Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Archives for January 2020

Minor Transactions: 01/22/20

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

With just two games remaining on the schedule before the entire league breaks for the All-Star Game festivities, there will be many minor moves today seeing players head down to the AHL. Anyone that isn’t tied down by waiver eligibility will be heading down to get some extra work during the break and save their NHL club a few cap dollars. As always, we’ll keep track of those moves right here.

  • The New York Rangers have sent down Igor Shesterkin and Phillip Di Giuseppe, though the former is still not expected to take part in the AHL All-Star event. Shesterkin was selected for the minor league game after going 15-4-3 with a .932 in his first taste of North American professional hockey, but was replaced earlier this week as he continued to play with the Rangers.
  • Nicolas Hague and Nicolas Roy have both been sent back to the AHL by the Vegas Golden Knights, a trip both of them got used to earlier in the season. While Roy has continued to bounce up and down between the two leagues, Hague has been in the NHL since the middle of November and playing regularly for the Golden Knights. The 21-year old defenseman has 11 points in 38 games.
  • The Chicago Blackhawks have returned Brandon Hagel and Dennis Gilbert to the AHL. Hagel still hasn’t suited up for an NHL game, but he’s obviously getting closer to that dream after several call-ups in recent days.
  • Andrew Agozzino, Joseph Blandisi, Sam Lafferty and Kevin Czuczman have all been assigned to the AHL by the Pittsburgh Penguins, allowing the NHL club to bank a little extra cap space as they continue to push for the playoffs. The Penguins have quite a bit of flexibility when it comes to deadline additions thanks to some savvy saving and the potential long-term injured reserve cap room created by Jake Guentzel’s injury.
  • The Penguins cross-state rival have also sent several players to the minors, as Alex Lyon, German Rubtsov and Connor Bunnaman are all leaving the Philadelphia Flyers for now. The Flyers don’t play again until January 31st, giving them a chance to sort out their roster in a week’s time.
  • Sebastian Aho, no not that Sebastian Aho, has been sent to the minor leagues by the New York Islanders. The young defenseman has been brought up a few times as injury insurance since Adam Pelech went down earlier this month, but still hasn’t found his way into an NHL game this season.
  • The Detroit Red Wings are one of the few teams in action today, and have recalled Dennis Cholowski ahead of their game against the Minnesota Wild. Cholowski has split his time between the NHL and AHL this season, suiting up 29 times for the Red Wings.
  • Karson Kuhlman, Jeremy Lauzon and Dan Vladar have all been returned to the AHL by the Boston Bruins. Lauzon, 22, scored the second NHL goal of his career last night for Boston, even while playing his off-side.
  • The Florida Panthers have returned Riley Stillman and Sam Montembeault to the minor leagues over the break. Stillman has played in 16 games with the Panthers this season, but is still looking for his first career NHL goal.

Trade Deadline Primer: Arizona Coyotes

at CDT | by 2 Comments

With the trade deadline just a little more than a month away, 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 Arizona Coyotes.

Coyotes GM John Chayka has made a pair of big swings at upgrading his offense with the acquisition of Phil Kessel over the summer and the addition of Taylor Hall last month.  The moves haven’t paid significant dividends in that regard but at the same time, Arizona is still right in the thick of things in the very tight Pacific Division despite both of their goaltenders dealing with injuries this season.  However, they moved several prospects and draft picks in those moves which will limit the chips that Chayka has to use to try to add more to his roster over the next month.

Record

26-20-5, tied for second in the Pacific Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$2.875MM in a full-season cap hit (using LTIR), 0/3 used salary cap retention slots, 45/50 contracts per CapFriendly.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2020: ARI 2nd, ARI 4th, ARI 5th, ARI 6th, ARI 7th
2021: ARI 1st*, ARI 2nd*, ARI 3rd*, ANA 4th, PIT 4th, ARI 5th, ARI 6th, ARI 7th

*- Arizona is guaranteed to lose at least their third-round pick to New Jersey as part of the Hall deal.  The pick becomes a second-round selection if Arizona winds a round in this postseason or Hall re-signs with the Coyotes.  It would upgrade to a first-round pick if they win a round and Hall re-signs.

Trade Chips

With basically their top three picks encumbered for next season pending the completion of the Hall trade and missing two of their top three selections this season, Arizona may be limited in terms of shopping at the higher end of the market, especially since they’re not likely going to be willing to part with top prospects like Barrett Hayton or Victor Soderstrom.

One veteran player to keep an eye on though may be goaltender Antti Raanta.  Over his time with the Coyotes, he has played relatively well for the most part (though his last outing was a rough one) but staying healthy has been a concern.  That eventually led to the acquisition of Darcy Kuemper who earned himself a contract extension this season as he played his way into the number one role.  All of a sudden, that leaves Raanta and his $4.25MM AAV as an expensive insurance policy.  With several teams looking for a short-term upgrade at the backup position, the 30-year-old could be of interest.  Moving Raanta would also open up a bit more salary cap flexibility which could be notable with them being open to a bonus overage penalty next year as a result of being in LTIR.

