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Archives for July 2021

Calgary Flames Ink Andy Welinski

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The Calgary Flames are adding some depth to the back end in the form of puck-mover Andy Welinski. The team has announced that they have signed the veteran defenseman to a one-year, two-way contract. CapFriendly reports that the deal will pay Welinski the minimum $750K in the NHL and $375K in the AHL, with $400K guaranteed.

A long-time Anaheim Duck, or more accurately San Diego Gull, who was also briefly a member of the Philadelphia Flyers organization, Welinski has flown north and traded in his wings for flames. The 28-year-old defenseman has been a reliable two-way defenseman in the AHL for five years now, also appearing in 46 NHL games with Anaheim. While he isn’t an electrifying talent in either the scoring or checking game, he is a strong skater and handles the puck well. This makes him a dependable call-up option who can step in and play meaningful minutes in all situations. Hence the high guaranteed salary, as Welinski’s value is in the security he brings as a backup, not his upside.

In Calgary, Welinski will be playing behind a deep defensive group eventually, but right now is one of only four experienced NHL defensemen under contract, with returners Juuso Valimaki, Oliver Kylington, and Connor Mackey and newcomer Nikita Zadorov all as unrestricted free agents. With a lot of youth and some players with consistency concerns among the Flames defenders, it makes sense why having the reliable Welinski waiting in the wings is a smart addition for the team.

Carolina Hurricanes Sign Brendan Smith

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The blue line remodel in Carolina continues. The latest addition is veteran Brendan Smith, who the team announced has signed a one-year, $800K contract. The Hurricanes are very familiar with Smith, who has played for the Metropolitan Division rival New York Rangers for the past four plus years and in the Eastern Conference his whole career.

Smith is a solid addition for the Hurricanes as an experienced physical presence. The 32-year-old has had some ups and downs in his career, but has remained a consistent checking threat throughout. A hard-nosed defender who works hard in puck battles and takes charge in front of the net, Smith is the type of character defender who plays a physical game but does it the right way. He can also chip in on offense from time to time and has even been known to ply his trade as a checking forward.

Perhaps the Hurricanes are considering a hybrid role for Smith, as their blue line is looking awfully crowded. Even with the departures of Dougie Hamilton and Jake Bean, the Hurricanes are already back to having one of the deepest defense corps in the league. Mainstays Jaccob Slavin, Brett Pesce, Brady Skjei, and Jake Gardiner have now been joined by veteran signings Smith and Ian Cole, reclamation project Anthony DeAngelo, and trade acquisition Ethan Bear for eight legitimate NHL defenseman, not including rumored signing Jalen Chatfield and unsigned RFA Maxime Lajoie. That’s quite the logjam on defense for Carolina, which could lead to some difficult waivers decisions down the road.

Arizona Coyotes Sign Hudson Fasching, Michael Carcone

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The Arizona Coyotes have signed a pair of familiar experienced AHLers to two-way contracts. The team announced that they have re-signed Hudson Fasching to a one-year deal and added Michael Carcone, on loan with the Tuscon Roadrunners this past season, on a two-year deal. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Fasching, 26, was a Group 6 unrestricted free agent, but chose to stay put in the desert. The big winger has spent the past three seasons in the Coyotes organization after coming over in a trade from the Buffalo Sabres, but prior to 2020-21 has played exclusively with the AHL’s Tuscon Roadrunners. However, after excellent production for their minor league team, Arizona kept Fasching close by on the practice squad for much of this season. Fasching played in five games with the Coyotes and just two with the Roadrunners. Now more familiar with the team, Fasching may have a chance to win a lineup spot this season on an ever-changing Coyotes roster.

In Fasching’s place in Tuscon this season, Carcone took over as a top scorer for the Roadrunners while on loan from the Nashville Predators. Carcone has always been a consistent contributor in the AHL, but reached new heights this year with 15 goals and 25 points in just 35 games. It was enough to convince the Coyotes to bring him in to the organization officially. Carcone, 25, still has yet to make his NHL debut, but could get a chance over the next two years with the rebuilding ’Yotes.

