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Archives for April 2018

Poll: Who Was The NHL’s Most “Outstanding” Player In 2017-18?

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The release of the Hart Trophy finalists each year is always guaranteed to result in discontent. Three fan bases – and the majority of unbiased observers – are happy with the decision, while those who support the players that narrowly missed out on a nomination feel the need to criticize the process and establish why their favorite player should have been picked. This phenomenon can be attributed to just the sheer number of elite players worthy of recognition in the NHL, but more than anything it is due to the continued confusion over what the award actually represents.

The Hart Trophy is awarded to the “player judged most valuable to his team”, or in even simpler terms, it is the NHL’s MVP award. In 2017-18, it is hard to argue that any player was more “valuable” to his team than one of Nathan MacKinnon, Taylor Hall, and Anze Kopitar. Without those three, the Colorado Avalanche, New Jersey Devils, and Los Angeles Kings, respectively, would not only have missed the playoffs, but may have been among some of the worst teams in the league. Yet, the Connor McDavid supporters like to point out that he not only led the league in scoring with 108 points, but was far-and-away the best player on the Edmonton Oilers. This is undeniably true, but the Oilers also finished with just 78 points, a whole 17 points back of MacKinnon’s Avs for a playoff spot and closer to the worst record in hockey than the postseason. Was McDavid valuable to the team? Yes, but at the end of the day, his contributions really only cost his team in NHL Draft Lottery odds.

Yet, even experienced journalists like the Edmonton Journal’s David Staples continue to misinterpret the award. He specifically refers to McDavid as the league’s “overlooked most outstanding player” and breaks down the league’s scoring leaders without regard for the context, or value, of that scoring to each team. Staples’ sentiment is shared by many teams and the criteria he uses in his article to determine his Hart finalists is valid, except for the fact that it is not a “most outstanding player award”; that’s the Ted Lindsay Award, and yes McDavid is a finalist for that.

So here is a forum for all the frustrated fans who want to argue about who the best player in the NHL is. It’s hard to make a case that the PHWA got the Hart nominees for this season wrong, but there are many cases to be made for who the best player in the NHL was this season. Have at it.

NHL Announces Hart Trophy Candidates

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Who is the most valuable player in the NHL? In 2018, it will be one three forwards who finished in the top seven in scoring. However, it won’t be any of the names at #1-#4. Instead, the league announced that the finalists for the Hart Trophy are the Colorado Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon, the New Jersey Devils’ Taylor Hall, and the Los Angeles Kings’ Anze Kopitar, who finished fifth through seventh in points this season, respectively.

The three nominees, as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association, will come as no surprise. All three were considered top candidates for the award this season after outstanding campaigns. MacKinnon and Hall each notched 39 goals en route to leading their teams back from the basement of the league last season to unlikely playoff berths. MacKinnon’s 97 points in 74 games was second only to Connor McDavid in per-game production among full-season players, while Hall’s 93 points – 41 more than the next-best player in New Jersey – was the largest proportion of team points in the league. Meanwhile in L.A., Kopitar bounced back from a down 2016-17 season personally with 92 points, while also playing Selke-caliber defense.

As always, there were deserving candidates who did not get the nod as a Hart finalist. McDavid obviously stands out as the reigning MVP and the league’s top scorer at 108 points. However, the struggles of McDavid’s Edmonton Oilers made it unlikely he would get a second consecutive shot at the award. The other top-four scorers – the Philadelphia Flyers’ Claude Giroux, the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov, and the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin – did not share those same struggles, but their Hart resumes weren’t helped by the other talented players on their teams, such as top-15 scorers Jakub Voracek, Steven Stamkos, Phil Kessel, and Sidney Crosby. Other snubs include Rocket Richard winner Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals, NHL assists leader and the captain of the upstart Winnipeg Jets, Blake Wheeler, and a player who may have pushed McDavid for the scoring title if not for injuries and suspensions, the Boston Bruins’ Brad Marchand. However, it is hard to argue that the three finalists picked by the PHWA are not the three most deserving players to be up for the Hart this season. The winner of hockey’s MVP award will be revealed at the NHL Awards on June 20th.