Beyond him, expect their trade chips to be late-round picks or younger players that are on the fringes of being worth an NHL look that other teams will be able to take a longer look at down the stretch.

Five Players To Watch For: F Michael Bunting, F Brayden Burke, D Kyle Capobianco, F Lane Pederson, G Antti Raanta

Team Needs

1) Defensive Depth – Right now, Arizona’s depth options are Jordan Oesterle, Ilya Lyubushkin, and Kyle Capobianco.  With the three can hold their own on the third pairing if need be, it’s an area that can certainly be upgraded on.  Landing a capable third pairing defender would be ideal but even if they don’t do that, some extra depth to hedge in case of injuries would be worth looking into.

2) Scoring Help – Despite adding Hall and Kessel, their offense has only gone up by a quarter goal per game from last season.  Nick Schmaltz is sitting at just seven goals this season while Derek Stepan is at eight; those are their top-paid forwards after Kessel.  Another impact scorer would be ideal although, with their limited cap space, they may have to settle for targeting a complementary piece that fits in better with some of their scuffling forwards.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

West Notes: Markstrom, Koivu, Hunt, Nurse

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Canucks and goaltender Jacob Markstrom have started discussions regarding a contract extension, assistant GM John Weisbrod told Sportsnet 650 (audio link).  The 29-year-old has posted a .916 save percentage through 34 starts this season which would be the best mark of his career.  That has helped propel Vancouver into a battle for first place in the Pacific Division and Markstrom to an All-Star Game appearance.  Accordingly, he’ll be looking for a sizable increase on his current $3.67MM AAV.  Weisbrod noted that they’re hoping to get something done down the stretch but that it wouldn’t be a significant concern if talks draw out into the summer and closer to the opening of free agency in July.

More from the Western Conference:

  • The Wild should have center Mikko Koivu back in the lineup tomorrow against Detroit, notes Sarah McLellan of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune (Twitter link). The captain has missed the last two games due to an illness.  As he remained on the active roster while being out, Minnesota won’t have to make any corresponding roster moves.  Meanwhile, McLellan adds that defenseman Brad Hunt (who is also dealing with an illness and has missed the last five games) is still getting back to full strength which makes it unlikely that he’ll return.
  • While the Oilers appear to be making progress on a new contract for pending UFA winger Zack Kassian, GM Ken Holland told Sportsnet’s Mark Spector that it’s looking like a new deal for pending RFA defenseman Darnell Nurse will likely be done in the offseason. Nurse is in the final season of his bridge contract, one that carries a $3.2MM AAV and salary which will serve as his qualifying offer next summer.  Considering his improvements over that stretch, it’s possible that his next deal could be close to doubling his current price tag after factoring in his eligibility for salary arbitration.

Lias Andersson Practicing With Swedish Club

at CDT | by 2 Comments

There hasn’t been much communication between the New York Rangers and prospect Lias Andersson since he left the organization and was subsequently suspended, but that has started to change according to Larry Brooks of the New York Post. Brooks reports that the young forward has been communicating directly with team president John Davidson for the last ten days. That report comes after one earlier today that indicated Andersson has started skating with a low level team in Sweden as he works toward whatever future his playing career holds.

Andersson played 17 games for the Rangers and 13 games for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL this season but hasn’t yet lived up to the top billing he received as the seventh-overall selection in 2017. The 21-year old center made an incredible impression in his first training camp with the team after being drafted, but has since been in a sort of limbo, switching leagues and roles often.

Through 66 games at the NHL level Andersson has scored just nine points, meaning any trade out of the Rangers organization would be giving up an asset at its lowest value. Brooks notes that the Rangers have given their approval to get him skating again, though he does not suggest what the next step would be at this point.

Andersson’s entry-level contract extends through the 2020-21 season, after which he would become a restricted free agent.

East Notes: Trade Bait, Red Wings, Bruins

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Trade season is starting to heat up, and Frank Seravalli of TSN has put together his latest Trade Bait board for all those who want to know who might be on the market. The top name on the list is Chris Kreider of the New York Rangers, but he’s not the only Eastern Conference player that might be on the move.

In fact, eight of the first ten assets on Servalli’s board are from the east, with only the Los Angeles Kings taking a couple of spots away. The Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils, Detroit Red Wings and Carolina Hurricanes all have pieces near the top.