Jake Bean Signs Extension In Columbus

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The Columbus Blue Jackets announced today that newly acquired defenseman Jake Bean signed an extension with the team. It’s a three-year deal costing Columbus $2.33MM annually. Here is the breakdown:

2021-22: $1.9M
2022-23: $2.2M
2023-24: $2.9M

This could wind up being an outstanding value for the Blue Jackets. Although Bean is only 23 and has just 44 NHL games under his belt, the 2016 first-round pick has shown flashes of immense upside in his young pro career. In his rookie season in 2020-21, Bean recorded 12 points in 42 games despite playing very limited bottom-pair minutes and without a consistent power play role. At 1.18 points per 60 minutes already without prime power play opportunity and playing with bottom-pair talent, Bean will only go up from there with a top-four role seemingly waiting for him in Columbus. At 20+ minutes per night and put in better scoring opportunities, it would not be a surprise to see the young blue liner push for at least 30+ points.

With all that said, Bean does need to continue to grow in the defensive aspects of the game. It is that development rather than his offensive potential that will dictate his ceiling in Columbus. The re-tooling Blue Jackets need well-rounded, all-situations players and Bean is still working on becoming that.

Tampa Bay Lightning Re-Sign Cal Foote

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The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-signed defenseman Cal Foote, the team announced today. The two-year deal carries an average annual value of $850,000. The 22-year-old defenseman will be a bargain for Tampa for now, but has the upside to grow into another impact player (and problematic contract situation) over the course of the next two years.

A first-round pick in 2017, Foote may be the only elite prospect in the entire Lightning organization, who have given picks away left in right in recent years en route to back-to-back Stanley Cup titles. The team is happy to have him, especially since he looks primed to take a step forward this season with even more opportunity on the Tampa blue line. After skating in 35 games last season, Foote only needs to stay healthy and outplay veterans like Jan Rutta and Zach Bogosian and he could be looking at 82 games this year.

A well-rounded defenseman with good size, Foote does not need to be pigeonholed into a certain role for the Bolts. The youngster can hit and block shots and hold his own in the defensive end. He can also move the puck and produce offense. Although Foote only contributed three points in 35 games last year, it was in very limited minutes and affected by a low shooting percentage that should improve. There is a reason why some expected Tampa to make a side deal to protect Foote from Expansion and why others thought the Seattle Kraken would take him; beyond just his age, Foote’s skill set projects top-four upside.

Ottawa Senators Sign Dillon Heatherington, Kole Sherwood

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The Ottawa Senators have inked a pair of minor-league veterans to two-way contracts. They’ve signed Dillon Heatherington and Kole Sherwood to one-year, two-way contracts worth $750,000. Heatherington’s deal is worth $250,000 at the AHL level, while Sherwood’s deal is worth $150,000.

Heatherington, a 2013 second-round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets, is now 26 and carries very limited NHL upside. He’s returning to North America after spending one season overseas with the KHL’s Barys Nur-Sultan. His first trip overseas earned him only moderate success, potting seven points in 41 games. A strictly defensive defenseman, Heatherington’s got only 11 career NHL games to his name and just two assists.

Their other signing, Sherwood, is also a former Columbus prospect and an Ohio native. Sherwood has played NHL games for Columbus in every season since graduating from the OHL in 2017-18, but he hasn’t managed to stick a full-time role. He’s yet to find his offensive touch at the pro level, but at 24 years old, still carries some potential late-bloomer upside.

Pavel Gogolev Signs Entry-Level Contract

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed Pavel Gogolev to a three-year, entry-level contract. Gogolev spent part of this season with the Toronto Marlies after going undrafted out of the OHL, but has now earned an NHL contract.

In 2019-20, Gogolev was one of only six players in the OHL to record at least 40 goals and 85 points, finishing with 45 and 96 in his final year with the Guelph Storm. Despite that, the Russian forward still wasn’t drafted, and started this season playing in the Swedish second tier. After 12 games there, he signed an AHL contract with the Marlies and showed just how good his offensive skills can be. In 13 minor league games he scored six goals and 12 points.

Now, under an entry-level contract, Gogolev doesn’t need to worry about the next step in his development or where he’ll play in 2021-22. If the Maple Leafs want to take advantage of the top-end puck skills that the young forward possesses, there needs to be a lot of work put into the defensive side of the game. That’s worth the gamble at the moment, but an ELC doesn’t mean that Gogolev will be given a chance at the NHL level. In fact, he likely won’t unless his game away from the puck improves dramatically.

