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Archives for December 2020

Penguins Sign Jordan Nolan To An AHL Contract

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The Penguins have added some organizational depth up front as their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton announced that they’ve signed winger Jordan Nolan to a one-year deal.  The veteran would need to be converted to an NHL contract in order to join Pittsburgh at any point during the season.

The fact that the 31-year-old had to settle for a minor-league contract is certainly telling about the state of the current market.  Nolan has 375 career NHL games under his belt over eight seasons between the Kings, Sabres, and Blues and has served as a capable fourth liner for most of that time.  Production-wise, he has 24 goals and 28 assists in his career while logging 9:26 per night in playing time.

However, he didn’t see any NHL action last season as instead, he spent the entire year with AHL San Antonio, affiliate of St. Louis, where he served as their captain and had 11 goals and 16 assists in 60 games.  His road back to the NHL, if there is going to be one, will once again run through the minors.

Tyson Barrie Changes Agencies

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After having a relatively soft market in free agency back in October, Oilers defenseman Tyson Barrie has decided to make an agent change as CAA Hockey announced (Twitter link) that they’re now representing the veteran.  Long-time NHL analyst John Shannon clarifies (via Twitter) that Pat Brisson and Bayne Pettinger will represent him.  Barrie had previously been represented by Newport Sports Management.

The 29-year-old entered last season as someone that was expected to be one of the more sought after blueliners in free agency.  However, he didn’t have a great season offensively with Toronto compared to his previous two with Colorado as he managed five goals and 34 assists in 70 games after putting up 57 and 59 points in the previous two seasons.

As a result, his chances for a long-term, big-money contract were basically eradicated, especially with the financial crunch of the pandemic factored in.  Instead, he opted to take a bit less money than other teams were offering to join the Oilers as a one-year replacement for the injured Oscar Klefbom, signing for $3.75MM.

Considering the potency of Edmonton’s power play and Barrie’s track record of success in that situation going back to his time with Colorado, the fit certainly appears to be a good one and the hope is that a boost in production will bolster his chances for a long-term pact next offseason.  That deal now will be handled by Brisson and Pettinger when the time comes.

Free Agent Profile: Andrew Hammond

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I know what you’re thinking. Andrew Hammond? Really? Other than the “Hamburglar” moniker, Hammond isn’t exactly a household name to NHL fans. In fact, Hammond hasn’t made an NHL appearance since 2017-18 and has just seven total appearances over the past four seasons. It’s been quite a while since Hammond heroically stole the Ottawa net and led the Senators to the postseason in 2014-15.

Yet, there’s a good case to be made that Hammond is the best available free agent goalie and there is no arguing that there isn’t still a considerable need for net depth around the NHL. The free agent market seems to be on hold right now as the league figures out its plans for this season, but when it picks back up Hammond is likely to be in demand.

Hammond, 32, is built for the 2020-21 season. The veteran goaltender can likely be slipped through waivers if his signing team so desires, but if injury spurns his recall, Hammond has both the NHL experience to jump into a backup role and has been a workhorse in the AHL for several years, ready for a condensed schedule and frequent appearances if need be. Hammond made 33 appearances for the Rochester Americans in the shortened 2019-20 season, the twelfth-most in the AHL. Hammond is also one of just seven netminders to have made 33+ appearances in each of the past two AHL seasons.

Among qualifying goaltenders, Hammond’s 2.53 GAA this past season ranked 13th in the AHL. It’s a pretty good ranking on its own, but consider that only one goalie with a better GAA played more minutes than Hammond last year and it puts his performance in perspective given his workload. Hammond’s .908 save percentage, while not among the AHL’s best, is a good number and has held steady for two seasons now as a stark improvement versus his AHL numbers earlier in his career.

