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Archives for February 2020

Nashville Predators Extend Rocco Grimaldi

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While the rest of the league is busy making trades, the Nashville Predators have decided to sign one of their players to an extension. Rocco Grimaldi has signed a two-year contract extension that carries him through the 2021-22 season. The deal will pay Grimaldi $2MM in each year.

Grimaldi, 27, has finally seemed to find a home in Nashville after bouncing around the league his first few seasons. In 58 games this year he has already set career-highs in goals, assists, points, +/-, and time on ice. Ten goals and 30 points may not be eye-popping numbers, but on a team whose identity is collective scoring he fits right into the mix.

Still, even though he has outperformed a $2MM salary, the Predators have been criticized in the past for not having any real stars to lead their group. Locking up another player like Grimaldi just leans into that even further, given how little cap space the team will be dealing with moving forward. Mikael Granlund and Craig Smith are both coming off the books, but with a huge raise coming for Roman Josi and real concern in net there won’t be a lot left.

Grimaldi would have been an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year, and will be a UFA in 2022.

Patrick Marleau Traded To Pittsburgh

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After spending the first 19 seasons of his NHL career with one organization, Patrick Marleau will now join his fourth in the past calendar year. The San Jose Sharks legend will be traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a third-round selection according to Pierre LeBrun on TSN, pending a trade call with the league. LeBrun adds on Twitter that the pick can become a second-round selection should the Penguins win the Stanley Cup.

Marleau, 40, was traded last summer from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Carolina Hurricanes, only to be bought out and become an unrestricted free agent. After it looked like he might have a hard time finding work, his old team in San Jose ended up signing Marleau for one more go-round. In 58 games with the Sharks the veteran forward has ten goals and 20 points, but will bring his near 2000 NHL games played to the Penguins for one more shot at the Stanley Cup.

While he likely won’t be playing 20 minutes a night like he did earlier in his career, Marleau still has enough game left that he can give the Penguins’ bottom-six a different look. The team already added Jason Zucker to the group to skate next to Sidney Crosby, but still had some questions at the bottom of the lineup given their injuries.

Marleau never has lifted the silver chalice over his head, despite playing 191 playoff games in a long career. The iron man hasn’t missed a game due to injury in a decade.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Edmonton Oilers Place Kris Russell On LTIR, Open Up More Cap Space

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Before making the Mike Green trade last night, CapFriendly reports that the Edmonton Oilers placed Kris Russell on long-term injured reserve due to a concussion, which will free up a significant amount of cap room that the Oilers now can use to acquire another player before the trade deadline. Russell, who has a $4MM AAV, will now head to LTIR, freeing up $2.97MM in cap room LTIR relief. The Oilers have not confirmed the transaction yet.

Russell has been out since Jan. 29 after sustaining a head injury. While the shot-blocking blueliner has been skating recently, head coach Dave Tippett has also been clear that Russell isn’t ready to return to the ice any time soon. However, that doesn’t mean that Edmonton expects Russell to miss the rest of the season, although that is a possibility. If Russell does return this season, however, it means this cap savings may not be a permanent solution for rest of the season. However, the roster move helps explain the Green transaction as the Oilers added a $2.69MM contract to its books, which they would have struggled to fit into their structure as of yesterday.

The Oilers have expressed interest in several players before the trade deadline with rumors that Edmonton has shown significant interest in Ottawa’s Tyler Ennis, but with $2.97MM in available cap space to work with, the team has now opened more options to them, although general manager Ken Holland has been clear that he doesn’t want to trade the team’s first-round pick in any deadline deal.

 

Flyers Acquire Nate Thompson

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The Flyers have added some depth down the middle as Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports (Twitter link) that they’ve acquired Nate Thompson from Montreal in exchange for a 2021 fifth-round pick.

Thompson isn’t much of a point producer at this stage of his career but he remains an effective defensive forward.  In 63 games this season, he has four goals and ten assists but Philadelphia will be most interested in his 55.1% success rate at the faceoff dot.  The Flyers are already one of the better teams on the draw this season with a team success rate of 54.3% rate and Thompson will only bolster that strength.

The Canadiens acquired Thompson along with a fifth-round pick from the Kings last season for a fourth-rounder and then turned around and gave the 35-year-old a one-year, $1MM extension last offseason.  They are not retaining any salary in the trade.  Montreal now has nine selections for the 2021 draft and with 13 already in June’s draft it’s not surprising that they looked to add one in a future draft.

Hurricanes Acquire Vincent Trocheck

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The Hurricanes have added a core center as they have acquired Vincent Trocheck from the Panthers in exchange for centers Erik Haula and Lucas Wallmark plus prospect defenseman Chase Priskie and center Eetu Luostarinen.

