Oilers Notes: Larsson, Deadline, Klefbom, Russell
With the league trending towards more mobile defensemen and Edmonton needing to free up some salary this offseason, Adam Larsson seemed like a candidate to move on. The pending UFA has a $4.166MM, money that could be re-allocated to fill another area. However, Postmedia’s David Staples argues that the 28-year-old has played his way into earning another contract with the Oilers.
Of course, the question will be what price point works for both sides. Despite Larsson’s defensive efficiency, it’s hard to commit that type of money to a stay-at-home player. Something closer to $3MM would be more palatable from Edmonton’s side and would better reflect the current state of the market although if faced with the prospect of a pay cut, Larsson could justifiably want to see what his other options would be at that time. Staples posits that this isn’t a situation where re-signing Larsson could significantly alter their expansion planning either with young blueliners Caleb Jones and William Lagesson standing out as probable targets for Seattle.
More from Edmonton:
- There are teams that will be looking for improved depth at the deadline but GM Ken Holland told reporters, including Sportsnet’s Mark Spector, that it’s not a route they’ll be taking. Instead, he’s setting his sights on an impact acquisition but conceded they’re in a spot where they will need to match money to make it happen. They have just over $2.7MM in full-season LTIR room, per CapFriendly, but that amount includes Zack Kassian ($3.2MM) who is expected to be back at some point.
- Also via Spector’s column, defenseman Oscar Klefbom is set to undergo surgery in the next seven to ten days. He’s dealing with recurring shoulder issues and was ruled out for the entire season before the 2020-21 campaign got underway. This procedure would seemingly put an end to any thoughts of him returning for the playoffs should they get there.
- Defenseman Kris Russell will not play tonight versus Ottawa and is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury, relays 630 CHED’s Reid Wilkins (Twitter link). The veteran has had a more limited role this season, suiting up in just 19 games so far, recording six assists along with nearly two blocks per game while playing 18:03 per contest.
Flyers Believed To Have Some Interest In Alex Goligoski
With the trade deadline now a month away, teams are starting to set their list of potential targets. For the Flyers, that list is believed to include Coyotes defenseman Alex Goligoski, reports Pierre LeBrun in his latest piece for The Athletic (subscription link).
That Philadelphia is looking to add help on the back end should come as no surprise. Matt Niskanen’s retirement came as a surprise last offseason and the team never really properly replaced that role. They added Erik Gustafsson but he is more of an offensive-minded blueliner with a much different skill set than what Niskanen brought to the table.
Goligoski isn’t quite the same type of player as Niskanen either but he’d be able to replace some elements, particularly on the penalty kill front. The 35-year-old is logging 3:25 per night on Arizona’s back end when shorthanded, second-most on the team. Considering that the Flyers have a success rate of 73.7% (25th in the league), adding someone that could conceivably jump onto their top penalty kill unit would be a nice addition.
However, Goligoski also isn’t someone who provides much in the way of offense like he used to. He has averaged 35 points over the last seven seasons but this year, he has just two assists in 26 games despite still logging over 22 minutes a night. He also carries a $5.475MM cap charge, something that the Flyers wouldn’t be able to afford right now without either sending money the other way or Arizona retaining some salary.
Those two factors will likely keep Goligoski’s trade value a little lower, presenting a situation where GM Chuck Fletcher could conceivably keep this on the back burner for the time being and turn back to it if more desirable options don’t pan out. But at the very least, something like this – a small upgrade on a back end that’s in need of improvement at a reasonable acquisition cost – is something that Philadelphia would be wise do to over the next month.
Snapshots: Rakell, Schedule, BCHL
The Athletic has updated their Trade Deadline Big Board, adding several Anaheim Ducks players including Rickard Rakell, who is reportedly generating plenty of interest from around the league. The 27-year-old winger would be a good fit for many teams, but Pierre LeBrun pointed out how well he would seem to work as a candidate for the Toronto Maple Leafs (participants in our weekly chats may have heard that idea before).
