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Free Agent Profile: Tomas Tatar

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As things start to settle down after a whirlwind first few days of free agency, teams around the league will be taking stock of who is still out there and looking at where those players could possibly fit in.  One of the players that several teams will certainly be considering is Tomas Tatar.

His case has been a strange one to follow over the years.  Go back to 2018 and his stock was on the rise.  He was coming off four straight years of 19 goals or more and was the big addition by Vegas at the trade deadline.  The hope was that Tatar would give their offense a boost as they went on a long playoff run.  They had the long run but Tatar did so little that he was a healthy scratch for more than half of it.  Months later, his stock much lower, he was included as salary ballast in a trade to Montreal with Vegas paying down a small portion of his contract.

With the Canadiens, Tatar rebounded, putting up 25 and 22 goals in his first two seasons with the team and his stock was on the rise again.  Again, however, that changed fairly quickly.  His numbers dipped last season to just 10 goals and 20 assists in 50 games, still decent but he spent a good chunk of the year on their top line while posting strong possession numbers.  By the end of it, he was back in the press box periodically and in the playoffs, he suited up in just five of 22 games.

How should Tatar be viewed?  It’s one of those glass half-full or half-empty situations.  On the one hand, here’s a player that coming into 2020-21 had seven straight years of 19 or more goals which is legitimate consistent top-six production on a lot of teams.  On the other hand, two teams now have seen fit to bench him for extended periods of time during a run to the Stanley Cup Final.  Those true but vastly diverse points make him a particularly intriguing free agent.

Stats

2020-21: 50 GP, 10-20-30, even rating, 8 PIMS, 82 shots, 58.9 CF%, 14:59 ATOI

Career: 625 GP, 176-201-377, +23 rating, 224 PIMS, 1,351 shots, 56.9 CF%, 15:36 ATOI

Potential Suitors

Who has a vacancy on the left wing in their top six and some cap space at their disposal?  Even with the recent poor playoff performances, Tatar should have enough of a regular season track record to generate interest from several teams.

In the East, New Jersey has the green light to spend and already made a big splash on the back end in Dougie Hamilton.  But they haven’t been able to do much of anything up front and Tatar would certainly give them a boost on the wing to work with one of their young centers in Jack Hughes or Nico Hischier.  Tatar would fill a hole in Buffalo although the Sabres aren’t a team that appears to be trying to win much next season but on a short-term trade, he could be a sign and flip option.  There is plenty of secrecy around the Islanders who have been linked to Kyle Palmieri and Zach Parise but if one of those falls through, Tatar fits as a fallback option.  Carolina is typically a strong possession team where Tatar could fit in but they’d need to have a good sense of what Andrei Svechnikov’s next deal would cost to see if they can afford him or not.

Out West, no team needs scoring more than Anaheim whose only addition up front this summer has been Buddy Robinson on a two-way deal.  Tatar could immediately step into an impact role for them.  Nashville has yet to fill the vacancy created by the Viktor Arvidsson trade and Tatar would be able to replace him from an offensive standpoint.  Seattle could still stand to add to their forward group but with the Kraken appearing to be emphasizing cap flexibility, Tatar may appeal to them only on a short-term contract.  Arizona is another team that doesn’t appear to be overly concerned with next season but Tatar would certainly improve their fortunes and could be an option as a sign and flip there as well.  If Tatar is willing to take a one-year deal, Colorado may have enough wiggle room on the cap to make it work if he takes a bit less than what his market value should be.

