Dominik Simon Terminates Czech League Contract
HC Sparta Praha of the Czech Extraliga announced today that forward Dominik Simon and the club have reached a mutual agreement to terminate his contract. The move makes Simon, who split the 2021-22 season between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Anaheim Ducks, an option to return to the NHL in 2023-24.
The Prague-based club had a strong season due in part to the contributions of former NHLers Vladimir Sobotka and Michal Kempny, but injuries made Simon a non-factor this year. Expected to be one of the team’s top forwards, Simon instead posted just two goals and an assist in 22 games, and injuries kept him out of the lineup entirely after the New Year.
With Simon understandably looking for a fresh start after his return to his home country went awry, it’s not surprising the club agreed to release him from his contract, which ran through the next season.
Initially eligible for the 2012 NHL Draft, Simon was passed over three times before Pittsburgh finally took a flier on him with a fifth-round selection in 2015 after he posted 30 points in 52 games with Extraliga club HC Plzen. Simon immediately headed stateside, posting strong totals in the minors with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and even earning some brief call-ups early on.
Simon would eventually grow into a full-time role with Pittsburgh in the coming seasons, posting a career-high eight goals and 28 points in 71 games in 2018-19. Despite becoming a reliable enough bottom-six piece, the Penguins opted not to qualify him in the 2020 offseason, where Simon then signed a one-year deal with the Calgary Flames in free agency.
Things have consistently gone downhill for Simon after that COVID-laced 2020-21 season, where he appeared in just 12 games combined with Calgary and their AHL affiliate, the Stockton Heat, not getting on the scoresheet in any of them. A return to Pittsburgh the following season didn’t do much to revitalize his offense, and he was included as a minor piece in the Rickard Rakell trade with the Anaheim Ducks before heading to Czechia last year.
While it’s obviously been a trying few seasons for Simon, there is likely a place for him in an NHL organization looking to add a veteran presence to their AHL affiliate. He’s an attractive option given his brief playoff experience and teammates in Pittsburgh, and some high-end ice time could help him regain his confidence enough to push for an NHL depth role once again.
Latest On Kyle Dubas
It’s rare you get an unprompted high level of transparency from an NHL team executive. However, Toronto Maple Leafs team president Brendan Shanahan, speaking to reporters today, offered a detailed description of the team’s process that led to moving on from general manager Kyle Dubas this morning, as well as offering some thoughts about the future of the team.
To begin last season, it was widely reported that the Maple Leafs were not offering Dubas an extension until further along into 2022-23. Per Shanahan, that’s exactly what happened, saying he approached Dubas after the trade deadline two months ago to tell him he’d talk to Toronto ownership about pursuing an extension. Dubas then informed Shanahan he was comfortable moving forward.
Shanahan, throughout the stretch of the regular season and postseason, then pursued a contract framework with Dubas’ agent. Dubas was then presented with an initial contract framework after the Maple Leafs were eliminated by the Florida Panthers in five games in the Second Round.
While negotiations were positive, Shanahan admitted to reporters his “thought process changed” after watching Dubas’ media availability on Monday, where he mentioned the tolls of the season were tough on him and his family, and there was a possibility he would opt not to return to the role on his own terms.
However, Dubas did make up his mind, telling Shanahan he did want to remain in the role as late as last night when Dubas and his agent presented Shanahan with a contract offer where a “gap had risen” from previous talks. At that point, Shanahan decided the best path forward lay elsewhere and informed Dubas this morning the team wouldn’t be renewing his contract.
One thing Shanahan immediately clarified after his initial statements are that these negotiations didn’t fall apart over money. For Shanahan, it was a shift in thinking about who he wanted in the role that occurred this week.
Shanahan says the team’s focus immediately turns to hiring a new GM, saying he’d prefer to go with someone who has NHL experience in the role.
Shanahan did not comment on the future of head coach Sheldon Keefe, nor was he questioned about it by reporters in attendance.
Minor Transactions: 05/19/23
There have been some truly dominant stories in the hockey news cycle over the past few days, including the everlasting Arizona Coyotes arena saga and the Toronto Maple Leafs moving on from general manager Kyle Dubas. However, there are still plenty of storylines in other leagues worth taking a look at as the offseason continues in earnest around the world. As always, we’ll keep track of today’s most notable minor transactions right here.