LeBrun included a potential price tag in his speculative deal, indicating that first-round pick Rodion Amirov wouldn’t be enough to net Rakell on his own. Maple Leafs fans might balk immediately at that given how hyped Amirov has been since the fall entry draft, but Rakell isn’t going to come cheap, wherever he ends up. The winger will have a chance to improve his value further when the Ducks take on the San Jose Sharks later tonight.
- The NHL has announced a few schedule changes, including moving a postponed game between the Vegas Golden Knights and Sharks from February 25 to April 23. Another Vegas game originally penciled in for that date against the Ducks will now be held the following evening, April 24. Schedule changes have come fast and furious this season as the league desperately tries to squeeze in 56 games for all 31 teams.
- The BCHL has approved a shortened 2020-21 season and will start its schedule in the first week of April. The league, which is one of the top options for Canadian prospects that wish to pursue an NCAA opportunity, will operate in a “pod” model where three to four teams will play each other in five different locations across British Columbia. There have been countless players from the BCHL reach the NHL, but the current alumni group includes names like Josh Manson, Duncan Keith, Jamie Benn, Tyler Bozak, and Alexander Kerfoot. Getting back on the ice will only help the next wave of prospects develop their game and expose them to new hockey opportunities.
COVID Protocol Related Absences: 03/12/21
Each day, the NHL will publicly release the list of players that are unavailable to their respective teams due to being in COVID-19 Protocol. Though the league is still waiting on one report, here is the list for today:
Edmonton – Kyle Turris
Los Angeles – Olli Maatta*
Minnesota – TBA
New Jersey – Will Butcher
San Jose – Marcus Sorensen
As a reminder, inclusion on this list does not mean that a player has tested positive for Coronavirus or even that they have been confirmed as a close contact to another positive person. Included in the NHL’s list of possible reasons for someone being on the list is are the following:
(1) an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (2) mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (3) required quarantine as a high-risk close contact in accordance with the Positive Test Protocol; (4) isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or; (5) quarantine for travel or other reasons as outlined in the COVID-19 Protocol
Players removed today: Cal Petersen, Los Angeles Kings; Marc-Andre Fleury, Vegas Golden Knights
The Golden Knights have confirmed that Fleury’s presence on the list yesterday was because of a false positive. He can now rejoin the team, though it is unclear if he will be in the net for the team tonight against the Blues.
Petersen also comes off, though he will be replaced on the Kings list by Maatta, who is now out tonight. The defenseman has been quickly placed to the non-roster list.
*denotes new addition
Poll: Who Is The Top Rental This Season?
The trade deadline is coming quickly, with just a month left before teams are locked for their postseason run. Clubs like the Nashville Predators, Buffalo Sabres, and Detroit Red Wings seem to already have for sale signs up outside the front office, with speculation pouring out all over the hockey world. Like every year, there is a group of players on expiring contracts that will be front and center in the next few weeks, as contenders can acquire them without committing to anything past this season.
Last season Taylor Hall was one of those rentals. The 2018 Hart Trophy winner was on a struggling New Jersey Devils team and seemed destined to hit the free agent market regardless of where he ended up. The Arizona Coyotes, with their eyes set on the postseason, decided to strike well before the deadline and shipped out a big package for Hall in mid-December. The hope was that with the added time they would be able to convince him to stay, but stay he did not. Instead, Hall is now on the rental shelf again after signing a one-year deal with the Buffalo Sabres.
But this year if he is sold, it won’t be for nearly as much as the Coyotes paid. Not only has Hall struggled to provide any offense for the Sabres this season—he has just two goals, one at even-strength—but he also carries a higher cap hit ($8MM to last year’s $6MM) and has a full no-movement clause, meaning he has to be involved in whatever trade is presented. All of that will limit Buffalo’s market, meaning Hall may not be the easy choice as this year’s top rental.
In fact, the Sabres might even have a more attractive option further down the lineup. Eric Staal comes with a championship pedigree and, perhaps more importantly, a cap hit of just $3.25MM. He can play center or the wing and has provided nearly as much offense as Hall (in fact, Staal has three goals this season). Already, one of his former teams has discussed a reunion.
