Brayden Schenn Named St. Louis Blues Captain
The St. Louis Blues have named center Brayden Schenn the 24th captain in franchise history.
He succeeds center Ryan O’Reilly in the position, months after the Blues traded O’Reilly to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
As one of the Blues’ more senior players, Schenn is a natural choice for the role.
Schenn has served as an alternate captain in St. Louis for the last three seasons, and in that span, he has been a consistent, productive second-line center for the club.
He helped the Blues lift their first-ever Stanley Cup in 2019, and is coming off two of the best seasons in his career. He scored at a 77-point 82-game pace in 2021-22 and scored 65 points in 2022-23.
Alongside Schenn, Robert Thomas, Justin Faulk, and Colton Parayko have been named assistant captains as part of the Blues’ leadership core. Thomas and Parayko wore the “A” last season as well, while Faulk earns a letter in St. Louis for the first time. He has previously served in a leadership role, both as an alternate captain and the captain of the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Blues can expect to have Schenn, 32, as their captain for quite a while despite his age. That’s because Schenn is under contract through the 2027-28 season at a $6.5MM cap hit.
As the Blues transition to a roster more focused on young talent after missing the playoffs last season, the club has confirmed that Schenn will be the team’s official leader for its next competitive phase.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Injury Notes: Pearson, Savoie, Rasmussen
CapFriendly has reported that the Vancouver Canucks have officially activated veteran forward Tanner Pearson off of long-term injured reserve. In their post on X, CapFriendly writes: “This is significant because it means that he is no longer considered an LTI candidate, and tentatively leaves the club $1,709,167 over the cap” even if they place defenseman Tucker Poolman on LTIR.
The team could still be cap compliant to start the season, but to do so they would need to carry fewer than the maximum of 23 players on their active roster. Pearson, 31, is making $3.25MM against the cap and played just 14 games last season, scoring five points.
Some more injury notes from across the NHL:
- The Buffalo News’ Lance Lysowski is reporting that Buffalo Sabres prospect Matthew Savoie left the prospects game against the Pittsburgh Penguins with an apparent injury. The 2022 ninth-overall pick left the ice in pain and did not return to the game. The Sabres have said that Savoie may miss time at the start of camp with what is being described as an upper body injury.
- CapFriendly has also reported that the Detroit Red Wings have now officially activated forward Michael Rasmussen off of injured reserve. Rasmussen had been on injured reserve since March 2nd, meaning he finished his 2022-23 season with just 56 games played. The hulking six-foot-six forward had something of a breakout year, though, scoring at a 15-goal, 42-point 82-game pace.
Metro Notes: Wahlstrom, Voronkov, Othmann
2023-24 is shaping up to be a make-or-break year for Oliver Wahlstrom and his future with the New York Islanders. The 2018 11th overall pick has a one-year, $874k contract in place and is coming off of a season where he had some real momentum, only for injuries to keep his campaign to just 35 games played. The start of the season will be important for the 23-year-old, as The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz writes that if Wahlstrom “can’t stay in the lineup, it will probably be time for the Islanders to give him a fresh start somewhere else” via a trade. (subscription link)
A change-of-scenery trade for Wahlstrom could end up being the best course of action for his future, as he has struggled for years to put together a productive season in the Islanders organization. In Wahlstrom’s lone season as a full-time AHLer, he managed 10 goals and 22 points in 45 games, decent numbers but not the overwhelming production expected of a top prospect. In the NHL, Wahlstrom’s best offensive season saw him score 12 goals and 21 points in 44 games, a 22-goal, 39-point 82-game pace. He clearly has the offensive talent to accomplish more in the NHL than he’s shown so far, so tracking how he’s doing for the Islanders early in the season will likely be one of the more intriguing storylines to watch on Long Island.
Some other notes from the Metropolitan Division:
- Although the Columbus Blue Jackets rookie drawing the most attention is rightfully 2023 third-overall pick Adam Fantilli, Russian import Dmitri Voronkov could end up a quietly effective first-year player in Ohio. The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline names Voronkov as one of three Blue Jackets prospects standing a decent chance to make the team’s opening-night roster. (subscription link) Voronkov, 23, is a big six-foot-three pivot who hasn’t yet played in North America, but impressed with 18 goals and 31 points in the KHL last season. He could be in play to make new head coach Pascal Vincent’s opening-night roster.
