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Archives for March 2018

Minor Transactions: 03/22/18

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Ten games and a lot of pride on the schedule for tonight’s NHL action, including non-playoff matchups between the Oilers-Senators and Canucks-Blackhawks. Though these teams are all battling for a higher seeding in the draft lottery, the players on the ice want to win every single game to prove their worth in the top league in the world. While the playoff chase rages in other cities, these games can surprise with some memorable moments of skill and performance.

As always, we’ll keep track of all the minor moves right here, even if your favorite team is already out of it.

  • The New York Islanders have sent Sebastian Aho back to the AHL, now that the team is essentially out of the playoff race. New York sits in last place in the Metro with just 72 points, but Bridgeport is still battling for one of the last playoff spots in the AHL’s Eastern Conference. Aho has played sparingly of late with the Islanders, but has been a difference maker during his time in the minor leagues.

Retired Official To Join Situation Room For Goaltender Interference Reviews

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7:30PM: The NHLPA has worked quickly to review the proposed changes. The Competition Committee announced this evening that they have approved the “NHL General Managers Recommended Change to Rule 78.7(ii) Governing Coach’s Challenges for Goaltender Interference”. The Committee, made up of members Mike Cammalleri, Ron Hainsey, Kevin Shattenkirk, Cory Schneider and Daniel Winnik, was joined by other players in making this decision. Players’ Association executive and long-time NHLer Mathieu Schneider stressed that “first and foremost, the players want consistency in the application of the rule”. The last remaining step in the process is for the recommendation to be approved by the NHL’s Board of Governors. At this rate, the rule change could be made by the end of the week.

10:30AM: The league knew something had to be done about the goaltender interference problem, and today at the GMs meetings in Florida Gary Bettman announced that a retired official will join the situation room in Toronto to determine the call on interference reviews. This announcement, as reported by several sources including Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, comes pending approval from the Competition Committee and Board of Governors.

Though the league demonstrated that there hasn’t been considerably more challenges this season than those the last few years, the decisions have come under much greater scrutiny. Weekly there is a decision that is met with ire from fans of a certain team, and coverage was only increased when the league admitted they would be instructing their officials to call things differently after the All-Star break.

Now things seem to be taken out of the on-ice officials’ hands, as the league will make the decisions themselves—though one can suspect they will consult the game referees. Still, theoretically it should provide some more consistency to the calls at the very least. As Darren Dreger of TSN points out, the league could eventually move to the same system they have for offside reviews, in which a team receives a minor penalty if they challenge and get it wrong.

Frank Seravalli of TSN believes that the six referee supervisors will be the ones who rotate through the situation room, listing Don Koharski, Paul Devorski, Rob Shick, Mick McGeough and Don Van Massenhoven as potential options, while Greg Wyshynski of ESPN adds Bill McCreary and Director of Officiating Stephen Walkom.

Coyotes-Sabres: Lottery Odds On The Line

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Normally, this time of year brings match-ups with major playoff implications as teams jockey for position atop conferences and divisions or fight for the final wild card spots. Instead, all eyes will be on the KeyBank Center tonight as the puck is about to drop on a battle of the league’s two worst teams, the 31st-place Buffalo Sabres hosting the 29th-place Arizona Coyotes. Both teams will have just nine games remaining after tonight’s result and the loser (winner?) may very well end up with the worst record in the league and the best lottery odds for the top pick in the 2018 NHL Draft and the right to draft wunderkind defender Rasmus Dahlin.

It’s a strange time for two of the league’s least-successful to go head-to-head, as the argument is that the worse team tonight is actually the beneficiary, but both teams are playing some of their best hockey of late. The Coyotes, dead in the water at the midway point and on pace for a measly 46 points this season, have had a resurgence in the second half. The team is 12-5-2 since February 8th, with wins over divisional foes in playoff spots in the Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, and San Jose Sharks. They have already far surpassed 46 points, hitting 59 on the year with their sixth win in their last ten games on Monday night. Not only that, but Arizona has actually climbed out of the basement of the league, something most did not expect. Filling that bottom-feeder role now are the Sabres, but Buffalo too has been hot, with six wins in their last 11 games. It’s the first time all season that Buffalo has had less losses than not in a ten-game span, and that’s included wins over three of the league’s best teams – the Tampa Bay Lightning, Boston Bruins, and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Neither team looks ready to lose tonight, but one has to and it could be the blow that knocks them out of their winning ways. Buffalo faces a tough stretch to close out the year, with road games in Tampa, Florida, Nashville, New York and twice in Toronto. The rest of their contests are home against division rivals. Tonight could be the last time the Sabres are favored by anyone to win in 2017-18. Meanwhile, Arizona is about to be run the gauntlet. Tonight’s game in Buffalo begins a road trip that goes through Carolina, Florida, Tampa, Vegas, and L.A. before they return home to face the playoff-hungry Blues and Ducks in two of their final four games. The one bright spot left on the Coyotes schedule is a trip to Vancouver on April 5th. With neither team facing a very winnable schedule, tonight’s result really could determine who ends up with the best lottery odds when the season ends.

