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Kyle Turris Activated From Injured Reserve

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The Nashville Predators are finally getting Kyle Turris back on the ice. The forward has been activated from injured reserve, while Colin Blackwell is on his way back to the minor leagues to make room. Turris hasn’t played since December 27th, but is expected to be in the lineup tonight against the Dallas Stars.

The Predators still sit in a solid position in the Central Division and Western Conference overall, but haven’t been quite as dominant as earlier in the season thanks to some key injuries and a struggling powerplay. Turris’ return should help the team get a little more offensive balance, and it looks like he’ll line up at least tonight beside newcomer Brian Boyle. That’s two big additions to a Predators group that is still chasing the Winnipeg Jets for first place in the Central.

When Nashville handed Turris a long-term extension after acquiring him last season, they expected him to lock down the second-line center role and give them another top offensive contributor. In more limited minutes he might be able to take advantage of weaker matchups, and it seemed to work with 42 points in 65 games last season. Unfortunately that production wasn’t quite up to snuff through the first part of this season, and Turris returns to the lineup with just 18 points in 30 games. His presence is a huge boost, but they’ll need him to get back to his highest level quickly if they are to rely on him down the stretch and into the playoffs.

Ottawa Senators Expecting “Unparalleled Success” Between 2021-25

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The Ottawa Senators have been a train wreck for the past 18 months. Everything that possibly could have gone wrong has gone wrong, and now facing the decision to trade away the team’s best two (or perhaps three) forwards, things still aren’t looking up. That is, for many of the fans at least. Ownership, meaning Eugene Melnyk in particular, now see this season as a strong building block to a future window of success. Melnyk’s comments last night to a group of corporate sponsors and partners explain exactly how he sees the future for the Senators (via Ian Mendes of TSN):

The Senators will be all-in again for a five-year run of unparalleled success–where the team will plan to spend close to the NHL’s salary cap every year from 2021 to 2025. He reiterated that the Senators’ current rebuild is a blueprint on how to bring the Stanley Cup home to its rightful place in Ottawa.

According to CapFriendly the Senators are currently spending 91.2% of the NHL’s salary cap, putting them 24th in the league. More notably though is the lack of funding for the management, development and scouting departments, all which are some of the smallest in the league. Those expenses are not publicly available, but have been reported on thoroughly over the years. Melnyk himself has admitted to running the Senators on a tight budget, even suggesting before the team’s outdoor game in 2017 that the player salaries were the last place they could take any money from.

Pointing to a timeline several years out has obvious problems. For one, the development of young players like Thomas Chabot, Brady Tkachuk and Alex Formenton while impressive so far, could easily stall or even reverse. Second, at this point there seems to be no clear decision on whether Matt Duchene and Mark Stone will be signing long-term. Third, and probably the one that fans will latch onto the most, is that the Senators still owe their first round pick this season to the Colorado Avalanche despite it being very high and potentially the first-overall selection. No team can guarantee success in two years, and saying that the team will spend close to the salary cap certainly does not mean they will experience it.

In fact, when looking at Pierre Dorion’s history as a general manager it seems unlikely for the Senators to even be spending very heavily at all. In the some 33 months that Dorion has been in charge, the Senators have handed out just three contracts that even totaled more than $10MM and one of those is a bonus-laden entry-level deal for Tkachuk. Mike Hoffman’s four-year, $20.75MM contract paces the list, but thanks to its back-loaded nature the Florida Panthers will be paying for more than half of it in the two years he plays there.

A Duchene or Stone extension could change all that, and signal that the ownership and front office is willing to invest in this team. But even after their strong performance against the Toronto Maple Leafs last night (albeit in an eventual loss) the club has still lost five straight games and remains in last place in the entire league. Starting a rebuild is fine, guaranteeing “unparalleled success” may be a little premature.