But the names found in Buffalo aren’t the only rentals that will be drawing interest.
In Detroit, Bobby Ryan has scored six goals and 13 points in 27 games and comes with just a $1MM cap hit. One of the most well-liked teammates in the league, Ryan went to Detroit to try and rebuild his career after some trying years in Ottawa. He could likely be had for nothing more than a mid-round pick if the fit is right. Another Staal, this time Marc, is also a potential rental in Detroit, though his $5.7MM cap hit would have to be sorted out for any real contender. The veteran defenseman could provide some depth on the back end for one playoff run, without a commitment that extends down the line.
Mikael Granlund is the name that many come back to, though he’s not alone in Nashville. Erik Haula is another rental that could be easily flipped, given his versatility and relatively low cap hit. The Devils have more rentals again this year, with names like Sami Vatanen and Kyle Palmieri both leading the way. The latter is a candidate to be retained in New Jersey, but if he were to be put on the market, likely more than a handful of teams would show interest.
So who is the best rental? We’ve included some of the top names on the teams already out of the playoff race, but be sure to give your thoughts in the comments if you think it will be someone else!
[Mobile users click here to vote]
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Toronto Maple Leafs Trade Mikko Lehtonen
The Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t have much playing time for top KHL free agent signing Mikko Lehtonen, so he’ll get a chance elsewhere. The Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired Lehtonen in exchange for goaltender Veini Vehvilainen.
The Maple Leafs had been looking for more goaltending depth all season after losing Aaron Dell on waivers and experiencing injuries to both Frederik Andersen and Jack Campbell. Vehvilainen will represent that depth, but certainly is no lock to provide quality NHL production. The 24-year-old was a sixth-round pick by the Blue Jackets in 2018 and posted a .901 save percentage in 33 appearances with the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL last season. This year, he has just two games on North American ice and has allowed four goals on 24 shots.
Still, for Toronto, getting a goaltender that is waiver-exempt was key, given how they potentially could lose Michael Hutchinson if they try to sneak him through again. If Vehvilainen can find the level of play that earned him Goaltender of the Year honors in Finland, it would be quite the addition to Toronto’s crease.
Lehtonen is the more high-profile name in the deal though, despite only having nine games of NHL experience. The 27-year-old was the best defenseman in the KHL during the 2019-20 season, scoring 17 goals and 49 points in 60 games. That led to a race between many teams for his services as a free agent, a race that Toronto won when he signed a one-year entry-level deal in May.
Unfortunately, thanks to some other free agent additions in Toronto, including T.J. Brodie and Zach Bogosian, Lehtonen’s playing time has been sporadic. In nine games with the Maple Leafs, he does have three points, but he has averaged fewer than 12 minutes in those appearances. He’ll likely get a much bigger role in Columbus where he can help their powerplay and hopefully drive some offense.
Importantly, Lehtonen’s entry-level deal did include a European Assignment Clause, one that could have been activated when the Maple Leafs sent him to the minor leagues yesterday. If it covered this far into the season, the Finnish defenseman could have potentially forced an assignment back overseas instead of playing with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. If that’s the case, the Maple Leafs at least turned him into a goaltending asset, even though Vehvilainen is something of a question mark himself.
Lehtonen will now need to obtain a work visa and clear COVID protocols before he can join the Blue Jackets, but they are already familiar with him. Chris Johnston of Sportsnet reports that Columbus was one of the teams that pursued the free agent defenseman last year. A strong skater who can walk the offensive blue line and routinely get pucks on net through traffic, he could become an option to run the second powerplay. There’s no guarantee of that, but even in his short stint with the Maple Leafs, it looked like Lehtonen had enough to play at the NHL level if deployed in the right manner.
AHL Players Currently Unavailable To Buffalo Sabres
Yesterday, the AHL announced that due to COVID-19 protocols affecting the Rochester Americans, their game today against the Cleveland Monsters would be rescheduled for a month from now. Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News reports that the Americans have one confirmed case of COVID-19 and there is fear that there could be more. John Vogl of The Athletic meanwhile reports that while the team is in the protocol, the AHL players are currently unavailable to the Buffalo Sabres, Rochester’s NHL affiliate.
