Archives for January 2019

Metropolitan Notes: Faulk, Ferland, Penguins, Siegenthaler

January 29, 2019 at 8:58 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose 7 Comments

The Hurricanes have been at the center of trade speculation lately with their surplus of defensemen that they are willing to deal from. In the latest TSN Insider Trading (video link), Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic noted that interest has picked up lately on blueliner Justin Faulk. The veteran was believed to be a strong trade candidate over the summer but instead, he has fulfilled his usual top-four role, logging more than 22 minutes a night on Carolina’s back end. With a $4.833MM cap hit through next season, he’d likely yield a comparable return to Jake Muzzin.

Meanwhile, LeBrun adds that Micheal Ferland is someone that could be dealt sooner rather than later. He notes that the winger’s playing style makes him more susceptible to injury and accordingly, there is some extra risk if the Hurricanes keep him around until the deadline. He notes that Boston, Nashville, and Pittsburgh are among the teams that have shown an interest in the pending UFA so far.

Deadline Primer: Chicago Blackhawks

January 29, 2019 at 7:57 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose 4 Comments

With the trade deadline fast approaching, we will be taking a closer look at the situation for each team over the coming weeks. Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs? Next up is a look at the Chicago Blackhawks.

After missing the playoffs last season, the expectation in Chicago was that they’d turn it around this season. A slow start cost Joel Quenneville his job but it didn’t help their fortunes any. As a result, the goal now is simply avoiding finishing dead last in the Central Division for the second straight year which likely isn’t going to make for a particularly exciting few weeks leading up to next month’s trade deadline.

Record

18-24-7, seventh in the Central Division

Deadline Status

Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$20.919MM in a full-season cap hit, 0/3 used salary cap retention slots, 48/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2019: CHI 1st, CHI 2nd, BOS 4th, CHI 5th, TB 5th, CHI 6th, ANA 7th
2020: CHI 1st, CHI 2nd, CHI 3rd, CHI 4th, CHI 5th, CHI 6th, CHI 7th

Trade Chips

The thought surrounding the Blackhawks is that they’re probably going to try to make a splash in free agency this coming summer and take one more shot with this core. If that is indeed the plan, Chicago will be limited to primarily looking to move rental players.

Of those, center Marcus Kruger is probably the most notable. He isn’t the impact third line center he was during his first stint with them but teams are always looking to shore up their depth down the middle and their penalty kill and he could potentially help in both categories. He also has plenty of playoff experience which may interest some teams. Veteran goalie Cam Ward has a no-move clause but it wouldn’t be surprising to see the team try to convince him to waive it for a shot at another playoff run. Winger Chris Kunitz has been speculated as a depth winger for a few teams already and like Kruger, he has considerable postseason experience under his belt. Unfortunately for the Blackhawks, none of these players are likely to bring back a return of any consequence. Instead, they’ll probably only yield a late-round draft pick or comparable prospect.

In terms of non-rentals, depth players are likely the only ones they’ll be looking to move at this time. Forward John Hayden is believed to have drawn some interest but given his struggles this season, any return would likely be negligible.

Five Players To Watch For: F John Hayden, F Marcus Kruger, F Chris Kunitz, F Brendan Perlini, G Cam Ward

Team Needs

1) Stockpile Younger Assets: While the Blackhawks have done well the last couple of years in terms of bringing some quality prospects into the fold, this is still not a particularly deep group. If they do indeed want to make a run at a top free agent (Artemi Panarin is sure to garner consideration if he indeed makes it to the open market), they’ll need some young and cheap talent to fill out their roster. If they’re looking for shorter-term help, taking players currently in the minors instead of late draft picks back for their rentals may be Bowman’s preferred approach.