- As one of the New York Rangers’ top prospects, Brennan Othmann is expected by many to make an impact on the Rangers’ NHL roster sooner rather than later. But according to USA Today’s Vince Z. Mercogliano, Othmann may have to wait. Mercogliano writes that the “expectation is that” Othmann will begin the season in the AHL with the Hartford Wolf Pack, although a strong training camp could obviously change things. But since New York signed several veteran bottom-six forwards such as Alex Belzile and Tyler Pitlick, Othmann may begin his pro career off Broadway.
Mike Babcock Resigns As Columbus Blue Jackets Head Coach
3:08 PM: The Blue Jackets have now officially announced Babcock’s resignation. Assistant coach Pascal Vincent has been named the club’s new head coach, and has signed a two-year contract extension.
2:48 PM: According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Mike Babcock is expected to resign his position this afternoon.
Columbus officially named Babcock their head coach on July 1 after his previous contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, who fired him in November of 2019, expired. This week, Babcock was the subject of a joint NHL/NHLPA investigation spurred by allegations that Babcock asked to view phones and/or photographs of several Blue Jackets players, originally reported by former NHL player Paul Bissonnette on a recent episode of the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast.
NHLPA officials met Friday after meeting with several Blue Jackets players and staff and said they “provided the NHL with an update on our ongoing review” in a statement released after the meeting. Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reports that the now-concluded NHLPA investigation “left no path for Babcock to continue as coach.” Friedman reported on an earlier edition of Sportsnet’s 32 Thoughts podcast last week that while veterans Boone Jenner and Johnny Gaudreau were comfortable with their exchanges with Babcock regarding the photo-sharing exercise, multiple younger players on the roster did not feel the same way.
The Blue Jackets have yet to release a statement. At the time of writing, it’s unclear what path the Blue Jackets will take to name an interim head coach with training camp starting this week.
By resigning, Babcock walks away from the remainder of a two-year contract that was set to pay him a total of $8MM.
Minor Transactions: 09/17/23
There’s just one more week to go before NHL preseason starts in earnest, meaning the start of a long-awaited NHL season is just around the corner. Overseas, most top pro leagues have already begun, and clubs are still making moves to augment their roster or work on contracts for existing players. As always, we’ll keep track of any notable moves here:
- Some big news in the DEL was announced today, as one of the league’s best goalies signed a big six-year contract extension with his club, Düsseldorfer EG. Henrik Haukeland, Norway’s starting goalie at the few recent IIHF World Championships as well as the 2018 Winter Olympics, is committing to Düsseldorf through the end of the decade. It’s easy to see why Düsseldorf has been motivated to sign Haukeland, as the 28-year-old goalie had as stellar debut season for the club. Last year he posted a .919 save percentage in 51 games, taking home the DEL’s Goalie of the Year award. In total, Haukeland has a .926 save percentage in 71 DEL games, and now he’s been rewarded for that success with a long-term contract extension.
This page will be updated throughout the day.
Minor Transactions: 09/15/23
Hockey season is underway across the world, with numerous NHL teams competing in prospect tournaments and the various top European leagues beginning their regular season games. Today has already featured quite a bit of action, highlighted by a late comeback win in the Finnish Liiga by Tappara Tampere against HIFK Helsinki, led by former Buffalo Sabre Nick Baptiste.
We’re still a ways away from the start of full regular-season hockey in North America, and as a result teams in this continent’s minor leagues are still adding players in preparation for this upcoming campaign. We’ll keep track of those moves here:
- Big six-foot-six netminder Déreck Baribeau has made it back to the ECHL. The 24-year-old has signed with the Norfolk Admirals, securing himself a chance to return to North America’s third-tier professional hockey league after a year spent in Quebec playing LNAH hockey. Baribeau is the former starting goalie for the Quebec Ramparts of the QMJHL who began his pro career in 2019-20. He’s actually played in more AHL games than ECHL contests, and he has a career .903 save percentage in 29 career AHL games. Now, he’ll get the chance to compete for a role in the crease in Norfolk.
