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Columbus Blue Jackets Extend Andrew Peeke

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The Columbus Blue Jackets aren’t waiting around to see if Andrew Peeke can replicate his breakout season. The team has signed Peeke to a three-year contract extension through the 2025-26 season, which will carry an average annual value of $2.75MM.

The 24-year-old defenseman was scheduled for restricted free agency next summer and would have been arbitration-eligible.

Peeke, the 34th overall pick from 2016, became a regular last season for the Blue Jackets in the absence of Seth Jones, and was quite effective in his heavy defensive role. Logging more than 21 minutes a night while playing in all 82 games, he registered 169 blocks and 191 hits, seeing more short-handed time than anyone else on the team.

Notably, while given a bit more offensive freedom at the World Championships, Peeke led all U.S. players with six assists. If he can continue to improve that side of his game, while remaining a defensive stalwart, a contract like this will represent something of a bargain for the Blue Jackets.

Already, $2.75MM is very reasonable for a defenseman just entering his prime on a team that is trying to be competitive. The question now will be whether or not the team can afford to extend Vladislav Gavrikov, Peeke’s regular defense partner. Gavrikov is an unrestricted free agent next summer and will likely require a raise on his $2.8MM cap hit, but the Blue Jackets don’t have a ton of extra money after spending so much on Johnny Gaudreau and Erik Gudbranson this offseason.

For Peeke, this deal ensures his place on the team and will walk him directly to UFA status in a few years. While he may have been able to secure a bit more had he gone the arbitration route for each of his RFA seasons, he’s now locked into a full-time spot without any further negotiations.

Jacob Melanson Suspended Two Games

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7:03 pm: As announced by NHL Player Safety, Melanson has been suspended for two games for his illegal check to the head against Hamblin. In the video explanation for the decision, the Department provided the following justification:

This is an illegal check to the head. It is important to note that both elements of the illegal check to the head rule are satisfied on this hit. First, the head is the main point of contact; as Melanson’s shoulder makes contact with the head of Hamblin, and it is the head that absorbs the majority of the force of this hit. Second, the head contact on this hit is avoidable. Melanson chooses an angle of approach that cuts across the front of Hamblin’s body, missing his core and picking the head. If Melanson wants to deliver this hit, he must stay low and choose an angle that leads to a full-body check through the shoulder or chest, rather than one that makes the head the main point of contact.

Melanson will serve the suspension in the next two consecutive games that he is eligible to participate for Seattle.

11:05 am: There is a chance that Jacob Melanson is suspended for an NHL game before he even makes his debut. The young winger will have a hearing with the Department of Player Safety today for an illegal check to the head of Edmonton Oilers prospect James Hamblin.

Should he earn a suspension that stretches into the regular season, there is a way around it. The team could essentially keep him on the roster for an extra few days before sending him back to junior, though with the waiver crunch the Kraken are already going to experience, that may not be an option. Otherwise, the suspension would be waiting for Melanson whenever he does make it back to the NHL.

Of course, it also might just keep him out of preseason action, and not carry over to the regular season, given it happened so early in the exhibition schedule.

Melanson, a fifth-round pick of the Kraken in 2021, is known for his physicality and for going over the line at times. Earlier this year he was given a four-game suspension in the QMJHL for taking a run at an opponent, extending his leg to contact knee-on-knee. He also racked up 85 penalty minutes in his 54 games, though his game did prove effective. The young forward also registered 35 goals, breaking out offensively and becoming an interesting NHL prospect.

For now, he’ll have to wait to see what punishment is coming down from the league. If he ever does make the NHL, he’ll be under a watchful eye, as a preseason suspension will be taken into account in any further supplementary discipline decisions.

John Tavares Suffers Oblique Strain

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The Toronto Maple Leafs will be without their captain for the next three weeks, as John Tavares has been ruled out that long with an oblique strain suffered on the weekend, according to Lance Hornby of Postmedia.

A three-week absence essentially ends Tavares’ training camp and likely rules him out for the first few regular season matches, as the Maple Leafs are set to open up their schedule on October 12, just 15 days from now. While it isn’t a huge chunk of the season, Tavares is now 32 and missing training camp will only put him behind the competition upon his return. Toronto was hoping for a big season out of their captain, who is still one of the league’s highest-paid players well into the seven-year deal he signed in 2018.