2) Find A Goalie Of The Future: The concussion issues for Corey Crawford have basically ruled him out as a long-term solution between the pipes beyond his current deal that expires next season. He’s going to be a significant injury risk whenever he makes it back on the ice. Ward isn’t the solution either. Collin Delia may have some upside but he’s a safer bet as a backup than a starter and the same can be said for Anton Forsberg. They don’t really have a starter in the making in their system. There may be a young goalie or two that becomes available between now and the deadline and if that does happen, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Chicago go after them. At the very least, it’s insurance for Crawford but they will need a replacement for him in the fairly near future as well.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Atlantic Notes: Dzingel, Rask, Red Wings

January 29, 2019 at 6:55 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose 12 Comments

With Ottawa’s focus right now being on trying to lock up center Matt Duchene and winger Mark Stone to long-term contract extensions, many have expected the team to deal away winger Ryan Dzingel. However, in an appearance on TSN 1200 (audio link), TSN’s Darren Dreger indicated that there’s as good of a chance that the Senators try to extend him over trading him.

The 26-year-old is having a career year and has already reached the 20-goal mark in just 48 games. While that’s going to have him in line for a significant raise on his current $1.8MM cap hit, he’s also not going to come close to what Stone and Duchene ultimately get. The Senators will need to keep some notable players around through their rebuild no matter what and given the success he’s had over the last couple of seasons, it would certainly be understandable that they’d try to make a run at re-signing him over the next few weeks depending on how things play out with their other pending free agents.

Poll: Who Will The Los Angeles Kings Trade Next?

January 29, 2019 at 5:59 pm CDT | by Gavin Lee 20 Comments

The Los Angeles Kings have realized they’re not going to compete for the Stanley Cup this season or any time soon with their current core, and have begun to move some pieces out in exchange for future assets. The first big move of that ilk was trading Jake Muzzin yesterday to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a package that included a first-round pick and two prospects. While some may argue that the Kings could have gotten more closer to the deadline, or that Muzzin should have been retained, the team has obviously made a decision to move forward with at least a partial rebuild.

So who else is on the move out of Los Angeles? Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar are still likely untouchable, be it because of their value to the franchise or their huge contracts or a combination of the two. But other core pieces like Jonathan Quick, Jeff Carter, Alec Martinez and Tyler Toffoli have all seen their names thrown around in trade speculation throughout the season. There have even been reports of the price it would take to get Martinez out of Los Angeles, and detailed examinations of how Carter could use retirement as a sort of no-trade clause.

There are other names like Carl Hagelin, Derek Forbort, Nate Thompson, Kyle Clifford and Trevor Lewis who will all see unrestricted free agency either this summer or next, making them potential short-term rentals for teams looking to upgrade. Each of those names has their share of red flags though that might end up limiting the return. Others like Dustin Brown, Dion Phaneuf and Ilya Kovalchuk have huge obstacles blocking the way of a trade, though there are always ways around those obstacles.

Who do you think will be moved out next? What will the return be? How long will Los Angeles wait before making another move? Cast your vote below and explain your reasoning in the comments.

[Mobile users click here to vote!]

Edmonton Oilers Sign Joel Persson To One-Year Extension

January 29, 2019 at 4:38 pm CDT | by Gavin Lee Leave a Comment

Last spring the Edmonton Oilers executed one of the more interesting transactions in recent history. The team signed Swedish defenseman Joel Persson to a one-year entry-level contract, but immediately assigned him back to the SHL for the 2018-19 season. The team was basically buying his rights moving forward, while leaving Persson to play for his regular team for the duration of the entry-level deal. The 24-year old would become a restricted free agent at the end of this season, but the Oilers would own his exclusive negotiating rights. Now the team has signed Persson to a one-year extension, and Cap Friendly reports the deal is worth $1MM. Despite having never played in the NHL, this contract is not limited by the entry-level salary restrictions.

Persson turned a lot of heads last season when he exploded onto the SHL scene with 34 points in 51 games. That was good enough for second among all defensemen only behind Lawrence Pilut, who then left for the Buffalo Sabres for 2018-19. With Pilut gone, Persson is now king in the SHL and is tied for the league lead among defensemen with 23 points through 36 games. His 19 assists rank sixth among any position.

There is a chance that the offensive defenseman could play some games for the Oilers this season, but an extension like this almost guarantees that he will see North American ice in 2019-20. Whether he can carve out a role on the powerplay with Edmonton is still to be seen, but the young defenseman has all the skills necessary to be a contributor with the man advantage.

