Pacific Notes: Lucic, Valamaki, Steel
After a disappointing season a year ago, Edmonton Oilers’ fans have taken their anger on high-priced winger Milan Lucic. After all, the 6-foot-3, 234-pound bruising winger was signed not only to protect their elite players like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but also to produce goals on the wing. That’s why the team signed him to a seven-year, $42MM deal back in 2016.
While Lucic showed the deal was a promising one after the first season when he tallied 23 goals and 50 points, he made the contract look like a disaster after last season when he managed just 10 goals and 34 points. Suddenly with five years remaining at $6MM AAV, and Lucic looking slower than he ever has, rumors have been flying about how Edmonton must get out of the deal which is suddenly weighing down the Oilers team and salary cap.
However, David Staples of the Edmonton Journal confirms rumors that Edmonton Oilers have no intention of moving him this offseason. The key problem is that no trade would be likely as few teams would be willing to take on that contract and if they did, it might cost Edmonton even more to dump it. However, Staples adds that what the Oilers need to do is have him settle into a lesser role with lesser expectations and allow him to produce a 35 to 40-point season and along with his defensive abilities as well as his physicality, teams will eventually call on him.
- With the Calgary Flames having their development camp this weekend, Darren Haynes of the Canadian Press reports that the standout prospect so far has been 2017 first-round pick Jusso Valimaki. The 16th overall pick has been a force around the other prospects and Haynes speculates the 6-foot-2, 204-pound defenseman might make things interesting in September for the Flames. Valamaki posted 14 goals and 45 points in 44 games last year for Tri-City of the WHL, but showed his mettle in the playoffs when he put up four goals and 17 points in just 12 games.
- Eric Stephens of The Athletic (subscription required) writes a profile on the Anaheim Ducks prospect Sam Steel, who has a legitimate chance to crack the Ducks’ opening day lineup this year, especially with recent question marks surrounding the availability of veteran Ryan Kesler. Steel, who won the WHL Player of the Year award after the 2016-17 season when he scored 50 goals and 131 points, failed to duplicate his success last year when he returned to the Regina Pats last season. Regardless, the 20-year-old has been focusing this summer on getting more explosion on his first step. Steel, whose junior career is now over, will either be with the San Diego Gulls of the AHL or he will be a rookie in the NHL.
Arizona Coyotes Re-Sign Dakota Mermis
There won’t be any salary arbitration drama with the Arizona Coyotes this summer, as the team has locked up their one arbitration-eligible player. The team announced that they have signed defenseman Dakota Mermis to a one-year, two-way contract. Salary terms have not yet been disclosed.
A two-way contract for Mermis is a nice achievement for GM John Chayka. Not only has Chayka himself spoken highly of the young defender, but Arizona Sports’ Craig Morgan recently called Mermis a legitimate candidate for the No. 7 spare defenseman role for the ‘Yotes. An undrafted free agent out of the OHL’s London Knights, Mermis has boosted his stock through his first three pro seasons and seems poised for an NHL career.
Mermis, 24, played in nine games with Arizona last season. He was held scoreless in limited minutes, but did make his mark defensively. After a 19-point campaign with the AHL’s Tuscon Roadrunners that was followed up by an impressive postseason performance, Mermis is likely to push for playtime with the Coyotes next season. However, the two-way nature of his contract will allow Arizona to stash him in the minors if need be.
Predators Sign Zach Magwood To Entry-Level Contract
A development camp effort has turned into a first pro contract for one young forward. The Nashville Predators announced today that they have signed center Zach Magwood to a three-year entry-level contract. Magwood participated in Nashville’s development camp last week and impressed with a hat trick in the culminating “Future Stars Game” on Friday.
Magwood, 20, is an undrafted forward out of the OHL’s Barrie Colts. At 5’10”, the right-shooting centerman is on the smaller side, but didn’t let that stop him from improving each year in junior. In 2017-18, Magwood set career highs with 65 games played, 27 goals, 32 assists, 59 points, and a +27 rating. He was the Colts’ fourth-leading scorer and helped the team claim a division title. He then contributed ten points and a team-best +3 rating in twelve postseason games.