Projected Contract

Tatar ranked 15th in our Top 50 UFA list with a projected three-year, $12MM contract.  There are definitely concerns with what has happened lately in the playoffs but with his regular season performances, Tatar should still have a sizable list of teams that have cap space interested in him so he could still command close to that $4MM AAV on a multi-year contract as one of the top free agents remaining.  If he goes a few weeks without signing, however, a one-year deal could become a more feasible option with an eye on rebuilding his value to improve his free agent fortunes a year from now.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Stars Re-Sign Jerad Rosburg

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While Dallas saw one of their restricted free agents head overseas this morning, they’ve taken care of another one as the Stars announced the re-signing of defenseman Jerad Rosburg to a two-year, two-way contract.  Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The 25-year-old signed with Dallas as an undrafted free agent back in March of 2020 after four seasons at Michigan State.  Rosburg spent last season with AHL Texas, notching a goal and six assists in 36 games along with a team-high 34 PIMS.  He was never a big offensive threat at the college level either with his career-best in points with the Spartans being 17 so the low output in his freshman professional season doesn’t come as much of a surprise.

Despite his age, Rosburg is actually waiver-exempt for one more season so Dallas will be able to send him back to Texas in the fall where he can continue to develop.  This deal will take him to UFA eligibility in the summer of 2023 so if he isn’t able to establish himself with Dallas by then, he’ll have an opportunity to try to catch on elsewhere at that time.

The Stars now have just one restricted free agent remaining in AHL blueliner Joseph Cecconi who elected not to file for salary arbitration by yesterday’s deadline.

Devils UFA Ben Street Signs In Germany

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Having only played in three NHL games over the last two seasons, Ben Street has opted to try his hand overseas as EHC Munchen in Germany announced that they’ve inked the veteran center to a one-year contract.

The 34-year-old spent the last two seasons with the Devils on sizable two-way contracts that paid $425K to play in the minors.  Street spent last season split between AHL Binghamton where he had 14 points in 14 games with a handful of stints on the taxi squad as well but he made no NHL appearances for only the second time since 2011-12.

Considering his age, it’s unlikely that Street will be making a return to push for another NHL opportunity next season as at this point, he has been more of a high-end AHLer and a trip overseas won’t change that perception.  But knowing his fate is basically that of a minor leaguer from this point on, Street is opting for a new experience and should have an opportunity to play a prominent role with Munchen next season.

Stars RFA Adam Mascherin Signs In Sweden

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After three years in the minors, Stars RFA Adam Mascherin has decided that it’s time for a change as Skelleftea of the SHL announced that they’ve signed the winger to a one-year contract.  Dallas will still retain his rights having tendered him a qualifying offer last month.

The 23-year-old has taken a bit of a unique route so far in his career.  Originally drafted in the second round by Florida (38th overall) back in 2016, Mascherin elected not to sign with them and chose to re-enter the draft in the hopes of finding a better opportunity.  Dallas then took him in the fourth round in 2018 (100th overall) and quickly signed him to an entry-level deal.

However, there has yet to be an NHL opportunity for Mascherin with Dallas despite two strong seasons with AHL Texas.  He had 44 points in 75 games in his rookie season in 2018-19 and, after a tough sophomore year, rebounded nicely with 18 goals and 16 assists in 37 games with Texas last season, good for second on the team in points and third in the league in goals.  That still wasn’t enough to even earn him a stint with the taxi squad let alone a recall.

Instead of trying to earn a spot in camp with the Stars, Mascherin will try his hand overseas where a strong showing could give him some more leverage in contract talks with Dallas a year from now or boost his stock to the point where another team could trade for his rights and give him an opportunity.

David Krejci Returning To Czech Republic

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August 2: HC Olomouc of the Czech Extraliga announced that they’ve signed Krejci to a one-year contract.  Krejci spent time in that program 20 years ago, playing in 26 games in 2000-01 with their Under-18 squad.

July 30: The highest name remaining on our Top 50 UFA list was David Krejci, who was eerily quiet through the first two days of free agency. Now we know why. The veteran forward has announced that he will not be returning to the Boston Bruins or signing with any other NHL team, explaining that he will return to play in the Czech Republic.

Though he doesn’t call it retirement, Krejci’s NHL career is over for the time being:

Since the end of the season, as I have thought about my future, it has become clear that I need to make a difficult decision for my family and I. At this point in my career and life I need to return to the Czech Republic and play in front of my family who sacrificed so much to help me achieve my NHL dreams. I want to play in front of my parents, brother and friends. I want my children to live where I grew up, spend time with so many Czech family members who love them and create lifelong memories. 

