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Archives for February 2019

Red Wings To Resume Extension Talks With Jimmy Howard

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Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard was among those with a decent chance to be dealt by Monday’s trade deadline.  Instead, he stayed put as GM Ken Holland told reporters, including Ted Kulfan of The Detroit News, that there was little to no interest in the 34-year-old as the trade market for goaltenders was virtually non-existent.

With that option now off the table, Holland indicated that the plan now is to resume discussions regarding a potential contract extension.  Those talks are expected to occur over the next few days.

What will undoubtedly hurt Howard here is his recent struggles.  In 2019 (a span of 17 appearances), he has posted a save percentage of .884, a rating that would be considered well below average for a backup netminder.  The veteran was quite sharp over the first couple of months but has tapered off since then which presents a question for Holland and the Red Wings – which version will they get next season (and potentially beyond)?

Howard is in the final season of his current contract which carries a cap hit of just over $5.29MM.  Considering his play as of late, the direction of the team and the fact they already have Jonathan Bernier ($3MM) locked up for two more years after this one, it stands to reason that Howard will need to take a pay cut on his current deal.  Both sides have previously expressed their desire to get a new deal done with the expectation of a multi-year pact being required but given Howard’s recent play, it will be interesting to see if they ultimately settle on a one-year deal.  He will be 35 by then so Detroit would have the ability to offer performance bonuses in a one-year contract which may be the best course of action here.

Status Of The 2019 Entry Draft First Round

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Now that the trade deadline has come and gone, teams out of the playoff chase have one thing on their mind. The NHL Draft Lottery, where fortunes can be made and franchises can be altered. This year’s lottery is for the right to draft American center and presumptive first-overall pick Jack Hughes, an incredibly talented offensive weapon that is expected to step right into the NHL in 2019-20. The second and third picks are also up for grabs, though not for everyone. The deadline and several trades before it have changed the landscape of the first round, with several teams no longer scheduled to take part.

While the rest of the season, lottery and playoff results will change the order, here is the current status of the first round based on today’s pure point standings:

  1. Colorado Avalanche (via Ottawa Senators)
  2. Los Angeles Kings
  3. Detroit Red Wings
  4. Anaheim Ducks
  5. New Jersey Devils
  6. Edmonton Oilers
  7. Chicago Blackhawks
  8. Vancouver Canucks
  9. New York Rangers
  10. Arizona Coyotes
  11. Florida Panthers
  12. Buffalo Sabres
  13. Colorado Avalanche
  14. Philadelphia Flyers
  15. Dallas Stars*
  16. Minnesota Wild
  17. Vegas Golden Knights
  18. Ottawa Senators (via Columbus Blue Jackets)
  19. Pittsburgh Penguins
  20. Carolina Hurricanes
  21. Anaheim Ducks (via St. Louis Blues, Buffalo Sabres)**
  22. Montreal Canadiens
  23. New York Rangers (via Winnipeg Jets)
  24. Nashville Predators
  25. Washington Capitals
  26. New York Islanders
  27. Los Angeles Kings (via Toronto Maple Leafs)
  28. Buffalo Sabres (via San Jose Sharks)**
  29. Boston Bruins
  30. Calgary Flames
  31. Tampa Bay Lightning

Teams with no first-round pick: CBJ, STL, WPG, TOR, SJS

*Owed to NYR if Stars advance to Western Conference Finals and Mats Zuccarello plays in 50% of the first two rounds

**Anaheim will receive the better of these two picks

Jake Gardiner Out “Week-To-Week” For Toronto Maple Leafs

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When the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Jake Muzzin earlier this season there were many who questioned why the team brought in another left-handed option. That move seems prescient today, after the team announced that Jake Gardiner will be out on a “week-to-week” basis with a back injury. Gardiner has already missed two games earlier this year with what were characterized as back spasms, but this seems like a much more serious injury.

