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East Notes: Ovechkin, Bruins Injuries, Kravtsov, Stuetzle

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While we know that Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin will eventually re-sign with Washington, that won’t happen for a while yet.  NBC Sports Washington’s J.J. Regan relays that GM Brian MacLellan has tabled extension talks until the start of training camp, whenever that may be.  The 35-year-old will be entering the final season of his 13-year, $124MM contract and while his prime years may have passed, he still should be a dynamic goal scorer in the NHL for several years to come.  Ovechkin plans to represent himself in discussions with MacLellan, similar to what teammate Nicklas Backstrom did in his contract talks last season, one that led to a five-year, $46MM deal.

More from the Eastern Conference:

  • Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy told reporters, including NHL.com’s Amalie Benjamin, that both Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak are on track in their recoveries from mid-September surgeries. Marchand had sports hernia surgery that carried a four-month recovery timeline while Pastrnak was set to miss five months after hip and shoulder procedures.  Depending on when next season starts, Marchand may not miss too much time but Pastrnak is set to miss a decent chunk of the year.
  • While Rangers prospect Vitali Kravtsov is off to a good start in the KHL and can be recalled from his loan at any time, Larry Brooks of the New York Post reports that the current plan is to keep the winger with Traktor Chelyabinsk for their entire season. The 20-year-old has eight goals in 18 games so far this season after managing just three points in 11 KHL contests a year ago.  If he continues to do well, he’d be an interesting midseason addition in New York or a big upgrade for AHL Hartford.
  • Senators top pick Tim Stuetzle is on schedule in his recovery from surgery to repair a broken bone in his hand, Mannheim GM Jan-Axel Alavaara told Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch. The 18-year-old was set to return to Mannheim of the DEL this season but that start was delayed by the pandemic before even considering his injury.  As things stand, the hope is that Stuetzle will be available for the World Juniors although if NHL training camps are ongoing at that time, he may be needed in Ottawa.

Zdeno Chara Waiting For 2020-21 Details Before Deciding Plans

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One of the surprises so far in free agency is that Zdeno Chara remains unsigned more than a month in.  While it’s still possible that he opts to stay in Boston, it’s also at least a bit intriguing that he hasn’t caught on anywhere else yet either.  Speaking with Boston Hockey Now’s Jimmy Murphy, Chara’s agent Matt Keator indicated that the reason for the delay in his client signing is that they are waiting to see what the format for next season will be before making any decisions on his plan and that there is no rush for him to make a decision.

Of course, while there was hope that there would be some information on how next season would proceed following yesterday’s Board of Governors meeting, that didn’t really happen.  All options remain on the table for now and the NHL remains hopeful that they can drop the puck on the regular season on January 1st.

The 43-year-old isn’t in a situation where he needs to show what he can still do; while Chara isn’t the top pairing player he once was, he showed last season that he can still handle a sizable workload, logging just over 21 minutes a night.  But that was in a normal schedule and next season certainly doesn’t have the feel of a normal one so it’s understandable that the uncertainty is delaying things here.

One of the more discussed possibilities is the usage of short-term bubbles where a team would play several games in a short period of time before returning home.  Another is playing consecutive games at a place on the road to lessen the amount of travel.  Neither of these scenarios necessarily suit Chara well as extra back-to-back games at this stage of his career certainly isn’t ideal.  And of course, there is the possibility of things changing in-season to further complicate things.

Chara is in a position where he can certainly afford to wait things out.  He’s not commanding top dollar on the market at this stage of his career and by now, his camp probably has a pretty good idea of what his next deal will look like, whether it’s from the Bruins or elsewhere.  So, while other free agents are playing the waiting game to see what type of money they’ll eventually be able to get, he’ll continue waiting as well but for a different reason entirely.

Submit Your Question For The #PHRMailbag

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Free agency has come to a screeching halt, arbitration hearings are finished and the drag of the true off-season is upon us. We’ve seen huge names swap teams, but we won’t get to see them in action for another few months. The NHL holds out hope for a January start, while other leagues are targeting February as a realistic beginning. Still, there is something to look forward to; in just over a month’s time the World Juniors is set to begin in an Edmonton bubble, with some of the top young players from around the world. A delayed NHL season will likely make the talent at this year’s tournament even better, raising it to must-watch territory for the hockey-starved sports fan.

