Minor Transactions: 4/15/18
Four teams Saturday took 2-0 leads in the first-round series of the Stanley Cup playoffs first round. The Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Nashville Predators did their job at home and now will try to further advance their leads as they travel to Toronto, New Jersey and Colorado, respectively, to play on the road. The San Jose Sharks, however, completed a two-game sweep in Anaheim with a 3-2 victory over the Ducks and now go home to further take control of the series. In the meantime, several teams will keep making moves to keep their roster as stocked as possible.
- The Columbus Blue Jackets announced they have recalled goaltender Jeff Zatkoff as a third goalie option from the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL. The 30-year-old journeyman was acquired in January from the Los Angeles Kings and will serve as an extra goalie to help the team during practices between games. Zatkoff has played in 17 games for the Monsters, putting up a 3.22 GAA and a .855 save percentage. The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline reports that more Blue Jackets will be recalled in the next couple of days after exit interviews.
- The Minnesota Wild announced they have recalled four players from the Iowa Wild now that their AHL season has finished. The team promoted forwards Kurtis Gabriel, Justin Kloos, Kyle Rau and goaltender Niklas Svedberg. All will provide depth, most likely for practices in between games. Gabriel, a long-time member of the Iowa Wild, had three goals in 45 games. Kloos had 19 goals with Iowa, while Rau had 23 goals this season. Svedberg had a 2.87 GAA in 44 games this year.
- After being assigned to the San Antonio Rampage Saturday for their final regular season game, Colorado Avalanche goaltender Spencer Martin has been recalled once again to serve as a third goaltender, according to CapFriendly.
- The Washington Capitals have added a third goalie for their playoff run as the team recalled Pheonix Copley from the Hershey Bears of the AHL, according to CapFriendly. Likely to provide depth during practice in between games, Copley had a tough year with the Bears, finishing his AHL season with a 2.91 GAA and a .896 save percentage.
- The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled forward Matthew Peca from the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL, according to The Athletic’s Joe Smith. He was recalled as insurance in case the injury to veteran Ryan Callahan is more serious than the team thought. The 24-year-old has played in 10 games for the Lightning this season, putting up five points.
- The Nashville Predators announced that they have recalled netminder Anders Lindback from Milwaukee of the AHL. Their season came to an end on Saturday so he will serve as injury insurance for Pekka Rinne and Jusse Saros. Lindback tied for the AHL lead in victories with 31 while posting a 2.82 GAA and a .908 SV% in 56 appearances.
Edmonton Oilers Re-Sign Ty Rattie
It’s easy to forget that non-playoff teams are still hard at work behind the scenes, but the Edmonton Oilers have thrown their name into the postseason news cycle this evening. The team announced that they have re-signed forward Ty Rattie to a one-year contract extension worth $800K. Rattie was an impending unrestricted free agent, having signed a one-year deal with Edmonton last off-season.
Rattie must be relieved to have his contract situation wrapped up and to be returning to Edmonton next season. The 2016-17 experience was not an easy one for Rattie; the swift-skating right winger played in four games with the St. Louis Blues early in the season, was waived and claimed by the Carolina Hurricanes in January, was waived again a month later after just five games in Raleigh, and claimed back by the Blues who buried him in the AHL for the remainder of the season. Rattie was then not given a qualifying offer last summer, making him an unrestricted free agent. Rattie settled for a one-year, two-way deal with the Oilers, but made the most of it, scoring a career-high nine points in 14 games while also earning an AHL All-Star nod, finishing with 43 points in 53 games.
This extension will represent a substantial raise over his last deal with the Oilers. After an impressive campaign at both levels, the 25-year-old looks primed to fight for a full-time role in Edmonton next season. While he is likely happy to be back with the team that gave him the best chance to succeed thus far in his young pro career, Rattie – and the Oilers – must have known that he could have drawn some interest on the open market as well. Instead, there was clearly mutual interest in maintaining the status quo.
Viktor Tikhonov Not Returning To NHL
With an off-season upcoming in which it is expected that several high-profile KHL players, young and old, could be eyeing the NHL, former Phoenix Coyotes first-round pick Viktor Tikhonov will not be among them. Tikhonov’s KHL team, powerhouse SKA St. Petersburg, announced that they have resigned Tikhonov to a two-year contract extension (link in Russian). The next chance that the two-way forward will have to try his hand overseas yet again will be in 2020, when he will be on the wrong side of thirty.