That puts a lot of pressure on the group at the NHL level, especially when dealing with injuries. Jack Eichel has left the Sabres for a second opinion on his neck injury and now Dylan Cozens is being evaluated for the injury he sustained last night. Riley Sheahan was back between Taylor Hall and Sam Reinhart on the Buffalo top line. Rasmus Ristolainen was also absent, though that is believed to be a maintenance day after he logged more than 23 minutes in each of the Sabres last two games.
Situations like this are part of the reason why a taxi squad was created this season, but it’s not like the Sabres are overflowing with NHL options. Their taxi squad already included only three skaters and one of them–C.J. Smith–was rotating in at practice. Buffalo lost again last night and will play tomorrow against the Pittsburgh Penguins. If they don’t win, it would be a 10-game losing skid.
Taxi Squad Shuffle: 03/12/21
There has been plenty of roster movement between NHL teams and the taxi squad on a daily basis this season. Although some major names may be highlighted in separate articles, this is where you’ll find the majority of that shuffle news each day:
West Division
- The Minnesota Wild have reassigned Gerald Mayhew to the AHL and Joseph Cramarossa to the taxi squad, ahead of their game this evening against the Predators. Mayhew, 28, has been a dynamic minor league scorer but has just three points in 17 career NHL games.
- After announcing that Calvin Petersen is off the COVID Protocol list and Olli Maatta is on it, the Los Angeles Kings made several other transactions. Troy Grosenick, Lias Andersson, Tobias Bjornfot, and Daniel Brickley have all been recalled from the taxi squad. Matthew Villalta has been moved to the taxi squad, and Jonathan Quick has been moved to injured reserve.
- The Anaheim Ducks have recalled Andy Welinski, per the AHL’s transactions log. The 27-year-old played in two games on his brief minor league assignment after spending most of the season so far on Anaheim’s taxi squad.
- The Vegas Golden Knights have recalled Dylan Coghlan from the taxi squad, per CapFriendly. The move was certainly expected after the rookie defenseman scored the first three goals of his career on Wednesday against Minnesota.
- The Colorado Avalanche have brought up Logan O’Connor and Greg Pateryn from the taxi squad, per CapFriendly. O’Connor has frequently been shuffled back and forth while Pateryn has played in two straight games as the Avs have been hit hard on the injury front when it comes to their defense.
- The San Jose Sharks have recalled Fredrik Claesson, Fredrik Handemark, Antti Suomela, and John Leonard from the taxi squad, per CapFriendly. To maintain the minimum taxi squad size, Joel Kellman and Nick DeSimone were sent to the taxi squad.
- The St. Louis Blues recalled Dakota Joshua and Steven Santini from the taxi squad in advance of their game against Vegas, per CapFriendly. Joshua has played in five games with the Blues this season while Santini has yet to play.
North Division
- Last night, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced several transactions before their game against the Jets. Interestingly, Nicholas Robertson‘s recall was not included. Robertson has joined the Maple Leafs taxi squad once again, perhaps a sign he could get back in the NHL lineup soon. After getting hurt just a few minutes into his first NHL game this season, Robertson has since returned and recorded nine points in 10 AHL games. Joseph Woll was also re-assigned to the minors while Kenny Agostino was dropped to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.
- The Calgary Flames have recalled Dominik Simon from the taxi squad while sending Derek Ryan and Zac Rinaldo to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly. The exact opposite moves were made in advance of Thursday’s game against Montreal and could all be reversed tomorrow for the rematch as well.
- The Montreal Canadiens have assigned Nick Suzuki to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly. The move is simply for cap-saving purposes and the 21-year-old will be recalled on Saturday. Paul Byron, who had been shuffling back and forth in recent weeks, is now waiver-eligible again and will need to clear before going back to the taxi squad.