With the biggest parts of the offseason behind us, it’s time to run another edition of the PHR mailbag.

If you missed our most recent edition, it was broken into two parts. The first included a look at the situation on defense for the Buffalo Sabres, Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney’s checkered draft history, and the Nashville Predators’ search for a top-six winger. The second included some predictions on professional tryout candidates, the next steps in a New York Rangers rebuild, and thoughts on the biggest steals of draft day.

You can submit a question by using #PHRMailbag on Twitter or by leaving a comment down below. We’ll try to get to everything when the mailbag runs this weekend.

AHL Considering All-Canadian Division For Upcoming Season

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While the focus recently has been on how the NHL will realign for the upcoming season, mention should be made of the AHL as well. The minor league will also need regional reconstruction of their divisions if they want a 2020-21 season to be possible, with the all-Canadian idea coming up once again. While the NHL is leaning towards pitting all seven Canadian teams against each other, the AHL will likely do something similar according to Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia, though it does come with some important differences.

The only AHL teams that are based in Canada are the Toronto Marlies, Belleville Senators, Laval Rocket, and Manitoba Moose. The Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, and Edmonton Oilers all have their AHL affiliates in the U.S., based in Utica, Stockton, and Bakersfield respectively. Garrioch reports that those parent teams don’t want to temporarily relocate those teams north of the border “because of the expense involved.”

Of course, if those minor league clubs are not relocated, it will bring up a whole different host of issues for the three western Canadian teams. Travel between the two countries still requires a quarantine, meaning prospects playing in the U.S. wouldn’t be available for a quick recall if needed. The whole point of an all-Canadian division in the NHL was to avoid travel back and forth, but what of the minor league players that Vancouver, Edmonton, and Calgary will need to use throughout the season?

For the Marlies, Senators, and Rocket, playing each other regularly wouldn’t come as much of a change. The three teams were already in the same AHL division and were scheduled against each other all the time. The Moose however are in the AHL’s Central Division, meaning it would be a very different schedule if they were to just play the three other Canadian teams over and over.

At this point, nothing has been set in stone by the AHL. Last month they changed their target start date to February 5, which would potentially give the NHL time to get underway before any minor league games begin. But with so many changing health restrictions in both countries—the province of Manitoba for instance changed to the “critical” level on the pandemic response system a few days ago, forcing sports facilities to close immediately—it is still extremely difficult to predict what an AHL season might look like, regional realignment or not.

Calgary Flames Re-Sign Glenn Gawdin

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November 13: Gawdin was loaned to EHC Visp Lions in Switzerland after signing with the Flames, but after playing just a single game with the team he is apparently on his way back. According to the team’s press release, Gawdin will be returned because of a potential training camp, an interesting development given how much uncertainty still surrounds the next NHL season.

October 14: The Calgary Flames have taken care of a little business, signing Glenn Gawdin to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will carry an NHL salary of $700K, and brings back one of the Flames restricted free agents. Because of his service time limitations, Gawdin was actually not eligible for arbitration (or an offer sheet, though that would have been very unexpected anyway).

Now 23, Gawdin was a fourth-round pick of the St. Louis Blues back in 2015 but actually never signed with the organization. Instead, after going back to junior for several years, he ended up signing with the Flames and has spent the last two years with the Stockton Heat.

Though he hasn’t yet made his NHL debut, it might be coming sooner than you think. The young forward scored 47 points in 53 games for Stockton this year and was included in the return to play group (though failed to make the final 31 players who traveled to the bubble). If his strong play in the minor league continues, Gawdin could be an injury call-up this season for the Flames if they need a little offense inserted into the lineup.

Snapshots: Next Season, Overseas Prospects, Hajek

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Yesterday’s call with the NHL board of governors didn’t result in any sweeping announcements about next season, but insiders around the game have gleaned a bit of information about what was discussed and what is still on the table. Frank Seravalli puts many of those information nuggets into his latest piece for TSN, including the fact that preference now seems to be moving away from hybrid bubbles or “hubs” as commissioner Gary Bettman recently called them, and towards teams playing in their home arenas. Seravalli suggests that regional realignment would be required, but that teams would play a baseball-like series of two or three games to reduce travel.