Speaking of the Canucks, they’re not to be forgotten in this equation either. Vancouver has lost seven straight and now sit in 30th, with as many points as Arizona but with one fewer game left to play. However, the Canucks face Chicago tomorrow night and Edmonton twice, as well as the Coyotes, in this final stretch and seem more likely to pick up some extra points as the season winds down.

Yet, like Buffalo and Arizona, Vancouver likely won’t mind finishing last either. The prize, Dahlin, would be a major addition to any team, but especially to any of these three struggling franchises. Buffalo, currently in the best position to win the lottery, is sorely lacking in high-end defensive prospects outside of players already on the roster like Rasmus Ristolainen and Brendan Guhle. Dahlin would be an upgrade not just to any of their current prospect blue liners, but quite possibly their veterans as well. Vancouver continues to wait for Olli Juolevi to be NHL-ready and have a long-term project player in Jack Rathbone, but Dahlin would look awfully nice alongside Chris Tanev and Troy Stecher next season and beyond. Finally, there’s Arizona, where many have projected Dahlin to land all season. It could be the perfect spot, as fellow countryman and talented defender Oliver Ekman-Larsson could mentor Dahlin just long enough before the Coyotes to trade him before he hits free agency in 2019. Like Buffalo, Arizona lacks difference-makers on the back end in the pipeline and could desperately use Dahlin. He could be a fit for a long time with Jakob Chychrun. 

Who will end up with Dahlin? It may not be Buffalo or Arizona. It could be Vancouver, or it could be any of the other 12 teams who miss the playoffs, but win the lottery. However, the top odds and the race for the worst record in the league weigh heavily on tonight’s result. Stay tuned.

Hurricanes’ Brett Pesce, Victor Rask Done For The Year

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The Carolina Hurricanes still have a shot at making the playoffs. Well, Sports Club Stats gives them a 0.2% chance of  making it anyway. However, those already-minuscule odds are now almost certainly gone. The team announced this afternoon that two key players, defenseman Brett Pesce and center Victor Rask, have been shut down for the season due to shoulder injuries.

Without Pesce and Rask, any semblance of hope that Carolina fans had of ending their league-worst postseason drought this year has evaporated. Pesce, 23, is part of the Hurricanes’ dominant top pair alongside Jaccob Slavin and one of the main reasons why the team allows the fewest shots against in the NHL. Rask, 25, has 31 points and an even rating (anything non-negative is an outlier among ’Canes players this season) and leaves a team that is already shallow down the middle with even fewer options.

In response to this announcement, the team has recalled young defenseman Roland McKeown from the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers. McKeown may be relied on to play a top-six role for the remainder of the year and, if he is successful, could further the narrative that the time has come for the Hurricanes to trade one of their top blue liners. It is likely the first of many call-up’s down the stretch to test out young players in game action ahead of the off-season. Expect the likes of Aleksi Saarela, Janne Kuokkanen, Julien Gauthier, Warren Foegele, and Alex Nedeljkovic to be among the names given a promotion in the coming weeks.

Injury Notes: Laine, Matthews, Tarasenko

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The Winnipeg Jets have avoided a crushing blow after Patrik Laine was forced from their game after blocking a shot. Laine isn’t expected to miss a lot of time with the injury, if any at all.

The young sniper is having an outstanding season, but fell one behind Alex Ovechkin last night for the league-lead in goals. Though winning the Maurice Richard trophy would obviously be a nice prize, he and the rest of the Jets have their sights set on an even bigger trophy. The Jets are fighting through injuries to several of their key players, but are still one of the favorites in the Western Conference as the playoffs approach.

  • Auston Matthews, the only player selected ahead of Laine in the 2016 draft, is also nearing a return for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The young center proclaimed himself ready to go after a 10-game layoff due to a shoulder injury, but head coach Mike Babcock wouldn’t go that far. The final decision on Matthews and Nikita Zaitsev for Thursday’s game will come after the morning skate, but both seem poised to return to the lineup.
  • Vladimir Tarasenko is expected miss his second straight game with an upper-body injury, during a crucial time for the St. Louis Blues. The team is entering must-win territory with their last ten games as they sit three points back of the final wildcard spot with two additional teams between them and a playoff spot. That’s a tough hill to climb with so few games remaining, and losing Tarasenko is especially damaging. The 26-year old has had a down year by his standards, but is still second on the club with 58 points.

Adam Mascherin Will Not Sign With Florida Panthers

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Tucked away in Craig Custance’s piece for The Athletic (subscription required) is a report that Florida Panthers prospect Adam Mascherin will not sign with the team before the draft, forcing Dale Tallon to shop him around trying to get some sort of value out of their second-round pick.