- The AHL’s Bakersfield Condors extended defenseman Xavier Bernard on a one-year contract today. Staying within the Edmonton Oilers organization, Bernard had a goal in 12 games with Bakersfield after a mid-season trade from the Belleville Senators. Once a New Jersey Devils prospect after they selected him in the fourth round of the 2018 NHL Draft, Bernard is now a free agent in the eyes of the NHL after the team opted to let his rights expire.
This page will be updated throughout the day
Logan Cooley Returning To University Of Minnesota
Arizona Coyotes top prospect Logan Cooley will not be signing his entry-level contract this summer, as the University of Minnesota announced today that he’s returning to the school for his sophomore season.
After a standout rookie season in the Big 10 conference, finishing second in the entire NCAA in scoring behind 2023 draft prospect Adam Fantilli, many expected Cooley not only to sign with Arizona but play a prominent role there in 2023-24. Instead, the 2022 third-overall selection will try and build on those totals and shoot for a national championship with Minnesota, a feat they were only one goal away from achieving this season.
Cooley, a skilled and cerebral two-way center, will be a top-six pivot when he does opt to come to the NHL. It’s fair to speculate if the Coyotes’ lack of a concrete long-term solution to their arena issues played a role in Cooley deciding to push back his NHL debut by another year.
While there may be little left to achieve in his pre-NHL development, the NHL isn’t always everything for players, either. Cooley’s desire to win a national championship, as well as the lower-stakes environment of college hockey, are also likely factors in his choice.
Neither Cooley nor the Coyotes have commented on his decision publically.
Kyle Dubas Will Not Return As Toronto GM
Kyle Dubas will not return as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs next season, team president Brendan Shanahan announced today.
Dubas, who has been with the Maple Leafs since 2014, served as an assistant general manager before being promoted to the role of general manager in May 2018, replacing Lou Lamoriello. Under his leadership, the team has yet to miss the postseason but has won just one game past the First Round, coming in this year’s 4-1 Second Round loss to the Florida Panthers.
Per the announcement from the Leafs, this was not necessarily a mutual decision. The team’s statement clarified that it was Toronto’s decision to part ways with Dubas ahead of his contract expiring on June 30.
Shanahan expressed gratitude to Dubas for his near-decade of work with the Leafs organization:
I would like to thank Kyle for his unwavering dedication over these last nine seasons with the organization, including his last five as General Manager. Kyle fostered a great culture within our dressing room and staff, and consistently pushed to make our team better season over season. We wish Kyle and his family the best moving forward.
Dubas’ immediate future in the NHL remains very uncertain. He stated on Monday that he would either continue with the Maple Leafs or take time away from the league to spend with family.
Regardless, there is bound to be considerable interest from other teams when or if he decides to pursue another general manager position in the future. Dubas’ reputation as a progressive thinker, his analytical approach (which he had wavered from slightly in recent seasons), and a good recent history of high-value draft picks make him an attractive candidate for any franchise looking for a fresh perspective.
Dubas headed up one of the most formative periods in Maple Leafs history, signing multiple significant contracts with the team’s top players. None, however, have faced more scrutiny than his free agent acquisition of captain John Tavares in 2018 to a seven-year, $77MM contract, one a large sect of fans have determined an overpayment for his services.
The news means someone new will be behind the helm to deal with potential contract extensions for Auston Matthews and William Nylander, who are both unrestricted free agents in 2024 and are eligible for extensions beginning July 1 of this year. The Leafs have a pair of internal candidates, assistant general manager Brandon Pridham and special assistant to the general manager Jason Spezza, who immediately jump out as potential replacements.
While it seems like the team’s curse of playoff failures may never end, the reality is Dubas’ successor is inheriting a team with many years left in a contention window if they play their cards right. A solid prospect base and some potential financial flexibility, especially if the next GM does trade one of the team’s ‘Core Four’ of Matthews, Nylander, Tavares, and Mitch Marner, still have Toronto in solid positioning.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was first to report the news.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
New York Islanders Sign Kyle MacLean, Daylan Kuefler
The New York Islanders locked in a pair of forwards to deals on Friday, signing Kyle MacLean to a one-year, two-way contract and Daylan Kuefler to a three-year entry-level contract. Financial terms were not disclosed.