He also reports that there is “no concept on the table that includes a full-length regular season.” That seemed clear when Bettman publicly spoke about a reduced schedule, something the league was obviously hoping to avoid but is now inevitable. There are no formal proposals on the table yet, but with the January 1 target date getting closer every day, there will need to be a decision at some point in the near future—even if it is just another delay.

  • With the hockey offseason moving at a snail’s pace in November, fans have started to scour overseas boxscores to see how their favorite prospects are doing. Mike Shulman of Sportsnet published a piece today going over many of the most interesting names, including several 2021 draft prospects that are still trying to raise their stock. Among the group of already drafted players is Yaroslav Askarov once again, who continues to turn heads every time he hits the ice. Even Shulman sold him a bit short, without updated statistics from the KHL. Askarov returned to the SKA St. Petersburg crease yesterday after dominating at the Kajala Cup and put on another show, stopping 24 of 25 shots in a huge victory over HC Vityaz. Askarov is now toting a .960 save percentage in five KHL games, allowing only five goals on 125 shots.
  • Speaking of overseas prospects, the New York Rangers will have another one to keep an eye on as Libor Hajek joins HC Kometa Brno on loan for the time being. Hajek was loaned to Brno originally, then switched to Olomouc, but is now apparently heading back to where he started. The 22-year-old has struggled during his time in the NHL over the last two seasons and will need to take another step in his development before the Rangers can really rely on him as a full-time option.

Ottawa Senators Sign Micheal Haley

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The Ottawa Senators have announced another signing to bring some toughness to the organization inking Micheal Haley to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will be worth $700K at the NHL level and $200K in the AHL. Haley played last season for the New York Rangers but was an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Senators GM Pierre Dorion released a short statement on the signing:

Michael [sic] will bring experience, leadership and additional physicality to our organization. He’s looking forward to serving as a mentor for our young players.

There’s no doubt that the Senators will be a more physical team next season, after bringing in players like Haley, Erik Gudbranson, and Josh Brown through trade and free agency. The former, who signed today, has racked up 687 penalty minutes in his 270 NHL games, including a league-leading 212 in the 2017-18 season. Haley doesn’t contribute anything offensively, scoring just 11 goals in his career, but isn’t asked to in his limited ice time.

The Senators have shown a willingness to dress a player like that before, dressing Scott Sabourin for 35 games this past season despite no real offensive upside. Sabourin had scored just 15 combined points in the two previous minor league seasons, though he did actually have six for the Senators in his short NHL stint. It would be surprising to see Haley reach that amount or even get into 35 games this season for the team, especially if the schedule is reduced.

No, he’s more likely going to see action only sparingly, entering the lineup against select teams to provide some toughness or spending most of the year in the minor leagues. The Senators already have a long list of forwards competing for the 12 starting spots, meaning the 34-year-old Haley almost certainly won’t be a full-time option.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Andrew MacWilliam Signs Tryout With EHC Munchen

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After many successful seasons in the AHL, Andrew MacWilliam will test himself overseas—at least for a little while. The veteran minor league defenseman has signed a tryout contract with Red Bull Munchen of the DEL that will allow him to compete with them through December 13. The deal does have an option to extend further, but depending on when NHL/AHL training camps get underway MacWilliam might want to come back to compete for a job in North America.

The 30-year-old defenseman does have some experience at the NHL level, playing 12 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2014-15. He hasn’t gotten back to that level since, instead playing for the Manitoba Moose, Albany Devils, and Rochester Americans in the five seasons since. Last year, he posted eight points in 41 games for the Americans while wearing an “A” as an alternate captain, but is not yet signed for the 2020-21 season.

There’s no doubt that an AHL team could benefit from bringing in the experience and leadership of MacWilliam, but with so much uncertainty still surrounding the upcoming minor league season, taking your chances overseas may be a prudent business decision. Not to mention MacWilliam will be joining teammate and defense partner Zach Redmond, who signed with the team earlier this year. Redmond was also an alternate with Rochester the past few seasons and should make MacWilliam feel right at home.