Tikhonov, now 29, has been a reliable top-nine forward for SKA over the past two seasons since returning from his last stint in the KHL. With so many of his teammates linked to NHL teams, it is no surprise that St. Petersburg jumped at the opportunity to re-sign a player with three-zone ability. SKA’s leading scorer, Ilya Kovalchuk, is yet again flirting with an NHL comeback. Their next-best forward, Nikita Gusev, had his rights traded to the Vegas Golden Knights last year and has surely had conversations with the club as his time to make the jump is running out. Former Coyote and Pittsburgh Penguin Sergei Plotnikov is fresh off of a career year and could be eyeing a second chance overseas. Draft-eligible defenseman Danila Galenyuk is expected to go no later than the third round and could change his developmental path depending on where and to whom he is selected. Even the goaltenders are at risk; Mikko Koskinen is rumored to have a deal in place to return to the New York Islanders while young Igor Shestyorkin looks to be the heir apparent to Henrik Lundqvist for the New York Rangers and could begin the takeover process soon. So, while Tikhonov isn’t considered one the best players on SKA, it makes sense that the team would lock him up in short order as they did, with other high-end talent possibly on the way out.
However, Tikhonov being off the market also presumes that there would have been a market for him in North America this summer. Although Tikhonov came into the league with lofty expectations – the 28th overall pick in 2008 who jumped right into the Coyotes lineup, as well the grandson of a legendary Soviet coach – he cannot be described as anything but a bust in the NHL. The height of his career at the highest level came in his rookie season, when he put up 16 point in 61 games for then-Phoenix. Tikhonov finished the year and began the next in the AHL and soured on the North American experience, returning to Russia. He only made his return a few years ago, in 2015-16, and was completely ineffective, registering six points in 50 games between the Coyotes and Chicago Blackhawks. Even in the KHL, Tikhonov’s numbers have not skyrocketed like many of his compatriots returning home. Tikhonov is of course a highly-skilled and versatile player who was never at his best in the NHL, but it’s fair to be skeptical if anyone would have been interested in giving him a third try had he not re-signed. Now, with a multi-year extension in hand to stay in Russia, it is possible that we have seen the last of Tikhonov in the the world’s top hockey league.
Minor Transactions: 4/14/18
With the postseason in full swing, playoff action continues with four games today and another four tomorrow. Many teams will be tinkering with their roster, especially as injuries are incurred:
- The Colorado Avalanche have assigned goaltender Spencer Martin to the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL today, according to CapFriendly. The 22-year-old can now play in the minor league team’s final game of the regular season. Martin had been up with the Avalanche as the team’s third goaltender, but they wanted to get him a little extra playing time.
- CapFriendly reported that the San Jose Sharks have assigned third-string goaltender Antoine Bibeau to the San Jose Barracuda Saturday. Bibeau was sent down as the Barracuda are in a must-win situation to qualify for the last spot in the AHL playoffs. In 42 starts with the Barracuda, Bibeau has a 2.40 GAA and a .918 save percentage.
- CapFriendly also relayed yesterday that Korbinian Holzer had cleared waivers. Yet, the expected move has not been made by the Anaheim Ducks, as they appear content to keep him on the roster for the time being.
Dallas Stars Have Many Options To Replace Head Coach
It’s only been 24 hours since Dallas head coach Ken Hitchcock announced his retirement, but what coach might replace him has been a popular topic as multiple names have come up. While the job may not have the flashiness of the New York Rangers opening, the new head coach of the Dallas Stars will get an opportunity to work with top forwards Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn as well as the talent of top defenseman John Klingberg and goaltender Ben Bishop. In fact, one could make the case the Stars might be the best team not to make the playoffs (outside of the New York Islanders).
While the Stars only got a one year out of Hitchcock, SportsDay’s Mike Heika writes general manager Jim Nill believes he laid the groundwork for the team’s younger players to learn how to win in the NHL.
“I think Ken Hitchcock did some great things, and I don’t want that to go unknown,” Nill said. “There was a lot of growth here. I think what Ken Hitchcock has done in one year, the wealth of knowledge, how to play the game the right way … for our young kids to understand what it takes to win, I think that’s a big influence of Ken Hitchcock, and I think our next staff coming in is going to be rewarded because of the groundwork he did.”
