting for the birth of their child. He did not appear in a game.  Center Dylan Strome was recalled on an emergency basis at the same time but later in the day, the team announced that that recall was cancelled.
  • The St. Louis Blues have announced they have assigned goaltender Ville Husso, forward Samuel Blais, and defenseman Chris Butler to the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL. Husso had been recalled on Thursday as an emergency replacement for goaltender Carter Hutton, who injured his neck, but Husso did not see any playing time. Butler was recalled Saturday as an emergency defenseman, but wasn’t needed. Blais, who has been out with a concussion, skated Thursday and might be ready to play with San Antonio. The 21-year-old has three points in 11 games with St. Louis.
  • The Buffalo Sabres announced they have assigned forwards Justin Bailey and Daniel O’Regan to the Rochester Americans of the AHL. Both players, who have been shuttled back and forth recently between the two teams, are likely being sent down with a four-game break coming up for the Sabres. Buffalo doesn’t play again until Thursday against Toronto. Bailey, the team’s second-round pick in 2013, scored a goal in Saturday’s game against Vegas, but only picked up 8:39 minutes of ice time. O’Regan, acquired in the Evander Kane trade at the trade deadline, has not picked up a point yet in two games with San Jose. The 24-year-old only got 10:19 of ice time Saturday.
  • As reported yesterday, the Colorado Avalanche officially assigned forward Vladislav Kamenev to the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL last night, according to CapFriendly. Kamenev, who came over to the Avalanche from Nashville in the Matt Duchene trade, broke his arm on his first game with Colorado. He is ready to get some playing time in San Antonio and could be recalled once he’s back in game shape.
  • As reported yesterday, the Calgary Flames officially announced they have activated goaltender Mike Smith and have assigned goaltender Jon Gillies to the Stockton Heat of the AHL. Smith has been out of the lineup since Feb. 11 with a groin injury and has been listed as day-to-day for weeks. However, he is expected to start today. The return is critical for Calgary who is fighting for a playoff spot. Smith, an all-star this year, has a 2.53 GAA, but more importantly, a .921 save percentage in 47 games for the Flames. The 24-year-old Gillies struggled in limited playing time for Calgary as he played in seven games, putting up a 2.78 GAA and a .904 save percentage.
  • The Colorado Avalanche announced they have recalled goaltender Spencer Martin from the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL to serve as an emergency backup after Jonathan Bernier was hit in the head with a puck during Saturday’s game. He had already missed several weeks due to concussion symptoms. Martin has had to fill in due to multiple injuries to both Bernier and Andrew Hammond. Martin hasn’t appeared in a game for Colorado, but has a 3.05 GAA and a .895 in 31 appearances with the Rampage.
  • The Carolina Hurricanes have recalled winger Valentin Zykov, per a team release.  He has yet to play with the ’Canes this season but has been productive at the AHL level with 30 goals in 57 games which leads their affiliate in Charlotte.

Pacific Notes: Arizona Ownership, Klefbom, Pettersson, Gaudette, Hague

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With the state of the franchise constantly in question, Arizona Coyotes chairman and governor Andrew Barroway is looking for potential partnerships for his ownership of the franchise and has spoken to several interested investors, according to Arizona Sports Craig Morgan.

While it’s too early to know what role or control the other investors would have over the Coyotes, Morgan writes that there is no timetable on when or if there will be a new ownership structure in Arizona. The idea of adding investors to its ownership group would be able to infuse the struggling franchise with more money, but it could also help the team to tackle bigger needs, such as building a new arena or even a new practice facility.

Ironically, Barroway has only been the team’s sole owner for less than a year. He bought out the previous ownership group, IceArizona, that bought the team back in 2013. He did say when he completed the buyout that he’d be open to adding investors.