Evander Kane Suspended For Game Two

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San Jose Sharks’ trade deadline acquisition Evander Kane had his hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety today and the result was what many expected. Kane has been suspended for one game and will miss Game Two of the Sharks’ second round series against the Vegas Golden Knights. The incident in question was a cross-check to the head area of the Knights’ Pierre-Edouard Bellemare that cost Kane a five-minute major penalty, during which Vegas scored the final two goals in their 7-0 blowout, and a game misconduct. As if that wasn’t enough, Kane will now be absent for the Sharks as they look to even the series on the road. The rationale of the league was as follows (video):

“Kane delivers two cross-checks to Bellemare – one to his arm and a second to his head, which drops Bellemare to the ice. This is cross-checking… This cross-check occurs well after the whistle is blown and serves no purpose other than as a strike to an opponent’s head. This is not a hockey play.”

Player Safety continues to dole out suspensions this postseason, but have been measured and consistent in their punitive actions. While Kane’s cross-check came after the play and appeared more purposeful, it was not dissimilar from the cross-check by the Winnipeg Jet’s Josh Morrissey to the head area of Minnesota Wild forward Eric Staal, which also cost Morrisey a one-game suspension in the first-round. Both plays occurred in front of the net, which Player Safety acknowledged in both reviews is an area of contact, but both were seen not as accidental contact, but as purposeful punishment. While it’s fair to say that Kane’s was worse because the whistle had blown and it was the second of two checks, it’s also clear that Kane’s check was far less brutal than the one Morrisey planted on Staal.

Kane has been an offensive force since arriving in San Jose, racking up 14 points, including nine goals, in 17 games to close out the regular season and adding three goals and an assist in the Sharks’ first round sweep of the Anaheim Ducks. His knack for finding the back of the net will be sorely missed for a Sharks team that was unable to beat Marc-Andre Fleury in Game One. Kane will have to be ready to play productive – and clean – hockey when the series returns to San Jose if the Sharks want to knock off the Golden Knights.

Snapshots: Draft Rankings, Pilut, Matthews

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TSN has released a special top-15 ranking prior to tomorrow’s draft lottery, and Rasmus Dahlin remains the unanimous choice for first overall. Beyond that, the trio of forwards Andrei Svechnikov, Filip Zadina and Brady Tkachuk fill out 2-4 while four other defenseman land in the top ten.

There will undoubtedly be plenty of debate in the coming months, but one thing seems certain. Whoever wins the draft lottery tomorrow night will have Dahlin in their lineup come October. That may seem premature, but scouts seem to agree that he’ll be an impact player from day one. Make sure to tune in between the first and second periods of the Vegas Golden Knights-San Jose Sharks tomorrow night.

  • John Vogl of the Buffalo News reports on rumors that Lawrence Pilut has signed with the Buffalo Sabres, adding that a deal can’t be officially announced until the defenseman finishes his stint with the Swedish national team. Pilut, 22, registered 38 points for HV71 in the SHL this season, leading all defensemen. Undersized but talented, he would add some skill to a defense corps in Buffalo that has had trouble moving the puck in recent years.
  • Though there had been some rumors about a potential rift between Mike Babcock and Auston Matthews, both parties denied any problems when asked today during their season-ending media availability. Both men are obviously disappointed by the results of Wednesday’s game 7 against the Boston Bruins, but made it clear that nothing had changed in their relationship.