  • Speaking of the Red Wings, with the playoffs already out of the question, it is hard to get excited about their games on a daily basis. That apathy is only amplified when top players are out of the lineup, as will be the case for the next several weeks. Anthony Mantha is “still a ways away, a month maybe” according to head coach Jeff Blashill, who also told reporters today that Mike Green will also be out “a couple weeks” with an upper-body injury.
  • With only a handful of games left before the All-Star break, the AHL transaction page hasn’t been as busy as usual this week. The Boston Bruins did make a move today however, recalling Jeremy Lauzon and assigning Steven Kampfer to the minor leagues. Lauzon will skate on a pair with Matt Grzelcyk, playing in an NHL game for just the second time this season.

Snapshots: McDavid, Manning, Milano

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The legend of Connor McDavid is about to grow at the NHL All-Star Game, where not only will he be a participant, but a documentary will air examining his return after a knee injury at the end of last season. Ryan Rishaug of TSN spoke today about how McDavid turned down the surgical option that could have kept him out for the entire 2019-20 campaign, and instead went down a road of grueling rehab.

McDavid, who turned 23 just over a week ago, is having another outstanding season with 76 points through 49 games. The young forward is on track for his fourth consecutive season with more than 100 points, and third Art Ross Trophy as the top offensive player in the league.

  • While McDavid is heading to St. Louis to represent the Edmonton Oilers organization, Brandon Manning won’t even be getting on the ice for a while. The Oilers’ minor league defenseman has been suspended five games for using a racial slur towards an opponent last night. Keith Gretzky, the Bakersfield Condors’ general manager, released a statement supporting the league’s suspension and condemning Manning’s actions.
  • Sonny Milano missed Columbus Blue Jackets practice today due to a court appearance in New York, according to Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch. Milano and Colorado Avalanche forward A.J. Greer had their assault charges dismissed after showing proof of community service and paying the medical bills of the victim.

Akim Aliu Signs In Czech Republic

at CDT | by 4 Comments

The last several months have been a whirlwind for Akim Aliu, after a tweet went viral accusing former Calgary Flames head coach Bill Peters of using a racial slur during their time in the Rockford IceHogs organization. Through all the media attention, interviews and meetings with hockey leadership, Aliu has maintained that he is still pursuing a professional career as a player and has not given up on his dream of suiting up in the NHL. Today, Aliu has signed with HC Litvinov in the Czech Extraliga for the rest of the 2019-20 season.

The 30-year old forward has been involved in several controversies over the years, including a hazing incident in junior hockey that he believes hurt his chances in the NHL Entry Draft. Aliu would still be selected 56th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2007, but failed to ever get any real traction even in the minor leagues. There were seven NHL games spread across two seasons with the Calgary Flames, but the power forward has spent most of the last few years either overseas or in the ECHL.

While he continues his playing career, Aliu has also now become a figurehead for the NHL’s push to bring hockey to youth that might not normally have an opportunity to play the sport. He sat down with a one-on-one interview with Hockey Night In Canada’s Ron MacLean just a few days ago, to explain what he has gone through since sending that tweet.

Colton Sissons Sent To AHL On Conditioning Assignment

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Nashville Predators could be getting a key forward back soon, as Colton Sissons has been sent to the AHL on a conditioning assignment. Sissons has not played since December 27th, missing ten games since then including the Winter Classic.

Sissons, 26, is in the first season of the seven-year, $20MM contract he signed last summer that locked him into a reasonable cap hit for the prime years of his career. That reward came after a career-high 15 goals and 30 points in 2018-19, a mark he looked ready to at least match this year before getting hurt.

Through 37 games the checking center has seven goals and 13 points, while being a consistent physical presence and penalty killer. His return would give the Predators another reliable forward to help in any late-season push they have in them. The team currently sits in sixth place in the Central Division with 51 points.

Trade Deadline Primer: Anaheim Ducks

at CDT | by 5 Comments

With the trade deadline just a little more than a month away, 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?  We begin with a look at the Anaheim Ducks.

After struggling considerably in the second half of last season, Anaheim changed their coach this summer but their place in the standings hasn’t really changed as they enter their bye week sitting 14 points out of a playoff spot.  While they have integrated some younger players into their lineup this season, it seems likely that they’ll soon be bringing more youngsters into the fold down the stretch after GM Bob Murray trims his veteran base over the next few weeks.

Record

19-24-5, seventh in the Pacific Division

Deadline Status

Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$16.753MM in a full-season cap hit, 0/3 used salary cap retention slots, 47/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2020: ANA 1st, ANA 2nd, ANA 3rd, ANA 5th, ANA 6th
2021: ANA 1st, ANA 2nd, ANA 3rd, ANA 4th, ANA 5th, ANA 6th

Trade Chips

Every now and then, we’ve seen teams use cap space as a trade chip and Murray has already made that known to cap-strapped teams.  There are two ways this can be done and both have been used in recent years.  They can take on a bad contract in exchange for picks and prospects or alternatively, they could act as a third-party team to acquire a player and then immediately flip him with retention as Vegas did with Derick Brassard in the past.  With the cap space they have, Anaheim has the ability to really be a trade facilitator over the next month.