When last Hammond was seen in the NHL, he was actually shocking many with his strong play as an emergency postseason call-up for the Colorado Avalanche in 2017-18. Hammond played three playoff games after making just one regular season appearance, yet posted a stellar .933 save percentage with a 2.62 GAA. While a small sample size, if this is what Hammond can do at the NHL level then he is even more valuable than it seems. For a larger sample size, look back at the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons with Ottawa, the only time in his career that Hammond was given a regular NHL role. In 48 games over two years, Hammond recorded an outstanding .927 save percentage and 2.21 GAA, as well as a .705 quality start percentage. Admittedly, that was five years ago now, but Hammond’s NHL numbers speak for themselves.

Still, Hammond can’t be the best free agent goalie option available, can he? Well, only four UFA keepers saw NHL action last season: Craig Anderson, Jimmy Howard, Ryan Miller, and Cory Schneider. Anderson, Howard, and Miller each made over 20 appearances last season, but didn’t exactly inspire their respective teams to give them any more play time than necessary. Of the 57 NHL goalies who made at least 20 appearances last year, Howard finished dead last in both save percentage and goals against average; Anderson ranked 47th and 55th and Miller came in at 37th and 47th, respectively. These poor performances marked a steep drop-off for Howard and Miller, while this is the third year in a row with ugly numbers for Anderson. Age is also a troubling number shared by all; Anderson and Miller are 39 and Howard is 36. Given their ages and stats, Anderson and Howard appear done. Miller may have enough left for one more run, but his value as a free agent is limited given his desire to play only with a team near his home in Southern California. As for Schneider, he played in 13 games and posted numbers comparable to Howard’s. Schneider, 34, has faced problems with injuries and inconsistency for several years now. He is nothing more than a dart throw at this point – and according to some sources there is a handshake agreement between he and the New York Islanders, who appear willing to toss that dart at a potential veteran No. 3. Even if Schneider is available or if Miller is willing to move on from the Anaheim Ducks, do any of these aging options inspire more hope than an established AHL starter with strong NHL numbers in Hammond?

Potential Suitors

There is no shortage of teams in need of a goalie before the 2020-21 season, including the aforementioned Ducks and Islanders. Anaheim especially currently counts just starter John Gibson and presumptive backup Anthony Stolarz as NHL options, with only recent draft picks as their other signed goalies. While Stolarz is younger than Hammond and has more recent NHL experience, the two share similar career AHL stats with Hammond having an edge in the NHL. Hammond could prove to be an upgrade over Stolarz as Gibson’s backup, if not just a sold third-string option at a shallow position. There is also the matter of the impending Expansion Draft and Anaheim needing a goalie signed beyond this season to expose, making Hammond an even more likely fit. In New York, depth is an extreme concern beyond the NHL tandem, with only one other goalie signed in young Jakub Skarek. Even if the Islanders do sign Schneider, it may not hurt to add Hammond as well given Schneider’s injury concerns and not wanting to rush Skarek into a workhorse AHL role.

Elsewhere, Hammond could compete for an NHL role with the Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins. The Blackhawks have maintained that they are content with an unproven trio of Collin Delia, Malcolm Subban, and Kevin Lankinen competing for both NHL spots as they begin a rebuild. However, things could turn south quickly with that group and an experienced goaltender in Hammond could be valuable. Even if Hammond doesn’t make the ’Hawks out of camp, the team could use some dependability in their depth chart. Similarly, the Penguins claim that they are happy to go into next season with Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith in net. Jarry put up great numbers last season, but has never had a true starter’s workload in the NHL. DeSmith meanwhile did not see any NHL action last season and was outplayed in the AHL by Hammond. The Penguins have okay depth, including UFA addition Maxime Lagace, but could alleviate the risk of their untested NHL tandem or at the very least upgrade at No. 3 with Hammond.