 

Senators Notes: Anderson, Boedker, Stone, Duchene

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The Ottawa Senators are busy negotiating extensions with and listening to trade offers for several of their most important players. Yet, The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch writes that you can cross one prominent name off the list of deadline trade candidates. Garrioch, referring to comments made by GM Pierre Dorion, states definitively that starting goalie Craig Anderson will not be traded before the NHL Trade Deadline at the end of the month. Anderson, 37, has dealt with injuries this season and has only played in 34 games. While his performance has improved slightly over a forgettable 2017-18 season, Anderson’s .906 save percentage and 3.50 GAA are less than stellar. In fact, Anderson has not even been the Sens’ best keeper of late, as trade acquisition Anders Nilsson sports a .922 save percentage and 2.53 GAA in eight appearances. Despite these setbacks, there has been speculation all season that a team in need of help in net could look at the experienced veteran as an option. However, Dorion seems content to stick with Anderson, at least through the end of the season. Anderson is signed for one more year at $4.75MM and could hypothetically be moved this off-season, but with Nilsson heading toward free agency and a loaded free agent crop at the goalie position that should quell the trade market, it’s safe to assume that Anderson surviving the deadline this year means he will begin next season with the Senators.

  • CapFriendly reported earlier today that the Senators have placed forward Mikkel Boedker on injured reserve. Garrioch additionally adds that Boedker is considered week-to-week with an undisclosed injury. While it seems like the Senators might not be too concerned about a brief absence for Boedker given their place in the standings, his injury could prove problematic in trade talks. While the bulk of the focus on Ottawa’s deadline dealings has fairly been on priority free agents Matt Duchene, Mark Stone, and Ryan Dzingel, Boedker has quietly had a strong season and could be of interest to suitors. Acquired from the San Jose Sharks as part of the Mike Hoffman return, Boedker has 28 points through 51 games thus far, which puts him on pace for 45 points; this would be the top mark by Boedker since he left the Arizona Coyotes organization years ago. Boedker has one more year left on his contract at $4MM and the cost-cutting Senators would jump at the chance to move his contract off the books – especially if it would help to retain any of the aforementioned trio – and also get a decent trade return this year. However, Boedker’s ability to help a team down the stretch and in the postseason this year would be a key part of his trade value. This injury could make it difficult to move Boedker after all.
  • Another week closer to the trade deadline and the Senators still do not have an extension in place with Mark Stone. Despite Stone’s insistence that he would like to stay in Ottawa and the team’s determination to get a deal done, there have been no signs that a resolution is close. TSN has reflected this lack of change to the status quo by moving Stone up to No. 5 in their Trade Bait List, where he joins teammate Matt Duchene, who is currently No. 2. As Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman writes, it’s impossible to know where exactly Ottawa is in negotiations with Stone or Duchene, but as the days tick by, it becomes more likely that they are dealt. Friedman believes that the team will have to make a decision on the pair “very soon” so that they can move on to working with Ryan Dzingel on an extension.

Deadline Primer: Arizona Coyotes

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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? As we continue to examine the Pacific Division, here is a look at the Arizona Coyotes.

Team A is in a four-way tie for eleventh place is their conference. Team B has a points percentage only marginally less than the final wild card team in their conference. Most would say that Team A should be a seller at the deadline, while Team B should be a buyer. Well, Team A is the Arizona Coyotes and Team B is also the Arizona Coyotes.

At 51 points through 53 games, Arizona is tied with the Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks, and Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference wild card race, though technically they lead the group. One game in hand separates them from the Ducks and Hawks, while a single regulation/overtime win currently gives them an edge over the Oilers. At the same time, the Coyotes’ .481 points percentage only narrowly trails the 8th-place Vancouver Canucks and 10th-place Colorado Avalanche, who are both .500 teams. The truth of the matter is that six points separate all eight teams in pursuit of the second wild card berth in the West and Arizona is right in the middle of a race that gets more complicated with each day.

So which way do GM John Chayka and the Coyotes go? The St. Louis Blues currently look like the team to beat for the final postseason spot, but the Avalanche have been in the playoff picture all year and the Blackhawks are winners of five straight. Can Arizona really compete with those teams? Despite the proximity of the teams in the Western Conference playoff race, the ’Yotes still lack great odds of making the playoffs and, even if they did sneak in, would be severe underdogs without much of a chance in the first round. Between a rash of injuries and inconsistent scoring, this just doesn’t seem like the year for Arizona’s triumphant return to the postseason. There are many good pieces in place, both veterans and young contributors, but the Coyotes would be better served simply entertaining offers for their impending free agents and expendable parts and keeping their sights set on next season.

