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Erik Karlsson, Tomas Hertl, Joe Pavelski Out For Game Six

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7:00pm CT: Pavelski has officially been added to the list of absences from the Sharks’ lineup tonight. The captain, who is also an impending unrestricted free agent, may have already played in his final game for San Jose if the team is eliminated tonight and opts not to re-sign him this off-season.

12:00pm CT: The San Jose Sharks will be without at least two of their stars for tonight’s elimination game. Erik Karlsson and Tomas Hertl both did not make the trip to St. Louis to face the Blues in game six of the Western Conference Final. Joe Pavelski, who did make the trip but missed this morning’s optional skate, is a game-time decision for the Sharks.

Karlsson has been dealing with a groin injury for much of the season and was obviously limited in game five, disappearing from the bench in the third period entirely. The star defenseman was probably a detriment to his team for that game, but has actually had an excellent postseason despite the injury. In 19 games Karlsson has 16 points, and still leads the entire Stanley Cup playoffs with 14 assists.

Hertl meanwhile was likely hurt on a play where he collided with Ivan Barbashev near center ice, though he would return to the game for a while. Hertl too was kept out of the third period as the Sharks continued to play more and more short handed. The 25-year old has turned into arguably the most dangerous offensive forward for the Sharks this season, recording 35 goals and 74 points during the regular season. He didn’t stop when the playoffs began, and has 15 points—including ten goals—through 19 games.

Losing these two is obviously a huge blow to a Sharks team that is trying to stay alive once again in these playoffs. It also may have an effect on Karlsson’s future, given that he is still unsigned and scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Speculation over his market has already begun, with his injury history affecting how the league sees him moving forward.

Golden Knights Notes: Salary Cap, Gusev, Gambling

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Trusted salary cap database CapFriendly has rolled over their site to the 2019-20 season already and one of the most eye-grabbing results is just how much trouble the Vegas Golden Knights are already in. Using a projected salary cap ceiling of $83MM, up $3.5MM from this season, at the top of the projected salary list is Vegas, who are already $125K over the cap with more than $83MM committed to just 19 players. A further inspection reveals that the Knights have just one goaltender, Marc-Andre Fleury, and six defensemen signed as of now, with no room to make any further additions. GM Kelly McCrimmon and company will have no choice but to shed salary this summer, at the very least just to re-sign restricted free agents like William Karlsson, Nikita Gusev, Jimmy Schuldt, and Malcolm Subban. Any free agent signings beyond that will require further sacrifice. Despite being just two years into their existence, Vegas has already accumulated an incredible amount of salary, mostly due to major contracts handed out to the likes of Mark Stone, Nate Schmidt, Alex Tuch, Shea Theodore, Max Pacioretty, Paul Stastny, and Fleury, all signed since this time last year. Golden Knights fans should be prepared for some tough moves, as solving this problem won’t be as easy as simply placing David Clarkson on the injured reserve. Inaugural Knights like Jonathan Marchessault, Reilly Smith, Cody Eakin, and Colin Miller are among the most likely casualties.

  • Even in the midst of his new team’s cap crunch, Nikita Gusev is expecting and hoping to re-sign with Vegas. Gusev, whose rights were acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning at the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft, finally jumped to the NHL late this season after a decorated career in the KHL. The 26-year-old forward burned his one-year entry-level contract, despite not playing, and is now a restricted free agent. He tells Russian hockey source Sport-Express, as translated by The Sin Bin, that he likes Las Vegas and feels he owes it to the team to re-sign with them if made a reasonable offer. Gusev acknowledges that he will likely receive other offers, either from KHL clubs overseas or in the form of an NHL offer sheet, but he will wait for Vegas’ initial offer before making any decisions. What might it cost the Knights to retain their newfound weapon? The interviewer suggested to Gusev that a $4MM AAV could be the ballpark price and he did not disagree. He would only confirm that he expects a one-way deal, but did not talk specific finances. Overall, Gusev sounded very flexible about getting a deal done and even acknowledged that he would be open to playing in the AHL if that is what is asked of him. That seems like an unlikely route for Vegas to take, but Gusev’s attitude at least implies that this negotiation process and first full year in North America should go smoother than it did for Vadim Shipachyov. If (when) the Golden Knights are forced to sell off scoring this off-season, Gusev could be an ideal candidate to take on a major role next season.
  • Speaking at a conference today, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman projected the successful growth of betting on hockey by using the Golden Knights as an example, per TSN’s Rick Westhead. In Nevada, where sports gambling is legalized, hockey bets grew by 60% in Vegas’ inaugural season and again by 40% this season. While Nevada, and Las Vegas in particular, is the unofficial gambling capital of the United States, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Murphy v. NCAA last summer allows all states to decide for themselves whether or not to allow for legalized gambling. Many states already have sports books up and running and many more will soon follow. If the growth exhibited in Nevada in regards to betting on hockey is replicated by other states, it will be a key growth factor for the game and the NHL and one that Bettman will surely try to take advantage of as best he can.