Tyler Bozak Hopes To Stay In Toronto

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The Toronto Maple Leafs held their season-ending locker clean out and media availability today, with players, coaches and front office executives addressing everything from their third period collapse to free agent statuses. Though head coach Mike Babcock and GM Lou Lamoriello wouldn’t comment on whether any of the Maple Leafs big three unrestricted free agent forwards—James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak and Leo Komarov—would be back, one of them made it clear that he’d like to be. Bozak, speaking to media including Kristen Shilton of TSN didn’t hide his love for the team:

It would be my top priority to stay here. My family loves it here, my kid loves it here, he thinks he owns the place. It’ll be tough on him if I’m not back.

Bozak has been with the Maple Leafs since signing out of the University of Denver in 2009, and has actually put together quite a career. Undrafted despite 128 points in his final year for the Victoria Grizzlies of the BCHL, Bozak debuted for the Maple Leafs in the 2009-10 season and barely looked back. In 594 games for the club, he’s recorded 365 points and been one of the league’s best face-off men. Sometimes played above his head on the Maple Leafs’ top line, he nevertheless kept producing including a 43-point season this year.

Now 32, Bozak is set to hit unrestricted free agency but knows nothing but life as a Toronto Maple Leafs player. His son Kanon has become something of a viral hit over the last few years, and it’s clear that he is well-liked in the Toronto dressing room. Still, with the Maple Leafs heading into uncharted territory with contract extensions due for Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander, there may not be enough room to keep the veteran center around.

The Maple Leafs will be one of the more interesting teams to watch this summer, as they deal with the disappointment of another loss at the hands of the Boston Bruins. With obvious deficiencies in their defense corps, and a young forward group that is set to lose many of their veteran pieces to free agency—Tomas Plekanec and Dominic Moore are also pending UFAs—there is a lot of work to be done before the 2018-19 season if they want to be legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.

Los Angeles Kings Sign Matthew Villalta

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The Los Angeles Kings have added another interesting goaltending prospect to the organization, signing Matthew Villalta to a three-year entry-level contract. Villalta is currently playing for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the OHL’s Western Conference Final.

Villalta, 18, was selected in the third round in last June’s draft and led the OHL in wins this season with 40. Though his other numbers took a slight step backwards, ending with a .908 save percentage and 2.58 GAA, he’s still expected to grow into a formidable goaltending prospect in the coming years. Originally listed at 165 lbs, the Kings now have Villalta all the way up to 181 in their press release and there could be even more size coming as the 6’2″ goaltender continues to mature physically.

The Kings have placed a huge emphasis on their goaltending pipeline in the recent years, acquiring Jack Campbell from the Dallas Stars organization, signing Cal Petersen after he failed to reach an agreement with the Buffalo Sabres, and inking Cole Kehler earlier this season out of the WHL. Though there is no doubt that Jonathan Quick is the starter for the foreseeable future, he’ll turn 33 next season and can’t be relied on forever.

Villalta will almost certainly return to the OHL next season where he and the Greyhounds should still be among the best teams in the league. If they aren’t able to secure a Memorial Cup berth this season, there’s no reason to believe they can’t next year.

Edmonton To Make Several Coaching Changes

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1:40pm: The Oilers have confirmed the assignment for Woodcroft, and announced that Johnson and Ian Herbers would both not return to the team. McLellan will indeed remain head coach for the 2018-19 season. No word on who the new assistants will be so far.

8:30am: The Edmonton Oilers are expected to announce several changes to their coaching staff today, starting with the reassignment of Jay Woodcroft from NHL assistant to AHL head coach. Fellow assistant Jim Johnson will also not be back according to John Shannon of Sportsnet. The overwhelming belief is that recently fired Glen Gulutzan (Calgary Flames) and Trent Yawney (Anaheim Ducks) will be added to the NHL staff. If that happens, it likely means Todd McLellan would be staying on as head coach, though no one has confirmed his job yet.

It’s not clear exactly how everything will shake out in Edmonton, but there was clearly a need for some change after an incredibly disappointing season. The club was expected to be Stanley Cup contenders with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl leading the way, but despite outstanding offensive performances from both players they found themselves near the bottom of the standings.