- The Ottawa Senators have recalled Clark Bishop from the taxi squad. Bishop, who was acquired back in January just before the season started, will make his Ottawa debut tonight.
- The Winnipeg Jets have sent Logan Stanley to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly. He played just over 11 minutes against Toronto on Thursday and will likely be recalled for Saturday’s contest, also against the Maple Leafs.
Central Division
- The Dallas Stars have recalled Jerad Rosburg from the AHL, sending Taylor Fedun down in his place. Rosburg joins the Stars taxi squad for the first time (in fact, it is the first recall of his career) after signing out of Michigan State last spring. The 24-year-old defenseman has one point in ten games as a rookie for the Texas Stars this season.
- The Detroit Red Wings have sent Evgeny Svechnikov back to the AHL after scoring four points in four games this season in the NHL. The 24-year-old first-rounder has barely received a sniff at the highest level, appearing in just 24 games for the Red Wings since they picked him 19th overall in 2015. Mathias Brome was also sent back to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.
- The Nashville Predators have moved Michael McCarron, Alexandre Carrier, and Ben Harpur back to the taxi squad, now that it is an off day. The Predators were pummeled again by the Hurricanes last night, giving up three goals in the first 12 minutes of the game.
- With the Carolina Hurricanes not in action tonight, they’ve assigned Alex Nedeljkovic, Jake Bean, and Morgan Geekie back to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly. The three have frequently been shuffled back and forth over the past several weeks.
- The Tampa Bay Lightning assigned Ross Colton to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly while Alex Barre-Boulet returned to the minors. Colton has a goal in three games so far this season while Barre-Boulet is pointless in his first two career NHL contests.
East Division
- The Boston Bruins sent both Greg McKegg and Anton Blidh to the AHL today in order to get them into a game for the Providence Bruins. The P-Bruins take on Hartford this afternoon and since McKegg has played just a single game at any level this season, he’ll be in the lineup to stay fresh. Jack Studnicka, Urho Vaakanainen, and Daniel Vladar were all assigned to the taxi squad while Callum Booth joined McKegg and Blidh in getting sent to Providence, per CapFriendly.
- Once again, the Pittsburgh Penguins have sent Josh Currie to the AHL. The 28-year-old forward has been bouncing up and down all season, getting to just five total games between the two levels. Colton Sceviour and Anthony Angello were also sent to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly.
- The Philadelphia Flyers have sent Andy Andreoff back to the taxi squad while assigning Wade Allison to the AHL. Andreoff has played in four games with Philadelphia this season while Allison was just activated off season-opening injured reserve.
- The New York Islanders have moved Austin Czarnik to the taxi squad, per CapFriendly. The winger has played in just two NHL games so far this season.
- The New York Rangers continued their trend of daily roster movement. Per CapFriendly, Kaapo Kaako, K’Andre Miller, and Keith Kinkaid were sent to the taxi squad with Austin Rueschhoff being sent to the AHL to accommodate those three assignments.
This page will be updated throughout the day
Trade Deadline Primer: Chicago Blackhawks
Although we’re just two months into the season, the trade deadline is just over a month away. Where does each team stand and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Chicago Blackhawks.
No one expected anything for the Blackhawks this season. They were going into the year with an unproven goaltending tandem and their two most dynamic centers have been unavailable the whole year. But with an outstanding rookie in net and a Hart Trophy-level performance from Patrick Kane, they’re right in the thick of the playoff race in the Central Division.
Record
13-9-5, 4th in Central Division
Deadline Status
Opportunistic buyer
Deadline Cap Space
No base cap room, $22.09MM in full-season space using LTIR, 2/3 retention slots used, 48/50 contracts used per CapFriendly.
(The LTIR room that Chicago is using this season includes Jonathan Toews‘ $10.5MM cap hit. If Toews is going to come back this season, it would drastically reduce the amount of cap they have to work with at the deadline.)
