Looking At Ryan Strome’s Impending Free Agency
After looking at Darcy Kuemper‘s upcoming contract situation, we move east and take a look at another tricky contract situation, this time regarding New York Rangers center Ryan Strome. Since arriving in Manhattan in exchange for Ryan Spooner, Strome has begun to realize the potential that got him drafted fifth-overall in 2011. Considering the low cost in a trade that it took to acquire him, Strome has been an invaluable “found money” top-six center as the Rangers have clawed their way out of the throes of a major rebuild to become a playoff contender this season. But given the general cap situation of the Rangers, whether the team will be able to keep Strome beyond this season is unknown.
As previously mentioned, this season has been a momentous one for the Rangers. After the famous “letter” sent out by the former regime led by Jeff Gorton and John Davidson, communicating to the fans that a rebuild was in store, the Rangers spent several years building a prospect pool and adding younger talent that could help them compete long-term. With some extra lottery luck and the addition of players who were dead-set on playing for the Rangers (such as Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox and superstar winger Artemi Panarin) the Rangers have this season escaped that rebuilding phase and become a legitimate playoff contender within a stratified Eastern Conference.
In order for the Rangers to become a legitimate playoff contender, many players have elevated their games since arriving in New York, perhaps none more significantly than Ryan Strome. Before his trade to New York, Strome was going through a difficult time as an Edmonton Oiler. His first season there, 2017-18, was decent, as he posted 13 goals and 34 points in 82 games, but the beginning of his second season was a nightmare, as he was only able to generate two points in 18 games before being shipped to New York. In his first season as a Ranger, Strome flashed greater offensive capability, scoring 18 goals and 33 points in 63 games. Since that first season, Strome has blossomed into a legitimate top-six center, and in his most recent three seasons in New York, Strome has 155 points in 191 games, a 67-point 82-game pace. That’s production fit for a high-end second-line center or even a low-end first-line center, meaning Strome has played himself into becoming one of the rarest and most valuable commodities in the NHL.
The Rangers have had Strome at a $4.5MM cap hit, but his contract is expiring and he is set to become an unrestricted free agent. Players like Strome, centers who can score at a 67-point pace, rarely hit unrestricted free agency, and when they do, they get paid. Matt Duchene, coming off of a tumultuous two-year stretch where he scored at a 68-point pace, received a seven-year, $56MM contract carrying an $8MM average annual value. Ryan Johansen and Tomas Hertl, two centers with similar scoring profiles in terms of raw production to Strome, also received deals worth around $8MM per year. Kevin Hayes, a center with a more well-regarded two-way game than Strome but without Strome’s production, got a seven-year contract worth $7.14MM per year from the Philadelphia Flyers. In a world where centers scoring at the pace Strome has scored at these past three seasons are routinely getting to the $8MM mark on long-term deals, and centers who don’t have Strome’s numbers are clearing $7MM, would it be unreasonable to believe that this would be the target for Strome’s representation as well?
Furthermore, if getting a contract comparable to Johansen, Duchene, Strome, or even Hayes is the target, is that a deal the Rangers are going to be able to do? The team already has significant money tied into core players such as Panarin, Chris Kreider, Jacob Trouba, and Mika Zibanejad, and Fox’s mammoth $9.5MM-per-year extension is set to kick in at the start of the next league year. Additionally, the team has potential extensions for Kaapo Kakko, K’Andre Miller, and Alexis Lafreniere to either immediately or eventually consider. With an $8.5MM center already on the books, it’s not easy to see how the Rangers could match a major, market-price offer for Strome’s services, especially given that as of the most recent update, no extension talks between Strome’s camp and the Rangers have been held.
With Strome’s recent success as a scorer must come one major reservation. Beyond just the fact that Strome’s production has dipped this year, (he has 47 points in 65 games, which is a 59-point pace) the role that Strome has settled into in New York, the role that has brought him this offensive success, has been as Artemi Panarin’s center. Panarin, as one of the most prolific scoring wingers in the NHL, is the driver of play on that line. The offense flows through him, and that does add some risk to Strome as a potential free agent. With much of his production coming as Panarin’s center and as a supporting character in the Rangers’ blockbuster power play, one has to wonder if Strome is the kind of center who can drive his own line. Before his Rangers tenure, Strome’s best offensive showing in the NHL was when he played next to John Tavares on the Islanders. If he is someone NHL decision-makers tag as being a strong supporting scorer rather than a true play-driver who can run his own line from the center position, that could damage his ability to land a contract of the same magnitude as the centers mentioned earlier.
