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Archives for March 2018

Ron Francis Out As Hurricanes General Manager

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New Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon is ready to change things up. The team has announced that Ron Francis, the General Manager and a legendary player for the franchise, will transition to a new role as President of Hockey Operations. A search will begin for a new GM, who will report directly to Dundon.

While the move may sound like a promotion, in reality it is not. Dundon more or less made that clear, saying “There are a lot of good people working in the organization, but I feel that a change in direction is needed when it comes to hockey personnel decisions.” He adds that “Ron is a smart and talented hockey man. I am glad that he will continue to be a part of the team, serving in this new role”, but Dundon apparently wants his own hire to be in charge of roster operations.

Francis served as GM of the Hurricanes for four seasons and has built a solid team, including one of the deepest defensive units in the NHL, but Carolina is on the outside of the playoff picture yet again and have a good chance of extending a league-worst postseason drought to nine years. While Francis has hardly been a bad GM, he hasn’t done enough – he didn’t make a single player-for-player trade in his tenure – and some of his mistakes (read: Scott Darling) have drawn much ire on the local and national scale. The new hire will face the daunting task of both fixing the goaltending situation and somehow acquiring the star forward that Carolina desperately needs. The GM decision could also lead to questions about the job security of head coach Bill Peters. In terms of evaluating talent, the Hurricanes have been known to be one of the leading front offices in terms of analytics, but it is unknown right now whether or not Dundon will continue to steer the team in that direction with his next hire.

Much is still up in the air, but it’s clear that things are changing in Raleigh. For a franchise that has lacked success in the standings and at the box office for too long, that could be a good thing. The Hurricanes will now be one of the more intriguing teams to watch in the approaching off-season.

Washington To Temporarily Bench Braden Holtby

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A Vezina Trophy winner is about to take a backseat, at least for a little while. “He hasn’t had a real good stretch,” Washington Capitals head coach Barry Trotz said of starting goaltender Braden Holtby, speaking to the Washington Post’s Isabelle Khurshudyan. The reigning Jennings Trophy winner allowed three goals on just nine shots before getting chased in last night’s 4-0 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, capping off what has indeed been a bad stretch of games. Holtby has just one win in his last eight games, allowing three or more goals and recording a save percentage of .909 or worse in those other seven losses.

For Trotz and the Capitals, the time has come to give Holtby a break and let backup Philipp Grubauer take over for a while. Trotz told Khurshudyan “Because (Holtby) is No. 1 doesn’t mean you don’t go with Grubi for a bit just so (Holtby) can settle his game. We’ll sit down with (goaltending coach Scott Murray) just to see what the best thing for the long haul is…He’s going to work with our goaltending coaches and get his game in order.” It seems that the plan is to let Holtby rest his body and get his head on straight, as the Capitals try to hold on to their top seed in the Metropolitan Division. In his stead, Grubauer looks ready to step up. The 26-year-old has been one of the league’s best backups for a few years and hasn’t slowed down in 2017-18. He’ll try to improve on his .922 save percentage and 2.36 goals against average in his stint as starter.

Holtby was named an All-Star this season and each of the past two seasons, won the Vezina Trophy in 2015-16, and has finished among the top ten in the league in saves percentage and goals against average in each of the last three years. Yet, even the best keepers can hit a cold streak. That doesn’t mean they can’t bounce back. Case in point: Tuukka Rask. The Boston Bruins starter got off to a horrid start this season, allowing three or more goals in 11 of his first 14 starts and posting just three wins in that span, briefly loses his job to Anton Khudobin. Since December, he’s had only eight such 3+ goal games and three regulation losses and has not only firmly retake his job, but has worked his way into Vezina conversation. Like Rask, there’s no reason why Holtby can’t return from this benching and be elite for the Capitals by the playoffs. This is just a minor setback.

Spending Potential: New Jersey’s Free Agency Possibilities

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When last offseason finally rolled around, and the free agent market was about to open, there was one name that clearly led the group. That was Kevin Shattenkirk, considered the only true top-end player available in an otherwise uninspiring group.  The New Jersey Devils were rumored to be interested, as they had huge amounts of cap space and an obvious need on defense. Add in that Shattenkirk wanted to play in the northeast and there seemed to be a nice match.