Magwood may have some NHL potential down the road, but is likely to develop further in the AHL for a few years. Not only could Magwood afford to grow his game, but he could also stand to grow up physically, filling out his frame to make up for his smaller stature. With Ryan Johansen, Kyle Turris, Nick Bonino, Calle Jarnkrok, and Colton Sissons all natural centers ahead of him on the organizational depth chart, Magwood will be given more than enough time to do just that before any real chance at a regular NHL role.
Vancouver Canucks Extend Darren Archibald
A fan-favorite enforcer is staying in Vancouver. The Canucks announced this evening that they have re-signed forward Darren Archibald to a one-year, two-way contract extension. The Province’s Ben Kuzma reports that the deal is worth the minimum $650K at the NHL level.
Archibald made headlines this past season when the Canucks rewarded his hard work and leadership at the AHL level by giving him an NHL contract and promoting him to Vancouver. Archibald had previously played in the NHL for the Canucks in 2013-14, but was midway through his third season on a minor league deal with the organization when he was called up last year.
The 28-year-old winger is 6’3″ and 209 lbs. and know first and foremost for his physical style and checking game, but he also recorded a career-high 47 points in 76 games with the AHL’s Utica Comets in 2016-17 and managed to post nine points in 27 games down the stretch for Vancouver last season. While the team appreciates his work ethic, experience, and defensive presence on the ice, he is also capable of modest offense as well. Vancouver GM Jim Benning called Archibald “a big, physical forward who has been a good professional throughout his career” with a “terrific work ethic that our younger players can follow” in the team’s press release.
Vancouver continues to focus on adding hard-working, hard-nosed two-way forwards this season, as Archibald’s extension was preceded by a trio of free agency additions on July 1st that play a similar style: Jay Beagle, Antoine Roussel, and Tim Schaller.
Blues Re-Sign Robby Fabbri And Mackenzie MacEachern
The St. Louis Blues remain a busy team this off-season, today inking two restricted free agents to new contract extensions. The team announced a one-year, two-way deal with forward Mackenzie MacEachern and soon after announced a second contract, a one-year, one-way deal for forward Robby Fabbri. The financial terms for neither deal have been disclosed.
Fabbri is the more well-known of these two players, even though he has not played a game since February 2017. The small, speedy winger has been sidelined with multiple ACL injuries in his right knee and missed the entirety of the 2017-18 season. However, Fabbri impressed as a rookie in 2015-16 and was scoring at an even higher rate the following season prior to his initial injury. The Blues have high hopes that the 2014 first-round pick can return to form, but for now it is no surprise that they will play it safe with a one-year deal. Fabbri needs to re-establish his value in St. Louis and that starts with being able to fully participate in training camp this fall and earning his top-nine role back.
MacEachern will also be looking to make an impression on the Blues front office at camp in September, as the 2012 third-rounder still has yet to make his NHL debut through two pro seasons. However, MacEachern faces an uphill battle, as the big forward recorded only ten points with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves last season. MacEachern showed more offensive upside while playing at the University of Michigan, but has yet to find his game at the minors.
After signing two of their restricted free agents today, the Blues now have five qualified RFA’s remaining to sign this off-season, including regulars from last season like winger Dmitrij Jaskin and defenseman Joel Edmundson.
Los Angeles Kings Sign Sean Walker
The Los Angeles Kings have signed Sean Walker to a two-year entry-level contract. Walker played last season for the Ontario Reign on an AHL contract.
Hudson Elynuik Signs AHL Contract With Toronto Marlies
Just over a month ago teams around the NHL lost the exclusive negotiating rights to nearly three dozen draft picks. Some of those players like Adam Mascherin, re-entered the draft and were selected by another team. Others were free to sign professional contracts with whoever they chose. One of the most interesting names on that list was Carolina Hurricanes draft pick Hudson Elynuik, who has now signed an AHL contract with the Toronto Marlies to begin his professional career. The Marlies also signed Emerson Clark, Ryan Moore, Zach O’Brien, Sam Jardine, Stefan LeBlanc and Giorgio Estephan—a draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres that saw his rights expire last year.