Overall, Strome’s contract situation is a fascinating one. The numbers are there, there is no doubt about that. But given his level of production, he may not be able to sign the type of contract he might want in New York, meaning he could be a big-ticket free agent elsewhere. And given the role, he has played next to Panarin and on a juggernaut powerplay, perhaps there is more risk to his free-agent profile than there might seem to be. With all those factors in place, one thing is abundantly clear: Strome’s free agency could be one of the most interesting offseason storylines in the NHL.
Philadelphia Flyers Sign Bobby Brink
After winning a National Championship with the University of Denver last night, third-year NCAA player and Hobey Baker Award finalist Bobby Brink has signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. In a statement, Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher had this to say about Brink:
We’re very excited to have Bobby under contract after an outstanding career in college hockey that concluded with a National Championship. Bobby possesses a high compete level combined with terrific hockey sense and offensive skill that has led him to succeed at every level he has played in his young career.
Brink, 20, was the 34th overall pick in the 2019 draft and broke out this past season at Denver. Brink’s first two NCAA seasons were good, especially for a player standing at five-foot-eight and 159 pounds, but this season he reached another level of production. He led the NCAA in points with 57 in 41 games and flashed significant offensive upside game after game. As with many undersized players who score boatloads of points as prospects, Brink will face question marks about how well his scoring will translate given the ruthlessness of professional hockey. But all Brink has done so far in his career is score, so it’s hard to imagine he won’t find a way to continue that as a professional.
For Philadelphia, the signing of Brink represents a moment to celebrate for a fanbase that has had little go right this season. Coach Alain Vigneault was fired earlier this year and the team faces heavy questions about its long-term future. But regardless of all of those issues, the signing of Brink means that the Flyers have added a supremely talented forward who should be able to dazzle the crowds at Wells Fargo Center sooner rather than later.
Anaheim Ducks Sign Blake McLaughlin
Despite the disappointment of his team being unable to capture the NCAA’s National Championship, having been eliminated in the semifinals, there is some good news coming for Minnesota Gophers winger Blake McLaughlin. The Grand Rapids, Minnesota native has signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Anaheim Ducks, the team announced. His deal begins in the 2022-2023 season and McLaughlin will join the AHL’s San Diego Gulls for the rest of this season on an amateur tryout agreement.
McLaughlin, 22, was the 79th overall selection in the 2018 draft and has played four seasons at the University of Minnesota. He was an instantly meaningful scorer for the team, scoring 20 points in 35 games as a freshman, and he finished this season as one of the team’s most important players, tying Toronto prospect Matthew Knies for second in team scoring with 33 points. (in 39 games) McLaughlin has impressed coaches throughout his career as a prospect with his work ethic and all-around ability, and the transition to the professional game should be more seamless for him than it is for some other prospects.
For the Ducks, by signing McLaughlin the team gets a well-developed prospect who is either already or close to being NHL-ready. The team already boasts significant young talent up front, led by stars such as Trevor Zegras and Troy Terry, so McLaughlin won’t be expected to shoulder a significant load, but with the game he plays, it wouldn’t be surprising if he got a look next to some more talented players to see if they have chemistry. Given that McLaughlin is a senior player and could have had the opportunity to hit the open market and sign wherever he pleased, securing McLaughlin’s signature on an entry-level deal is a nice bit of work by new GM Pat Verbeek.
Toronto Maple Leafs Sign Axel Rindell
The Toronto Maple Leafs are bringing one of their prospects across the Atlantic. Finnish defenseman Axel Rindell, one of the team’s three sixth-round picks in 2020, is signing a two-year entry-level contract that will kick in in 2022-23. The team announced that Rindell will sign an AHL professional tryout deal so that he can join the Toronto Marlies for the rest of this season.
Rindell, 21, has been playing in Liiga in his native Finland for the past three seasons. He spent his first two seasons playing for Mikkelin Jukurit, before switching midway through this season to play for Karpat. Rindell has flashed decent offense in Liiga, one of the best men’s leagues outside the NHL, and has 12 points in 26 games for Karpat this season.
Rindell is an undersized defenseman, standing at five-foot-ten and 174 pounds, but like many other undersized blueliners he has carved out his professional career on the back of his skating, puck skills, and abilities on the power play. He represented his country at the 2021 IIHF World Championship, winning a silver medal, and if he can transition his solid play in Liiga to his North American professional career perhaps Toronto will have unearthed a nice find from late in the 2020 draft.