Trocheck looked like he was on his way to stardom two years ago when he put up 75 points in 82 games but his production has tapered off since then.  He had 34 points in 55 games last year and is on a similar pace this season with 36 in 55 contests although his ice time has dipped by nearly three minutes per night.

Nonetheless, there is cause for optimism that a change of scenery could help him rebound.  He will be likely slotting in behind Sebastian Aho on their depth chart which will push Jordan Staal into more of a checking role.  Trocheck should be around for a while as he is signed through 2021-22 at a $4.75MM cap hit.  He’ll be eligible for unrestricted free agency in the 2022 offseason.

As for Florida’s return, Haula is also a couple of years removed from a big offensive season that saw him put up 55 points in his first season in Vegas.  However, injuries have limited him since then.  This season, the pending unrestricted free agent has played in 41 games, picking up 11 points and 11 assists.  Haula carries a cap hit of $2.75MM.

Wallmark has emerged as a capable bottom-six player for the Hurricanes over the past two seasons and he has already set a new career-high in goals this season with 11 in 60 games.  The 24-year-old is eligible for restricted free agency this summer with arbitration eligibility and is in line for a nice raise on his current league minimum $700K salary.

Priskie signed with Carolina this summer as a college free agent after not coming to terms with Washington who originally drafted him in the sixth round back in 2016.  He has been productive with AHL Charlotte, collecting 31 points in 56 games but has yet to have a chance to play at the NHL level.  The Panthers don’t have the defensive depth that the Hurricanes do so that opportunity may be coming soon enough.  The 23-year-old has one year left after this one on his entry-level deal with a $925K AAV.

As for Luostarinen, the 2017 second-round pick made his NHL debut with Carolina this season, picking up an assist in eight games.  He has spent the bulk of his first season in North America with the Checkers, picking up 25 points in 44 contests.

Carolina hasn’t shown much interest in rental players in recent years and this trade continues that trend.  In Trocheck, they land someone that they hope can be part of their core and aren’t parting with a top prospect or draft pick to get one.  It will be interesting to see if Florida holds onto all four pieces or if they will be flipping one or more of those in the coming hours.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was the first to report the deal.

Avalanche Acquire Vladislav Namestnikov

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Colorado has added some offensive depth as they have acquired winger Vladislav Namestnikov from Ottawa, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports (Twitter link).  Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch adds (via Twitter) that the Senators receive a 2021 fourth-round pick in return.

The 27-year-old acquired Namestnikov back in early October from the Rangers in exchange for a 2021 fourth-round pick and AHL defenseman Nick Ebert so the Sens basically recovered back what they gave up for him in the first place.

The change of scenery certainly worked for the winger.  After being bumped down the depth chart in New York, Namestnikov played a bigger role in Ottawa and had some success, recording 13 goals and 12 assists in 54 games while logging over 15 minutes per game.  He’ll likely get a chance to play a similar role with the Avalanche for the time being with Mikko Rantanen, Nazem Kadri, Colin Wilson, and Matt Calvert all currently injured.

Namestnikov is slated to become an unrestricted free agent this summer and carries a $4MM cap hit.  However, New York retained $750K of that in October so the Avs will only be on the hook for a pro-rated $3.25MM.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Deadline Primer: Winnipeg Jets

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With the trade deadline now just hours away, we wrap up our look at the teams in the Central Division.  Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs?  We finish with a look at the Winnipeg Jets.

It has been an interesting year in Winnipeg.  They lost several key defenders over the offseason and then lost Dustin Byfuglien to one of the more bizarre situations we’ve seen in recent years as he reported, then left the team to ponder his playing future, and then underwent surgery.  Despite that and several injuries up front, the Jets are right in the thick of the playoff race and have already added to their roster recently.  They may not be done just yet.

Record

32-27-5, fourth in the Central Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$17.395MM in a full-season cap hit, 0/3 used salary cap retention slots, 47/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2020: WPG 1st, WPG 2nd, WPG 5th, WPG 6th
2021: WPG 1st, WPG 2nd, WPG 3rd*, WPG 5th, WPG 6th

* – If Winnipeg makes the playoffs this season or re-signs Cody Eakin before July 5, 2020, this pick will transfer to Vegas and the Jets will have their 2021 fourth-round pick returned.

Trade Chips

As strange as it seems, the Jets are hoping to find a taker for Byfuglien and have been shopping him in recent weeks over proceeding with the expected contract termination.  A team that wants to have a shot at using him in the playoffs would need to acquire him as if he’s not on their roster by the deadline, he would be ineligible to play in the postseason.  But with a $7.6MM AAV for next season, the odds of that happening have to be low.