With Gardiner out, the Maple Leafs will have to rely on Muzzin, Morgan Rielly and Travis Dermott on the left side while rookie Igor Ozhiganov draws back into the lineup. Ozhiganov has not played since January 23rd and is averaging just over 14 minutes a night for the Maple Leafs in the 42 games he has suited up for.

It’s a tough break for Toronto, who decided not to pay the high prices for rental defensemen at the deadline. Gardiner played on Monday night but ended up with his lowest ice time of the season at 16:30, and will likely miss at least a handful of important games. The Maple Leafs are likely going to face the Boston Bruins in the first round once again, but are fighting with them to decide who will enjoy home ice advantage during the series. The Montreal Canadiens are also within striking distance, meaning a Maple Leafs slump could have dire consequences.

Gardiner, for all the derision he takes at times from Maple Leafs fans, is an extremely effective player at even-strength for the team. The 28-year old has 29 points through 60 games for the team and has once again posted positive possession statistics. Those strong numbers are however marked with the odd brutal giveaway or complete lack of defensive awareness, which leads to some debate over his contributions.

Nevertheless, Gardiner was setting himself up for a huge payday in the offseason. A career-high of 52 points set in 2017-18 and the fact that he won’t turn 29 until July 4th made him quite an attractive option as a potential free agent, something he’ll almost certainly become now that the Maple Leafs acquired Muzzin’s $4MM cap hit for next year. The team will have quite the cap crunch after signing their remaining restricted free agents—a group that includes Mitch Marner, Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson—and will likely not be able to afford Gardiner’s new deal. That said, this injury comes at a terrible time for the defenseman as he tries to prove his worth on a playoff team.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Corey Crawford To Return For Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Blackhawks will have an important name on the lineup card tonight, as Corey Crawford will make his first start since mid-December. Crawford was activated from injured reserve yesterday while Collin Delia was returned to the minor leagues on Monday in time to retain AHL playoff eligibility.

Crawford, 34, started 23 games for the Blackhawks after returning from a long concussion-related absence and posted a .902 save percentage. That number was trending upwards when he suffered another concussion on December 16th when a player collided with him. Crawford’s head impacted the post of his net and given his history with head injuries he was immediately removed for testing.

The fact that Crawford is returning at all this season is almost miraculous, but given the current state of the Blackhawks it couldn’t come at a better time. Despite sitting in last place in the Central Division the Blackhawks are still just six points behind the Dallas Stars for the final Western Conference wild card spot. If the team is to have any hope of snatching that final playoff position, Crawford will have to be at his best.

The team has been carried by an outstanding season by Patrick Kane and the immediate chemistry between Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Strome, but need better goaltending to really compete in the playoff picture. While Delia made an admirable debut and showed he may have a future in Chicago, the team has a combined .894 save percentage on the season, tied for 29th in the league.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Columbus Blue Jackets Sign Zac Dalpe To Two-Year Extension

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have locked up one of their depth forwards, inking Zac Dalpe to a two-year, two-way extension. The deal will keep Dalpe in the Blue Jackets organization through the 2020-21 season. The 29-year old forward was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of this season.

Dalpe has become a veteran leader for the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters since coming over from the Minnesota Wild organization in 2017, and has 33 points in 35 games for the minor league squad this season. He’s also been frequently used as injury insurance for the Blue Jackets, who routinely call him up to give them some more center depth on the roster. Unfortunately that insurance policy hasn’t been cashed very often, and Dalpe has played just 13 games for the Blue Jackets so far.

It’s unlikely that Dalpe will play a much bigger role on Columbus going forward, but it does secure one of the Monsters’ top players for at least two more years. The veteran will need to go through waivers before each season however, a process that was responsible for his journey to Columbus in the first place.

Bryan Rust, Chad Ruhwedel Out “Longer Term”

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The Pittsburgh Penguins have suffered several injuries of late, and two more names can be added to that list. Bryan Rust and Chad Ruhwedel are both out “longer term” according to head coach Mike Sullivan. Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports that Ruhwedel left the arena last night with his right arm in a sling, while Rust was on crutches with his left foot in a walking boot.

