Lightning Sign J.J. Moser To Two-Year Contract
2:52 PM: The Lightning have confirmed the signing via a public announcement.
9:18 AM: After electing for salary arbitration on July 5th, defenseman J.J. Moser and the Tampa Bay Lightning have reportedly agreed on a new contract. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports the team has signed Moser to a two-year contract worth an AAV of $3.375MM.
According to the report from Friedman, Moser will make $2.7MM during the 2024-25 season and $4.05MM in 2025-26. It will be a significant raise over Moser’s previous contract where he averaged $887K during his entry-level contract.
It will be interesting to see how the Lightning deploy Moser after acquiring him as a part of the package for defenseman Mikhail Sergachev in a draft-day trade with the Utah Hockey Club. During a three-year stint with the Arizona Coyotes, Moser quickly became a part of the team’s top four after making his NHL debut in the 2021-22 NHL season.
Over 205 regular season games with the Coyotes, Moser scored 16 goals and 72 points while averaging over 20 minutes of ice time per night. Moser played in nearly all situations in Arizona and showed flashes of being an effective two-way defenseman but did have some shortcomings on the defensive side of the puck. According to HockeyReference, Moser produced an expected +/- of -35.6 throughout his tenure in the desert — coming out to an average of nearly -12 each season. Additionally, Moser averaged an on-ice save percentage in all situations of 89.5% over his first three seasons, but some of the blame could be shared with a subpar Arizona defensive core.
With Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh expected to receive a bulk of the minutes on the left side of Tampa Bay’s blue line crew, Moser should get bumped down to a bottom-pairing role with the Lightning. Although his salary for next year is right on par with a bottom-pairing defenseman, his 2025-26 salary will become a bit rich if Tampa Bay decides to keep him in a similar role.
Pittsburgh Penguins Sign Tanner Howe To Entry-Level Contract
A former linemate of Connor Bedard in the Western Hockey League has signed on with the team that drafted him almost two weeks ago. The Pittsburgh Penguins announced they have signed winger Tanner Howe to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Howe was selected with the 46th overall pick by the Penguins organization in the 2024 NHL Draft and was quickly signed to an entry-level deal after a noticeable development camp showing. The young forward made his presence known as he regularly became the instigator in net-front battles and had two goals to show for it.
During the 2022-23 WHL season, Howe found himself on a line with Bedard while playing for the Regina Pats. He came a perfect complimentary piece to Bedard as an annoying pest on the ice and scored 36 goals and 85 points in 67 games while putting up another two goals and four points in seven postseason contests. After Bedard left Regina to join the Chicago Blackhawks for the 2023-24 NHL season, Howe became the new captain of the organization.
He proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that he could perform without Bedard down the middle as Howe scored 28 goals and 77 points in 68 games. Unfortunately, the Pats were unable to qualify for the 2024 WHL playoffs meaning his season came to an end after the regular season concluded. Howe has been a bit quiet on the international stage for Team Canada as he’s played in a total of 11 games for Canada’s under-18 World Junior Championship squad the past two years but only has one assist to show for it.
It’s unlike that Howe will play for any team in the Penguins’ organization next season and may even spend another year in the WHL with the Regina Pats. However, there is a case to be made that Howe’s physical game is mature enough to play for the organization’s AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Wherever Howe winds up for the 2024-25 season, Pittsburgh has a definite middle-six prospect in the making if his development continues on its current trajectory.
Anaheim Ducks Finalize Coaching Staff
The Anaheim Ducks announced several promotions and hires to Greg Cronin‘s staff for the 2024-25 NHL season. The team has promoted Sudarshan Maharaj to director of goaltending and Julien Tremblay to NHL player development while naming Tim Army as an assistant coach and Peter Budaj as the team’s new goaltending coach.
The promotion has been a long time coming for Maharaj as he’s been the Ducks’ goaltending coach since the start of the 2016-17 season. Before his time in Southern California, Maharaj worked in a similar role with the New York Islanders from 2003-04 to 2005-06 before becoming a goaltending consultant until 2011-12. For his entire tenure with the club, Maharaj has been working closely with Anaheim’s starting goaltender, John Gibson. Maharaj oversaw the three best years of Gibson’s career up to this point from 2017-19 as the goaltender produced an 82-56-24 record in 166 stars while posting an exceptional .922 save percentage and 2.50 goals against average.
