While many NHL teams will begin open up their training facilities on Monday and the league is slowly moving towards getting back into action, there still remains quite a bit to negotiate. One thing that is still being debated is how many players each of the 24 teams will carry once play resumes.
The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun notes that while the NHL has suggested 28 skaters, plus goaltenders, that number still must be negotiated with the NHLPA. However, that number isn’t necessarily needed until either Phase 3 or even Phase 4, which gives the two sides time to come up with a proper number.
- Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News writes that Detroit Red Wings veteran goaltender Jimmy Howard wants to play another one or two seasons before he retires, although he does admit that it might not be with the Red Wings. The 36-year-old would prefer to finish out his career in Detroit, the team that drafted him, but that seems somewhat unlikely to return to a rebuilding team after a career-worst season with a 2-23-2 record with a 4.20 GAA and a .882 save percentage. “I want to keep playing,” said Howard. “This year left such a bitter taste in my mouth. I want to go out there and show people I can still play in this league — I know I’m capable … I personally don’t believe I represent those number (statistics), but I was a big part of the program (losing). I got in my own way a lot instead of letting the play to come. I was overthinking things.”
- The Athetic’s Corey Masisak (subscription required) writes that he believes that with three first-round picks (and two potential lottery picks) in a strong upcoming 2020 draft, the New Jersey Devils are a team that would be strong candidates to grab highly-touted goaltender Yaroslav Askarov with one of those picks. The 17-year-old is one of the highest-rated goaltenders in years, but after a poor showing at the World Juniors this past year, many have watched as his stock has dropped somewhat and with teams generally shying away from taking goaltenders in the first round, there is no clear indication where the young netminder might be taken. Regardless, he has been rated as a lottery pick by many scouts. The scribe adds that even though they have a young netminder in MacKenzie Blackwood, the team should still consider taking the goalie, especially since they have three first-rounders. The Devils already have the sixth-best chance to win the lottery with their own pick, but the team also has the Arizona Coyotes’ first-rounder (acquired in the Taylor Hall trade), but the pick depends on how Arizona fares in the post-season and is top-three protected. New Jersey has a third first-round pick, acquired from Tampa Bay in the Blake Coleman trade (via Vancouver), but that pick is lottery-protected based on Vancouver’s performance in the play-in game.
Is the 28-man roster size a total size or just the size of the team in the bubble city? If it is the total roster size, it is too small. There could be a rash of injuries with the long layoff. I can see 28 being the limit in the bubble city if you are allowed to have a black aces squad at another location. Put the 4th goalie with a couple additional forwards and d-men on the black aces squad and allow them to practice to stay ready if a team gets into injury trouble.
@Eric – According to what Pierre reported, he states 28 skaters, including goalies. And, the article on NHL.com (“NHL plans to return with 24 teams competing for Stanley Cup” by Tom Gulitti) states “A comprehensive system for testing will be in place in each hub city, and each team will be permitted to travel a maximum of 50 personnel, including players, coaches and staff.” I’m with you on that 28 skaters being too low by a few. That said, if the 50-person limit is set-in-stone, is 22 or less enough for the coaches and staff. And, by “staff”, who does that include? More questions than answers at this point, eh? Maybe that’s why one of the posters on Pierre’s page said “Thanks for the non-update update”…
Staff includes GM,AGM,trainers,equipment managers,team doctor,scouts,HC,AC(2),goalie coach,video coach(2).
The issue also is the minor leaguers on the taxi squad-does it burn eligibility just having them up? They have not informed us on service time.
@Dave – Using the B’s org chart (tried to pick a representative org), there are two trainers, three equipment managers, team dentist, three ACs, and four scouts (pro). Added all up, that makes 20 with the rest of the guys you listed. That leaves only two potential spots for extra skaters, assuming the 28 number is flexible. And, since they are probably negotiating the service time issue with the league, we get to wait and see on that one. On Eric’s point regarding the black aces, I was under the impression that all team personnel, including the black aces would be in the same bubble.