Heika is quick to point out that a top candidate to replace the 66-year-old coach could be former New York Rangers’ coach Alain Vigneault. The 57-year-old coach, who was let go last week after a disappointing season in New York was a top candidate for the Stars’ job in 2013 when they hired Lindy Ruff. ESPN’s Emily Kaplan (in a three-person panel along with Greg Wyshynski and Chris Peters) suggests the Stars may not want to pay Vigneault’s high price tag.
However, one thing that stands out by comments made by Nill that he wants to “let the younger generation of coaches take over,” suggesting the team might look to avoid going after a veteran coach after going in that direction for their last two coaches. The Athletic’s Sean Shapiro (subscription required) writes that Nill’s comments Friday suggest the team will be looking for a coach that emphasizes speed.
“We’ll go through that,” Nill said. “Are they a good fit for our team? Do they play fast? What’s their style? That’s always the interesting part. A lot of times you think you know them but you don’t (until the interview).”
Wyshynski believes that AHL Toronto Marlies coach Sheldon Keefe might be an appropriate candidate, although the Rangers are supposedly already targeting the up-and-coming coach, while Kaplan suggests that AHL Manitoba Moose’s Pascal Vincent, the AHL Coach of the Year, might also be a good candidate. Peters also suggests the team make a splash for University of Denver’s coach Jim Montgomery as a perfect coach that can create a firm identity and culture, which the franchise has lacked recently. Shapiro suggests that AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins coach Todd Nelson might be a good candidate as he has a history with Nill in Grand Rapids.
Other mentioned candidates include Jack Capuano, Dave Cameron, Dave Tippett, Geoff Ward, Tim Hunter, Benoit Groulx, Swedish National Team coach Rickard Gronberg. Heika even throws the name of the Carolina Hurricane’s head coach Bill Peters as a dark-horse candidate, whose status remains up in the air. Internal options such as Curt Fraser and Stu Barnes as well as Texas Stars’ AHL coach Derek Laxdal.
Snapshots: Barrie, Varone, Kovalchuk
The NHL playoffs had quite the night on Thursday evening, with illegal checks being thrown in nearly every game. Tom Wilson and Josh Anderson have already gotten through unscathed, and Ryan Johansen will join them as players that didn’t receive disciplinary hearings. Johansen collided with Tyson Barrie, but will not receive any supplementary discipline as the league ruled it a “full body hit” according to Greg Wyshynski of ESPN.
Barrie and Colorado GM Joe Sakic are both upset about the decision, with Barrie going so far as to suggest to Adrian Dater of BSN Denver more players will take “runs” at opponents knowing they can get away with it. While it looks like Nazem Kadri will be given the second suspension of the postseason (the first being Drew Doughty for his hit on Vegas forward William Carrier), things threaten to get even more out of control in the coming games.
- Phil Varone has been named AHL MVP for the 2017-18 season, after scoring 70 points in 73 games for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (with a few games remaining). Varone, a seven year professional, has always been an excellent offensive player in the minor leagues, but has just 50 NHL games under his belt. Drafted in the fifth round by the San Jose Sharks, his longest big league stint came with the Buffalo Sabres in 2014-15, when he recorded five points in 28 games.
- Though it never did seem like a great fit, rumors persisted about the New York Rangers and Ilya Kovalchuk, with some even going so far to say a deal had already been agreed to. Kovalchuk himself denied that today when speaking to Russian media, saying he hasn’t had any connection with NHL teams so far. That would make sense, as he isn’t supposed to be talking to anyone until he becomes an unrestricted free agent on Sunday. Kovalchuk can’t sign with anyone until June 1st, and still lists team success as one of the driving forces. The Rangers, entering a period of rebuild and dedication to their young players, don’t seem like the perfect landing spot for a veteran looking to compete for the Stanley Cup in short order.
