Toronto Maple Leafs Shopping Wayne Simmonds
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Toronto Maple Leafs sent a league-wide email informing teams that veteran forward Wayne Simmonds is available for trade ahead of tomorrow’s opening-day roster deadline.
Per the aforementioned email, the Maple Leafs and general manager Kyle Dubas are less concerned with the return rather than “doing right by the player,” a theme the organization has committed to multiple times in recent years. While it usually has to do with giving European import players a chance for more minutes elsewhere, whether it be Mikko Lehtonen‘s trade to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2020-21 or Kirill Semyonov‘s contract termination last year, it’s become a philosophy that helps them attract free agent talent.
The 34-year-old Simmonds is a veteran of 1,019 NHL games, which on its own makes him a valuable asset to teams around the league. Simmonds had five goals and 11 assists for 16 points in 72 games last year, while his ice time was limited to a minuscule 9:20 per game. With players like Nicholas Robertson, Denis Malgin, and Zach Aston-Reese standing out in Leafs training camp, Simmonds no longer fits into the picture as one of the team’s 12 best forwards. Considering Toronto needs to clear salary and roster space fast, it was a foregone conclusion that they’d need to move someone out to make room.
Simmonds is still looking for his first Stanley Cup, surely a driving factor in his desire to keep playing. He has one season remaining on a two-year contract with a $900,000 cap hit, and he currently carries a 10-team no-trade list.
Nicklas Backstrom, Tom Wilson, Carl Hagelin To Start Season On LTIR
According to NHL.com regional writer Tom Gulitti, Washington Capitals regular forwards Nicklas Backstrom, Tom Wilson, and Carl Hagelin, alongside defenseman Alexander Alexeyev, will start the season on either long-term injured reserve or the injured non-roster list.
The news comes as little surprise for all four of the players. Most notably, Backstrom, who remains one of the most successful and important players in franchise history, had hip resurfacing surgery in June that could very well cost him the entire season. Importantly, though, reporting since the surgery indicates that Backstrom is pain-free for the first time in a long time and is recovering well from the procedure, which has significantly improved his quality of life. Backstrom still has an unclear timeline and has yet to resume skating, but he feels optimistic and the slim possibility remains that Backstrom suits up in 2022-23, whether it be for the end of the regular season or just the playoffs.
Alexeyev is recovering from a shoulder procedure that was announced at the same time as Backstrom’s surgery. The expected recovery time was four to five months, putting him on track to return sometime around November 1. Placement on either LTIR or injured non-roster suggests he may be a bit behind schedule in his recovery, but there doesn’t appear to have been a significant setback. Alexeyev could very well find a way to stay on the NHL roster once healthy if Matt Irwin struggles in his depth/seventh defenseman role.
Wilson underwent a procedure to repair a torn ACL in late May, carrying a six-to-eight-month recovery time that would have seen him return to the lineup in late November at the earliest. Over the offseason, however, reports have indicated that Wilson is ahead of schedule in his recovery, meaning it could just be roughly the first month of the season he misses. After scoring a career-high 24 goals and 52 points last year, he’s expected to slot back into the top-line right-wing spot once healthy.
Hagelin’s career-threatening eye injury last season appears to not be as bad as originally feared, as he skated with a non-contact designation prior to camp. Yet Hagelin’s bad injury luck hasn’t subsided, and he’s been dealing with unrelated issues that have kept him out of participating in much of camp. There’s no timeline for his return.
John Tavares “Not Ruled Out” For Season Opener
Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares isn’t ruled out of next Wednesday’s season opener, said head coach Sheldon Keefe today, but as NHL.com’s Mike Zeisberger notes, the chances of him playing are waning.
Tavares suffered an oblique injury in his preseason debut on September 24. At the time, Tavares was slated to miss three weeks – likely missing the team’s first three games and returning on October 17 against the Arizona Coyotes.
But Tavares began skating again two days ago on Monday, a welcome sign for the team and its fans. Today, Keefe commented on his status:
It’s all going to be (based) on his recovery. I think it was a really positive day for him today, but the way that it would track out in terms of the plan that was set was that he wouldn’t be available. What his body is telling him is going to dictate that.
In the meantime, the Maple Leafs could make some interesting decisions. William Nylander took line rushes at center today during practice, centering a prospective second line between preseason stars Nicholas Robertson and Denis Malgin. It would be the first time Nylander had meaningfully played center at any point since the 2019-20 season.
Regardless, the Leafs are hoping their team’s leader can get back in the room and on the ice in game action as soon as it’s feasible.
Preseason Notes: Carcone, Oilers Injuries, Canadiens Injuries
The NHL Department of Player Safety is getting their preseason’s worth of action in, too. They announced today that Arizona Coyotes forward Michael Carcone was fined the maximum allowable under the CBA ($2,027.03) for roughing Vegas Golden Knights forward Gage Quinney during last night’s game.
Quinney did not return to last night’s game after taking a high hit from Carcone. He immediately left the ice after the hit and went to the team’s dressing room near the end of the second period. Carcone received a penalty on the play. A 26-year-old minor-league veteran, Carcone played his first 21 NHL games last year with the Coyotes, registering six points.