Longtime NHL netminder Budaj will replace Maharaj as the team’s goaltending coach after having previously worked with Cronin during his time with the AHL’s Colorado Eagles. Budaj was a solid backup goaltender through much of his playing career which spanned 13 seasons from 2005-06 to 2018-19. Budaj posted a career record of 158-132-40 with a .904 SV% and 2.70 GAA and will now look to jolt Gibson into a career resurgence in Anaheim.
The last notable hire of the day for Anaheim is Army who was previously an assistant coach with the Ducks during their inaugural season in 1993-94. His last season with Anaheim came during their first entry into the postseason for the 1996-97 season before falling Ron Wilson to the Washington Capitals from 1997-98 to 2001-02. Army would then spend the next six seasons as the head coach of Providence College before returning to the NHL as an assistant coach with the Colorado Avalanche until 2017. His first professional experience as a head coach came during the 2018-19 season when he was named the head coach of the AHL’s Iowa Wild. Army now returns to the Ducks organization for the first time in nearly three decades and will serve as a veteran presence on Cronin’s staff.
Updates On Blue Jackets Head Coach Vacancy
The Columbus Blue Jackets are still without a head coach for the 2024-25 NHL season and we now know two individuals who will not be taking on the role. Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports that one of the prospective finalists, Todd McLellan, will not become the new head coach due to complications from his former deal with the Los Angeles Kings, which prohibited a multi-year agreement with Columbus. Additionally, Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch reports Jeff Blashill is not under consideration for the role despite his connection to general manager Don Waddell and USA Hockey.
Due to the context of the report from Portzline, it appears the Blue Jackets circled McLellan as their primary candidate considering salary figures were exchanged between both parties. McLellan signed a one-year contract extension with the Kings organization which would have made him the team’s head coach for the 2024-25 campaign and he is still owed that total by Los Angeles. Because his previous contract is still being honored by the Kings organization, the Blue Jackets would have to negotiate with Los Angeles to make McLellan their next head coach.
As Portzline noted in his report, there is always a chance that Columbus circles back around on McLellan and comes to an agreement with the Kings. If they don’t, however; the Blue Jackets head coaching search may be down to Jay Woodcroft and Dean Evason. Much like McLellan, Woodcroft was let go during the season by the Edmonton Oilers, and Evason was let go during the season by the Minnesota Wild.
Neither prospective head coach even comes close to the pedigree of McLellan as he’s collected a career coaching record of 598-412-134 between the San Jose Sharks, Edmonton Oilers, and Los Angeles Kings. McLellan has coached his team to the playoffs in nine out of his 16 years as head coach and made it as far as the Western Conference Finals during his time in San Jose.
Iowa Wild Hire Nathan McIver As Assistant Coach
The American Hockey League’s Iowa Wild has continued to round out their coaching staff by adding former defenseman Nathan McIver as an assistant coach according to Michael Russo of The Athletic. It will be McIver’s second stint as a coach in the AHL and will join Brett McLean‘s staff in Iowa who is entering his second season with the organization.
The hire will serve as an introduction to the Minnesota Wild organization for McIver who spent 10 years as a player in the AHL and NHL. McIver began his professional playing career in the 2005-06 season with the Manitoba Moose of the AHL and would make his NHL debut with the Vancouver Canucks only a year later. The bruising defenseman became known as an enforcer throughout his days on the blue line while also spending time with the Anaheim Ducks organization, the Providence Bruins, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the Hamilton Bulldogs, and the Norfolk Admirals.
It didn’t take long for McIver to find a new line of work after his playing days ended following the 2015-16 season. The veteran AHL defenseman spent four years as the assistant coach with the OHL’s Oshawa Generals where the team finished either second or third in the Eastern Conference during each year of his tenure. McIver moved on to the ECHL’s Newfoundland Growlers in the same role for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons before taking a brief stop as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Belleville Senators last year.
Tucson Roadrunners Re-Sign Three Players
Craig Morgan of PHNX Sports reports the Tucson Roadrunners of the American Hockey League have brought back a trio of players for the 2024-25 AHL season. Goaltender Dylan Wells and forwards Ryan McGregor and Hunter Drew will all be back with the Roadrunners next year on one-year AHL contracts.