It seemed odd when the Bruins decided to fill so many spots at the start of free agency, signing Nick Foligno, Erik Haula, Derek Forbort, Linus Ullmark and Tomas Nosek, while also committing money to re-signing Taylor Hall and Mike Reilly. Now it’s clear that there was never a need to save roster or cap space for Krejci after all.

The 35-year-old center has been one of the most consistent players in the NHL over his 15-year career, recording 730 points in 962 games. Every single one of those contests was completed while wearing the spoked B of the Bruins, most of them without stable linemates. For what has seemed like his entire career, the Bruins had been searching for a true partner to Krejci on the second line, something they had appeared to have finally found in Hall, though it will turn out to be too late. This decision now opens up more questions about how coach Bruce Cassidy will deploy his group, and who will anchor that second spot behind captain Patrice Bergeron.

Perhaps one of the most underrated players of his era, Krejci has been a huge reason for the Bruins’ success. In the 2011 Stanley Cup championship, it was a 24-year-old Krejci, not Bergeron, who led the entire playoffs in scoring with 12 goals and 23 points. Two years later when the Bruins would make it back to the Finals, it was again Krejci who led the league with 26 postseason points. Overall, should he not return to the NHL, he’ll finish with 124 points in 156 career playoff games, including eight game-winning goals.

With Foligno and Haula joining the Bruins and Charlie Coyle still in the mix, the team will have options at the center ice position. But it’s hard to imagine any of them filling the role that Krejci did, even up to this season. In 51 games, he may have scored just eight goals, but still managed to rack up 44 points.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Five Key Stories: 7/26/21 – 8/1/21

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To call this past week a busy one would be a significant understatement.  On top of a frantic first day of free agency (the full recap of which is here while some moves will also be covered below), there were plenty of significant signings and trades.  The biggest ones are recapped here in the key stories of the week.

Avoiding The Market: While it may have taken a little longer than anyone really expected, two captains managed to avoid making it to free agency.  First, Alex Ovechkin re-signed with Washington, inking a five-year, $47.5MM contract, ensuring he remains with the team that he has spent the past 16 years with.  He’ll now take aim at Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record as he sits 165 away from setting the new standard.  Meanwhile, Gabriel Landeskog had to wait until mere minutes before the deadline for eight-year deals but in the end, he was able to secure a max-term eight-year, $56MM deal to stick around in Colorado.  He has been with the Avs for the past 10 years and while he won’t be able to set the franchise record for games played (Joe Sakic holds that title), Landeskog should have second place comfortably locked down by the time this deal ends.

Fleury To Chicago: The Marc-Andre Fleury era in Vegas came to a rather abrupt end as he was traded to Chicago in a cap dumping move with only minor leaguer Mikael Hakkarainen coming back in return.  Fleury was the first face of the franchise for the Golden Knights and he saved his best performance for last, posting a 1.98 GAA with a .928 SV% on his way to winning the Vezina Trophy for Goalie of the Year.  However, his $7MM cap hit was deemed too expensive for them to carry.  Fleury took some time to ponder his future but ultimately will report while Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon didn’t waste much time spending the freed-up cap space.  First, he added winger Evgenii Dadonov from Ottawa for defenseman Nick Holden and a third-round pick to try to bolster their attack and then brought in goaltender Laurent Brossoit on a two-year, $4.65MM deal to serve as Robin Lehner’s new backup.

Hamilton Gets Paid: When Carolina gave Dougie Hamilton permission to speak with other teams and basically test the market early, they were hoping that Hamilton wouldn’t be able to command the money he was hoping to get which could have paved the way towards him re-signing.  That didn’t happen.  Instead, the top player to hit the open market was able to land a bigger contract than some expected, inking a seven-year, $63MM contract with New Jersey.  The 28-year-old is now tied with Cale Makar and teammate P.K. Subban for the fourth-highest cap hit among all NHL defensemen and gives the Devils the top-pairing defender they’ve been trying to acquire for several years.  New Jersey has had cap room to spend in the past but hadn’t been able to land a big fish on the open market.  They have now.