West Notes: Sutter, Hayes, Pavelski

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New Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland has made another pair of changes in the front office, parting ways with both vice president of player personnel Duane Sutter and media relations director J.J. Hebert according to Ryan Rishaug of TSN. This comes after the organization also recently said goodbye to Craig MacTavish who is off to coach in the KHL.

It’s not unusual for a new general manager to clean house so to speak, but Sutter’s departure will mean a big change in the scouting department. That of course may not be a terrible thing, given the team’s lack of real success in the draft over the last several years. Sutter had been with the team’s scouting department since the 2011-12 season, after which Edmonton notoriously selected Nail Yakupov first overall. While there have obviously been other cases of successful draft picks, Holland will likely install his own team to try and draft and develop more talent for the Oilers moving forward.

  • Kevin Hayes didn’t fit into the Winnipeg Jets perfectly after the New York Rangers sent him north at the trade deadline, but that doesn’t mean he won’t have his suitors this summer when he hits unrestricted free agency. Adrian Dater tweets that sources have told him of the Colorado Avalanche’s interest in the big center, which would certainly make sense given GM Joe Sakic’s “aggressive” comments at the end of the year. Hayes heads into the offseason as one of the top centers available in free agency after posting a career-high 54 points this season split between New York and Winnipeg.
  • Joe Pavelski is focused on helping the San Jose Sharks avoid elimination tonight—if he even plays—but pretty soon he’ll have to consider what’s next in his NHL career. The Sharks’ captain is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and is coming off an incredible 38-goal regular season, but has had no extension talks with the front office according to Scott Burnside of The Athletic (subscription required) who examined the Pavelski situation in full earlier today. It seems extremely unlikely that Pavelski would leave the only organization he’s ever known, especially one that gave him an opportunity as a seventh-round pick, but GM Doug Wilson has played hardball as recently as 2017 when he watched Patrick Marleau chase a three-year deal in Toronto.

Edmonton Oilers Sign Logan Day

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After an impressive rookie season with the Bakersfield Condors, Logan Day has earned himself an NHL contract. The Edmonton Oilers have signed Day to a one-year entry-level deal for next season. The 24-year old defenseman will be a restricted free agent at the conclusion of the deal.

Day has had quite the journey so far in his hockey career. The Florida native went undrafted out of the high school ranks in Maine before attending Providence College in 2014. He played just two games for Providence that season and decided to transfer to Northeastern. Because of NCAA transfer rules he ended up sitting out the entire 2015-16 season, but never did play for Northeastern afterwards. Instead, Day ended up suiting up for Endicott College, a Division III school in Massachusetts, where he racked up 78 points in just 56 games over two seasons. His stint at Endicott ended early though as the Condors signed him to an ATO last spring and got him into ten games down the stretch.

This year, playing on an AHL contract, Day showed everyone why he shouldn’t have been overlooked for so long. Leading all Condors defensemen in scoring with 34 points in 64 games, Day was an integral part of their Pacific Division crown. In fact, he ranked fifth among all rookie defensemen in scoring while also taking just seven minor penalties all season.

The right-handed defenseman will try to take the next step in his development in 2019-20 and earn a call-up to the NHL. That may seem like a long shot at this point, but Day has proven his doubters wrong at every turn so far.

Snapshots: Draft Rankings, Bengtsson, Coaches

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The NHL Entry Draft is a month away, and while there has been plenty of attention placed on top prospects Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko, some of the other top names in the draft have flown by somewhat under the radar. Corey Pronman of The Athletic seeks to change that with his comprehensive draft rankings (subscription required) which give a full scouting report on 107 names eligible for this year’s draft.

While Hughes and Kakko each hold a tier of their own at the top of the draft, Pronman considers several others elite prospects making the top half of the first round quite exciting. Pronman may be the most bullish evaluator on American sniper Cole Caufield, who stands just 5’7″ but received an 80 grade (the maximum) for his shot. Pronman raves about Caufield’s scoring ability and has him ranked fifth in the entire draft.

  • If Pittsburgh Penguins fans were hoping that Swedish defenseman Lukas Bengtsson would make his way back to North America, they’ll have to wait another few years. The 25-year old signed a two-year contract with SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL, meaning he’ll join one of the top programs in Russia. Bengtsson signed as an international free agent in 2016 and played parts of two seasons with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins before returning to Sweden last year. His 24 points in 42 games with Linkopings HC were good enough for 11th among all SHL defensemen this season.
  • The Edmonton Oilers and Ottawa Senators are getting closer to filling their vacant head coaching positions according to John Shannon of Sportsnet, who tweets that both are hopeful to make their decision before the end of the month. The Senators were most recently linked to Patrick Roy, but have interviewed at least six other candidates.

Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson To Play In Sweden

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The Boston Bruins will not have young forward Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson in the lineup next season. GM Don Sweeney announced today that Forsbacka Karlsson intends on returning to Sweden and signing with the Vaxjo Lakers in the SHL for next season. He does however expect his young forward to return at some point in the future:

Jakob will continue his professional hockey career and development in the SHL and we support his decision to be closer to his family at this time in his life. Over the past few weeks, Jakob has also communicated that he fully intends to resume playing for the Bruins, but for right now he feels playing at home in Sweden is what is best for him.

Forsbacka Karlsson, 22, is scheduled to become a restricted free agent this summer when his entry-level contract expires. He played 28 games for both the Boston Bruins and Providence Bruins this season, while also returning home for a short period to deal with a personal matter. In his AHL appearances he registered 16 points, while scoring just nine at the NHL level.

Carolina Hurricanes Hope To Keep Both Mrazek, McElhinney

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Heading into the 2018-19 season, many questions were raised about the goaltending situation for the Carolina Hurricanes. The team had watched Scott Darling struggle mightily in the first year of his four-year $16.6MM deal, and made moves to insulate him with other veteran goaltenders. Petr Mrazek was signed to a one-year $1.5MM deal after he failed to receive a qualifying offer from the Philadelphia Flyers, and just before the season began the team claimed veteran backup Curtis McElhinney from the Toronto Maple Leafs. That duo would end up being the team’s full-time tandem during the season after Darling was quickly buried in the minor leagues.

In the playoffs, Mrazek would start and play well for the team before eventually relinquishing the role to McElhinney. Both men weren’t good enough to stop the bleeding against the powerhouse Boston Bruins, but their performance in getting the Hurricanes to an Eastern Conference Final was still admirable. Unfortunately, both are scheduled for unrestricted free agency this summer. It’s not clear what their camps are thinking, but Hurricanes GM Don Waddell made his intentions clear today when he told reporters including Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer that Carolina’s goal was to bring back both Mrazek and McElhinney next season. Waddell also said there was no decision yet on whether to buy out Darling’s contract, despite the recent reports.

Trying to retain the pair makes sense on the surface. Mrazek posted a .914 save percentage in the regular season and went 23-14-3 for the team, while McElhinney continued his late-career renaissance with a 20-11-2 record and .912 save percentage. Both of those were leagues better than Darling has been since joining Carolina, and gave the team a reliable backbone in their Stanley Cup chase.

Still, they certainly also bring some risk. McElhinney will turn 36 on Thursday and has never played more than 33 games in a single season, which he did this year. Though he has been excellent for both Toronto and Carolina, the entire body of work—which also includes stops in Columbus, Calgary, Anaheim, Ottawa and Phoenix—is less attractive. Mrazek meanwhile has been one of the most frustratingly inconsistent goaltenders in the league since debuting in 2013 for the Detroit Red Wings. Showing flashes of absolute brilliance mixed with long stretches of poor play, committing long-term to him is only possible if you believe he has turned a corner. His overall performance in the playoffs, in which he posted just an .894 save percentage, should at least make the Hurricanes question that.

Obviously, either player could also decide to wait until July 1st and see what other offers they receive. Carolina also has young goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic waiting in the wings, fresh off a Goaltender of the Year award in the AHL. Nedeljkovic posted a .916 for the powerhouse Charlotte Checkers, and has a 6-2 record in the postseason. If the team can’t retain one or both of their free agent goaltenders, Nedeljokic could potentially step into an NHL role next season, though goaltending depth is obviously extremely important for a team with their eyes on the Stanley Cup.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Jordan Martinook, Calvin De Haan Undergo Surgery

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The Carolina Hurricanes made huge strides in the postseason, defeating the Washington Capitals and New York Islanders en route to a berth in the Eastern Conference Final. Unfortunately, it came at a cost. The team has announced that Jordan Martinook and Calvin de Haan have both undergone surgery. Martinook’s procedure was to repair a core muscle and will keep him out for four to six weeks, while de Haan had surgery on his right shoulder and will be out four to six months.

Obviously Martinook will be expected back in time for a full training camp, but de Haan’s injury means he will likely miss at least some of it if not the beginning of the season. That would mean the Hurricanes are potentially going into next year without two of their veteran defensemen, as Trevor van Riemsdyk is also on the shelf after shoulder surgery. That will certainly affect their offseason plans, as many believed the Hurricanes would be looking to move a defenseman for some more help up front.

de Haan returned to action this season after missing most of 2017-18 with the New York Islanders, and once again found his consistent two-way game for the Hurricanes. The 28-year old recorded 14 points in 74 games while posting excellent possession numbers in just over 18 and a half minutes a night. On a deep blue line de Haan actually led the group with 187 hits and blocked more than 100 shots for the fifth time in his career. He has three years remaining on his contract which carries a $4.55MM cap hit.