Wells and Drew are the only individuals of the trio that have made their NHL debut with Wells making one start in 2023 with the Chicago Blackhawks and Drew making his a year earlier with the Anaheim Ducks. The goaltender has almost a decade of experience at the professional level between the AHL and ECHL. Overall, Wells has produced a record of 26-23-7 in 60 AHL games throughout his career while posting a .898 save percentage and 3.20 goals against average. He will likely continue his role as backup goaltender for Tucson behind Matt Villalta.
Drew has become quite the enforcer in the minor leagues as he’s accrued 452 penalty minutes in 223 games split between the Roadrunners, San Diego Gulls, and Rockford IceHogs. He usually produces mildly on the offensive side of the puck but did register 10 goals for Tucson last season in a fine year for secondary/tertiary scoring.
McGregor, the former captain of the OHL’s Sarnia Sting, has become an effective bottom-six forward in Tucson. McGregor was originally drafted by the Maple Leafs in the sixth round of the 2017 NHL Draft but only suited up in four games for the Toronto Marlies before the organization decided not to keep him around. Since then, McGregor has scored 20 goals and 54 points for the Roadrunners in 156 games over the last four years.
AHL Notes: Cates, Unger Sörum, Marody
The AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks, the Rockford IceHogs, will have a familiar face on the roster next season. The team announced they have agreed to terms with forward Jackson Cates to a one-year AHL contract for the 2024-25 AHL season.
Cates joined the IceHogs last year on a professional tryout agreement after the Philadelphia Flyers decided not to tender him a contract for the 2023-24 NHL season. The young forward came to the Flyers organization after a strong showing with the University of Minnesota-Duluth as an undrafted free agent. In three years split between Philadelphia and AHL Lehigh Valley, Cates tallied two assists in 20 NHL games while scoring 33 points in 102 AHL games.
Cates was by no means a standout player in Rockford but did finish 10th on the team in scoring with 11 goals and 25 points in 50 games. He also spent a brief period with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers last year where he tallied one goal in 12 contests. As the Blackhawks continue to graduate prospects through the farm system this season, Cates will be a good bit of continuity for the younger players to get accustomed to professional life.
Other AHL notes:
- According to Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer, the Carolina Hurricanes will bring prospect Felix Unger Sörum to North America this season where he will likely play for the team’s AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. Beginning to look like one of the better playmakers from the 2023 NHL Draft, Unger Sörum scored three goals and 12 assists for Leksands IF of the SHL this season after being selected with the 62nd overall pick by the Hurricanes.
- Although nothing is confirmed to this point, all signs indicate forward Cooper Marody will return to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on an AHL contract for the 2024-25 season according to Tony Androckitis of Insider AHL Hockey. Marody has spent the last two years with the Phantoms where he has posted 34 goals and 96 points in 115 games. As the team’s highest scorer from the 2023-24 regular season, Marody also tallied five assists in six playoff matchups before Lehigh Valley was eliminated in the Atlantic Division semifinals by the Hershey Bears.
Penguins Hire Wes Clark As Vice President Of Player Personnel
Another high-ranking member of the Toronto Maple Leafs is leaving the organization for the Pittsburgh Penguins as the team announced it has hired Wes Clark as the vice president of player personnel. The news came shortly after Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that Clark would be leaving the Maple Leafs organization.
Clark has spent the last six years of his career working as the director of amateur scouting and director of player personnel. The Maple Leafs have drafted the likes of Nicholas Robertson, Matthew Knies, and Easton Cowan under Clark while only making three selections in the first round of the NHL Draft. Clark also served briefly as an amateur scout with the Florida Panthers before returning to the Original Six organization.
In his new role with the Penguins organization, Clark will oversee the team’s amateur, professional, and European/international free agent scouting departments and will report directly to his old boss, Kyle Dubas. In the public announcement of Clark’s hire, Dubas said, “Having worked with Wes for many years, I have a deep trust in his ability to identify talent, lead staffs, advance our scouting process and methods, learn from mistakes to improve processes and to challenge my own thinking and planning on a near daily basis“.