Lightning’s Maxim Groshev Signs KHL Extension

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The Tampa Bay Lightning’s impressive forward depth was one of if not the main reason they took home the Stanley Cup this year. However, as the team faces down salary cap doom this off-season not to mention an Expansion Draft next summer, that depth is bound to take a significant hit. Sooner rather than later, the Lightning will need reinforcements up front.

Cross 2020 draft pick Maxim Groshev off the list of possibilities, at least through 2022-23. The recently-selected power forward has signed a two-year contract extension with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL, the team announced. Groshev was recently acquired by SKA from Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk for a monetary cost, but required a new deal with his current contract expiring. SKA is not a team that usually invests in the development of young players, so they clearly have high hopes for Groshev and had a long-term plan when they acquired him.

Groshev, 18, recorded seven points in 36 KHL games last year and has two points in 18 games thus far in 2020-21. While those offensive totals are meager, the fact that he is even getting meaningful play time at his age speaks to his ability. The 6’2″, 200-lb. winger can hold his own against veterans in the KHL and when it does finally come time for him to make the jump to North America, the Lightning will at least know that he is pro-ready.

Ivy League Schools Cancel Hockey Season

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While other NCAA hockey conferences have been busy announcing their schedules for the 2020-21 season, delayed and shortened but a season nonetheless, the Ivy League schools have decided to go in a different direction. In a joint announcement between the eight member institutions, the Ivy League announced that they will forego all winter sports this year as a result of the continuing Coronavirus pandemic. While the conference itself does not sponsor hockey, six of its members participate in the the ECAC: Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, and Yale. All will sit out the season following this decisions.

While this had been a fear of many since the conference canceled all sports in the fall semester, eliminating the possibility of hockey until late December at the earliest, there was hope that with other conferences opting to face the challenge and spare the season that the Ivy League’s would fall in line as well. After all, hockey is the most high-profile sport for those six schools who sponsor the sport at the Division I level. However, they stated that they felt that canceling all winter sports was the best decision “with the health & wellbeing of student-athletes & the greater campus community in mind.”

On an overall NCAA hockey scale, the loss of the Ivy League removes perennial contenders such as Cornell and Harvard from the mix this season. It also leaves the ECAC with just six other active teams; the conference has yet to announce a schedule for the coming season but will have very few options outside of repeated match-ups between their remaining teams.

On an individual basis, the loss of this season will have a major effect on a number of NHL prospect. While some opted not to wait for the Ivy League’s to make this decision – presumptive 2021 first-round pick Matthew Beniers and recent Boston Bruins draft pick Trevor Kuntar are among those who transferred to other schools this summer, while some incoming freshmen deferred, and some upperclassmen turned pro early – many others are left without a collegiate season. They will have to decide if they want to stay at school and perhaps try to find a local junior team to play with or if instead they will search for a landing spot in the USHL or elsewhere. Seniors and even some others could still opt to sign their entry-level contracts as well. The NCAA has granted an extra year of eligibility to all winter athletes, but that means little to those with NHL dreams who are not looking to put off turning pro for an extra year. Fortunately, many of those affected have already begun playing elsewhere or have plans to do so and hopefully all will be able to find a suitable locale for the season. Below is a list of all of the drafted NHL prospects left without a collegiate season in light of the Ivy League’s winter sports cancellation:

Cornell: D Misha Song, Jr. (NYI); F Matt Stienburg, So. (COL)*

Harvard: F Nick Abruzzese, So. (TOR); F John Farinacci, So. (ARI)**; G Mitchell Gibson, So. (WSH); F Alex Laferriere, Fr. (LAK)***; D Henry Thrun, So. (ANA)****; F Austin Wong, So. (WPG)*****

Princeton: F Liam Gorman, So. (PIT)

Yale: F Curtis Hall, Jr. (BOS); D Phil Kemp, Sr. (EDM); D Jack St. Ivany, Jr. (PHI)

*Stienberg is expected to play with the West Kelowna Warriors of the BCHL this season
**Farinacci will play with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL this season
***Laferriere is expected to play with the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL this season
****Thrun will play with the Dubuque Fightning Saints of the USHL this season
*****Wong is expected to play with the Fargo Force of the USHL this season

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