- Physical defenseman Jake Schultz has signed in the ECHL for next season, joining the Worcester Railers. The six-foot-three blueliner played in five games for Worcester last season, scoring two goals. He spent most of the year with the Binghamton Black Bears in the fourth-tier FPHL, scoring 12 goals and 33 points alongside 136 penalty minutes. Schultz was named the FPHL’s defenseman of the year last season and led the FPHL in scoring by a defenseman in 2020-21. If he can translate some of that FPHL success to the ECHL level, he could greatly expand on the 48 ECHL games already on his resume. He’ll get a chance to do so at the start of the season with Worcester.
This page may be updated throughout the day.
Snapshots: Clarke, Brown, Blues
With some major departures this offseason of key veteran players, the New Jersey Devils should have some openings in their forward corps for emerging young players to grab in preseason and training camp. According to New Jersey Hockey Now’s James Nichols, one of those young players looking to grab an NHL job is Graeme Clarke, who “expects himself” to make the NHL roster this fall. Although Clarke hasn’t made his NHL debut just yet, it’s easy to see why the 22-year-old forward believes he’ll be on the Devils’ roster by opening night.
Clarke led the Utica Comets in scoring last season in the AHL, potting 25 goals and 58 points in 68 games. It was a legitimate breakout year for a player who registered just 24 points the year before, and cemented his status as a talented prospect who profiles as a potential middle-six scorer in the NHL. It’s highly likely that Clarke would have gotten an NHL call-up last season were he playing for a less talent-rich franchise, but with training camp and the preseason coming it’s likely that Clarke won’t have to wait much longer to get his chance.
Some other notes from across the NHL:
- PHLY Sports’ Charlie O’Connor reports that the Philadelphia Flyers are giving prospect Matt Brown, an invite player to their rookie tournament that begins tonight, a look on the team’s powerplay and a heightened role. O’Connor notes that the Flyers may be “considering offering him an ELC and want a closer look at his offensive ability.” Brown led Boston University in scoring last season with 16 goals and 47 points, and the 24-year-old could end up joining a Flyers prospect pool that already ranks among the league’s best.
- The St. Louis Blues are without a captain thanks to their trade of Ryan O’Reilly to the Toronto Maple Leafs at last year’s deadline, and even though the club hopes to rebound and return to the playoffs they may not do so with a player wearing the “C.” The Athletic’s Jeremy Rutherford reports in his recent mailbag that the Blues don’t have “imminent plans” to name a captain. (subscription link) Brayden Schenn is a player generally considered a candidate to be the team’s next captain, although Rutherford does note that the organization could opt to give the important leadership role to a younger core player, such as team number-one center Robert Thomas.
Ottawa Senators Sign Josh Bailey To PTO
The Ottawa Senators have signed veteran forward Josh Bailey to a PTO, the team announced today.
This signing marks the first time in Bailey’s professional career that he’ll be part of an NHL organization other than the New York Islanders. The 33-year-old was drafted by New York with the ninth-overall pick at the 2008 NHL draft and has played over 1,000 games for the franchise. In his time with the Islanders, he helped end the team’s 23-year wait without a single playoff series win. 
He became a dependable top-six forward in New York, and in his best years (just after his career-high 71-point 2017-18 season) he helped turn the Islanders into a regular season and playoff juggernaut in the aftermath of franchise face John Tavares‘ free agency departure.
Bailey’s playoff performances helped the Islanders come within a razor-thin margin away from the Stanley Cup Final in back-to-back years. He scored a combined 33 points in 41 games across those two runs, by far the best playoff performances of his career.
Just one year ago, Bailey was still widely viewed as a strong middle-six forward. He scored 14 goals and 44 points in 2021-22, but this past season his play declined. He scored just eight goals and 25 points and was at times kept in the press box as a healthy scratch by first-year head coach Lane Lambert.