- There’s some good news and bad news on the injury front for the Edmonton Oilers. TSN’s Jason Gregor reports that winger Kailer Yamamoto is banged up, but that his injury is nothing serious and he could be ready for the team’s final preseason game on Friday. However, winger Tyler Benson isn’t so lucky, as Gregor reports he’ll be out “longer” and the team will know more in the coming days. Benson was a candidate to find a spot in the team’s bottom-six out of camp.
- The Montreal Canadiens provided a medical update today, saying captain Nick Suzuki is remaining in Montreal for treatment along with forwards Joel Armia and Emil Heineman. All three have upper-body injuries and, Suzuki is listed as day-to-day. The Canadiens say the trio will be reevaluated on Monday, two days ahead of the season opener.
Carolina Hurricanes Part Ways With Grigori Dronov
October 5: The rollercoaster summer for Dronov continues, as this time the Hurricanes have announced the young defenseman will not be joining the organization after all. Both sides have “agreed to mutually part ways,” suggesting his contract was not (and will not be) filed.
October 3: Another player has converted his PTO into an NHL contract today. The Carolina Hurricanes announced via a team release that the team has agreed to terms on a one-year, two-way deal with defenseman Grigori Dronov. He has subsequently been assigned to the AHL’s Chicago Wolves.
According to the team, Dronov’s two-way deal carries a $770,000 cap hit and pays him $70,000 at the AHL level.
Team president and general manager Don Waddell spoke on the deal:
Grigori possesses a nice blend of skill and physicality, which stood out to us in camp. He is a young but experienced player coming off an impressive postseason in the KHL, and we’re excited to see how he performs in North America.
That impressive postseason is what earned Dronov a professional tryout in the first place, as injuries limited him to just one assist in six KHL games with Metallurg Magnitogorsk last season. He did come alive in the postseason, though, scoring five goals, nine assists, and 14 points in 24 games for Magnitogorsk.
Dronov, 24, was never drafted. He originally came to North America this offseason on a PTO with the Arizona Coyotes, which ended even prior to rookie camp. There, he joined the Hurricanes and had an impressive performance.
Dronov is expected to report to Chicago and serve a top-four role there to begin the season.
Dylan Coghlan Leaves Game With Injury
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Dylan Coghlan will not return to tonight’s preseason matchup against the Buffalo Sabres with a lower-body injury, according to Hurricanes PR.
Coghlan, 24, is entering his first season in the Hurricanes organization. Carolina acquired him, along with the currently-injured Max Pacioretty, from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for future considerations when free agency opened on July 13, 2022.
Last season, Coghlan set career highs in games played (59), assists (10), and points (13) while playing his first season as a full-time NHLer. He was a member of the Golden Knights organization from 2017 onwards when he signed there as an undrafted free agent after putting together 15 goals, 38 assists, and 53 points in 71 games with the WHL’s Tri-City Americans in 2016-17. Coghlan turned pro in 2018-19, joining the AHL’s Chicago Wolves – Vegas’ affiliate at the time – where he led all rookie defensemen in goals with 15.
With the Golden Knights’ bevy of injuries last season, Coghlan had an extended opportunity to get into games in Vegas, serving mostly a bottom-pairing role. He had solid possession numbers in his first full showing, posting a 53.1% Corsi for at five-on-five. He’s a candidate to get some potential power-play minutes, potentially filling some of the offensive void left by Tony DeAngelo‘s departure, although the majority of that responsibility will fall on Brent Burns.
Needless to say, with Coghlan battling from the bottom of the lineup, missed time during camp is never a great thing for someone in that position. He’s still likely penciled in for a bottom-pairing role, even if he misses time, but it does hamper his adjustment period to his new team. Hopefully, for Coghlan and the Hurricanes, he hasn’t suffered a longer-term issue.
Camp Notes: Duhaime/Dewar, Reichel, Malone
Excitement surrounds the Minnesota Wild yet again, as young players like Calen Addison and 2020 ninth-overall pick Marco Rossi are expected to become important contributors to the team this season. Rossi, a center, still needs to work his way up the depth chart though, and he’s meshing on a prospective fourth line with wingers Brandon Duhaime and Connor Dewar, notes The Athletic’s Michael Russo.
It may seem odd to have a player with Rossi’s skill level playing that low in the lineup (and with players like Duhaime’s more physical playstyle). But evidently, the line has played so well in training camp that Rossi hasn’t even gotten a look between Frederick Gaudreau and Matt Boldy on the team’s second scoring line, according to Russo. Rossi is looking to make a Calder Trophy push after scoring 53 points in 63 games with the AHL’s Iowa Wild last year. Dewar has also demonstrated a solid scoring touch in the minors, so some chemistry there is more realistic than most would think. With Duhaime’s imposing presence, it could make for a well-blended, two-way fourth line in Minnesota this season.