Mascherin is having another strong season for the Kitchener Rangers, where he has collected 40 goals and 86 points in 67 games. He was selected 38th-overall in 2016, but will likely re-enter the draft if he doesn’t sign. That’s an interesting move for a player who was already selected relatively high, and who has attended Panthers prospect camps in the past.

As undersized players are welcomed more and more into the league, perhaps Mascherin feels he can find an even better situation for his professional career. The 5’9″ forward possesses an elite shot and is a talented goal scorer who plays much heavier than he is. He’s recorded at least 35 goals in three straight OHL seasons, and even broke 100 points last year. Despite that, he has never been included on the Canadian World Junior squad, and does have some who doubt that he’ll be able to create offense at the same rate as he progresses through the pro ranks.

Philadelphia Flyers Trade Cooper Marody To Edmonton Oilers

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The Philadelphia Flyers have traded the rights to prospect Cooper Marody to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a third-round pick. The pick will be New Jersey’s third-round selection in 2019, previously acquired for Patrick Maroon. Marody is a junior at the University of Michigan, and would need to be signed still.

Remember that the NHL trade deadline is only for playoff eligibility, and trades like this can happen at any time. Marody and Michigan are headed for the NCAA tournament, where he will lead them against Northeastern on Saturday afternoon. Marody led the Big-10 in scoring this season with 46 points in 37 games, and was a nominee for the Hobey Baker Award (though he was not named a top-10 finalist).

The strong skating center was selected in the sixth round three years ago, but has progressed enough that the Oilers decided he was worth a third-round pick today. As they attempt to bring talent to the NHL as quickly as possible, trading a future pick for a player who could potentially contribute as soon as next season could be a transaction we see Edmonton use more often over the next few months.

New York Islanders Sign Otto Koivula To Three-Year Deal

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The New York Islanders have added another intriguing young forward prospect, signing Otto Koivula to a three-year entry-level contract. The 19-year old forward recently finished his second full season in the Finnish Liiga, and could now potentially come over to spend some time on North American ice over the next few weeks.

Koivula was named Rookie of the Year last season when he scored 30 points in 50 games, using his size and creativity to create offense for himself and linemates. He was selected in the fourth round of the 2016 draft, and remains something of a project for the Islanders despite some interesting potential. At 6’4″ 220-lbs, Koivula plays with more skill than players of his size normally do, and could develop into a powerful offensive threat if everything clicks.

At the most recent World Juniors, Koivula recorded just two points in six games, and this season saw him register just 27 points in 53 games for his club team. While that is sort of a step backwards, he wasn’t put in as many offensive situations as Ilves relied on some different players this season. It’s not clear if he’s coming over for AHL play next season, as he could still be loaned back to Europe in 2018-19.

Snapshots: Gustavsson, Stamkos, Global Series

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The Ottawa Senators have been focused on adding young players to their organization lately, and one of the most important names is Filip Gustavsson. The 19-year old goaltender was the main piece coming back for Derick Brassard at the trade deadline, and today the team announced that they’ve finished the paperwork required to bring him to North America.

Gustavsson will join the Belleville Senators this week, and the team could give him an opportunity right away. The baby Senators have just 19 regulation or overtime wins this season, and are well out of a playoff spot with 11 games remaining. Though there isn’t much to look forward for fans of the franchise, Gustavsson’s arrival is a shining light.

  • Steven Stamkos has been fined $5,000 (the maximum amount) for a “dangerous trip” of Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly last night. Though that amount may not seem like very much to a player earning $9.5MM this season, every incident of supplementary discipline is added to his record for future events. Stamkos was also fined earlier this year for unsportsmanlike conduct when he squirted water from the bench.
  • The NHL announced today that tickets to the 2018 Global Series are already sold out. The games will include matches in Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and Germany, in an attempt to continue growing the game and the NHL brand around the world. With these events proving successful so far, the future of the Series seems safe.

Minor Transactions: 03/21/18

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It was a busy night in the NHL yesterday, as we saw Alex Ovechkin score another patented goal and Winnipeg fans experience small heart attacks when Patrik Laine blocked a shot.  As always, while the league prepares for another night of action we’ll keep track of all the minor moves.

  • The Ottawa Senators have sent Jim O’Brien back to the minor leagues, after playing just 9:18 in their loss last night. O’Brien has just ten games under his belt this season, recording just a single assist.
  • Dillon Simpson is on his way back to the Bakersfield Condors, as the Edmonton Oilers have re-assigned him while recalling Brad Malone under emergency conditions. Malone has played just seven games in the NHL this season, instead spending most of the year with the Condors, registering 31 points in 50 games.
  • The San Jose Sharks continue their movement of Tim Heed, bringing him back up to the NHL today. Heed has been involved in 14 transactions since the beginning of February, as he continues to pop up and down for the club. Heed has 11 points in 29 games for the Sharks this season, while playing just three contests in the AHL.

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