Record

23-25-5, fifth in the Pacific Division

Deadline Status

Moderate Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$30.54MM in full-season cap hit, 1/3 used salary cap retention slots, 50/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2019: ARI 1st, ARI 2nd, ARI 3rd, CHI 3rd, ARI 4th, CLB 6th, PIT 6th
2020: ARI 1st, ARI 2nd, ARI 3rd, ARI 4th, ARI 5th, ARI 6th, ARI 7th

Trade Chips

Derek Stepan? Alex Goligoski? Niklas Hjalmarsson? These names just aren’t out there on the rumor mill, as the Coyotes seem happy with their veterans and aren’t willing to move them while term remains on their contracts. There is a lot to like about the core that Chayka and company have put together, but it simply hasn’t had the opportunity to shine this season due to injury issues with the likes of Nick Schmaltz, Michael Grabner, Jakob Chychrun, Christian Dvorak, Antti Raanta, and more. Looking ahead to next year, the Coyotes on paper have a top-notch goalie tandem, a deep and diverse defense, and a mix of skill and experience on offense that could help to solve this season’s scoring issues. The team seems unlikely to want to interfere with the potential they see in next season’s squad, which will eliminate many of the names that buyers are most interested in.

However, there are more than a few impending UFA’s or spare parts that the Coyotes should be willing to move. At the top of that list is forward Richard Panik. Panik, 27, is on pace to match his 35 points from last season when he came over to the Coyotes from the Chicago Blackhawks at mid-season. Yet, he has been less effective and less efficient at both ends this season despite more play time than his second-half stint last year. A fit in Arizona that once looked ideal for Panik is now unlikely to be a long-term home and the Coyotes should be more than willing to move the upcoming free agent. Panik will be an affordable, versatile depth addition for a contender and should draw ample attention. The only other Coyotes forwards approaching unrestricted free agency are Jordan Weal – who has disappointed since coming over from the Philadelphia Flyers – and Mario Kempe, neither of whom are likely to attract much interest. There are others up front who Arizona will listen on, though. Nick Cousins, an RFA this summer, has failed to make the most of opportunities throughout the lineup this season and should be a player that the Coyotes are open to move on from at the right price. Josh Archibald, another RFA, is already 26 and may not be a player that Arizona sees as a long-term piece. He would be another affordable depth addition for a playoff-bound team.

On the back end, Jordan Oesterle has played admirably for the Coyotes this season, but the 26-year-old UFA-to-be is likely nothing more than an extra man if he stays in Arizona moving forward. He would probably prefer to begin that role early this season for a contender than stay in the desert. Oesterle has proven this season that he can step in and be an effective defender and he seems very likely to move if any playoff team comes calling. The more difficult decision for the Coyotes is in regards to Kevin Connauton. At full strength, Arizona does not need Connauton as a top-four defenseman next season and, like Oesterle, he may even become the seventh defender on that blue line. Yet, he is signed through the end of next year at a great price, even as a depth option. Even though his offense has fallen off this season after an impressive 2017-18 campaign, Connauton and his team-friendly $1.375MM cap hit could be appealing to any number of teams if the Coyotes are willing to give him up. AHLers Dakota Mermis, Robbie Russo, and Dysin Mayo are all likely up for grabs as well if any team wants to really deepen their options on the blue line.

Five Players To Watch For: F Richard Panik, D Jordan Oesterle, F Nick Cousins, D Kevin Connauton, D Robbie Russo

Team Needs

1) NHL-Ready Forward Prospects: It’s hard to truly gauge what the Coyotes needs are moving forward since their performance this season is so skewed by injuries and an ever-changing lineup. Their 28th-ranked offense should improve next season with full seasons from Schmaltz, Dvorak, and Grabner and the chemistry impact that consistent lines will have. Nevertheless, 2.60 goals per game is a bad mark and adding some more young scoring options to the mix certainly won’t hurt. The Coyotes aren’t exactly selling elite talent at this deadline, but if they can land some pro-ready forwards in lieu of draft picks, that would be ideal. Barrett Hayton cannot be the only impact forward in the Arizona pipeline, but there aren’t any other apparent options who could step in next season. Center depth is a clear need, but any capable, young forward will help.