The Devils did go after Shattenkirk, but ended up missing out when the free agent defenseman signed with the New York Rangers, always his first choice. Speaking to Chris Ryan of NJ.com, Devils’ GM Ray Shero explained as much:

In the end, he grew up a Ranger fan. And I’m pretty sure if the Rangers were capped out or the Rangers weren’t interested, he’d probably be here, on the right type of contract for the right reasons. But you know what? I respect the process, I like Kevin as a person, he’s a good player, and that’s where it goes.

Ultimately, it may have worked out better for the Devils in the long run. Shattenkirk has been a mild disappointment in New York, struggling through injury and inconsistency in his first season on a team that is now starting a rebuild. The 29-year old has three more seasons on his deal with the Rangers, but might not be in a playoff run the whole time depending on how bare the Rangers’ front office strips the roster.

In New Jersey, they found their defensive help in Sami Vatanen after sending Adam Henrique to the Anaheim Ducks, and have taken a huge step forward in the standings. Already six points ahead of their total from 2016-17 with 15 games remaining, New Jersey is in position to return to the playoffs for the first time since losing in the Stanley Cup Final in 2012. They bought at the deadline for the first time in a while, adding Patrick Maroon and Michael Grabner to their young group up front. They also find themselves in another envious position heading into the offseason.

With Maroon, Grabner, Drew Stafford, John Moore and others coming off the books as unrestricted free agents, and Ryane Clowe’s contract finally expiring, the Devils project to have somewhere around $25MM in cap space depending on where the ceiling lands. Though they have to think about potential long-term deals for some of their young players down the road, 2018-19 doesn’t come with many of those decisions.

Miles Wood will be a restricted free agent this summer, and has shown enough in his second season to demand a substantial raise on his entry-level contract. But with just 44 points in 125 games, he’s hardly in a position to demand a huge cap hit. Any long-term deal with Wood would likely come at a relatively low salary, as he doesn’t even have arbitration rights yet.

Any of the aforementioned unrestricted free agents could be brought back, and Brian Gibbons will definitely get some consideration after something of a breakout first half. Gibbons has 23 points in 45 games during a season broken by injury, and could be signed to an inexpensive free agent contract if he decides to stick around.

Other than that, the Devils are free to pursue some of the more interesting names on the market this season. A quick look at our Midseason UFA Power Rankings shows a number of players who could dramatically improve the Devils attack, and give Taylor Hall some more support offensively. Talented wingers like James van Riemsdyk, James Neal and Evander Kane all remain unsigned, while there are several useful defensemen on the market who could strengthen the Devils blue line even further.

The Devils have just four players signed for three or more seasons after 2017-18, giving Shero ample flexibility to construct the team how he wants. After winning the draft lottery and seeing breakout rookie performances from Nico Hischier, Will Butcher and Jesper Bratt, New Jersey looks to be in as good a position as possible heading into the playoffs. Though any postseason games will surely be exciting for their fans, the months following may bring even more fireworks.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

David Backes Suspended Three Games

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David Backes has been suspended three games for his hit in last night’s game against the Detroit Red Wings. The Boston Bruins forward collided with Frans Nielsen well after the puck had been distributed, making contact with his head. As the accompanying video explains:

At the moment contact is made, [David] Pastrnak has already gained possession of the puck for the Bruins and made his next move with the puck. In addition to the lateness of the check, what elevates this hit to merit supplementary discipline, is the significant head contact that occurs, and the force with which it is delivered.

Backes will be forced out of the lineup for three games including a home-and-home against the Chicago Blackhawks this weekend. Despite playing with a physical style, the 33-year old Bruins forward has never been fined or suspended by the Department of Player Safety.

This is just another example of the league trying to reduce the occurrence of head shots in the NHL, as Nielsen was forced from the game and is not expected to play for the next few Red Wings contests. Had the check only been late—or if no injury had occured—it may have not been such a harsh punishment for Backes. As it happens, the Bruins will be without him for the next few days and Backes will be out nearly $100K.