  • The Edmonton Oilers could find themselves looking hard to find a puck-moving defenseman this offseason in hopes of replacing Oscar Klefbom, who has been struggling after being their No. 1 guy a year ago during their playoff run. The Athletic’s Allan Mitchell (subscription required) writes that the Oilers must decide whether injuries have slowed Klefbom’s success or whether he isn’t the player they thought he was. The 24-year-old put up 12 goals and 36 points last year, but his numbers have dropped to just four goals and 19 points this season. Mitchell writes the team will look at several options to add to their defense, including potentially trading for Carolina’s Justin Faulk, Colorado’s Tyson Barrie and Boston’s Torey Krug. If Klefbom can regain his form from the 2016-17 season, he does have a affordable contract which will count $4.17MM per year until the 2022-23 season. However, if he continues to play like he did this season, Klefbom’s contract doesn’t look nearly as good.
  • Sportsnet’s Rick Dhaliwal spoke to Vancouver Canucks scout Lars Lindgren about the impressive play of the team’s 2017 first-round pick Elias Pettersson, who won the SHL scoring title Saturday. A rookie in the SHL, the 19-year-old put up 24 goals and 56 points this season, but the question is when will he be ready to join Vancouver? “Tough question, impossible to say,” Lindgren said. “When you look at him he still needs to build power but he is such a smart, smart player. Hopefully he becomes a franchise player. He does not collect all his points on the power play and his plus minus is great and that is a very good sign for me. He has a little Nicklas Backstrom in him and I like that. It is a big summer for him to get to the next level.”
  • Another top Canucks prospect, center Adam Gaudette, broke the 30-goal barrier this year with Northeastern University, according to Dhaliwal. He is just the seventh player in the NCAA to reach the 30-goal plateau since 2012-13. Vancouver hopes to convince the college junior to sign with the team after his season is over. The former fifth-round pick in 2015 has put up 68 goals in three seasons with the Huskies.
  • Vegas Golden Knights defensive prospect Nicholas Hague has been making a name for himself, according to David Schoen of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The 2017 second-round pick broke the 30-goal mark last month with his OHL team, the Mississauga Steelheads, and became the first OHL defenseman since 2000 to reach that plateau. Already signed to an entry-level deal back in September, the 6-foot-6, 215 pound defender is another significant asset for the Golden Knights.

Philadelphia Flyers Sign Carsen Twarynski To ELC

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The Philadelphia Flyers announced they have signed prospect Carsen Twarynski to a three-year entry-level contract Sunday. The winger was the team’s third-round pick in the 2016 draft.

Twarynski had a breakout year this season with the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL after two average seasons the previous two years. After combining to post 37 goals in his previous two seasons combined, the 20-year-old has really stepped up, potting 43 goals this season as well as adding a career-high 27 assists and 81 penalty minutes.

At 6-foot-2, 198 pounds, Twarynski is a big winger with both speed and physicality that aids him on the ice. A solid defender and passer, who has improved immensely on the offensive end, he provides the Flyers with yet another solid prospect that they can look forward to seeing in the next few years. He projects as a bottom-six forward at the NHL level, according to The Athletic’s Alexander Appleyard.

Injury Update: Stone, Marchand, Duclair, Crawford, Nutivaara, Bishop

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Ottawa Senators winger Mark Stone will not be making the trip to Florida for their game against the Panthers on Monday, according to Ottawa Sun’s Don Brennan. Stone suffered a leg injury after colliding with Calgary’s Micheal Ferland on Friday.

Brennan added that Ottawa coach Guy Boucher said today that he did not know whether the injury would keep Stone out of the lineup short-term or long-term. The loss of Stone would be another disappointment in the Senators’ season. Stone has been one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing season. The 25-year-old already has broken his career-high in assists with 42 and is on track to have a career-high in goals. He currently has 22 this season. He was one of the few untouchable players at the trade deadline this season.

  • The Boston Bruins announced that Brad Marchand would miss Sunday’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks with an upper body injury. The move has received a lot of attention as the forward was yanked at the last minute before the game, just one day after Marchand had another collision with a player, this time with Chicago’s Anthony Duclair. Many believe the team held him out as a precaution from potential retribution.
  • Speaking of Duclair, Tracey Myers of NHL.com writes that Duclair was wearing a walking boot on his right leg this morning. Coach Joel Quenneville said yesterday after the game that Duclair is expected to miss one to two weeks. Myers added that goaltender Corey Crawford is still not skating with the team, although he is working out on his own.
  • Steve Gorten of the Columbus Dispatch writes that good news could be coming for two players with the Columbus Blue Jackets as defensemen Dean Kukan and Markus Nutivaara are both practicing in full gear and may be close to returning to the team. Kukan and Nutivaara were both injured in the same game on Feb. 16. Kukan, who has been out with an upper-body injury, has appeared in 10 games for Columbus this year. Nutivaara has been on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. He has played in 51 games so far this season with three goals and 15 assists.
  • Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News writes that Dallas Stars goaltender Ben Bishop, who has been out since Mar. 5 with a knee injury, skated today with no pads and is scheduled to skate tomorrow with pads. No word on how soon, the veteran goaltender is expected to return. The 31-year-old has played 51 games for Dallas, posting a 2.49 GAA and a solid .917 save percentage.