While the Ducks have half a dozen pending unrestricted free agents, none of them profile as impact players.  Ryan Miller could draw some interest from teams looking for a veteran backup but he has pretty strong trade protection and can block a trade to 24 teams which could complicate things.  Derek Grant has ten goals in 36 games which isn’t bad but the fact that he has only really produced with Anaheim (he has just two goals in 111 games away from the Ducks) could limit his market somewhat.  They will likely want to move one of their rental blueliners (Michael Del Zotto and Korbinian Holzer) but their markets will be very limited.

One non-rental player that may be in play is winger Ondrej Kase.  The 24-year-old is having a very quiet season with just five goals in 42 games despite being a fixture in their top six most nights.  His name had come in trade speculation leading into the season as part of discussions for then-Carolina blueliner Justin Faulk and as he’s only two seasons removed from a 20-goal campaign, there will be teams that will inquire in a buy low scenario.  With some of the other veterans that they might be open to moving being on longer-term contracts, Kase and his $2.6MM price tag through 2020-21 is a more affordable piece for teams that are looking to add depth on the wing.

Five Players To Watch For: D Michael Del Zotto, F Derek Grant, F Ondrej Kase, G Ryan Miller, F Daniel Sprong

Team Needs

1) Scoring Help – Anaheim struggled to score with a more veteran-laden group last season.  They’ve struggled to score this season with several younger players getting a chance.  While there is obviously the potential for internal growth from players like Troy Terry, Sam Steel, Max Jones, and Isac Lundestrom, that’s not going to happen too quickly.  If Murray decides to move some of his more prominent veterans, adding some young, near NHL-ready forwards should be at the top of his wish list.

2) Long-Term Backup Goalie: At 39, Miller is clearly not part of the long-term plans in Anaheim.  It wouldn’t be surprising if this is it for the veteran after this season.  While the Ducks have five other goalies on an NHL contract right now, none are really at a point where they could be realistically be considered for the backup spot behind John Gibson.  Anthony Stolarz is on a one-way deal but he’s better served as a third-string option.  They could turn to free agency to fill this but this is the time of year where teams may be willing to move their own third-string goalie to add some NHL depth.  It would be a good time for Anaheim to add one of those to see if they can fill Miller’s eventually vacancy with someone on a below-market deal rather than paying up in July.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Bruins Eyeing Chris Kreider As Their Top Deadline Target

at CDT | by 16 Comments

For the past several seasons, the Bruins have headed into the trade deadline with an eye on upgrading their situation on the wing and it appears this year will be no exception.  With that in mind, NBC Sports Boston’s Joe Haggerty mentions that Rangers winger Chris Kreider appears to be their top target between now and next month’s deadline.

While the interest certainly makes sense on the surface – a contending team looking at an impact power forward – the fit could be a bit tricky.  Boston’s weakness up front is on the right wing while Kreider is a natural left winger where the team has some depth at that position in Brad Marchand, Jake DeBrusk, Anders Bjork, and Danton Heinen.  The latter two have shifted to the right side in the past and acquiring someone like Kreider could certainly have one of them making that switch again.

The Bruins also find themselves with limited cap space.  They’re currently using LTIR on defenseman Kevan Miller but he has resumed skating and is expected back this season so they’ll already need to ensure that they’re in cap compliance when he returns.  Per CapFriendly, the team is projected to have $712 in cap room; even with a player getting sent down when Miller comes back, that’s far from enough space to add Kreider and his $4.625MM AAV, even if they were to retain the maximum 50% in any deal.

GM Don Sweeney will also have to be mindful of the potential for a bonus overage.  Zdeno Chara has already reached $1.25MM of his bonuses while he’ll earn another $250K if the team makes the playoffs which is a safe assumption at this point.  Making a move for Kreider (or a similarly-priced player) will basically guarantee an overage which will carry over onto the 2020-21 cap.

The Rangers aren’t entirely out of the playoff picture themselves and it’s quite possible that if they go on a run themselves, they could opt to hold onto Kreider.  Having said that, it doesn’t appear as if they’ve had any discussions about an extension as of yet so a trade at this time still seems like the likelier scenario.  Of course, there will be plenty of other teams vying for his services as he may wind up being the top rental player that’s moved over the next month.

It was only two seasons ago that the Bruins and Rangers made a rental deal of significance just before the trade deadline, one that saw Rick Nash go to Boston for a collection of picks, prospects, and players to help make the finances work.  They may have to make a similarly-structured deal in order for Boston to land their top target this time around.

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

scroll to top