Martinook meanwhile had an excellent season of his own, setting a career high in goals with 15. The 26-year old forward is an important player for the Hurricanes off the ice as well, taking rookie Andrei Svechnikov under his wing to show him the ropes at the professional level. Martinook has two years remaining on his contract, but may very well be an extension candidate next summer if his positive impact on the Hurricanes continues.

Zdeno Chara Back At Practice, On Track To Begin Stanley Cup Final

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The 42-year-old Zdeno Chara may not be the same player he was ten or even five years ago, but he is still an integral part of the Boston Bruins’ success this season and postseason. When the veteran defenseman was forced to sit out Game Four of the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes, there was some panic from the fan base and likely a little within the organization as well. However, Chara’s teammates buckled down and ended the series in convincing fashion and in doing so bought their captain another eleven days of rest before the Stanley Cup Final. While many assumed that would be enough to get him back on the ice, there was no timeline for his return from an undisclosed injury.

That is until today, when Bruins provided some clarity on Chara’s status. According to NHL.com’s Eric Russo, Chara was back as a full participant in practice today, after only skating and working out over the weekend. Following the full 45-minute session, Chara was feeling good:

It was nice to be out there again, skated [on Sunday] then skated with the team. It was a good practice, good pace. I’m taking it one day at a time. [Tuesday’s] an off day, but get back at it on Wednesday… I’m not gonna lie, watching games is not fun. You want to play them and you want to be involved. For sure it was something that [I] was feeling that kind of anxiousness to play. But guys did a great job, won the game, so that’s great.

Chara is eager to get back in action and, given his apparent health with a week still to go before puck drop on Game One, he is well on his way to doing just that. As the respected veteran said, it is “one day at a time” right now, but Chara is certainly on track to be ready for the Stanley Cup Final. As the Bruins wait to see who they’ll be playing, they know that Chara is an important asset regardless. The future Hall of Famer remains one of the more dominating defensive presence’s in the game of hockey and hopes to put his ability and experience to work in pursuit of a second Stanley Cup title.

Snapshots: Rathgeb, Novak, Korencik

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After Yannick Rathgeb cleared waivers and had his contract terminated by the New York Islanders last week, it was only a matter of time before he we was back in Europe. Unsurprisingly, Rathgeb has opted to return home to his native Switzerland, signing in the NLA. EHC Biel-Bienne has announced a three-year contract with the 23-year-old defenseman, who they hope can get back to his dominant ways. Prior to joining the Islanders last season, Rathgeb had spent the three years prior with the NLA’s HC Fribourg-Gotteron, where he amassed 89 points over 133 games. While he was unable to perform at that same level in North America – nine points in 32 games with the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers – there’s no reason to think Rathgeb won’t again be a dynamic defender in the NLA. The smooth-skating blue liner joins a Biel-Bienne team that is a perennial contender and includes former NHLers like Jonas Hiller, Damien Brunner, and Anssi Salmela. 

  • Tommy Novak would undoubtedly rather be under contract with the Nashville Predators, but he’s content to sign a prove-it deal with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals instead. The Admirals announced today that the University of Minnesota product had signed a one-year contract to remain with the team after wrapping up his season in Milwaukee on a tryout deal. Novak was a third-round pick of the Predators back in 2015 and spent the last four seasons as a starter for the Gophers. However, while Novak has flashed the skill and smarts to excel at the pro level, he was inconsistent in college and needs time to round out his game in the minors. Committing to the Predators’ affiliate is a good way to stay under the umbrella of the organization and work toward a potential entry-level contract down the road.
  • The University of Massachusetts – Lowell landed a nice commitment today in Slovakian standout Marek Korencik. Hockey Portal reports that Korencik will make the jump from the Sweden to the NCAA next season, joining the River Hawks. The 19-year-old defenseman had a breakout season, recording 20 points for Lulea HF in the junior-level SuperElit while also contributing three points in five games for Team Slovakia at the World Juniors. His efforts even earned Korencik an appearance with Lulea’s SHL team and he likely would have seen more action at the top pro level next year had he stayed in Sweden. However, the move to the college game is likely a better developmental move for the 6’3″, 200-lb. rearguard and the commitment to North American hockey could endear him to scouts in his final go-round in the NHL Draft. Even if Korencik is again passed over, he still represents a great addition for Lowell, who will look to get back to the NCAA Tournament next season behind some improved defensive play.

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