Winnipeg’s top picks and prospects are likely off the table but someone that they might be open to moving is Jansen Harkins.  The winger has played in 23 games this season with the Jets but has had a limited role.  He will be a restricted free agent this summer and waiver-eligible next season.  There may be rebuilding teams out there that view him as worthy of a bigger role and this would be the time to try to get him while Winnipeg would bring in someone that can help them more in the short term.  Winger Kristian Vesalainen isn’t lighting it up with AHL Manitoba either and while the asking price would be higher on him, it’s not impossible that he moves either but it’s likely they’d want someone with term coming back.

Injured forward Mathieu Perreault has been in trade speculation for the last couple of years in large part due to his contract which runs through next season with a $4.125MM AAV.  While they don’t have to free up any cap room now, moving his deal off the books would really help free things up for next summer.

On the farm, Seth Griffith could be one to watch for.  He has a track record of offensive success in the minors and with their farm team in Manitoba out of playoff contention, he’s someone that could move to a team that’s looking to load up for a Calder Cup run.  Defenseman Cameron Schilling could be in a similar situation depending on whether or not they add any defensive depth.  Goalie Eric Comrie has bounced around this year but with teams looking for goalie depth, he could be a cheap pickup for someone as well.

Five Players To Watch For: D Dustin Byfuglien, F Seth Griffith, F Jansen Harkins, F Mathieu Perreault, F Kristian Vesalainen

Team Needs

1) Impact Defender: GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has done a good job patching up the back end with Dylan DeMelo joining in-season acquisitions Luca Sbisa and Carl Dahlstrom.  However, none of them are more than depth options and a top-four defender would go a long way towards bolstering Winnipeg’s defense core.

2) Secondary Scoring: The Jets already have five players with 21 or more goals this season but it falls off quickly after that.  Bryan Little, one of their top-six forwards, is already out for the rest of the year so there is a vacancy to be filled.  They’re in the middle of the pack in both goals against and allowed so if they can’t improve their back end, adding some more firepower to round out their attack would be a good way to go.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Penguins Interested In Patrick Marleau

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Recently, Penguins GM Jim Rutherford indicated that he’d like to add one more forward to add to their depth up front.  One of the options they’re considering appears to be Sharks winger Patrick Marleau as Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic reports (Twitter link) that they’ve shown interest in the 40-year-old.

Marleau started the season as an unsigned free agent after being bought out by Carolina but eventually signed a two-way contract worth the league minimum with San Jose, the team he spent the first 19 years of his career with.  While he isn’t the point per game player that he was in his prime, he still has chipped in with 10 goals and 10 assists through 58 games while logging over 15 minutes per night.

In Pittsburgh, Marleau would likely play a lesser supporting role but given the number of injuries to key players they’ve had this season, the fact that he could move up if the injury bug strikes again would certainly have to be enticing to Rutherford and at $700K, it wouldn’t make much of a dent in their remaining cap space.

While Marleau doesn’t have any trade protection in his deal, LeBrun suggests that Marleau will have the ability to approve any potential deal.

Edmonton Oilers Acquire Mike Green

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The Edmonton Oilers have added some experience to their defensive group ahead of the trade deadline, acquiring Mike Green from the Detroit Red Wings. In return, Detroit will receive Kyle Brodziak and a conditional 2020 fourth-round draft pick. That pick can become a 2021 third if the Oilers make the Western Conference Finals and Green plays in 50% of the games. The Red Wings will also retain 50% of Green’s salary.

Green, 34, still has a little life left in those legs after nearly 900 games in the NHL and will try to help out the Oilers down the stretch. A longtime powerplay quarterback and puck-moving option, Green has still logged more than 21 minutes a night for the Red Wings, though they haven’t been very successful. With just 11 points and a -32 rating, an opportunity to play with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl must seem like a dream come true. To that end, Green had to waive his partial no-trade clause to agree to this deal, according to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic.

It’s obviously unclear how exactly the Oilers will deploy Green, but it is worth mentioning that they already had the top ranked powerplay in the league. That included Oscar Klefbom however, who is still out with an injury.

For the Red Wings, they are simply using some of their cap space to make the deal work. Brodziak is not expected to play again after missing this season with a back injury, meaning the draft pick is the entire return. That’s not a huge amount to get for a former 70-point defenseman, but with the way Green has played this season they will just be happy to get anything at all.

The Red Wings now have nine picks in the upcoming draft and could add more as they continue to sell off expiring assets.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

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