The Oilers still have six other defensemen on one-way contracts for next season, but given the injury struggles of players like Andrej Sekera and performance issues by others like Brandon Manning and Matt Benning, there will certainly be an opportunity in Edmonton. Whether Persson is the answer to that won’t be known until he starts playing against NHL competition, but adding a 24-year old defensemen with plenty of offensive skill is never a bad idea. At worst, his cap hit would be completely buried in the minor leagues.

Austin Watson Suspended Indefinitely

January 29, 2019 at 4:14 pm CDT | by Gavin Lee Leave a Comment

Nashville Predators forward Austin Watson has been placed in Stage Two of the league’s Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program, and will be suspended indefinitely. The placement is “related exclusively to his ongoing issues with alcohol abuse.” The Predators have released a statement:

The Nashville Predators are saddened and disappointed for Austin Watson and his family as he enters the NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program for alcohol-related treatment. We are grateful for the NHL and NHLPA’s program and will cooperate in any way necessary as we continue to support Austin and his family as they go through this difficult time. Because of the personal nature of the Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program and our exclusive focus on Austin and his family’s well-being, there will be no further comment on this matter.

Watson already served an 18-game suspension earlier this season for a domestic violence arrest in the summer, one that was reduced from an original sentence of 27 games by a neutral arbitrator. It’s not apparent what has happened to force this second suspension, but the Predators are instantly without one of their most versatile forwards for the time being and perhaps the rest of the season.

After returning to the lineup on November 15th, Watson had collected seven goals and 13 points in 34 games while playing the most minutes of his short career. The big, physical forward had already collected 99 hits in those 34 games, which actually leads the Predators entire roster despite the missed time from suspension. For a team that is loading up for another long playoff run, losing a player of his nature is a tough blow.

It’s hard to know exactly what the outcome will be in this siutation. Joe Rexrode of the Tennessean believes that this is the end of Watson’s career in Nashville, and tells readers to simply root for the 27-year old’s survival at this point. Watson has one year remaining on his contract after this season, but there is no guarantee he ever suits up again for the Predators. For now, the team will support him and his family as they try to battle through the alcohol issues.

Blue Jackets Will Make “Hard Decision” With Regards To Artemi Panarin

January 29, 2019 at 3:38 pm CDT | by Gavin Lee 9 Comments

The Columbus Blue Jackets were thrust back into the spotlight last night when Artemi Panarin’s agent came out on Twitter to say that his client would not negotiate an extension before the end of the season. That has basically been Panarin’s stance since the beginning of last offseason, but to have it reiterated so close to the trade deadline has put even more pressure on a front office already facing some tough decisions. Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen didn’t run away from that speculation though, instead calling a press conference to speak with the media directly about the situation. The Athletic uploaded the entire presser, which starts out with a general explanation from Kekalainen:

We’ve said all along that we’re going to make hard decisions if we have to, but our focus is on getting our team better. Making it as competitive as possible for this spring but also into the future obviously. If we have to make a hard decision we will. We like Artemi and would like to keep him, but it’s his right to go to free agency and if he chooses to do so we’ll be knocking on his door July 1.

Obviously keeping Panarin around for the remainder of this season gives the Blue Jackets the best chance for playoff success, given the forward’s offensive impact every night. Panarin ranks seventh in league scoring since entering the NHL in 2015-16, and has actually performed even better in Columbus than he did in Chicago. His presence makes the Blue Jackets a tough out in any playoff series, but Kekalainen also wasn’t shy in telling reporters that the team is more than just a single player.

I’ve said it before. We love Artemi, but we had 108 points [the season] before he arrived here. We’re going to have a good team even if [Panarin and fellow UFA Sergei Bobrovsky] choose to go to the free agent market. We have some really good core players, we have more coming that aren’t even here yet. We’re going to be okay.

So understanding that Kekalainen believes in the team’s future, it does seem that he would be fine with keeping his free agents through the deadline if the right deal doesn’t present itself. He even mentioned that the team did just that last year, when Jack Johnson and Matt Calvert were both drawing interest. The Blue Jackets kept both and saw them walk in free agency, though neither would have brought back the kind of return that Panarin would if the team decided to sell. It’s just that there might not be a fit for Columbus that helps them this season. Kekalainen understands this, noting that most contenders who are in the market for rental forwards like Panarin are not willing to give up roster players. Instead, they are dealing in futures which isn’t what the Blue Jackets are necessarily interested in.