Pittsburgh went out and added Erik Gudbranson and Chris Wideman at the trade deadline this week to address other injuries on the blue line, but will feel the loss of Rust up front. The hard working forward had been playing an increased role of late and actually ranks third on the team in even-strength goals with 15. He has added two short-handed tallies for a career high of 17 on the year and is an integral part of the Penguins attack. While they obviously still have plenty of firepower with the likes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jake Guentzel and Phil Kessel leading the way, Rust provided a level of versatility that is lacking elsewhere on the roster.

Losing two more players will hurt the team and it is no guarantee that the Penguins even make the playoffs at this point. With a quarter of the season remaining the team sits in the final wild card spot but just a single point ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets who recently loaded up at the deadline. Philadelphia, Buffalo and Florida are all within ten points and chasing down the Penguins, who themselves are trying to leapfrog the Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens in the standings. It will be a fight right to the end in the Eastern Conference, and the Pittsburgh depth will surely be tested now.

Conor Garland Signs Two-Year Extension

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Conor Garland has clearly made a good impression on Arizona Coyotes GM John Chayka. The Coyotes today announced a two-year contact extension for Garland that will keep him in Arizona through the 2020-21 season. The contract will carry a $775K average annual value. Chayka released a short statement explaining the deal:

Conor has come onto our team and made an impact through his work ethic and willingness to get to the net and score goals. He’s a great success story for our organization as a later round pick and the development process he went through to get here. We’re thrilled to get him signed long-term.

Garland, 22, has stepped into a role with the Coyotes this season and not looked back, scoring 12 goals through his first 36 NHL games. That may be surprising to some who only know his name from the fifth round of the 2015 draft, but not others that watched him play at the junior level. For his final two years with the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL, Garland was the most dominant offensive player in the country. He finished those two seasons with 257 points in 129 regular season games a pair of scoring titles and a league MVP, but struggled upon his debut in the AHL.

Undersized, Garland had just 14 points as a rookie in the minor leagues in 2016-17 and followed that up with 27 in 55 games last season. That all changed at the beginning of 2018-19 when he got off to a torrid start with the Tucson Roadrunners and earned himself an NHL chance.

The Coyotes need more stories like Garland to compete in the NHL. If the team isn’t able to spend to the cap like some of their rivals, they’ll need their drafting and development systems to find players in the mid to late rounds of the draft and turn them into NHL contributors. If Garland can continue his scoring pace for the next two years they’ll have one of the biggest bargains in the league. Impressively, those 12 goals aren’t being held up by an unrealistic shooting percentage. The young forward is being sheltered considerably by head coach Rick Tocchet, but is responding well with excellent possession statistics and powerplay performance.

For a player who may have been considered an afterthought just a year ago, two years of security is worthwhile even if he proves underpaid by the time the deal ends. Garland will still be a restricted free agent at the end of the extension, as long as he plays in 44 more games during that time and avoids Group VI UFA status.

Minor Transactions: 02/27/19

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It’s a quiet night in the NHL with just five games scheduled, but there are sure to be some fireworks regardless. Connor McDavid makes his return from a two-game suspension in his hometown while the Calgary Flames take on a decimated New Jersey Devils lineup. As teams prepare for tonight’s action, we’ll be right here keeping track of all the minor moves.