Options where Hammond would only be asked to serve in a third-string role (at the outset), but where that could still turn into a key position, include the Edmonton Oilers, San Jose Sharks, Vancouver Canucks, or a return to an old home with the Colorado Avalanche. The Oilers and Sharks impressed no one with their off-season changes in net; Edmonton struck out with top free agents and re-signed Mike Smith to play alongside Mikko Koskinen, while San Jose decided the way to help severely struggling starter Martin Jones was to acquire an equally struggling netminder in Devan Dubnyk. Both teams have decent depth in the minors and may be content to lean on young options if their NHL tandem fails, but if either one hopes to be a contender this season they need a No. 3 who can push for top level opportunity and Hammond could fit the bill. At this point in time, it’s anyone’s guess whether any of Smith, Koskinen, Jones, or Dubnyk are actually better goaltenders than Hammond. As for Vancouver and Colorado, both teams are set with a solid duo in the NHL, but injuries are a concern and each is sorely lacking a proven option in the AHL. For two top contenders from this past season, depth is key and Hammond would look awfully nice as a third-string fallback.

Projected Contract

The contract question for Hammond is not so much NHL salary, but AHL salary. Given the cap crunch climate, Hammond is not getting any more than the $700K league minimum salary, even if he could work his way into a regular NHL role worth far more. The question is whether he can get a one-way deal, as he did last year with the Buffalo Sabres, and have that NHL salary guaranteed in the minors or if he will have to settle for a two-way deal, as he did two years ago with the Minnesota Wild. The cap implications are the same and Hammond’s decision will likely come down to fit and opportunity over salary anyhow, so the signing team’s current financial status will likely determine one-way versus two-way. Given the potential competition for his services though, Hammond may have a number of good options and a one-way offer could be the deciding factor.

As alluded to with the Ducks, don’t rule out a two-year deal either. While a one-year term is more likely, teams will be cognizant of their Expansion Draft requirements and how training camp waivers could change the status quo as well, which could lead to Hammond landing some two-year offers to serve as Kraken bait next summer.

 

Minor Transactions: 12/04/20

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The NHL offseason has come to a standstill, with no unrestricted free agents signed to one-way contracts in a month. Still, the ECHL and many European leagues continue to play or prepare, meaning hockey players signing deals all over the world. We’ll keep track of the notable minor transactions right here.

  • The KHL was especially busy today, with several former NHL players on the move. Trevor Murphy, a 25-year-old defenseman who played eight games for the Arizona Coyotes in 2017-18 was sent from Kunlun Red Star to Ak Bars Kazan. Murphy was never drafted, but after dominating the OHL with the Windsor Spitfires ended up in the Nashville Predators system. The offensive-minded defenseman never stopped producing, scoring 131 points in 257 AHL games, but ended up overseas last year.
  • Zack Mitchell, who had been playing with Dinamo Riga in the KHL, will now suit up for Severstal Cherepovets. The 27-year-old is another undrafted player who once made it to the NHL, playing 34 games with the Minnesota Wild. Mitchell scored 31 points in 61 games for the Ontario Reign in 2018-19 before heading to the KHL.
  • It’s been years since he was in North America, but Sean Collins will continue his KHL career with Kunlun this season. The 31-year-old forward will be spending his fifth year in the foreign league after a successful AHL career ended in 2016. Collins played in 21 NHL games over the years, but never did score a single goal.
  • Another former NHLer who has been playing overseas for several years, Brandon DeFazio is making a mid-season move. The 32-year old, who has spent two of the past three years with the KHL’s Kunlun Red Star with a stop with the Liiga’s Lukko in between, began this season with HC Kometa Brno of the Czech Extraliga. However, Brno has announced today that DeFazio’s contract has been terminated via exit clause, as DeFazio has found a higher paying offer with an unnamed club in Germany’s DEL. This will be the fourth different country that DeFazio has played in since leaving North America in 2017.
  • Although the team never made a formal announcement, today’s ECHL transactions have indicated that the AHL’s Stockton Heat have signed (and reassigned) goaltender Andrew Shortridge. Shortridge, 25, is a former NCAA standout at Quinnipiac who signed a one-year entry-level contract with the San Jose Sharks for last season. However, the Sharks declined to an extend him a qualifying offer in October, making him a UFA. Shortridge struggled in the AHL last season, admittedly in his first pro campaign, but played well in the ECHL and has the size and collegiate production that would imply that he has more to offer.