Columbus has handled the question of whether Panarin or Bobrovsky will re-sign extremely well, not allowing it to affect their on-ice performance so far this season. Even head coach John Tortorella spoke today about how well the two have handled their business, competing hard for the team all season long. Bobrovsky is set to get the start tonight against the Buffalo Sabres, while Panarin will be back on the ice doing what he does best. There’s now fewer than four weeks remaining before the trade deadline and at least the Blue Jackets now know exactly where their star forward stands. Now it’s up to other teams to offer a package that will make it a truly hard decision for Kekalainen.

2019 Midseason UFA Power Rankings: Best Of The Rest

January 29, 2019 at 1:52 pm CDT | by Gavin Lee Leave a Comment

With the halfway point of the season now behind us and the trade deadline fast approaching, the All-Star break seemed like the perfect time to take a preliminary look at the UFA Class of 2019. These rankings are based on votes from writers Gavin Lee, Brian La Rose, Zach Leach and Holger Stolzenberg. We ran the top-10 yesterday, and spots 11-20 a few days ago.

Today, we’ll look at those names that just missed the cut but will still be interesting options this summer. All of these players were included on at least one ballot, but did not accumulate enough points to crack the top 20.

Mats Zuccarello, New York Rangers — Included on two of the four ballots and sitting as high as 15th, Zuccarello would probably make it into the top-20 most years. Unfortunately he hasn’t really been able to take advantage of the increased opportunity in New York this season, recording just 24 points in 35 games through the first part of the year. The versatile forward has always been a reliable presence in the Rangers’ attack, but he hasn’t looked the part of a 20-goal scorer for several years and this year has just 13 even-strength points. A foot infection has come at the worst time for both player and team, as Zuccarello was working on a five-game point streak through the middle of January and was improving his trade stock greatly. A strong finish on a playoff contender could certainly help his free agent market.

Alex Edler, Vancouver Canucks — It’s hard to vote for Edler as a free agent, given how adamant both sides have been about the potential of the veteran defenseman ending his career in Vancouver. Still, he made it onto one ballot all the way up at #14 earning him a place on our honorable mentions. The oft-injured Edler has been good again this year when in the lineup, but is about to turn 33 and has been clear about his desire to stay with the Canucks. If they can’t find a middle ground, there will be teams hoping Edler can find a way to stave off his decline a few more years—look for a deal similar to the ones Ron Hainsey and Trevor Daley signed in 2017.

Robin Lehner, New York Islanders — 15-7-4, .931 save percentage and a 2.02 goals against average. Still only good enough to get Lehner onto a single ballot. The former Buffalo Sabres starter has turned heads this year, but given that he’s only played in 27 games there should still be plenty of doubt over whether he can handle the load. If Lehner continues to find success down the stretch and leads the Islanders back to the playoffs—and perhaps a series win—someone will find the room to make him a starting goaltender offer in the summer. Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello is notorious for finding a premiere goaltender to start as frequently as possible. Whether he believes Lehner can be that is still to be seen.

Derick Brassard, Pittsburgh Penguins — Hard to believe that last season Brassard was one of the most sought after assets at the trade deadline, and now can’t even get on more than a single ballot. A year in Pittsburgh has not been good for the veteran center, as he has recorded just 27 points in 66 games including a dismal performance in the playoffs. Brassard is obviously not a fit in Pittsburgh, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be interest in him should he reach free agency. The question is how many years is a team willing to offer for a player who will be 32 before the 2019-20 season begins and is likely coming off his worst season in the NHL.

Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings — On just a single ballot, Howard is another player overshadowed by the talent available at his position. A warrior for the Red Wings for parts of the last 13 seasons, it’s hard to imagine that a team will be willing to pay up for a 35-year old goaltender. Re-signing in Detroit as a part-time starter might make the most sense, especially since they obviously value him quite highly. Howard is still playing well enough to take a team to the playoffs, but betting he’ll be able to do that again going forward is a pretty risky gamble.