  • The Boston Bruins have recalled Karson Kuhlman and Peter Cehlarik under emergency conditions after Noel Acciari and Patrice Bergeron both missed practice this morning. The team takes on the Tampa Bay Lightning tomorrow night and likely just wanted some extra bodies to serve as insurance. Kuhlman made his NHL debut earlier this month and scored two points in four games with the Bruins.
  • Samuel Montembeault has been recalled under emergency conditions by the Florida Panthers after James Reimer suffered an injury last night. The veteran backup left the game against the Arizona Coyotes and did not return, though it’s not clear yet how long his injury will keep him out. Montembeault is carrying a .901 save percentage through 37 games for the Springfield Thunderbirds.
  • The Anaheim Ducks have recalled Sam Steel and Jacob Larsson under emergency conditions, though may only get into the lineup if another injury pops up. The team is expected to be without Ryan Getzlaf due to injury. Steel has played 14 games in the NHL this season while Larsson found himself in the lineup 38 times before his demotion.
  • Jake Bean and Haydn Fleury have both been recalled by the Carolina Hurricanes under emergency conditions, giving the team two extra defensemen. The Hurricanes don’t play again until Friday, but both Justin Faulk and Calvin de Haan are listed as day-to-day with upper-body injuries.
  • Teddy Blueger has been brought back up by the Pittsburgh Penguins under emergency conditions. Blueger only went down on Monday to maintain his AHL eligibility, but will join back with the team for now. The Penguins are dealing with several injuries and could use Blueger up front to help replace Bryan Rust.
  • Andrew Cogliano is expected to miss the first game of his career due to injury tomorrow, so the Dallas Stars have recalled Joel L’Esperance from the minor leagues. L’Esperance is still looking for his first point at the NHL level but has 29 goals this season in the AHL.

Adam Helewka, Laurent Dauphin Sign With Nashville Predators

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The Nashville Predators have signed minor league forward Adam Helewka to a one-year, two-way contract that will cover the 2019-20 season. Helewka is currently playing for the Milwaukee Admirals after being acquired from the Arizona Coyotes organization earlier this month. The team has also announced a one-year, two-way extension for Laurent Dauphin, who also came over from the Coyotes in that trade. Both Helewka and Dauphin will make $700K at the NHL level in 2019-20.

Helewka, 23, was originally selected in the fourth round by the San Jose Sharks in 2015 and has developed into an effective minor league scoring threat. The 6’2″ winger has 38 points in 48 games this season including seven in seven since joining the Admirals. Helewka was scheduled to become a restricted free agent after this season when his entry-level deal expired, but will not have to deal with a long negotiation. He has yet to make his NHL debut.

Dauphin meanwhile has already has 35 NHL games under his belt after making his debut back in the 2015-16 season. The 23-year old center was a second-round pick nearly six years ago, but has spent nearly the entire season in the minor leagues where he has 24 points in 41 games.

Both players are not expected to play large roles on the Predators moving forward, but will provide inexpensive depth options for their minor league club.

Ottawa Senators LeBreton Development Bid In Jeopardy

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Yesterday a mediator announced that there would be no extension given to RendezVous LeBreton Group to resolve their dispute and continue work on the proposal to build a new arena closer to downtown Ottawa. RendezVous includes Senators owner Eugene Melnyk and Trinity Development Group founder John Ruddy, who are currently embroiled in a lawsuit. Melnyk filed a $700MM lawsuit against Ruddy in November, who then filed a $1B counterclaim. Today, the National Capital Commission who controls the LeBreton Flats area announced that there will be no settlement in the dispute and will now hold a meeting on March 7th to finalize a new development process.

This is not a guaranteed death sentence for the project, but it certainly makes it more difficult for the Senators to get their long awaited downtown arena. The LeBreton area is much closer to the city center than where the team currently plays, some 30 minutes outside of Ottawa in Kanata, ON. The arena is difficult get to and has routinely been a cause for consternation for fans of the team.

Melnyk released a statement following the announcement:

We are devastated that our dream has been shattered. However, we will not let our vision die or allow our enthusiasm to be diminished by this ill-fated experience. More than ever, we are determined and committed to explore alternative approaches in central locations that could accommodate a world-class hub. We are here for the long term and want a world class venue where Ottawans will live, work, play and enjoy the best the city has to offer. The people of Ottawa deserve this.

It’s been a long, disappointing 18 months for the Senators, who have fallen from the Eastern Conference Finals in 2017 to a bottom feeder in the NHL. The team may very well finish last in the entire league this season and have just traded away their three top scoring forwards. It will be a long way back to the top, and somehow rejuvenating this development bid would be a huge step in the right direction. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem like it’s going to happen after today’s announcement.

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