Snapshots: Olympics, Hurricanes, Smith

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Although the next Olympics are four years away, talk has already started regarding whether or not NHL players will be allowed to participate.  Speaking at the SXSW Interactive Conference (relayed by Jim Vertuno of the Associated Press), Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly acknowledged that owners may believe that “There may be more positives to participating in Beijing” compared to the most recent games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.  A decision on whether or not the league will pause their season to allow NHL participation is still a few years away and as a result, it will likely be a key discussion point whenever the next round of CBA negotiations get underway.

More from around the hockey world:

  • Yesterday, it was reported that the Hurricanes had asked for permission to interview Mike Futa for their now-vacant GM position. We can now add more names to the list that Carolina is interested in.  Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic and TSN reports (Twitter link) that the team has asked for permission to talk to Paul Fenton (Nashville) and Julien BriseBois (Tampa Bay) as well as reaching out to former Vancouver assistant GM Laurence Gilman.  TSN’s Darren Dreger adds (via Twitter) that they have also requested permission to interview Tom Fitzgerald (New Jersey).
  • The Flames should get goaltender Mike Smith back for tomorrow night against the Islanders, head coach told Sportsnet’s John Shannon (Twitter link). The veteran has been out of the lineup for the last month with a groin injury and a result, Calgary has been using rookies David Rittich and Jon Gillies between the pipes and despite their best efforts, they now find themselves on the outside looking in at the postseason.  If Smith is indeed activated off injured reserve, Gillies will likely be returned to Stockton of the AHL as he is currently with the team on an emergency recall.

2018 College Free Agent Market: Defensemen

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With the college playoffs starting to get underway, we’re starting to see a few free agents that were eliminated early sign with NHL teams.  Many more players will become available in the coming weeks and quite a few will sign shortly thereafter.

With that in mind, here is a closer look at some of the defensemen that could be of interest to teams in the coming weeks.  Zach Whitecloud would have been a prominent name on this list but he has already signed with Vegas.  All of these players are undrafted (and are too old to be drafted this year making them eligible for free agency) and unless they’re in their senior season, they could opt to return to their schools for the 2018-19 campaign.

Daniel Brickley (Minnesota State)

The 22-year-old eschewed NHL interest last year and he should have plenty of suitors once again.  Brickley has been flirting with the point-per-game mark for the second straight year and at 6’3, has the size that many teams will covet.  He lacks the top-end mobility that is becoming more and more coveted around the league but that won’t scare away any suitors.  On top of that, he is the reigning WCHA defensive player of the year.  Not surprisingly, he is viewed by many as the top NCAA free agent available this year and 30 teams have already been in contact with his advisor.

Jordan Gross (Notre Dame)

Last year, we speculated that he could be a candidate to return for his senior year given that an immediate NHL spot wasn’t on the horizon.  That is indeed the route that the undersized Gross took and his final college campaign hasn’t been as strong as his junior year.  However, his skating skills are still quite strong which should get him a look.  He won’t be someone that teams will look to burn the first year of his entry-level deal this season, however.

Tariq Hammond (Denver)

A lot of players on this list are known for their offensive abilities but Hammond is not one of those.  He is more of a pure stay-at-home defender but has the mobility to skate his way out of trouble, even after undergoing multiple ankle surgeries over the offseason which cost him playing time out of the gate this year.  He may not sign in the weeks to come but should land an entry-level deal before next season.

Grant Hutton (Miami (Ohio))

Hutton has really taken a big step forward this season and has become a real threat from the point with a career-best ten goals.  The right-shot defender has also logged tough minutes defensively and has a decent all-around game.  He is eligible to return for one more year but he should receive enough pro interest that allows him to find a fit he likes to forego his senior season.

Brogan Rafferty (Quinnipiac)

Rafferty actually drew NHL interest after his freshman campaign but chose to stick around.  He has improved in his sophomore campaign so it’s likely that he will draw some attention again this time around.  However, his overall game isn’t as refined as some of the other players on this list so it wouldn’t be surprising to see him remain at the NCAA level for another year.

Alec Rauhauser (Bowling Green State)

The sophomore has burst onto the scene with a very strong offensive repertoire that has allowed him to however around the point-per-game mark this season.  That alone will get the attention of some teams although it’s worth noting that his play in his own end needs some work.  It may be better for him to stick around for another year and become more of a two-way option as a result.