2) Draft Picks: The Coyotes are not the same rebuilding team they were just a couple of years ago, but that doesn’t make building for the future any less important. Chayka and company seem content to move forward with their current core, but need to establish the next wave behind them. Hayton is leader of that prospect core, but his supporting cast right now is unspectacular. If pro-ready prospects aren’t being offered up by sellers, adding draft picks this season can help add to the pipeline. It is a deep draft and even third- and fourth-rounders could yield impact players in June.

Tristan Jarry Recalled Under Emergency Conditions

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The Pittsburgh Penguins are in action tomorrow night against the Florida Panthers, and aren’t expected to have Matt Murray in net. That’s because Murray is out with another injury, this time listed as day-to-day with an upper-body ailment. That means Tristan Jarry has been recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton under emergency conditions, not the first time he’s replaced Murray for injury reasons this year.

Head coach Mike Sullivan made it clear that the injury to Murray is not a concussion, but would not further elaborate. Unfortunately this seems to be par for the course when it comes to Murray, as the young goaltender can’t seem to stay healthy for any length of time. After dealing with another concussion earlier in the year, Murray was activated in mid-December and has looked good since, carrying a .930 save percentage over his last 15 games. That kind of production is exactly what the Penguins need, especially as they try to catch the New York Islanders and Washington Capitals for a higher playoff seed.

Jarry, who is still just 23 years old, has spent the majority of this season in the minor leagues where he has posted a .912 save percentage across 27 games. Having him in the system is integral for the Penguins even after extending DeSmith earlier this year, as they need someone who can step in and contribute in case of injury.

Minor Transactions: 02/06/19

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The NHL is almost entirely quiet tonight, with just two games on the schedule for this evening. The battle of Ontario rages between the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs, while some original six foes do battle as the Boston Bruins travel to face the New York Rangers. With most of the league off we’ve already seen some trades go down, and we’ll keep track of all the other minor moves right here.

  • The Arizona Coyotes have sent Adin Hill and Dakota Mermis back to the minor leagues for now, as they assess their injury situation and prepare for tomorrow night’s action. The Coyotes have been destroyed by injury this season, but it has at least allowed them to see what they have in some of their young prospects. Hill for instance has shown he could be in the running as a backup option moving forward, or at least as an injury fill-in should Darcy Kuemper or Antti Raanta continue to struggle with their health.
  • After trading Cody McLeod away to the Nashville Predators, the New York Rangers have recalled Vinni Lettieri from the AHL. Lettieri has dominated for the Hartford Wolf Pack this season with 27 points in 29 games, but amazingly is scoreless in 16 contests with the Rangers. The 24-year old will look to change that if given the opportunity down the stretch.
  • The Ottawa Senators have recalled both Jack Rodewald and Cody Goloubef from the AHL, giving them 22 players for tonight’s game against Toronto. Rodewald is an inspiring story, given that he played nearly a full season in the ECHL just a few years ago and is now playing big minutes for the Belleville Senators or spending time in the NHL.

Nashville Predators Acquire Cody McLeod

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Deja vu all over again. The Nashville Predators have acquired Cody McLeod from the New York Rangers for a 2020 seventh-round pick. It was just over two years ago that the Predators acquired McLeod from the Colorado Avalanche for a late-season push and playoff run that got them all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals. The team also announced that Zac Rinaldo will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery, explaining perhaps the need for McLeod.

McLeod, 34, certainly isn’t being acquired for his goal scoring ability. The veteran forward has carved out a 769-game NHL career but has just 72 tallies to his name, including just a single goal in 56 games with the Rangers since being claimed off waivers last year. Instead, his leadership and toughness will be welcomed into the Predators locker room as they look towards another long playoff run.

Speaking with the media today, Predators GM David Poile indicated that the team has suffered from the loss of leaders like McLeod, Mike Fisher and Scott Hartnell over the last year. That was part of the reason the team has brought in veteran names like McLeod and Boyle, but there is also obviously a need to be filled after Rinaldo’s injury and Austin Watson’s suspension. You can bet McLeod will be put into the playoff lineup if the team feels as though they’re being pushed around, and a distant seventh-round pick is just about the smallest asset you can give up.

Still, for the Rangers this looks like a pretty handsome reward when compared to what McLeod has actually done for them. The team snagged him for free off waivers last season and has now turned him into an asset, however small. The Rangers are still stockpiling for the future, and they’ll happily take another lottery ticket to add to that prospect cupboard. After all, they have a seventh-round pick on the roster that has put up quite the career.