After a busy day yesterday adding depth to the organization, the Maple Leafs are now at 43 of their allotted 50 NHL contracts. They felt secure enough to use one of those spots on the 21-year-old Gogolev, now he’ll need to show them it wasn’t a mistake.

Minnesota Wild Sign Jon Merrill

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The Minnesota Wild have filled one of their last defensive spots, agreeing to terms with Jon Merrill on a one-year, $850K contract.

Merrill, 29, split this season between the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens, joining the latter at the deadline only to end up on a deep playoff run. The 6’3″ defenseman has played 405 regular season games in the NHL, but always seems to be at the bottom of a depth chart. His career-high of 15 points was set in 2018-19 with the Vegas Golden Knights, but he actually averaged more ice time this season at 18:15.

In Minnesota, he becomes the sixth defenseman on a one-way contract, sliding in behind newcomers Alex Goligoski and Dmitry Kulikov. Though it seemed likely that prospect Calen Addison would receive a chance to crack the NHL lineup, the team now at least has an option if the 21-year-old is not quite ready. The fact that Merrill and Goligoski have experience on both the left and right side will be a bonus for the Wild, who can mix and match the bottom pairing this season.

There’s a connection in the Wild front office for Merrill, as Ray Shero now acts as a senior advisor. Shero was the general manager in New Jersey in the early part of Merrill’s career and when the Golden Knights plucked him through the expansion draft. The two are together again, though now it’s GM Bill Guerin and head coach Dean Evason that Merrill will have to impress to keep his place in the everyday lineup.

Detroit Red Wings Bring Back Dan Renouf

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The Detroit Red Wings have brought a former prospect back into the organization. They announced the signing of defenseman Dan Renouf today to a one-year contract. PuckPedia reports it’s a two-way deal, carrying an $850,000 cap hit with a $325,000 salary at the minor level and $375,000 guaranteed.

Renouf re-joins his first NHL organization, having signed with the Red Wings as an undrafted free agent in 2015-16 after ending his college career at the University of Maine. Renouf’s since spent time with both the Carolina and Colorado organizations, including a career-high 18-game stint last season with the Avs.

With only 19 games of NHL experience in total, Renouf brings limited NHL upside. However, he adds depth to Detroit’s minor-league defense corps in Grand Rapids and proved this season with Colorado that he can be trusted as an injury replacement. It’s fair value for Renouf, who will probably see NHL action at some point this season.

Pittsburgh Penguins Sign Danton Heinen

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Among the players who didn’t receive a qualifying offer this year, Danton Heinen raised a few eyebrows. Once an up-and-coming scoring threat with the Boston Bruins, his game has fallen off in recent years. The Pittsburgh Penguins will try to correct that path, signing Heinen to a one-year, $1.1MM contract today.

Now 26, this may be Heinen’s last chance to prove he can handle a scoring role in the NHL. The fourth-round pick scored 16 goals and 47 points as a rookie in Boston and looked like he was going to be the answer to the second-line scoring issues. He was even given a chance beside Patrice Bergeron for a time the next season, but failed to reach the same level of production.

Since then, it has been a steady downward slope in his career. At the trade deadline in 2019-20 he was flipped to the Anaheim Ducks for Nick Ritchie (who also happened to go unqualified this summer) where he has struggled. In 43 games during the 2020-21 season, he recorded just seven goals and 14 points despite seeing the most time beside Jakob Silfverberg and Adam Henrique.

There’s talent there that’s easy to see, but Heinen has to find a way to become more consistent in the offensive zone. In Pittsburgh, there’s a real chance that at some point he’ll be given an opportunity beside either Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin. He can’t afford to waste it this time, or that explosive rookie season will be quickly forgotten.

For the Penguins, moves like this are nothing new. Crosby has been asked to boost inexpensive linemates for years, and reclamation projects have become regular occurrences. In this case it doesn’t pose much risk with a contract that could be almost entirely buried in the minor leagues if necessary, but Heinen doesn’t offer much in a bottom-six role except penalty-kill ability.

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