Seattle Splashes: Considering that the Kraken spent closer to the minimum amount than the cap ceiling in expansion, they had plenty of money at their disposal heading into free agency and opted to use a big chunk of it on a trio of players.  They added the top goalie on the market in Philipp Grubauer on a six-year, $35.4MM contract (that was originally rejected) plus one of the top wingers in Jaden Schwartz on a five-year, $27.5MM pact.  They also brought in center Alexander Wennberg on a three-year, $13.5MM contract, a nice reward for a strong season in Florida after being bought out by Columbus last fall.  Going back to Grubauer, his surprise signing sparked a pair of goalie trades.  Seattle flipped Vitek Vanecek back to Washington for a 2023 second-round pick while Colorado paid a steep price to acquire Darcy Kuemper (with $1MM of his $4.5MM price tag retained), sending defenseman Conor Timmins, a 2022 first-round pick, and a 2024 conditional third-rounder to the Coyotes to bring in the 31-year-old who is in the final year of his contract.

Jets Add Defensemen: The back end was a big issue for Winnipeg over the past two seasons and GM Kevin Cheveldayoff knew that needed to be addressed.  He didn’t wait for what wound up being a fairly light free agent market in terms of impact blueliners so he turned to the trade market instead.  First, he sent second-round picks in 2022 and 2023 to Washington for defenseman Brenden Dillon, then added Nate Schmidt from Vancouver for a third-round selection after Schmidt eventually agreed to waive his trade protection to facilitate the move.  With the moves, Winnipeg has added nearly $10MM to the cost of their back end but the two veterans are significant additions to a blueline core that also consists of Josh Morrissey and Neal Pionk.

Big Extension For Point: With too many things to cover in just five stories, we’ll add an extra one.  Tampa Bay was relatively quiet in terms of impact free agent signings due to salary cap reasons but they still had the biggest contract on the first day of free agency.  That went to Brayden Point who was eligible to sign as soon as the calendar flipped to the new league year and he did just that, inking an eight-year, $76MM extension that matches the recent ones handed out to Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy when they were eligible to sign them.  More cap challenges lie ahead for Tampa Bay following this deal – they have over $80MM in commitments for 2022-23 already per CapFriendly – but their star center will now be in the fold for the long haul.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Coyotes Re-Sign Cam Dineen

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The Coyotes have agreed to terms with one of their remaining free agents as PuckPedia reports (Twitter link) that they’ve re-signed defenseman Cam Dineen to a one-year, two-way contract.  The deal will pay $750K in the NHL and $90K in the minors.

The 23-year-old was a third-round pick of Arizona back in 2016 (68th overall) but has yet to see any NHL action through his first three professional campaigns.  Last season, Dineen played in 22 games with AHL Tucson, notching 10 points in 22 games, just four points shy of his previous career-high in 2019-20 when he played in 57 contests.

Dineen will now be waiver-eligible next season so he’ll have to pass through unclaimed to make it back to the Roadrunners.  That seems like a reasonable expectation but with Arizona’s back end undergoing a major makeover this summer, it’s possible that he could earn himself his first recall at some point in 2021-22.  Dineen will once again be a restricted free agent next offseason.

NHL Central Registry Rejects Philipp Grubauer’s Contract

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With the sheer volume of contracts that were filed with NHL Central Registry at the start of free agency, it has taken them some time to review them all to ensure they’re in compliance with all of the CBA rules.  Once in a while, deals are rejected because an element doesn’t meet the criteria and CapFriendly reports (Twitter link) that this is the case with the Kraken’s deal for goaltender Philipp Grubauer.  CapFriendly has the full details of the deal here.