Mike Modano, Haley Wickenheiser Lead 2019 IIHF Hall Of Fame Inductees

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The IIHF Hall of Fame has announced their class of 2019, and several familiar names will inducted for their international pedigree. The full class includes Mike Modano, Haley Wickenheiser, Boris Alexandrov, Jorgen Jonsson, Ziggy Palffy, and Miroslav Satan. Konstantin Mihaylov and Jim Johannson will also receive the Richard “Bibi” Torriani Award and Paul Loicq Award respectively.

Modano, one of the greatest American players of all-time, competed in three different Olympic Games and took home a silver medal in 2002. He competed many other times internationally for the United States, including as part of their gold medal-winning World Cup team in 1996. He finished his NHL career with 1,374 points in 1,499 regular season games, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015.

Wickenheiser meanwhile is arguably the greatest female hockey player of all-time, and is unmatched on the international stage. She has five Olympic medals (four gold, one silver), 13 World Championship medals (seven gold, six silver) and was one of the first women to suit up in a professional men’s league. Wickenheiser was recently hired as assistant director of player development by the Toronto Maple Leafs, and will surely be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in her first year of eligibility.

The rest of the group is filled with familiar names including Palffy, who was a dominant NHL player in his day and left the league with 713 points in 684 games. Satan too made a name for himself in North America, playing in more than 1,000 games in the NHL and even recording a 40-goal season in 1998-99.

Nashville Predators Acquire Brian Boyle

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The Nashville Predators have added some depth and size to their bottom-six, as Bob McKenzie of TSN reports they have finalized a deal to bring in Brian Boyle from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a 2019 second-round pick. Boyle is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, and carries a $2.55MM cap hit.

At first blush, the cost of Boyle seems incredibly high given he has routinely played on the fourth line in New Jersey and is no longer a full-time center. Like he was for the Toronto Maple Leafs two years ago—when he also fetched a second-round pick as rental addition—Boyle is more than just a depth option. The 6’6″ forward is one of the most well-respected players in the entire league and has a wealth of playoff experience, suiting up 111 times in the postseason over his career. His versatility to play either center or left wing and ability on the penalty kill makes him a perfect fit for the Predators who have looked to add size since Austin Watson’s recent suspension.

There’s also the factor of Boyle’s experience in front of the net on the powerplay, where his huge frame can give goaltenders fits when trying to track the puck. The Predators powerplay has been their biggest weakness of late, and they desperately need someone who can clean things up in front. While Boyle is by no means a dynamic goal scoring threat, he does bring a certain consistency offensively and has recorded at least 13 goals in five consecutive seasons.

Still, the Devils have done well to acquire another reasonably high draft pick for of their pending free agent. With the team unlikely to make the playoffs this season, selling off expiring assets for futures will only help strengthen what is already a formidable young core in their attempt to compete in the future. While Nashville’s pick is likely to be near the end of the round, it’s still more valuable to the Devils than another few months of Boyle suiting up this season.

While this deal may seem to change the market for rental forwards, there are few players out there that bring the same mix of skills and experience. It certainly doesn’t mean that every other forward with more points than Boyle will draw a better return.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Ottawa Senators Trade Max McCormick

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The Ottawa Senators have traded Max McCormick to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for prospect Jean-Christophe Beaudin. Beaudin will be assigned to the Belleville Senators.

McCormick, 26, was never really able to find his footing in Ottawa after signing out of Ohio State University in 2014. The sixth-round pick was known for his blend of feisty, physical hockey and offensive ability, but instead couldn’t bring the second part of that mix to the NHL. Recording just 10 points in 71 career games with Ottawa, McCormick will move on with just a few months before he becomes an unrestricted free agent once again. He had previously his Group VI free agency in 2017 and signed a two-year deal with the Senators that had guaranteed him a one-way salary of $650K this season.

Beaudin meanwhile is another lottery ticket for the Senators, given his struggles since making the jump from junior hockey. Originally selected in the third round of the 2015 draft, Beaudin was a big scoring threat in the QMJHL but has failed to bring that offense to the minor leagues. In 42 games for the Colorado Eagles this year, the 21-year old winger has 13 points.

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