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Archives for January 2019

Minor Transactions: 01/09/19

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It’s a day off for all but six NHL teams today, with only three games scheduled for this evening. Of those three the clash between Colorado and Calgary strikes as the most important, given their respective positions in the Western Conference. The Flames are trying to hold onto first place in the Pacific Division while Colorado is just trying to hold onto a playoff spot, meaning these two points are extremely important to both clubs. While they and the rest of the league prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor moves of the day.

  • The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled Garrett Wilson from the minor leagues, after placing Zach Aston-Reese on injured reserve. Aston-Reese suffered an injury in last night’s game and could be out for a while, providing Wilson with another opportunity at the NHL level. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins captain has just two points in 14 NHL games this season but provides a physical presence for the club that may be lacking elsewhere.
  • Dan Renouf is on his way back to the Charlotte Checkers after just a day in the NHL, a reward for the hard work he has put in at the AHL level this season. Renouf has just one NHL game to his name during three years of professional hockey, but has been the Checkers’ most reliable defenseman for much of the season.
  • Michael Bunting will join the Arizona Coyotes today, giving the team another option while Josh Archibald is awaiting the birth of a child. Bunting has 18 points in 22 minor league games this season.
  • The Vegas Golden Knights have brought up goaltender Maxime Lagace from Chicago of the AHL.  He will take the place of Malcolm Subban who is day-to-day with an illness.  Lagace has played in 18 games with the Wolves this season, posting a 2.72 GAA and a .898 SV%.

Nick Suzuki Traded In OHL Blockbuster

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The OHL trade deadline is today for any deal involving over-aged players, while tomorrow is the deadline for any other deals. That means plenty of player movement has happened over the last few days and the Guelph Storm were at it again this morning. The team officially announced that they have acquired Nick Suzuki, Sean Durzi and Zachary Roberts from the Owen Sound Attack in exchange for a package including three players and four picks. Guelph is obviously working to load up before an OHL playoff run that will determine a Memorial Cup berth.

Suzuki, the prize of the deal, is a Montreal Canadiens prospect after he was included in an NHL trade prior to the season. The key piece coming back to Montreal in exchange for Max Pacioretty, he’s projected to slot into their forward group before long. This year though Suzuki is back in junior dominating in the offensive zone again, recording 45 points through his first 30 games. That run with the Attack was broken by a stint with the Canadian World Junior Team, where Suzuki ran one of the team’s powerplay units and recorded three assists in five games.

Durzi too is a huge addition for the Storm, coming off a Second All-Star selection in 2017-18. The cerebral defender was finally picked in the second round by the Toronto Maple Leafs in his second year of draft eligibility, and was sent back to junior for an over-age season. Unfortunately he has missed a good chunk of that season with an upper-body injury, but should play a big role for Guelph down the stretch.

Interestingly, this load up by Guelph comes less than a month after trading away San Jose Sharks first-round pick Ryan Merkley for a package of picks. Merkley had been dominating offensively like usual for the Storm, but was sent to the Peterborough Petes who are also fighting for a spot in the OHL playoffs.

Shane Bowers Returns To Boston University

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Fans of the Boston University Terriers were happy to see sophomore forward Shane Bowers back in the lineup Tuesday night against cross-town rival Harvard University. Bowers was participating in the World Junior Championship with Team Canada recently, but that wasn’t what had supporters and teammates alike worried. Instead, rumors had sprouted that Bowers could sign with his NHL rights holder, the Colorado Avalanche, or join his junior rights holder, the QMJHL’s Drummondville Voltigeurs, after the WJC wrapped up. Instead, as the Providence Journal’s Mark Divver notes, he is back with BU for the remainder of the season.

Bowers, 19, was the 28th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft by the Ottawa Senators. As one of the core pieces of the Matt Duchene trade, Bowers was moved to Colorado last season. After an impressive freshman campaign with the Terriers, recording 32 points in 40 games on one of the most talent-laden teams in college hockey – Bowers led even Brady Tkachuk in scoring – there was some speculation that Bowers could sign with the Avalanche this off-season. Instead, he returned to BU for another year. So far, Bowers has just eight points in 15 games, but has displayed a more well-rounded two-way game. He also impressed for Canada at the WJC in a similar role, while adding a pair of assists in five games.