Mats Zuccarello Out Indefinitely Following Surgery

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Whenever the upcoming NHL season actually gets underway, the Minnesota Wild will be without one of their veteran forwards. Michael Russo of The Athletic reports that Mats Zuccarello will not be ready for the start of the season and “may be out a good bit longer” after surgery on his right arm. The procedure was weeks ago, but he has flown from Norway to Minnesota to see the team doctors.

Zuccarello, 33, broke that right arm two seasons ago and Russo reports that though not necessarily related, it was discovered to have a torn ligament. The veteran forward played last season through discomfort, which potentially could be why his numbers declined quite drastically in his first year with Minnesota. In 65 games the undersized winger scored 15 goals and 37 points, which was the first time he failed to crack the 40-point mark in a year where he played at least 48 games. In Minnesota’s four postseason contests, he recorded just a single assist.

The five-year, $30MM contract that the Wild signed Zuccarello to in 2019 has been a disaster so far, especially given Paul Fenton, the GM at the time, was fired just a few weeks later. When combined with Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, the Wild have more than $20MM in cap space committed through at least 2023-24 to a trio of players already in their mid-thirties. For a club trying to find their way under a new coaching staff and front office, that doesn’t bode well for the future.

Perhaps of course Zuccarello will be able to return at full strength and once again assume his place as one of the league’s top playmakers, but it’s now been several years since that 44-assist season in 2016-17. If he is out for a long period of time the Wild could potentially put his $6MM cap hit on long-term injured reserve in order to bring in a replacement—notably, Minnesota fan favorite Mikael Granlund remains unsigned—but it also could mean more opportunity for the young players in the system. Jordan Greenway still hasn’t reached the ceiling he has flashed as a top power forward, while first-round draft pick Marco Rossi will be battling for an NHL spot after returning from the World Juniors. Kirill Kaprizov was already guaranteed a spot, but this could mean even more responsibility and ice time lands on his shoulders as he makes the transition to the NHL.

Kyle Olson Signs AHL Deal

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When the Anaheim Ducks decided not to sign Kyle Olson to an entry-level contract by June 2019, his draft rights expired and he became an unrestricted free agent. The fourth-round pick had a brutal post-draft season that saw him score only four goals and miss half the year with a knee injury. He came back the next season and showed what he could do, but it still didn’t work out with the Ducks.

In September of last year, Olson was a standout at the Buffalo Sabres prospect camp and earned himself a non-roster invitation to the main training camp. He was impressive there too, but didn’t sign with the Sabres and instead returned for his overage WHL season. That season, 2019-20, was cut short again, with Olson playing only 30 games total between the Tri-City Americans (where he was captain) and the Calgary Hitmen.

Now, after aging out of junior hockey Olson will try his hand at the professional level. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have signed the 21-year-old forward to an AHL contract and immediately sent him to the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers to join their training camp. With the ECHL season about to begin in a week, Olson can start his minor league career there after he quarantines. Among the players to keep an eye on in the ECHL this year, Olson will be near the top of the list after circumstance—and not work ethic—has knocked him off the NHL prospect track so far.

The Nailers are set to begin their season on December 12 against the Indy Fuel.

Maxim Cajkovic Removed From Slovakia WJC Camp

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Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Maxim Cajkovic will not be taking part in the World Junior Championship this year after being expelled from the Slovakian training camp. In a release, the team explains (via Google translate) that Cajkovic has been removed for a gross violation of sports and human values. Matej Deraj of Dennik Sport in Slovakia tweets that Cajkovic delivered several dirty hits on his potential teammates in a split-squad game.

Selected 89th overall by the Lightning in 2019, Cajkovic actually already took part in a WJC last season, recording two assists for Slovakia in five games. Though he had played the last two seasons for the Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL, he was spending this first part of this year with the Bratislava Capitals in the ICEHL, where he had nine points in 12 games.

The 19-year-old winger possesses a lethal shot but will obviously have to avoid these kinds of situations in the future if his professional hockey career is to take off. The World Juniors is a chance for many young players to show off their skills against the best in the world and can only help the prospect stock of a player like Cajkovic. Given he’s still waiting on his entry-level contract from the Lightning, this certainly won’t help things. It will obviously also weaken the Slovakian squad, who aren’t loaded with NHL prospects like Cajkovic and were relying on him to provide some offense at the tournament.