Jimmy Schuldt (St. Cloud)

Schuldt received a lot of NHL interest last year but chose to stick around for his junior campaign.  Suffice to say, that was a smart decision.  He has blossomed offensively into one of the better point producers on the back end at the college level and could be in line for a Hobey Baker nomination.  He is someone that teams may be willing to burn the first year of his entry-level deal now but the Huskies appear to be headed for a lengthy postseason run.

Pacific Notes: Puljujarvi, Versteeg, Terry

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Edmonton’s team needs are well known and chief among them is a winger that can play with Connor McDavid.  The Oilers were hoping that 2016 fourth-overall selection Jesse Puljujarvi would fit into that role but he has yet to establish himself in his first two seasons in North America.  Accordingly, some wondered if the team might have been willing to part with him before the trade deadline in an effort to get someone who is a better fit (or fits another area of need).  However, TSN’s Darren Dreger noted in an appearance on TSN 1260 (audio link) that the team is far from ready to give up on him and made him unavailable for the deadline but wonders if they may have to re-evaluate that thought in the summer.  The Finnish winger has 18 points (11-7-18) in 50 games this season and will be eligible to sign a contract extension on July 1st.

More from the Pacific:

  • The Flames are likely to get a boost to their forward unit in the coming days. Head coach Glen Gulutzan told reporters, including Sportsnet 960’s Pat Steinberg (Twitter link) that winger Kris Versteeg should be able to return to the lineup this coming week after he gets a few practices under his belt.  The veteran has been out with a hip issue since late November and may be able to give Calgary’s power play a lift as five of his eight points on the season (in 22 games) have come with the man advantage.
  • The Ducks are likely to aggressively try to convince prospect Troy Terry to sign following his college season and forego his senior year, notes Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register. Neither the team nor Terry’s advisor Kurt Overhardt would comment on the status of any potential negotiations.  A fifth-round pick of Anaheim in 2015, the 20-year-old center is in his third year at the University of Denver and has put up 37 points in 32 games this season.

Islanders Notes: Losing Streak, Tavares, Gibson, Leddy

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Just over three weeks ago, the New York Islanders were clinging to a wildcard berth and now with an eight-game losing streak on hand, New York is looking up from a distance as they find themselves eight points back of a playoff spot, almost guaranteeing another disappointing year in New York. After being eliminated from the playoffs on the final game of the year last season, that makes for two disappointing years for soon-to-be unrestricted free agent John Tavares.

The Hockey News’ Jared Clinton writes that this eight-game losing streak comes at a one of the worst times of the year — right during their playoff run — which will only hurt the Islanders’ chances of re-signing the all-star, who has already broken the 30-goal plateau this year for the fourth time in his career. While it might have been exciting to play for one of the top offenses in the league earlier this year, Clinton writes that since Dec. 1, the Islanders offense has been average at best, tied 12th in the league, averaging 2.88 goals per game. Considering the holes in both the Islanders defense and goaltending, there definitely seems to be a lot of negatives that Tavares will have to sort out in the coming months.

  • Newsday’s Neil Best tries to figure out the meaning of Tavares’ comments last Monday in Vancouver after the team suffered a disappointing overtime loss. Tavares said, “Obviously, this isn’t a whole lot of fun right now,” causing a frenzy of reaction from both unhappy Islanders fans and elated NHL fans hoping their team can steal the star player for themselves. Tavares was quick to say the comment had nothing to do with his feelings about the franchise or his willingness to re-sign. “I’m sure when people look at the way our team’s going, they want to speculate,” he said. “They speculate on teams that have won eight in a row, too. I just control what I control. It’s just other people talking. I’m sure there’s interest, but I can’t worry about that. That doesn’t have really much to do with me, what other people think or what they think what I say means. I have always said how committed I am to this team, this organization, the guys in the locker room. I mean, losing eight in a row isn’t very much fun.”
  • After some impressive performances in goal for New York’s Christopher Gibson, several players were clamoring for the 25-year-old to get more playing time as the team is floundering over their past eight games, according to The Athletic’s Arthur Staple (subscription required). Gibson, who has led the team to two overtime games (both losses) has performed admirably as he boasts a 1.86 GAA and a .953 save percentage in his only two NHL appearances this season. He had a 2.31 GAA and a .909 save percentage in 33 AHL games this season. “He’s played phenomenal, starting in Pitt and again here tonight,” defenseman Brandon Davidson said. “I think he’s kind of earned the right to be the guy.” Gibson is sharing time with starter Jaroslav Halak, while backup Thomas Greiss is injured.
  • In another piece, Staple points a finger at Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy, who is most likely the team’s top defenseman, writing that his game has slowly gone south like the direction the team is heading. After putting up 20 points in his first 28 games, both his offense and defense seems to have fallen off. Leddy, who still has four years remaining on his contract, holds a plus/minus rating of -33, which is second-worst in the league next to Arizona’s Oliver Ekman-Larsson. And despite his early offensive output, he also has had just 18 points in the last 40 games. Staple writes that Leddy is a key cog to the team’s defense and probably the most important as veteran Johnny Boychuk will be 35 next year and the team is likely to lose Calvin de Haan in free agency.