Chicago Blackhawks Extend Erik Gustafsson, Sign Tyler Sikura

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The Chicago Blackhawks announced a few contracts this morning, giving out a two-year extension to Erik Gustafsson, while signing Tyler Sikura to a one-year contract. Sikura had been playing under an AHL deal with the Rockford IceHogs, while Gustafsson was likely going to become a Group VI unrestricted free agent at season’s end.

If the last name rings a bell, it’s important to note that Sikura is not the well-regarded prospect currently playing at Northeastern. That’s his younger brother Dylan Sikura, who should also join the Blackhawks organization after his season is over. No, this is Tyler, the 25-year old  minor league veteran who went undrafted before attending (and captaining) Dartmouth College. With 25 points in 57 games for the IceHogs this season, Sikura has earned himself an NHL contract and a chance to potentially play with his brother next season.

Gustafsson on the other hand has played 19 games for the Blackhawks this season, which wasn’t enough to eclipse the 80 (total) he needs to avoid hitting Group VI free agency. The 25-year old defenseman has shown enough ability to contribute to the NHL team, at least in a depth role, and will now be with them through 2019-20. He was making the league minimum this season on a two-way deal, and will see a slight raise as the extension carries a $1.2MM average annual value. According to Scott Powers of The Athletic the breakdown for Gustafsson is as follows:

  • 2018-19: $800K salary + $200K signing bonus
  • 2019-20: $1.0MM salary + $400K signing bonus

Montreal Canadiens Agree To Terms With Will Bitten, Michael Pezzetta

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The Montreal Canadiens have announced that the team has come to terms with both Will Bitten and Michael Pezzetta on three-year entry-level contracts. The deals will start in the 2018-19 season, and take them through 2020-21.

Selected in the third round two years ago, Bitten hasn’t yet taken the expected next step in the OHL. After a 30-goal, 65-point season with Flint when he was 17, the last two years with the Hamilton Bulldogs haven’t been much of an improvement. Bitten failed to make the Canadian World Junior team, and though he’s still a tenacious two-way player, there was expected to be more offense to his game as he matured. Now, he looks more like a future bottom-six player for the Canadiens if he can reach the NHL level.

In Pezzetta, the Canadiens have the opposite story. Selected in the sixth round in 2016, Pezzetta had very little offensive performance and was taken for his physical game and ability to punish defenders on the forecheck. He’s taken a step forward this season in terms of offensive production, but is still a long-shot to make much of an impact at the NHL level. There is still a role for energy forwards in the professional ranks, but Pezzetta will need to show off some excellent defensive skill to really excel at the next step in his career.

While teams around the league continue to sign their previously drafted prospects, it’s important to remember that 2016 draft picks out of the CHL will become free agents if not under contract by June 1st. That was the case for Bitten and Pezzetta, who will turn 20 before the 2018-19 season begins.

Canucks Notes: Boeser, Archibald, Tryamkin

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The Vancouver Canucks have had their season turned upside down of late, with Brock Boeser injured for the rest of the year. The star rookie is out for at least four weeks with a small fracture in his lower back, which could cost him more than just the last month of the season.

Rick Dhaliwal of News 1130 reports that it is “highly unlikely” Boeser plays in the World Championships this year, though the Vancouver reporter wouldn’t rule it out entirely. Boeser would be one of the top options for the US squad, but might want to just heal completely before getting back on the ice. The tournament starts on May 4th, about eight weeks from the injury.

  • Dhaliwal also updates on the status of Darren Archibald, who is a pending unrestricted free agent. Apparently the Canucks have not approached the gritty forward with extension talks so far, but his strong recent play has put him in a good position for any future negotiations. The 28-year old has never been given much of a chance at the NHL level, but now has five points in 12 games with the Canucks and doesn’t look completely out of place in this league.
  • Lastly, Dhaliwal also spoke with Alexei Volkov, the GM of Nikita Tryamkin’s KHL team. Tryamkin also likely won’t be heading to the World Championships, and definitely isn’t on his way back to Vancouver. Volkov—who obviously must be taken with a grain of salt since it’s in his interest to keep Tryamkin around—told Dhaliwal there is “zero chance” the hulking defender would be returning next season. Tryamkin has two years remaining on his KHL contract, but could negotiate a buyout to return to the NHL if both sides were open to it.