With the Avalanche struggling to find secondary scoring this season, rumblings began that perhaps the easiest way to inject energy and scoring into the lineup would be for GM Joe Sakic to get a head start on signing Bowers, who is expected to sign his entry-level contract after the NCAA season. Thus began the questioning of whether Bowers would return to BU for the remainder of the season after the WJC. That concern was compounded when the Voltigeurs acquired Bowers’ rights from the Saint John Sea Dogs late last month, a move often made with some inside information of an impending transition. In fact, the Voltigeurs simply saw the connection between Bowers and their own players, Maxime Comtois and Joe Veleno, in that all three were members of Team Canada at the recent tournament. They reportedly acquired Bowers’ rights in hopes of convincing him to continue playing with his fellow top Canadian prospects for the remainder of the season, and worked hard to do so, but apparently were not successful. Colorado also seems to have either not persuaded Bowers to leave school earlier or, as some rumors go, were never actually interested in such a move.

For now, Bowers will continue to star for the Terriers in hopes of winning a Beanpot Tournament and Hockey East title and making another NCAA Tournament. The young forward will soon be a pro, but seems content to makes the most of his remaining collegiate career. However, once the season comes to an end, expect Bowers (and Hockey East rival and future teammate, UMass defenseman Cale Makar) to join the Avalanche for the stretch run and postseason. It’s only a matter of time at this point.

San Jose Sharks Could Pursue A Goaltender

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The San Jose Sharks are hot right now. The team has won three straight and 12 of 17 dating back to December 1st. They are within striking distance of the Pacific Division and Western Conference lead, just three points back of the Calgary Flames. After a slow start, both Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson are playing Norris-caliber hockey and the offense is among the best in the league. Everything appears to be going well.

Yet, one can’t help but notice that the Sharks continue to get poor results from their goaltending. As they countdown to the Trade Deadline next month, TSN notes that San Jose could certainly be in the market for another goalie. San Jose is dead last in even strength save percentage and starter Martin Jones is among the worst starting goaltenders in the NHL statistically this season. Jones has an .899 save percentage and 2.82 goals against average in 32 games so far, while backup Aaron Dell has struggled even more, holding an .890 save percentage and 3.10 goals against average. Both keepers are fortunate to be playing in San Jose, where the Sharks allow a league-low 28.1 shots per game, but against superior competition – such as in the postseason – Jones and Dell will be exposed if they don’t improve.

The current trade market, unquestionably a buyer’s market, is likely to feature many legitimate goalies for the Sharks. Even if the team doesn’t want to meet the price for a keeper like Detroit’s Jimmy Howard or Colorado’s Semyon Varlamov, the options are aplenty. Cam Talbot (EDM), Craig Anderson (OTT), Keith Kinkaid (NJD), Petr Mrazek and Curtis McElhinney (CAR), and Brian Elliott and Michal Neuvirth (PHI) should be available for the Sharks to scoop up. While Jones and even Dell may have been better than the majority of this group in recent years, the season is more than halfway over and the Sharks keepers’ numbers speak for themselves. San Jose won’t be the only buyer in the goalie market, but they are seemingly guaranteed to land another keeper if they want one and the cost shouldn’t be too high. The team will have close to $4MM in cap space available at the trade deadline and would just have to find a way to carry three goaltenders for the rest of the season while staying cap compliant.

The more interesting question is whether the Sharks will also look into a more long-term solution, either ahead of the deadline or in the coming off-season. Jones and Dell, both 29 years old, each played well last season and were superb in 2016-17. However, if the team is losing faith in the duo, they may try to move Jones – in the first season of a six-year, $34.5MM deal – and replace him via trade or with a top free agent, such as Sergei Bobrovsky or even Los Angeles Kings rival Jonathan Quick. The team may also opt to simply upgrade his backup, moving on from Dell, who is signed through next season, in favor of a superior veteran option. So long as the Sharks play to their current level, that of a real Stanley Cup contender, GM Doug Wilson and company will have to do everything they can to give the team a shot at its first title.

Kenny Agostino Will Not Face Further Discipline From Player Safety

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As the Montreal Canadiens prepare to take on the Detroit Red Wings tonight, they are fortunate to do so with forward Kenny Agostino in the lineup. Agostino, who has carved out a nice role for himself with the Habs this season, received a match penalty game misconduct in the first period of the team’s match-up with Minnesota last night for a late hit on the Wild’s Eric Fehr. Yet, missing most of the game and leaving his team shorthanded appears to have been a fitting punishment for Agostino in the league’s eyes. Sportsnet’s Eric Engels reports that no further discipline will come from the Department of Player Safety and instead Agostino will take the ice this evening.