Buffalo Sabres Sign Owen Power
Another Michigan Wolverine has decided to make the transition from college hockey to the NHL. Along with teammate Kent Johnson, Owen Power has decided to ink his NHL deal as the Buffalo Sabres announced the signing of the 2021 first-overall pick on his entry-level contract. He could join the team and enter the lineup before the end of this season.
Power, 19, was as previously mentioned the first pick of the 2021 draft and has been the Sabres’ top prospect since. Standing at six-foot-six and 213 pounds, Power has coveted physical tools for a defenseman. He has flashed offensive upside to his game and has produced well at Michigan where he had 32 points in 33 games this season. Power had 16 points in 26 games as a freshman. It is a widely-held opinion across the league that Power has serious potential to become a do-it-all number-one blueliner, and he joins a surging Buffalo team that already boasts another number-one pick defenseman in Rasmus Dahlin.
Beyond his exploits at Michigan, Power proved his NHL readiness by being selected for the Beijing Olympics, where he registered one assist. While the Sabres, who are 5-2-3 in their last ten games, have run out of runway to make the playoffs this season, the signing of Power adds another jolt of optimism for a market that has to be feeling very confident about their squad going into next season. With top prospects such as Power and Jack Quinn set to enter a lineup that already posts strong young talent such as Dahlin, Peyton Krebs, and Dylan Cozens, perhaps the Sabres’ NHL-record eleven-year playoff drought can finally come to an end in 2022-23.
ESPN’s Kevin Weekes was the first to report the signing.
Blue Jackets Sign Nick Blankenburg
One of Kent Johnson‘s Michigan teammates is joining him on the Columbus Blue Jackets. After the team inked the 2021 fifth-overall pick, Columbus announced they also signed the captain of the Michigan Wolverines, Nick Blankenburg. Blankenburg, 23, went undrafted and chose to sign with Columbus as a college free agent. His entry level contract is a one-year deal, lasting for the remainder of the 2021-22 season, and he is expected to join the team alongside Johnson on Monday.
Blankenburg is a veteran of four seasons at the University of Michigan, where he has collected 68 points in his 133-game career. Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen referred to Blankenburg as “a talented, smart, really competitive player with great leadership qualities” and stated that the Blue Jackets organization is “thrilled to welcome him.”
While Blankenburg is a bit undersized, standing at five-foot-nine and 175 pounds, it’s not his physicality that has earned him an NHL contract. Blankenburg is a right-shot defenseman who flashed offensive upside in his most recent season as a Wolverine and could help the Blue Jackets as a puck-mover. It remains to be seen if Blankenburg has a true NHL future, but his signing today should afford him the opportunity to make his case to Columbus’ management team that he deserves to be in their future plans as they rebuild their squad.
Blue Jackets Sign Kent Johnson
The stretch run of this Blue Jackets season looks set to become significantly more exciting. The team announced that they have signed top prospect Kent Johnson to a three-year entry-level contract. Johnson is expected to join the team on Monday and is expected to make his NHL debut in the team’s Wednesday contest against the Montreal Canadiens, according to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic.
Johnson, 19, was the fifth overall selection in the 2021 draft, coming off of a freshman season at the University of Michigan where he posted 27 points in 26 games. Johnson is a dazzling playmaker who has become one of the most consistently creative players outside of the NHL this season. In his sophomore season at Michigan, which recently ended in an overtime loss to the University of Denver, Johnson improved his production, posting 37 points in 32 games. Johnson has experience at both winger and center, so while he has been utilized more as a winger it will be interesting to see how Columbus coach Brad Larsen chooses to deploy him.
Additionally, the unique package of skills Johnson brings to the game caught the attention of Hockey Canada’s Olympic selectors, and Johnson represented his country at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, where he collected five points in four games. Johnson won’t turn 20 until October, but if his skill and playmaking ability at the college level (and his brief showing at the Olympics) is any indication, he should make the Blue Jackets’ on-ice product a lot more exciting sooner rather than later.
Canucks Activate Tucker Poolman, Jason Dickinson Off Injured Reserve
As the Vancouver Canucks attempt to chase down a Western Conference wild card spot, they are set to add two formerly injured players back into the fold. The team has announced that defenseman Tucker Poolman and forward Jason Dickinson have been activated off of injured reserve. Dickinson has been out since February 24th when he suffered a lower-body injury, and Poolman has been out since January 27th due to issues with headaches and migraines.