Since more than half of the salary is paid out in the first three years of the contract ($18.5MM out of $35.4MM or 52.25%), it qualifies as a front-loaded contract which has some stricter rules than non-front-loaded deals and those rules changed when the new CBA was agreed on last year.

One of the rules for front-loaded contracts is that any salary variance from one year to the next cannot exceed 25% of the salary in the first year.  Grubauer’s salary in 2021-22 was set to be $5MM and 25% of that is $1.25MM.  Accordingly, any year-over-year variance cannot be greater than $1.25MM.  However, Grubauer’s original 2022-23 salary was $6MM and his 2023-24 salary was $7.5MM, a difference of $1.5MM.  This is what caused the contract to be rejected.

This shouldn’t be any cause for concern for the Kraken.  They just have to fiddle with the salary numbers to come up with a new agreement.  Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times reports (Twitter link) that a revised contract has already been filed that moves $250K in salary from 2023-24 to 2022-23, keeping the cap hit the same.  Technically, Grubauer is now a free agent once again but that shouldn’t last long once that revised contract is approved by the league.

NHL Opens Investigation Into Evander Kane Gambling Allegations

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Aug 1: Emily Kaplan of ESPN reports that league officials will meet tomorrow to determine who will conduct the Kane investigation. The league, according to Kaplan, expects it to be completed before training camp in September.

July 31: Earlier today, allegations were made on social media by Evander Kane’s wife Anna Kane that suggested the San Jose Sharks forward had placed wagers on NHL games he took part in. The claims have not been proven to be true, but the league has opened an investigation into the matter. A statement from the league reads:

The League was made aware this evening of a post on social media alleging that San Jose Sharks Player Evander Kane bet on NHL games. The integrity of our game is paramount and the League takes these allegations very seriously. We intend to conduct a full investigation and will have no further comment at this time.

The Sharks have also released a statement:

The San Jose Sharks have been in contact today with the NHL about the serious allegations made against Evander Kane.  We support a full and transparent investigation into the situation to maintain the integrity of the game and consistency with our team values.

No evidence has been publicly provided to support the allegation. Kane released a statement denying the allegation:

Unfortunately I would like to address the completely false accusations that my estranged wife and soon to be ex-wife has made against me. Even against the advice of my legal team I feel stronly that the public and fans hear this directly from me. I have never gambled/be on hokey, never gambled/bet on a Sharks game, never gambled/bet on any of my games and never thrown a hockey game. The facts are I personally had my best season of my career last year and was the most consistent I’ve been throughout any season, I’m proud of that. I love the game of hoceky and would never do any of what was alleged. I look forward to cooperating fully with the league’s investigation, having my name cleared and looking forward to this upcoming season. 

17 Players File For Salary Arbitration

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At 4pm CT today, the deadline for players to file for salary arbitration passed. Once it did, the NHLPA released the full list of 17 players who have filed. That list:

Nikita Zadorov (CGY)
Dennis Gilbert (COL)
Adam Erne (DET)
Jakub Vrana (DET)
Michael McNiven (MTL)
Juuse Saros (NSH)
Dante Fabbro (NSH)
Adam Pelech (NYI)
Victor Mete (OTT)
Zach Aston-Reese (PIT)
Adin Hill (SJS)
Vince Dunn (SEA)
Zach Sanford (STL)
Ross Colton (TBL)
Jason Dickinson (VAN)
Andrew Copp (WPG)
Neal Pionk (WPG)

Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet notes that the Boston Bruins also filed for team-elected arbitration with Brandon Carlo in the first window, but the two sides reached a six-year extension on last month. Other restricted free agents that are arbitration-eligible but did not file can still be taken to arbitration by their clubs. The second deadline for club-elected arbitration filing is August 2 at 4pm CT. Salary arbitration hearings will be held between August 11-26, but the two sides can continue to negotiate a contract up until the time of their hearing.

It is important to note that these players who have elected salary arbitration are no longer eligible to sign an offer sheet.

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