Elynuik though is the most exciting name of the bunch. The 6’5″ center was selected 74th overall in 2016, and put up consecutive seasons in the WHL averaging more than a point per game. This year saw him record 86 points in 71 games for the Spokane Chiefs, adding another seven points in seven playoff matches. Son of Pat Elynuik, a former NHL player and eighth-overall pick in 1986, Hudson carries an extremely heavy shot and doesn’t lumber along on his skates as poorly as some other players of his size.
It seems as though Kyle Dubas has added a prospect to the pipeline for free, but it’s important to note that signing an AHL deal with the Marlies does not technically add him to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Since he has still not signed an entry-level contract, his rights are still not owned by the Maple Leafs and he could easily sign with another team when his AHL deal expires. That said, it does give Toronto the inside edge on bringing him in if he can show that there is still real NHL potential in that large frame.
Nashville Predators Sign Colin Blackwell
The Nashville Predators have added even more minor league depth, signing Colin Blackwell to a two-year, two-way contract that carries a $675K cap hit in the NHL. Blackwell had been playing for the Rochester Americans on an AHL contract, but certainly did enough to deserve an NHL deal this summer.
Blackwell, 25, was originally a seventh-round pick of the San Jose Sharks in 2011 but decided to finish his degree at Harvard and spent all four years low on the depth chart at the ivy league school. After finishing his collegiate career, he played a season for the San Jose Barracuda but really broke out last year for Rochester. In 61 games he registered 45 points and was arguably their most consistent forward, and now will try to bring that newfound confidence to the Milwaukee Admirals.
Nashville has been adding plenty of talent for their minor league organization over the last few days, already signing Rocco Grimaldi, Connor Brickley and Jarred Tinordi to two-way contracts. Blackwell will just add to that depth and try to get the Admirals back on top in the AHL.
Avalanche Sign Scott Kosmachuk, Sheldon Dries; Re-Sign Joe Cannata
The Colorado Avalanche added depth to their team today signing two players when they inked Scott Kosmachuk and Sheldon Dries, according to Denver Post’s Mike Chambers. No terms were announced for the two signings. The scribe also added that the team re-signed goaltender Joe Cannata, who signed a one-year, two-way, $665K deal (via CapFriendly).
Kosmachuk comes over from the New York Rangers organization where he played exclusively for the Hartford Wolfpack of the AHL. The 24-year-old winger posted solid numbers there with 15 goals and 42 points. A Winnipeg Jets’ third-rounder in 2012, he has spent most of his career in the AHL, although he did get into nine games for the Jets back in 2015-16.
Dries may have the most upside as the 24-year-old had a solid rookie campaign last year with the AHL’s Texas Stars, on an AHL deal, after a four-year career at Western Michigan. The undrafted free agent scored 19 goals and 30 points, but even more importantly, posted 10 goals in 22 playoff games which took the team to the Calder Cup Finals. Dries’ new NHL deal is a one-year entry-level contract.
Cannata split time between the ECHL’s Colorado Eagles and the AHL San Antonio Rampage, but spent the majority of the season as the starting goaltender for Eagles, who won their second straight Kelly Cup title this year. The 28-year-old played 28 regular season games, posting a .931 save percentage and then followed that up with 22 playoff appearances in which he picked up 16 wins and a .913 save percentage. With the team’s ECHL affiliate now moving to Utah, the team wants to lock down their champion goaltender for another year.
Senators Add Forward Paul Carey On Two-Way Deal
Veteran forward Paul Carey is on to his next destination, but was forced to take a two-way deal to get there. Sportsnet reports that Carey has signed a one-year deal with the Ottawa Senators that pays him $700K at the NHL level and $300K at the AHL level. Carey skated in 60 games with the New York Rangers this season.
More to come…