NHL Now Aiming For Mid-January Start

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January 1 always seemed like a difficult target for the NHL to hit, but now that the calendar has turned to December without any sort of resolution it is completely unrealistic. According to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, who this morning has summarized many reports that surfaced, the league asked about a mid-January start on a call with the NHLPA last night. They also discussed a potential 56-game schedule and a training camp that would start on January 2.

None of this, LeBrun explains, has been finalized yet as COVID-19 health restrictions and financial ramifications are too broad to sort through on one phone call. But it at least should give hockey fans some hope that a season is around the corner.

A 56-game season would be very interesting, given what happened last time the league went with a shortened schedule. Remember in 2012-13, when a lockout stole half the season, only 48 games were played. The Chicago Blackhawks would go on to basically run the table with their star-laden lineup that included a young duo named Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, but also had a 34-year-old Marian Hossa still playing at a ridiculously high level. The Blackhawks would finish first in the regular season with 77 points, losing just seven games in regulation.

But there were other oddities that year, like only a single team (Washington) coming out of the Southeast Division or the last-place team in the Pacific having a .500 record. Alex Ovechkin won the Rocket Richard with 32 goals in the shortened season, something even several years later he may be able to accomplish again in 2021.

Should this schedule be approved, players would need to quickly find their way in from overseas in order to quarantine in time for training camp. One obvious issue that may arise is the holiday season and whether international players—or even those moving between the U.S. and Canada—would be willing to spend Christmas in quarantine, preparing for the training camp on January 2. That, and the ongoing COVID-19 situation all over the world, could still end up pushing this back even further.

Finland Announces Preliminary World Junior Roster

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Like many other countries over the last few days and weeks, Finland has announced their preliminary roster for the World Junior Championship, set to take place later this month in Edmonton, Alberta. The Finns won gold in the 2019 tournament two years ago but are looking to get back onto the podium after a disappointing fourth-place finish last year.

G Joel Blomqvist
G Juho Markkanen
G Kari Piiroinen
G Eetu Randelin
G Roope Taponen

D Santeri Hatakka
D Ville Heinola
D Mikko Kokkonen
D Rami Maatta
D Topi Niemela
D Valtteri Pulli
D Kasper Puutio
D Ruben Rafkin
D Matias Rajaniemi
D Eemil Viro

F Leevi Aaltonen
F Samuel Helenius
F Roni Hirvonen
F Roby Jarventie
F Benjamin Korhonen
F Brad Lambert
F Anton Lundell
F Matias Mantykivi
F Henri Nikkanen
F Mikko Petman
F Petteri Puhakka
F Mikael Pyyhtia
F Juuso Parssinen
F Aku Raty
F Kasper Simontaival
F Samuel Valkeejavi

Of note, the roster does not include Kaapo Kakko, who, like teammate Alexis Lafreniere, will likely not be released to the tournament despite still being eligible. It also does not include Aatu Raty, who played for the Finns a year ago and is a potential top pick for the 2021 draft, but has struggled mightily this season.

Salary Cap Deep Dive: Vegas Golden Knights

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Navigating the salary cap is one of the more important tasks for any GM.  Teams that can avert total cap chaos by walking the tightrope of inking players to deals that match their value (or compensate for future value without breaking the bank) remain successful.  Those that don’t see struggles and front office changes.

PHR will look at every NHL team and give a thorough look at their cap situation heading into the 2020-21 season.  This will focus more on players who are regulars on the roster versus those who may find themselves shuttling between the AHL and NHL.  All cap figures are courtesy of CapFriendly.

Vegas Golden Knights

Current Cap Hit: $82,474,104 (over the $81.5MM Upper Limit)

Entry-Level Contracts

F Cody Glass (two years, $863K)

Potential Bonuses

Glass: $850K

Vegas was able to ease Glass into his injury-shortened rookie year and allowed him to get his feet wet without much pressure which is typically a strong development strategy.  They won’t have that luxury moving forward, however, with Paul Stastny being moved back to Winnipeg, opening up a spot for a top-six center.  They’re hoping Glass can fill that spot and if he does, he’ll be in line for a big raise on his next deal.