These two players have now been out for a not-insignificant amount of time just as the Canucks entered a crucial part of their season. They both are new arrivals to Vancouver, having each come aboard this past offseason. Dickinson was acquired from the Dallas Stars for a 2021 third-round pick, and Poolman was signed from the Winnipeg Jets as an unrestricted free agent to a contract costing $2.5MM against the cap each season through 2024-2025.
Before their injuries, each player was going through an underwhelming first season in Vancouver. Dickinson, 26, has only three goals and six points in his 49 games this year, which is 10 point pace, a significant decline from his usual form of around 20 points per season. Dickinson’s ice time has also declined from over 16 minutes per game last season to only 13:01 per game in Vancouver. Poolman, 28, is not known for his offense from the back end, and he has three points in 39 games this year. Poolman averaged just over 17 minutes per game before his injury and could help give coach Bruce Boudreau options on the team’s bottom pairing.
Both players are likely headed back into the lineup with significant motivations to salvage something positive from this season. The Canucks’ playoff odds are getting longer with each passing game, but they still have a chance. The impact of strong performances from any player is magnified in these circumstances, so as fresh arrivals off of injured reserve Dickinson and Poolman each have the opportunity to re-write the narratives surrounding their tenures in Vancouver, to improve their standing with fans who have been thus far left wanting more.
AHL Shuffle: 04/03/22
Today is a relatively busy day for games, with two contests having already concluded, including an Ottawa Senators win over the Detroit Red Wings that featured a Josh Norris hat trick. There should be some roster shuffling throughout the day and we’ll keep track of those movements here.
Atlantic Division
Metropolitan Division
Central Division
- The Blue Jackets have recalled two players from the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters. Defenseman Jake Christiansen and forward Carson Meyer have been elevated to the main squad. Christiansen’s recall is a regular one, while Meyer’s is an emergency recall, per Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers. Christiansen, 2s2, is an undrafted player who is looking like a savvy pickup for the Blue Jackets, as he has 42 points in 54 AHL games for the Monsters, which leads the team. He also has gotten into four NHL games this year and has a goal. Meyer, 24, was a 2017 sixth-round pick and has 16 goals and 27 points in 57 AHL games this year.
Pacific Division
- The Oilers have brought up goaltender Stuart Skinner from the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors on an emergency basis. Mikko Koskinen will miss tonight’s game with a non-COVID illness so Skinner will back up Mike Smith. Skinner has played in 13 games for Edmonton this season, posting a 2.62 GAA along with a .913 SV%.
- The Kings have returned forward Jaret Anderson-Dolan to Ontario of the AHL, per the AHL’s transactions log. The 22-year-old was brought up on an emergency recall on Thursday but didn’t see any game action. Anderson-Dolan doesn’t have any points in seven games with Los Angeles this season but has been quite productive with the Reign, notching 41 points in 45 games.
This post will be updated throughout the day.
Tyler Ennis Out For Remainder Of Season
Ottawa Senators winger Tyler Ennis is out for the rest of the season, per Bruce Garrioch of The Ottawa Sun. This comes after Ennis was forced out of today’s win over the Detroit Red Wings after taking a hard hit along the boards. The Senators are 27th in the NHL with a 25-37-6 record, and are playing for pride more than anything else this season, so losing Ennis is not a major issue for the team, but it is an unfortunate development for a squad that values everything Ennis brings on and off the ice.
Ennis, 32, was in the middle of playing his 700th career game before a hard hit forced him out of the game and has now ultimately ended his season. This season has been Ennis’ second tour of duty with the Senators, as he first played for them in the 2019-20 season. He scored 14 goals and 33 points in 61 games before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers for a 2021 fifth-round pick. Ennis signed a one-year $900k deal with the Senators this offseason and has been a solid veteran in a younger lineup while also providing secondary scoring. Ennis has eight goals and 24 points in 57 games this season, which is a 12-goal, 35-point pace, production that is solid given his cap hit.
Ennis may never have reached the potential he flashed as a 20 goal scorer earlier in his career when he was a Buffalo Sabre, but he has settled into his role nicely as he’s aged. The Senators are sure to miss him as one of the veterans in their lineup, although his absence could pave the way for the team to get a look at a younger player in his spot in the lineup down the stretch. This season-ending injury is unlikely to be welcomed by Ennis within the context of his pending unrestricted free agency, as it could impact the offseason market for his services. But that being said, regardless of the injury, there is always a market for the veteran, affordable secondary scoring Ennis provides.