The incident in question occurred early in the first period of last night’s game in Montreal. Agostino hit Fehr with a late check along the boards, despite having enough time to slow up after Fehr had passed the puck away. Fehr fell against the boards in front of his own bench and hit his face on the way down (video). The veteran forward left the game and did not return. Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau told the media today that Fehr is out tonight against the Boston Bruins but due to soreness and not any long-term injury. Both Fehr and Agostino logged just 25 seconds of ice time apiece in the game due to their early collision. In addition to a game misconduct, Agostino earned a major penalty for interference, a penalty that was partially reduced by Minnesota defenseman Nick Seeler who came to the defense of his teammate and fought Agostino, but at the cost of an instigator penalty. Not long after Agostino’s exit, the Canadiens also lost Shea Weber, who was took a puck up high and left the game. Down two skaters for much of the game, Montreal somehow still held the Wild to one goal albeit in a 1-0 defeat.

In his defense, Agostino has no suspension history or past dealings with the Department of Player Safety. While his check on Fehr was certainly late, it was not a heavy or high hit with an intent to injure, but the unfortunate way that Fehr landed caused most of the damage. Although the league could have thrown the book at him for a late, careless hit that caused an injury, the decision not to further discipline Agostino with a fine or suspension seems fair.

Throughout most of his pro career, an absence by Agostino would not have mattered much to his teams. The former AHL standout struggled to earn play time in stops with the Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues, and Boston Bruins, but has already set a career high in games played (28) and points (11) in Montreal. Agostino is still playing a limited bottom-six role, but improved physicality and extraordinary possession numbers have helped him lock up a spot in the Habs’ lineup. On a $700K two-way contract this season, the winger is a bargain for the Canadiens. However, the 26-year-old is surely looking forward to being a free agent again this summer following his current breakout campaign.

Elias Pettersson Placed On Injured Reserve, Adam Gaudette Recalled

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The Vancouver Canucks seem to have dodged a bullet when it comes to a long-term injury for young superstar Elias Pettersson, but he’ll still spend some time on injured reserve. The team moved Pettersson to IR today in order to recall Adam Gaudette from the Utica Comets. Gaudette himself is an exciting young prospect, and got his offensive game going recently in the minor leagues including a three-point night on Saturday.

Pettersson was injured when he got tangled up with Montreal Canadiens forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi, but escaped major knee damage and is expected to miss just a few weeks. It will be interesting to see how it plays out as we approach the All-Star break though, given that they only have six games remaining before starting a nine-day break on the 23rd. Pettersson is supposed to attend the All-Star game, but would have to be fully healthy for the Canucks to allow him to participate.

Still, this is a great opportunity for Gaudette to reestablish himself as a full-time NHL player. The reigning Hobey Baker award as college hockey’s best player made his NHL debut last season but failed to generate a single point in five games, only to struggle offensively again this year. Selected in the fifth round in 2015, it’s obvious that his early professional career won’t go as swimmingly as his collegiate did. That said, Gaudette does have seven point in seven games for Utica this season and could potentially get an increased role with the Canucks while Pettersson is out.

Joel Eriksson Ek Recalled By Minnesota Wild

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When Jordan Greenway was sent to the minor leagues by the Minnesota Wild earlier this season, he was struggling mightily to find any consistency in the offensive end. The Wild hoped a short stint in the AHL would help him find that scoring touch, and it resulted in Greenway recording his first goal of the season immediately after being recalled. Now the team is hoping for a similar result from Joel Eriksson Ek, who was recalled today from the AHL.

Eriksson Ek’s stay in the minors was a little longer than the one Greenway had to endure, but it may have done just the trick. The 21-year old forward scored four goals and six points in just five games for the Iowa Wild, amazingly more than he had in 27 for Minnesota. If that scoring spark can be carried over to the NHL level, perhaps the team will start to see the promise that made Eriksson Ek the 20th overall pick in 2015.

Ryan Murphy has been sent back to the minor leagues after just a few days to make room on the roster, an interesting decision that will leave the Wild with just six defensemen on the roster as they head into action tonight against the Boston Bruins. Murphy has played two games with Minnesota this month, but recorded a total of just over 19 minutes of ice time between them.