MacLean, 24, has played the last three seasons in the Islanders organization on AHL contracts with the Bridgeport Islanders/Sound Tigers. The son of longtime New Jersey Devil and current Islanders assistant coach John MacLean, he recorded a career-high 11 goals, 16 assists, and 27 points in 67 games with Bridgeport in 2022-23.
Born in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, MacLean went undrafted during his time with the OHL’s Oshawa Generals but developed a sound two-way game and was the team’s captain from 2018 to 2020. He’s carried that two-way style into pro hockey, logging key minutes on Bridgeport’s penalty kill.
With an NHL contract signed, MacLean now becomes a call-up option for the Islanders, likely if a bottom-six, penalty-killing winger gets injured. Without very significant offensive production in the minors at this stage in his development, though, a full-time NHL role in the future seems unlikely.
Kuefler, on the other hand, did have his NHL rights tied to the Islanders after they selected him in the sixth round of the 2022 NHL Draft. The 21-year-old had been passed over in the two drafts prior, but after a significant offensive breakout with the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers, the team took a flyer on him.
In 2022-23, Kuefler broke the point-per-game mark for the first time in his WHL career, notching 31 goals and 61 points in 54 games. While his offensive production and delayed development may not suggest much of an NHL future, he’s a relatively well-rounded prospect who could still pan out pending proper development. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound winger will report to AHL Bridgeport next season.
Coaching Updates: Carbery, Quenneville, Blue Jackets
The New York Rangers are one of a handful of teams looking to secure a new head coach for 2023-24, although reports on whom they’ve interviewed for the role have been comparatively few and far between. Late last night, though, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said the team had obtained permission to talk to Toronto Maple Leafs assistant Spencer Carbery for the vacancy.
Per Friedman, New York is the third team the Leafs are believed to have permitted to interview. The Anaheim Ducks and Washington Capitals are the others. He’s somewhat of an interesting candidate for any head coaching role – he doesn’t have previous NHL head coaching experience, nor would he be an internal hire (unless the Maple Leafs fire Sheldon Keefe and promote Carbery before another team hires him). Nonetheless, the 41-year-old has spent most of his coaching career as a head coach in the AHL and ECHL, earning Coach of the Year honors at both levels with the Hershey Bears and South Carolina Stingrays.
Carbery would be hard-pressed to find a bigger challenge than stepping into a high-pressure market like New York without previous NHL head coaching experience, though. It could prove to be a sound move for a team that needs a fresh perspective, though, and many fans would be happy for their team to step out of the normal coaching carousel.
More from the coaching rumor mill this morning:
- In an unsurprising development after his name began to resurface in rumors, former Chicago Blackhawks and Florida Panthers head coach Joel Quenneville will meet with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman soon to determine whether he’ll be permitted to take a job in the league, per TSN’s Darren Dreger. Quenneville has been barred from league work since October 2021 after an independent investigation determined Quenneville, along with other Blackhawks staff members, had knowledge of claims that video coach Brad Aldrich had sexually assaulted Blackhawks forward Kyle Beach and failed to take any action to protect Beach, or other future victims of Aldrich after he left the organization. The Toronto Sun’s Lance Hornby reports Quenneville has been in a league-sanctioned program during his suspension from the league to “understand the impact of what happened.”
- The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline says to let out your breath if you’re waiting for news on the Columbus Blue Jackets next head coach. The team is unlikely to have a successor to Brad Larsen in place by this weekend when general manager Jarmo Kekelainen heads overseas to attend the 2023 IIHF Men’s World Championship. However, the search is nearing its conclusion, with a handful of candidates confirmed by reporters.
Calgary Flames Linked To Craig Conroy For GM Role
As Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli noted on Sportsnet 960 today, the Calgary Flames could be considering an organizational veteran to fill their vacant general manager role. Longtime assistant general manager and former team captain Craig Conroy could be in line for a promotion after the team parted ways with Brad Treliving last month.
I don’t know that there’s a front-runner. But if I were gambling and you gave me a list of names, and I do like to gamble, I would say my money would be on Craig Conroy.