Upcoming Draft Picks
2021: CHI 1st, CHI 2nd, CHI 4th, CHI 5th, CHI 6th, CHI 7th
2022: CHI 1st, CHi 2nd, CHI 3rd, CHI 4th, CHI 5th, CHI 6th, CHI 7th
Trade Chips
If the Blackhawks lose any ground in the next couple of weeks, their feel-good start won’t matter much in the eyes of GM Stan Bowman. The team was starting a mini rebuild and that shouldn’t be abandoned because of a strong two dozen games. Still, what the team has done this season without Toews or top prospect Kirby Dach is encouraging and will make them have to consider any names that hit the market with some term attached.
One Chicago player that has been in the rumor mill is Dylan Strome, who has just one more year on his contract before restricted free agency. When Toews and Dach are healthy, Strome isn’t a great fit for the third line and he has been passed over by lesser-known names this season. With just eight points in 19 games and a recent concussion on his medical chart, Strome certainly wouldn’t be at peak value. Still, if there is a deal to be had, he is a piece they could part with.
Carl Soderberg also sticks out as a player that has been a nice surprise this year but won’t be involved the next time Chicago is really contending. The 35-year-old forward has 11 points in 22 appearances and could be a nice depth addition for a relatively low cost. Soderberg carries just a $1MM cap hit and is an easy sell if someone like Dach (who has resumed skating recently) comes back into the lineup.
Mattias Janmark could basically have the same thing written about him, though the 28-year-old has been good enough to perhaps deserve another go-round with Chicago next year. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent this summer and carries a $2.25MM cap hit but has nine goals and 15 points in 27 games.
Others to Watch For: D Calvin de Haan ($4.55MM UFA 2022)
Team Needs
1) Depth on the wing – It doesn’t seem like it even needs to be a prospect that the Blackhawks would have to target this year, given the little boost they have had in performance. Adding a reclamation project or middle-six option with some team control could be a useful piece for the end of this season and next—as long as it comes cheap (both in salary and assets).
2) NHL-ready prospects – With Kane still providing MVP-level play, there’s no way Chicago will strip it down to the bolts. A draft pick is nice, but a player ready to make an impact next season would be even nicer. If they do something like move Strome, it won’t likely be for just picks.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Ben Chiarot Returning To Montreal For Evaluation
8:00pm: The Canadiens confirmed that Chiarot broke his right hand and will be re-evaluated in the next few days. Because he left (and flew commercial), Chiarot will face at least a seven-day quarantine to return to the Canadiens, but appears to be out much longer than that.
12:30pm: The Montreal Canadiens may have already been looking for some help on defense, but now that need is a little more urgent. The team has announced Ben Chiarot has returned to Montreal for further evaluation on the hand injury he suffered last night. Chiarot left the game against the Vancouver Canadiens after his fight against J.T. Miller and Marc-Andre Perreault of TVA Sports spotted him at the airport with a cast on his hand.
Chiarot, 29, has turned into quite an important figure on the Montreal blueline, averaging over 22 minutes a night before leaving yesterday’s game early. That number trails only Shea Weber and Jeff Petry by less than a minute, showing just how much trust the coaching staff has had in him this season, even through change.
It’s not that the Canadiens don’t have other options, especially if you ask someone like agent Darren Ferris. He made waves earlier this season when client Victor Mete couldn’t get in the lineup, hoping for a fresh start or a chance. Well, that opportunity has certainly presented itself if Chiarot is out for any substantial length of time. Mete has played in just five games and averaged fewer than 15 minutes in those, but was a regular as recently as last season.
Still, if the Canadiens have their eyes set on the postseason, perhaps a deadline addition is in order. The Fourth Period recently reported that Montreal is one of several teams interested in Nashville Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm, though it would take some salary cap gymnastics to fit him in at his full cap hit. Ekholm will be on the radar of any number of contenders because of his experience and relatively low $3.75MM hit, especially as he comes with another year of control in 2021-22.
Of course, if the Canadiens do decide to add before the deadline, they have the draft picks to do so without touching their NHL roster. Montreal currently holds 14 picks in the 2021 draft, including six in the first three rounds. Perhaps a Chiarot injury would push them in that direction as they currently sit in a playoff spot in the North Division.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images