- Many expected top Chicago Blackhawks prospect Lukas Reichel to win a spot on the team out of camp, but it wasn’t to be, as the team sent him down to AHL Rockford earlier today. The Athletic’s Scott Powers notes that it’s not an indication that the organization thinks Reichel isn’t NHL-ready, but rather, that the team doesn’t see him as a fit in their top six at this time. The Blackhawks believe that top minutes in Rockford are more beneficial to Reichel’s development than more limited minutes in the NHL at this time.
- Buffalo Sabres forward Sean Malone is on waivers today, but don’t expect any NHL team to claim him, says Buffalo News Sports’ Mike Harrington. Malone, an AHL veteran, is day-to-day and is still dealing with a “lingering injury” from an August procedure. The 27-year-old Malone has just two NHL games under his belt but has developed into a top-line AHL player in recent years.
Pittsburgh Penguins Recall Filip Lindberg
Just a day after sending him down, the Pittsburgh Penguins are bringing goaltender Filip Lindberg back up to the active roster, per a team release. Lindgren will join the team in Detroit for tonight’s game against the Red Wings after spending the last 24 hours on the roster of AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Lindberg comes up to replace Tristan Jarry momentarily, who’s day-to-day with a non-COVID illness. Lindberg has a .933 SV% in the preseason, stopping 14 of 15 shots in a September 25 game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Originally a seventh-round pick of the Minnesota Wild in 2019, the 23-year-old Finnish netminder opted not to sign after his college career ended with UMass in 2020-21, instead signing as a free agent with the Penguins. He was limited to just seven games in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last season but had a 4-2-0 record and respectable .915 SV%. He had an excellent senior year at UMass prior to that, winning an NCAA championship and All-Tournament Team honors after posting a .949 save percentage in 15 games.
Lindberg sits fourth on the team’s goalie depth chart behind veteran Dustin Tokarski.
Seattle Kraken Sign Daniel Sprong
Finally, a player has converted on his PTO, receiving an NHL contract. The Seattle Kraken today signed winger Daniel Sprong to a one-year, two-way contract for 2022-23 worth $750,000. PuckPedia adds that his minors salary is $325,000.
Sprong, 25, will get a second look in the Kraken lineup after playing in 16 games for them last season. Acquired from the Washington Capitals at the trade deadline (along with a 2022 fourth-round pick and 2023 sixth-round pick) for Marcus Johansson, Sprong had six goals and no assists down the stretch for the expansion Kraken. It was the third time Sprong had been traded in his young, yet bumpy career.
Hailing from Amsterdam, the Dutch forward was drafted 46th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins. While he hasn’t been able to make it stick with one team, Sprong’s provided solid depth scoring wherever he’s gone. He’s scored 14, 13, and 14 goals in his last three full NHL seasons. He played just eight games with the Anaheim Ducks in 2019-20, instead spending significant time with the AHL’s San Diego Gulls.
Sprong will need to work hard to crack what’s a considerably deeper Kraken forward core this season, especially on the wing. The additions of Oliver Bjorkstrand and Andre Burakovsky at the top make the Kraken’s top six more compelling, but it’s scorers like Sprong who will be relied upon to generate depth offense in The Deep this season.
Central Notes: Blues Hall of Fame, Coyotes Hires, Lambert
This morning, the St. Louis Blues took a big step in honoring their storied franchise history. The team announced the establishment of the Blues Hall of Fame, created to “recognize franchise legends.” The inaugural class will be announced on Opening Night for the team; which is October 15, hosting the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The release notes that the Blues Hall of Fame won’t just be limited to players. The franchise’s internal upper echelon will also be open to coaches, managers, and broadcasters “that have made a profound impact on the franchise,” per the team. Members will be added to the Hall of Fame each season, with voting occurring during the offseason. Members of the Blues Hall of Fame committee, current and former members of the Blues organization, Blues alumni members, media members, and Blues fans will be able to nominate people for consideration each year. Eight players will be inducted automatically as their numbers have been retired by the team – Al MacInnis, Bob Gassoff, Bob Plager, Barclay Plager, Brian Sutter, Brett Hull, Bernie Federko, and Chris Pronger. Original owner Sid Salomon Jr. and broadcaster Dan Kelly will also be inaugural members.
- Arizona Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong announced today that the team is adding Kurtis Foster and Jeff Shantz to the team’s player development department as coaches. The duo of former NHLers will work under another former NHLer in Lee Stempniak, who remains the team’s director of player development. Foster played in 405 NHL games from 2002 to 2013 and served as an associate coach for the OHL’s Oshawa Generals last year. Shantz, 48, has only had coaching experience in U15 leagues and last played NHL hockey in 2003, with a career in Europe that extended to 2011.
- As reported by TSN’s John Lu, Winnipeg Jets head coach Rick Bowness today commented on 2022 first-round pick Brad Lambert, whose opening night spot “has yet to be determined.” He went on to say that Lambert’s skating and speed are NHL-ready, but is unsure about his ability to elevate his intensity and decision-making to NHL standards at this time. Lambert, who’s still just 18, slipped to the Jets at 30th overall after scoring 10 points in 49 Liiga games last season.