Andrei Vasilevskiy Named Replacement All-Star

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The Tampa Bay Lightning have another player going to the All-Star game, this time as a replacement. Andrei Vasilevskiy has been named the replacement for Carey Price, who decided to not attend the game due to nagging injuries. That leaves the Montreal Canadiens without a representative unless Shea Weber wins the fan-voted “Last Man In” contest. Tampa Bay meanwhile will have three players there with Vasilevskiy joining Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov, not to mention Jon Cooper as coach and Brayden Point who is also in the fan vote.

It’s easy to understand why Vasilevskiy would be chosen for the game, especially when fellow Atlantic Division goaltender Frederik Andersen is dealing with an injury of his own. The Tampa Bay netminder has been excellent again this season recording a .920 save percentage through 22 starts, a total broken up by injury. The Lightning have proven to be the league’s best team through the first half and that’s in no small part to the excellent goaltending they’ve received, though Vasilevskiy has allowed five goals in three of his last five games.

Still, there are few goaltenders in the history of the game as athletic as the 24-year old and he should put on an incredible show in the 3-on-3 All-Star format. After being named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy last season, Vasilevskiy is ready to really become one of the faces of goaltending in the NHL and make his mark among the best in the league. A Stanley Cup appearance would do just that, but the All-Star game will have to be first.

Nick Schmaltz To Miss Remainder Of Season

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It was obvious that the injury to Nick Schmaltz was bad, but it turns out it is even worse than expected. Craig Morgan of The Athletic reports today that Schmaltz is expected to miss the rest of the 2018-19 season with his knee injury.

This is likely the fourth season-ending injury the Coyotes have suffered, with Schmaltz joining Antti Raanta, Christian Dvorak and Jason Demers on the shelf indefinitely.  That kind of stretch is almost unprecedented, and puts Arizona in an extremely difficult position this season. The team sits seventh in the Pacific Division but are just six points out of a Western Conference playoff spot. That gap will be hard to overcome, especially without the added offense that Schmaltz brought after a mid-season trade with the Chicago Blackhawks.

The 22-year old Schmaltz found immediate success in the desert recording 14 points, a total that amazingly has him fifth among forward scoring despite having played just 17 games for the Coyotes. That kind of offense is impossible to replace immediately, especially for a team that was already stretched thin at the forward position. There are certainly answers on the trade market, but it’s not clear if the Coyotes want to mortgage some of their future for a playoff run this season. Instead, it seems far more prudent to give some other young players a chance to prove themselves and work your way back to health next season.

Perhaps the biggest impact this injury will have on the Coyotes going forward though is financially. Schmaltz is a pending restricted free agent and looked like he would shatter his previous career-high of 52 points. That no longer will occur, giving the Coyotes a bit more leverage in extension talks. There’s no doubt that Arizona GM John Chayka covets Schmaltz greatly given the package he gave up to acquire him, but the budget-conscious Coyotes always have to be careful with how they hand out long-term deals. Schmaltz too may prefer a bridge deal now that he has missed most of the season, in order to prove that he can produce at a high level for a full year before asking for his big raise.

Sergei Andronov Drawing NHL Interest

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About this time every year, rumors start to pop up regarding the top KHL players who could have NHL suitors in a few months. Today, it was reported that Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas is in Russia to scout some of their own players and potentially meet upcoming free agents. One of those pending free agents is Sergei Andronov, who Darren Dreger of TSN reports is a “player of interest” for the Maple Leafs and “several” other NHL clubs. Dreger notes that Andronov could command a salary of somewhere between $1.5-2.0MM next season.

If you’re a St. Louis Blues fan scratching your head wondering where you’ve heard the name Andronov before, it’s because he was a third-round pick of the team back in 2009. He even came to North America and signed an AHL contract in 2012 to play in the minor leagues, before earning a one-year entry-level contract with the Blues. Unfortunately, that would be the end of his affiliation with that organization as he would return to the KHL and CSKA Moscow in 2014, where he has remained ever since.

Andronov doesn’t bring a ton of offensive upside, but is an elite faceoff man and a capable defensive center. It makes sense that he would be drawing interest as a fourth-line and penalty killing option for an NHL team, though they’ll have to convince him to leave one of the most stable organizations in the KHL. Andronov recently suited up for Russia at the Olympics and World Championships, and will be a name to watch over the next few months. Though his contract only officially runs through the end of April, Dreger notes that Andronov will only be making the (potential) move for the 2019-20 season.

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