With a middling team at the NHL level, Pittsburgh must be able to make the most of their draft picks for the next several years. The end of the Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang era is looming large over the Penguins’ organization and the team must balance the end of their illustrious careers with the future without them. According to CapFriendly, Pittsburgh has 24 draft selections in total over the next three NHL Drafts and may add to that collection of picks over the next few seasons.
Florida Panthers Sign Adam Boqvist
10:11 AM: PuckPedia reports Boqvist’s salary will be the league minimum of $775K next season and he will be a restricted free agent at the end of the deal.
8:17 AM: Just over a week after having his contract bought out by the Columbus Blue Jackets, defenseman Adam Boqvist has found a new home. The Florida Panthers announced they have signed the Swedish blue liner to a one-year, one-way contract for the 2024-25 NHL season.
Boqvist came into the league as the eighth overall selection by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2018 NHL Draft. He skated in 15 games for Brynäs IF of the Swedish Hockey League that season while tallying one assist in total. Much of Boqvist’s draft pedigree came from his time on the international stage with Team Sweden where he posted four goals and 11 assists for Sweden’s under-18 team in 16 international contests.
He made his NHL debut during the would-be shortened 2019-20 NHL season. Over two full campaigns with the Blackhawks, Boqvist scored six goals and 29 points over 76 games while averaging 16:35 of ice time per game. The Falun, Sweden native appeared a little immature on the defensive side of the puck during his rookie and sophomore season but showed some promise as a future top-four defenseman.
His time in Chicago was shortlived as the Blackhawks traded Boqvist along with a first-round pick in 2021, a second-round pick in 2021, and a conditional first-round pick in 2022 to the Blue Jackets for the package that would land defenseman Seth Jones in Chicago. As the only player included in the deal — Boqvist had big skates to fill in Columbus.
Boqvist’s offensive output was much better with the Blue Jackets as he scored 16 goals and 46 points in 98 games during his first two years with the Blue Jackets but it became readily apparent there would be injury concerns following the young defenseman. To this day he has not been able to skate in a full regular season and has a yearly-high games played total of 52. This past season was especially bad for Boqvist as he was limited to 35 games played and scored 10 points in total.
There may be some optimism for Boqvist landing in Florida as he has been a quality possession player throughout his time in the NHL and will go to a system that thrives in it. The Panthers had one of the best defensive teams in the league during the 2023-24 NHL season en route to their first Stanley Cup title in team history. Boqvist will have far less responsibility on Florida’s blue line and may even operate as the team’s seventh defenseman to start the season.
Utah Signs Barrett Hayton To Two-Year Contract
As alluded to earlier today, the Utah Hockey Club has signed Barrett Hayton to a two-year contract according to a team announcement. The contract will pay Hayton $2.65MM each year of the deal and will not include performance or signing bonuses.
In the press release the general manager of Utah, Bill Armstrong, said, “We are very pleased to sign Barrett to an extension. Barrett is a reliable two-way center who is strong in the face-off circle and is a great complement down the middle to our high-skilled forwards. We look forward to having him back with our organization“.
The extension for Hayton strikes as a modest commitment from the team as they hope he will be able to reach his draft expectations as the formal fifth overall pick of the 2018 NHL Draft. Hayton has inarguably failed to reach his offensive ceiling compared to his time with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League, but has shown promising talents on the defensive side of the puck.
There was some optimism following the 2022-23 NHL season that Hayton could become more of a legitimate top-six option after scoring 19 goals and 43 points in 82 games but injuries prohibited any meaningful steps forward this past season. In mid-November of the 2023-24 NHL season, Hayton suffered an upper-body injury in a game against the Dallas Stars that was originally only meant to keep him out of the lineup for a maximum of six weeks. Unfortunately, Hayton experienced a setback in his recovery which prolonged his return to nearly three months after the initial injury.
Because of his setback in the recovery process, Hayton was limited to 33 games last season where he mustered three goals and 10 points in total. Hayton still showed promising results on the defensive side of the puck despite the lagging offensive output as he achieved a 49.6% faceoff rate in the dot and a 56.0% CorsiFor% (ranking first on the team for players with 25+ games).
Utah should have sufficient depth to bump Hayton down to a middle-six role to start next season and use him in more favorable matchups. Logan Cooley is poised for more responsibility after a solid 2023-24 season which should take some stress away from Hayton down the middle. If he can stay healthy, Hayton should improve upon his previous output after a lost season.