Seeing as Bailey has signed a PTO rather than a full-time NHL contract, it appears NHL teams may collectively view Bailey’s decline as not a momentary lapse of form, but rather a sign of things to come for his career. The Senators are hoping Bailey will prove them otherwise, and he’ll have the chance to do just that in Ottawa during the training camp and preseason process.
On paper, Bailey stands a decent chance of earning an NHL deal in Ottawa just by virtue of the fact that he has significantly more experience than most players slated to play in the team’s bottom six.
He’ll be competing for a role on the wing against players such as Zack MacEwen, Jiri Smejkal, Parker Kelly, Egor Sokolov, Ridly Greig, Roby Jarventie, and Matthew Highmore. Bailey has more NHL experience than that group of players has combined, so if head coach D.J. Smith wants a veteran player in his bottom six, Bailey could be his best option.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Carolina Hurricanes Sign Zach Aston-Reese To PTO
The Carolina Hurricanes have signed a seventh, and according to team reporter Walt Ruff, final player to a PTO for this preseason and training camp: Zach Aston-Reese.
Aston-Reese, 29, arrives in Carolina after one season spent playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs. A former college hockey star, Aston-Reese has settled into a role as a fourth-line defensive and penalty-killing specialist in the NHL. While his gaudy offensive numbers from Northeastern University never translated to the pro game, Aston-Reese remains a well-regarded player thanks to his defensive contributions.
Last season, Aston-Reese scored 10 goals and 14 points in 77 games while playing 10:55 per night, including just under a minute per night on the penalty kill. Given Aston-Reese’s positive defensive contributions, it’s been somewhat surprising that he’s lingered on the open market for consecutive offseasons. It could be that NHL teams may prefer free agent fourth-liners with more of a physical dimension to their game than Aston-Reese is known for.
In any case, he’ll head to Carolina to compete with their other PTO additions along with incumbent players for a fourth-line role and NHL deal.
The club’s PTO haul includes five other forwards: Kieffer Bellows, Cory Conacher, Brendan Perlini, Nick Shore, and Jayden Halbgewachs, meaning Aston-Reese will have quite a few players to compete with for a job on head coach Rod Brind’Amour’s opening-night lineup.
Snapshots: Coyotes, Penguins, Recchi
The Arizona Coyotes have been arguably the busiest team in their preseason preparation process, in large part thanks to the team’s trip to Australia to play exhibition contests against the Los Angeles Kings. The team signed a collection of players to PTO’s yesterday, and today they have confirmed their 2023 training camp roster. Per the announcement, the players traveling to Australia are:
Forwards: Nick Bjugstad, Travis Boyd, Michael Carcone, Logan Cooley, Lawson Crouse, Dylan Guenther, Barrett Hayton, Alex Kerfoot, Clayton Keller, Matias Maccelli, Jack McBain, Liam O’Brien, Nick Schmaltz, Jason Zucker
Defensemen: Josh Brown, Travis Dermott, Matt Dumba, Sean Durzi, J.J. Moser, Victor Soderstrom, Troy Stecher, Juuso Valimaki
Goaltenders: Connor Ingram, Andrew Oke, Karel Vejmelka
The rest of the team’s 74-man training camp roster will remain in the United States to play the rest of the Coyotes’ slate of preseason contests.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced a slew of new hires today, adding people to positions in their equipment, high performance, and player development departments. Some of the new hires have prior experience working with Penguins president of hockey operations and GM Kyle Dubas, including new director of goaltending Jon Elkin. These hires continue the process of re-shaping the Penguins under relatively new owners Fenway Sports Group and Dubas, who FSG hired earlier this offseason.
- Hockey Hall of Famer Mark Recchi will be inducted into the Philadelphia Flyers team hall of fame, the Flyers announced today. Recchi will be honored in a pre-game ceremony before the Flyers’ January 27th contest against the Boston Bruins, another team Recchi played for. Recchi played parts of 10 seasons in Philadelphia, racking up 602 games played, 232 goals, and 627 points. Recchi had the most productive season of his career in Philadelphia when he scored 123 points in 1992-93.