Anton Stralman, Tampa Bay Lightning — Overlooked for basically his whole career, Stralman was another who received just a single vote. Despite seeming like he’s been in the league for decades, the veteran defenseman won’t turn 33 until August and is still playing excellent hockey for the best team in the NHL. Sure, his game has slowed a bit since he was a 30+ point defenseman, but teams are always looking for right-handed depth on the blue line and Stralman brings over 100 games of playoff experience. If the Lightning can bring home a Stanley Cup it would only further cement his place as a viable free agent option for any contender.

Brandon Pirri, Vegas Golden Knights — It’s not often that a player who has spent much of the season in the minor leagues receives a vote as one of the top free agents, but Pirri has been an unusual case for his entire career. The simple fact is that he can flat out score, has shown by his eight goals and 13 points in 14 games for the Golden Knights this year. No one is going to be handing out a long-term big money deal, but Pirri has done enough work to improve his game away from the puck that there will be interest. That is, if the Golden Knights don’t extend him themselves.

Minnesota Wild Sign Alex Stalock To Three-Year Extension

January 29, 2019 at 12:05 pm CDT | by Gavin Lee 4 Comments

The Minnesota Wild have decided that Alex Stalock has done more than enough to remain in the organization, today signing him to a three-year extension. Stalock will earn an average of $785K per season, totaling $2.355MM over the three years. The deal is a one-way contract, meaning the veteran goaltender will make the same amount regardless of whether he is playing in the NHL or AHL.

Not only does this deal secure the goaltending position for the Wild, it also takes early care of a problem that faced many teams not too long ago. That’s the problem of the expansion draft, in which every team needs to provide at least a certain number of eligible players and goaltenders. Signing Stalock for three more seasons means he can fulfill their obligations in net, though it seems unlikely that the new Seattle team would actually select the veteran.

Even Minnesota may not keep Stalock around for the entire deal, given the emergence of Kaapo Kahkonen this season. In his first year of North American professional hockey, Kahkonen has played very well in the minor leagues and even earned himself a spot on the AHL All-Star team. The 22-year old goaltender will try to force the hands of the Minnesota front office and earn a recall in the coming seasons, meaning Stalock would have to be relegated to the minor leagues.

Still, it’s hard to imagine that Stalock would really be afforded a better opportunity elsewhere. After a strong season in 2017-18 where he recorded a .910 save percentage through 28 games, Stalock hasn’t been nearly as good this year and very well could have found himself fighting for a contract on the open market. The 31-year old has only played 106 games at the NHL over his career, so securing a three-year deal represents more stability than he could have been expecting. The fact that it is a one-way contract that will guarantee him more than three quarters of a million dollars each season will only add to that stability.

Columbus Blue Jackets Recall Mark Letestu

January 29, 2019 at 11:48 am CDT | by Gavin Lee Leave a Comment

The Columbus Blue Jackets will welcome back a familiar face today, as the team has recalled veteran forward Mark Letestu. Letestu has spent the entire 2018-19 season in the minor leagues, recording 26 points in 39 games for the Cleveland Monsters. The team has also activated Markus Hannikainen off of injured reserve.

It wasn’t so long ago that Letestu was a valuable depth center for the Edmonton Oilers, recording 35 points in the 2016-17 season and then trailing only Leon Draisaitl in playoff scoring for the team. That performance was quickly followed by some disappointing results for the veteran, and Letestu found himself fighting for a job last summer. After attending training camp on a professional tryout with the Florida Panthers, Letestu settled for a two-way contact and a placement in the minor leagues. Not complaining for a minute, he’s been an important part of the Monsters forward group all season, and sits fourth in team scoring.

A few days from his 34th birthday, it’s unlikely that Letestu plays a big role on the Blue Jackets this season. His recall is likely only insurance while center Boone Jenner deals with an injury that “flared up” after practice yesterday, but there is something to say about having that kind of experience at hand in the minor leagues. Letestu has played 558 games in the NHL and always been an effective two-way option, something that teams are always looking for down the stretch. Since the roster limits are relaxed after the trade deadline, perhaps Letestu will be kept in the NHL as an extra body at times when the Blue Jackets are dealing with minor injuries.

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