With a history of strong leadership and a deep understanding of the Flames organization, Conroy emerges as a viable candidate to guide the team toward success. Having served as an assistant general manager since 2014 and a special assistant for four seasons prior, Conroy has demonstrated his commitment and dedication to the franchise, contributing significantly to player development, scouting, and day-to-day operations. His extensive experience, combined with his passion for the Flames, makes him an appealing choice for the top management position and would better position the Flames on draft day with a familiar face at the helm.
On the ice, Conroy played in 507 games with Calgary over parts of nine seasons, recording 97 goals, 211 assists, and 308 points, earning a Selke nomination in a career-best 2001-02 season.
With the firing of head coach Darryl Sutter reportedly influenced in part by exit interviews from players, it’s evident the Flames remain committed to making it work with their current core and will try to get the most out of what they have. Hiring an internal candidate would certainly align with that philosophy.
Seravalli also reported the Flames are nearing the end of their search, regardless if Conroy earns the seat or not, saying they want to have Treliving’s successor in place next week.
West Notes: Lehner, Burakovsky, Iginla
One name oft forgotten in the Vegas Golden Knights goalie carousel this season is Robin Lehner, who spent the entire 2022-23 campaign on long-term injured reserve. After missing the tail end of the 2021-22 campaign with a significant shoulder injury, it was actually off-season hip surgery that kept Lehner out for the year.
The Swedish netminder remains one of the best around when healthy, but Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon today didn’t have any update on Lehner’s status moving forward. McCrimmon noted Lehner is still undergoing rehab on both of his hips, but didn’t have a recent update on his progress. Lehner’s absence hasn’t hindered the Golden Knights much this season, and he could be a trade candidate if he does get healthy to clear some cap space. The 2019 Vezina Trophy nominee is locked in at a $5MM cap hit through 2025, making him an affordable option for a team in need of a starting netminder.
- Seattle Kraken general manager Ron Francis offered some clarity today on the injury that kept star winger Andre Burakovsky out of the lineup down the stretch of the season. Per Francis, Burakovsky tore his groin on his first shift after the All-Star break and suffered multiple setbacks in his recovery, sidelining him for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs. The 28-year-old was having a spectacular first season in Seattle before the injury, scoring 39 points in 49 games in a top-six role.
- After selecting him in 12th overall in last week’s WHL Prospects Draft, the Edmonton Oil Kings have officially brought 14-year-old Joe Iginla, son of Calgary Flames legend Jarome Iginla, into the organization on a scholarship and development agreement. Iginla posted monster numbers at the U15 level this season with his dad coaching, scoring 65 points in 27 games, and even got some looks in U16 and U17 play. Iginla is not NHL draft eligible until 2026 and is not expected to join the Oil Kings until the 2024-25 season.
Arizona Coyotes Considering Mesa Mall Site For Potential Arena
We have some clarity on the rumblings yesterday surrounding a Plan B for the Arizona Coyotes to remain in the Phoenix area. Per CBS 5 Phoenix’s Dennis Welch, the Coyotes have reached out to the City of Mesa to discuss a potential arena on land currently occupied by the soon-to-be-demolished Fiesta Mall.
If the plan does come to pass, it could finally be a sustainable long-term solution for the team in Arizona. It’s prime land located in the largest eastern suburb of Phoenix, in an area where most of the Coyotes’ fanbase is located.
However, as Welch notes, this arena proposal could be subject to the same processes, including a public vote, that failed to approve the team’s proposal for an arena and entertainment district in Tempe two nights ago. It’s a high-risk investment that would almost certainly require immediate relocation of the team if it falls through, given their struggles up to this point.
The Fiesta Mall, once the largest and busiest shopping center in Mesa, has been completely vacant since 2019. The land’s current owners submitted paperwork to move forward with demolishing the mall in March.
Any proposal for an arena will have to be completed and submitted quickly. The already financially struggling team has no long-term security, and the off-ice struggles will continue to hinder the team’s ability to attract talent and ice a competitive team until their arena situation is resolved.
While their 2023-24 home is secured, set to play another season at Arizona State University’s Mullett Arena, relocation remains a looming option past that if an approved proposal doesn’t materialize soon.