Gulutzan was replaced in Calgary after just two seasons, but is still well respected around the league. Working his way up from the ECHL, he’ll have to take a step backwards and wait for another head coaching opportunity to present itself. Yawney has a long history as a coach in the NHL, dating back to 1999-00 when he was an assistant with the Chicago Blackhawks. His contract wasn’t renewed by the Ducks, but it isn’t surprising to see him land on his feet quickly.

Toronto Will Send Dermott, Johnsson To AHL

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Friday: During his season-ending press conference, GM Lou Lamoriello announced that Dermott and Johnsson will re-join the Marlies for the playoffs, but Kapanen will be heading to Denmark to take part in the World Championships with Finland.

Thursday: The Toronto Maple Leafs lost a heartbreaking game seven last night against the Boston Bruins, failing to protect a lead in the third period. It’s the end of the season for many of their players, but three names should see some more hockey before they start their summer. Kasperi Kapanen, Andreas Johnsson and Travis Dermott are all eligible for the AHL playoffs, and according to James Mirtle of The Athletic should be sent down before long. The Toronto Marlies continue their series against the Utica Comets tomorrow night.

By midway through the season Kapanen and Dermott had entrenched themselves as full-time players for the Maple Leafs, while Johnsson made his impressive NHL debut near the end of the year. All three look like they have good chances to begin the 2018-19 season in the NHL, though the offseason is an unpredictable period for the young Toronto team. After losing in the first round for the second year in a row, there are tough decisions to be made about the future of the club.

The Marlies meanwhile were one of the best teams in the history of the AHL while this trio was part of the club in the first half. While they dipped slightly down the stretch, Toronto should still be considered a favorite to win the Calder Cup. The added depth will only make them more so.

Evander Kane Scheduled For Hearing With Department Of Player Safety

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The San Jose Sharks were blown out by the Vegas Golden Knights last night, and now could lose a key forward. Evander Kane will have a hearing today with the Department of Player Safety over his cross-check on Pierre-Edouard Bellemare last night.

Kane appeared to cross-check Bellemare right in the face as the Golden Knights player was trying to break up a scuffle, leading to a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct. Vegas would score twice on the ensuing powerplay, making the score 7-0 in the process.

The 26-year old Sharks forward has been suspended just once in the past, but could put his team in trouble should he receive another ban today. The Sharks looked outgunned all night against the Golden Knights, and need him in the lineup to help climb out of the early hole.

Brian Burke To Step Away From Calgary Flames Front Office

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10:45am: Well that didn’t take long. Burke has been hired by Sportsnet to join the remainder of their postseason coverage. He’ll make his debut for the network this weekend.

8:34am: The Calgary Flames and Brian Burke will amicably part ways on May 1st, as the team announced the veteran front office executive will be “stepping back” from his position as President of Hockey Operations. CEO Ken King released a statement on the decision:

When Brian came to us in September 2013 we discussed a structure and timeline of four to five years for his new role. Each year we review our mandate going forward and determined together that we would move on.

Brian’s leadership and guidance of our hockey operations and work with General Manager Brad Treliving have been exemplary and we are grateful for his contributions. His charity work and organizational representation in our community are legendary as he has touched so many with his generosity.

Burke has been an infamous front office member in several cities now, dating back to his early days with the Vancouver Canucks and Hartford Whalers. His unique media approach and willingness to speak openly about his ideas and issues have made him both well liked by some fans and hated by others. In Calgary, he stood as a sort of umbrella for Treliving to shield him from some of the media scrutiny and allow him to operate the club as he saw fit. Treliving will remain in his position with the Flames, along with Vice President of Hockey Operations Don Maloney.

Speculation has already began over where Burke will head next, with many doubting he’s anywhere close to retirement. Bob McKenzie of TSN has heard Burke could be turning to the media side of hockey, while others have suggested a return to the USA Hockey program. Regardless, it seems unlikely that we’ve heard the last of him.

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