Boston Bruins Sign Cameron Hughes To ELC

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The Boston Bruins announced they have signed University of Wisconsin center and team captain Cameron Hughes to a three-year entry-level deal Saturday, which will start in the 2018-19 season. The 21-year-0ld will report to the Providence Bruins of the AHL on an Amateur Tryout Agreement (ATO) for the rest of the year.

The Bruins sixth-round pick in 2015, Hughes played four years for the Badgers and put up eight goals and 14 assists this year. Wisconsin’s season ended last Sunday in a Big Ten quarterfinal loss to Michigan, despite Hughes scoring a goal. While his overall offensive numbers were down from his past two years, his eight goals were a career high this year. He put up seven goals and 25 assists as a junior as well as served as alternate captain that year.

Since he had played for four years at Wisconsin, Hughes could have chosen to wait until August to become an unrestricted free agent, but instead chose to sign with the Bruins.

 

Injury Notes: Marchand, Duclair, Vatrano, Klefbom, Smith, Avalanche, Seeler

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Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand could miss some time — not due to injury — but after another incident in which the forward collided with Chicago Blackhawks winger Anthony Duclair in Saturday’s game. You can see the video here. While on the surface it does look as if Marchand was attempting to avoid Duclair, one has to wonder how the Department of Player Safety will treat the incident after numerous incidents this season. A repeat offender, Marchand served a five-game suspension back in January for concussing New Jersey Devils forward Marcus Johansson.

Marchand was given a two-minute interference penalty on the play, but Duclair was forced to exit the game as he suffered a knee injury. The Blackhawks later announced that he will not return for the rest of the game and Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that he will miss one-to-two weeks.

  • Matthew DeFranks of the SunSentinel writes the Florida Panthers have activated forward Frank Vatrano and will make his Panthers debut Saturday night. Vatrano, who was acquired a week before the trade deadline from the Boston Bruins for a third-round pick, will attempt to find his game with the rising Panthers despite missing some time with a high ankle sprain. He is slated to appear on the team’s second line alongside Vincent Trocheck and Jonathan Huberdeau as the team hopes Vatrano could be a valuable addition to their core. After putting up 39 goals in 45 career AHL games, he has struggled in the NHL. With Boston, the 23-year-old had just two goals in 25 games this year and often found himself scratched.
  • Edmonton Oilers head coach Todd MacLellan said defenseman Oscar Klefbom will miss the next two games to undergo a “minor procedure.” With rumors that Klefbom was been playing injured for much of the year, the eventual question will be whether the team should shut him down in the near future.
  • Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Steve Carp writes that center Reilly Smith was sent back to Las Vegas after he sustained an upper body injury during Tuesday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He is not playing today and is not expected to be ready for Monday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers. Smith is having a career year with 22 goals and 38 assists in his first year with Vegas.
  • Kyle Fredrickson of the Denver Post writes that the team intends to start Jonathan Bernier today after Bernier has missed the past 10 games with a head injury. Starter Semyon Varlamov has struggled recently having allowed 11 goals in the past three games. The scribe also writes that defenseman Erik Johnson skated Friday in a non-contact jersey. He hasn’t played in a game since Feb. 18. There is no timeline for Johnson, according to head coach Jared Bednar. Forward Vladislav Kamenev, who broke his arm in November after being acquired from Nashville, practiced Friday and is likely to be sent to the AHL for a couple of games on a conditioning stint.
  • Sarah McLellan of the StarTribune writes that defenseman Nick Seeler, who has been dealing with a right bicep strain and the flu, is improving, but did not travel with the team to Vancouver and would only join the team in Edmonton if there is an injury on defense before then.

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