Minor Transactions: 03/07/18

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The winning streak continued for the Nashville Predators yesterday, who now have come out on top in nine straight games. The Predators, buyers once again at the trade deadline, now sit just one point behind the Tampa Bay Lightning for the best record in the NHL and look ready to make an impact in the playoffs once again. As they and other teams prepare their lineup on a quiet night in the NHL, we’ll keep track of all the minor transactions around the league.

  • The Buffalo Sabres announced Daniel O’Regan’s recall earlier this morning, bringing up the prospect acquired in the Evander Kane trade. O’Regan has played 19 games in the NHL for the Sharks this season, but won’t get to make his Sabres debut just yet. He stayed out late after practice and will likely be a healthy scratch tonight.
  • Montreal has sent Zach Fucale back to the minor leagues for the time being, likely indicating that Antti Niemi should be ready to return tomorrow night. Fucale is still waiting for his first chance in the NHL, but has struggled in his limited time with the AHL’s Laval Rocket. The 22-year old is still a legitimate goaltending prospect, but he’s clearly not ready to make an impact at the highest level.

Morning Notes: Player Poll, Draft Lottery, Matthews

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The NHLPA released its annual Player Poll, where it asks members to vote on a variety of things from fastest skater to best role model. Sidney Crosby’s name was understandably everywhere, leading categories like “most difficult to play against” and even getting some love in the top player of all-time.

Interestingly, the players were also asked which coach they would most like to play for and Joel Quenneville came out on top. With things deteriorating in Chicago, many have wondered whether Quenneville would be back in 2018-19 for the Blackhawks. If the player’s opinions mean anything, there is certainly still an appetite for him to be behind the bench.

  • The NHL Draft Lottery is a huge event these days, and with Rasmus Dahlin the top prize the draw will be just as exciting as ever. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic tweets that the unofficial date that’s being considered is April 28th, which would be less than eight weeks from now. Remember, three non-playoff teams will be selected to move up in the draft, and while the worst team has the best chance, it’s still more likely that someone else takes home the first-overall pick.
  • The Toronto Maple Leafs are reeling recently, dropping four straight games and looking disjointed without their top forward on the ice. Luckily, the team welcomed Auston Matthews back to the beginning of practice today according to Kristen Shilton of TSN, though he remained in a non-contact sweater. Matthews had completed some work before practice by himself, and is getting closer to a return from the injury that he suffered against the Islanders on February 22nd.

Snapshots: Senators, Seattle, Last Place

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Even though the NHL trade deadline has passed, the insiders are still hard at work for TSN. During tonight’s Insider Trading segment, Darren Dreger and Pierre LeBrun discussed several topics including the potential dilemma the Ottawa Senators face at the upcoming deadline. LeBrun outlines the situation Pierre Dorion finds himself in, as the first-round pick Ottawa sent to Colorado for Matt Duchene is top-10 protected this season but not in 2019.

LeBrun believes the Senators may consider letting Colorado have this year’s pick if it is in the back half of the top-10, to avoid the risk of giving up the first-overall selection (and the right to draft someone like Jack Hughes) in 2019. Ottawa is currently 28th in the league, but could fall as many as three spots depending on how the draft lottery plays out.

  • Dreger also suggested a few names that could be in play to lead the expansion Seattle franchise, including Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland, Vegas Golden Knights AGM Kelly McCrimmon, and super agent Pat Brisson. While Seattle is still several years from icing a team, the front office will begin to take shape as soon as the team is officially accepted by the NHL. There will likely be several unexpected names put forward, and it will be interesting to see if the franchise goes with an established name (like Holland) or someone that has little experience running a hockey club but an obvious connection to the game (Brisson).
  • At one point this season it looked obvious that the Arizona Coyotes were destined to finish in last once again and have the best chance at Rasmus Dahlin in the draft lottery. Now, that’s not so clear. After Arizona has played well the last few weeks while Ottawa and Buffalo have continued their inconsistency, there is now just a five point gap between the bottom three teams. There is a race for the bottom coming over the last month of the season, and one with another impressive prize. The draft lottery is shaping up to be another heartbreaking even for some teams, even though Filip Zadina, Brady Tkachuk and others aren’t bad consolation prizes.

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