One Year Remaining, Non-Entry-Level

D Carl Dahlstrom ($850K, RFA)
D Alec Martinez ($4MM, UFA)
F Tomas Nosek ($1.25MM, UFA)

Nosek has been a dependable fourth liner in his three years with the team which earned him a small raise on this contract.  It’s hard to envision him getting much more, however, given how tight they are to the cap; they can’t afford to pay any sort of premium for someone on the fourth line.

Martinez immediately stepped into a prominent role after being acquired from the Kings near the trade deadline as he fit in quite well with his new team.  He’s likely to remain in their top four this coming season and he should be one of the more sought-after blueliners on the open market next offseason if he gets there.  Dahlstrom was acquired as part of the Stastny trade and will be in a depth role.  That’s about all Vegas can afford for that role so if his price tag goes up, chances are he’ll be replaced by someone willing to play for that amount next offseason.

Two Years Remaining

G Marc-Andre Fleury ($7MM, UFA)
D Nick Holden ($1.7MM, UFA)
D Brayden McNabb ($2.5MM, UFA)
F Ryan Reaves ($1.75MM, UFA)
F Reilly Smith ($5MM, UFA)

Smith has been a consistent producer in his three years with Vegas after being a bit more inconsistent during his time with Boston and Florida.  He has established himself as a capable top-six winger but he’ll be 31 when he signs his next contract and the market wasn’t too kind to wingers this offseason.  Things can change between now and then obviously but while he may be able to land a similar-priced deal in 2022, it’s hard to see a big raise on the horizon.  Reaves took a pay cut to stay with the Golden Knights although he’s still one of the more expensive pure fourth liners to recently sign.  At some point, they’ll need a cheaper option out of that spot, whether it’s him or someone else.

McNabb is never going to put up a lot of points but there is still a role for a stay-at-home, physical defender.  That’s the good news.  The bad news is that the importance of players who play that style seems to be diminishing with each year.  As a result, even though he’s a good fit on the second pairing most nights, his market two years from now may not be as strong as it should be.  Holden has been a serviceable player on the third pairing but that’s another spot that Vegas will be looking to save money on which means they may turn to another player at that time.

Fleury’s contract made some sense at the time he was signed as he was their undisputed starter with no other option on the horizon.  Things have changed since then and he now sits as the presumptive backup and $7MM for a second option isn’t ideal no matter how good that player is.  It’s believed that the team tried to move him but found no takers at a price point they were comfortable with.  A buyout a year from now could be an option if they can’t find a new home by retaining a sizable portion of the contract.  In the meantime, Vegas will have one of the stronger tandems in the league next season while also being one of the most expensive ones.

Three Years Remaining

F Max Pacioretty ($7MM, UFA)

Very quietly, Pacioretty has potted 30 or more goals and 60 or more points in five of the last seven seasons which is legitimate front line production.  Whether or not he can maintain that in his early to mid-30s remains to be seen but while his contract isn’t a bargain, it’s fair value from when he signed the deal shortly after being acquired in 2018.

Four Years Remaining

F William Carrier ($1.4MM, UFA)
F Jonathan Marchessault ($5MM, UFA)
F Chandler Stephenson ($2.75MM, UFA)

Marchessault is still one of the better stories out there.  After starting on an AHL contract and playing a middling role in his mid-20s, he has now emerged as a capable top liner while being paid like a second liner which is good value for Vegas.  Stephenson fit in quite well after being acquired in a midseason cap dump from Washington and was rewarded with the four-year deal this offseason.  That could prove to be expensive if he goes back to producing more like a fourth liner but at the same time, if he produces at a similar rate from his part year in Vegas, it’ll be quite the bargain.  Carrier took a nice step forward offensively last season while playing his usual physical style.  Another small step forward in terms of production would give him a good chance to meet if not outperform this contract.

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