Jonathan Dahlen Reassigned To Utica Comets
After another outstanding season in Sweden, Vancouver Canucks prospect Jonathan Dahlen is on his way to the Utica Comets to help in their postseason run. Utica has three games remaining before the end of the regular season, but have already secured a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Dahlen, 20, was acquired last season from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Alexandre Burrows, and has done nothing but impress since. After scoring 44 points in 45 games last season for Timra in the Swedish second league, he matched that total in one fewer game this time around. That was good for second in the entire league, and his 14 playoff points led all Allsvenskan skaters.
Selected 42nd overall in 2016, Dahlen is a legitimate top-six forward prospect that could contribute to Vancouver’s offense sooner than later. His creativity with the puck and goal scoring ability makes him dangerous from anywhere in the offensive zone, and can find opportunities where others may not. Though somewhat undersized—unlike his father, long-time NHL player Ulf Dahlen who stood 6’2″—he gets quite a bit of power in his shot and can almost always find space to unload it.
The young forward might need a whole year (or more) in the AHL before really making an impact in Vancouver, but he’ll get a chance to turn some heads over the next few weeks. If he jumps right into the action with Utica—who have had trouble scoring goals at times this season, relying on Thatcher Demko to steal games for them—there is no reason to think he won’t be able to produce offense at good clip.
Snapshots: Appleton, Goaltenders, Turgeon
Mason Appleton has been named the AHL Rookie of the Year, joining teammate Sami Niku as a Winnipeg Jets prospect with an individual trophy. Appleton was also named to the All-Rookie and First All-Star Teams after a huge season with the Manitoba Moose. The sixth-round pick recorded 63 points in his first professional season, leading the Moose to one of the league’s best records.
Appleton is just another example of the fine draft and development work the Jets have accomplished over the last few years. Though there is no guarantee he will find success at the NHL level, getting any sixth round pick to perform this well in the AHL is an organizational accomplishment.
- The Washington Capitals have recalled Pheonix Copley to serve as their third goaltender for tonight’s game. Philipp Grubauer is set to start, and Copley will only be called upon if someone gets injured in warm-up. Similarly, the San Jose Sharks have recalled Antoine Bibeau for the same reason. Teams almost always carry a third goaltender in the playoffs, to avoid a Scott Foster situation where an amateur is forced into the net.
- Dominic Turgeon won’t be available for the Grand Rapids Griffins for some time, as the team announced that the Detroit Red Wings prospect has been diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome. It caused a blood clot in his arm, but after a procedure yesterday and another today he is expected to make a full recovery. Turgeon, the son of former player and Los Angeles Kings assistant coach Pierre Turgeon, made his NHL debut this season for the Red Wings.
Korbinian Holzer Placed On Waivers
According to CapFriendly, the Anaheim Ducks have placed defenseman Korbinian Holzer on waivers, a move that will likely be followed by an assignment to the AHL’s San Diego Gulls. Holzer is actually eligible for the AHL playoffs since he was in the minor leagues at the time of the NHL trade deadline.
Holzer was signed to a two-year extension last summer, but played just 16 games for the Ducks this season. Used to being the extra player stuck in the press box at this point, Holzer has just 135 NHL games under his belt despite making his debut back in 2010-11.
The Gulls are trying to secure the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, and with two games left this weekend Holzer could be quite the addition. Though he’s never been much of an offensive player, he does come with plenty of experience and can play at a high level in the minor leagues. Since he wasn’t likely getting any playing time for the Ducks this postseason, this might be the best thing for the organization.
It’s unlikely that he would be claimed at this point in the year, especially since he had already cleared earlier.
Philadelphia Flyers Assign Dustin Tokarski To AHL
The Philadelphia Flyers were unable to find an answer in goal last night, allowing seven goals on 33 shots between Brian Elliott and Petr Mrazek. Today, they’ve sent their third goaltender back to the minors by assigning Dustin Tokarski to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Tokarski’s assignment could be as simple as a paper transaction between games, with him coming back up for tomorrow’s matchup, or could signal a bigger plan. While head coach Dave Hakstol hinted that Elliott would start again in game two, there is always the option of bringing up Alex Lyon and throwing him into the fire.
The 25-year old Lyon posted a .905 save percentage in 11 games during this his rookie season, better than the .891 that Mrazek registered after coming over at the deadline. With Michal Neuvirth still out, Lyon might be one of the best options the Flyers have in net. Now down 1-0 against the reigning two-time Stanley Cup Champions, decisions have to be made quicker than ever.