At the time, the gamble the Maple Leafs made was that the salary cap would continue to go up, making Tavares’ $11MM cap hit a little more palatable. Because of the COVID shutdown and a flat salary cap, the veteran center remains the fifth-highest cap hit in the league, now into the fifth year of the deal. Though he is still an outstanding player – who scored 76 points in 79 games last season – many have argued that his contract has limited the success of the Maple Leafs in recent years, arguing that depth would be more beneficial for an Auston Matthews-led roster.

Whichever side of that debate a Maple Leafs fan comes down on, losing Tavares for the next few weeks certainly isn’t ideal. The team will have to find a different player to fill the second-line center role for the time being.

Pavel Mintyukov Sent To OHL

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There won’t be a surprise NHL appearance by the tenth overall pick this year, as the Anaheim Ducks have sent Pavel Mintyukov back to the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL. His entry-level contract will slide forward, meaning he is now signed through 2025-26 at a minimum.

Mintyukov, 18, actually should be entering his third season with the Spirit, after agreeing to come to North America in 2020. Unfortunately, the year that would have been his rookie season in the OHL was canceled, due to the league’s COVID restrictions. That lost development certainly didn’t slow the Russian defenseman down. Mintykov exploded onto the junior scene with 17 goals and 62 points in 67 games, flying up draft boards and finding himself creeping into the top ten.

While there has been concern about selecting Russian players because of the country’s invasion of Ukraine, Mintyukov has shown a clear desire to play in North America. Not only had he come over to play in the OHL but he signed his entry-level contract with the Ducks just a few days after being selected. Returning to the Spirit for another season should allow the team to have at least a bit of oversight on his development, even though they won’t be directly coaching him.

With how well he did last season, there is a good chance that Mintyukov dominates the league this year and sets himself up to compete for a spot with the Ducks a year from now. At that point, he also may be eligible for AHL action, depending on how his OHL status was determined. As an import player, if the NHL lists him as “on loan” to the CHL during his draft year, he will qualify for the AHL even before the age of 20, as others such as Filip Zadina and Rasmus Sandin have in the past. One factor likely not in his favor is that he did not play professional games before joining the Spirit, only suiting up in the Russian MHL (junior equivalent).

2023 Trade Deadline Set For March 3

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The trade deadline festivities have a date. Chris Johnston of NorthStar Bets reports that this season’s deadline will be on March 3, 2023 at 3 pm ET. That’s a Friday, meaning it might be quite the celebration for some hockey fans and a day of remembrance for others. It is also nearly three weeks earlier than this year’s deadline, which was late due to the Olympic break that was built into the schedule. Things are finally getting back to normal on the NHL calendar.

March 3 seems to be a fitting date after 33 trades were completed on deadline day this year, including some huge names switching teams. Marc-Andre Fleury, Hampus Lindholm, Rickard Rakell, Artturi Lehkonen, and Nick Leddy were all on the move but have decided to stick around with their new teams. Others like Max Domi and Andrew Copp found new homes after failing to help their clubs reach the Stanley Cup.

The day is always a fun mix of excitement and disappointment, and this season should be no different. With players like Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Ryan O’Reilly, Vladimir Tarasenko, Max Pacioretty, James van Riemsdyk, John Klingberg, David Pastrnak, Dylan Larkin, Tyler Bertuzzi, Damon Severson, MacKenzie Weegar, and Bo Horvat all still on expiring contracts, there could be some serious fireworks as the deadline approaches. While some of these will be extended, and others kept for Cup runs, there will likely be a handful of big names on the market.

So hockey fans can circle this date on their calendar as one that could be as important as any other this year, both for contending and rebuilding clubs. With the season right around the corner, it will come quicker than you think.

Training Camp Cuts: 09/27/22

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Another day, another round of cuts for NHL teams across the league. The preseason is chugging along and the regular season is right around the corner, meaning prospects and tryouts will start to be sent home. Here are today’s cuts:

Anaheim Ducks (via Eric Stephens of The Athletic)

F Sasha Pastujov (to Guelph, OHL)
F Connor Hvidston (to Swift Current, WHL)
D Pavel Mintyukov (to Saginaw, OHL)
D Tristan Luneau (to Gatineau, QMJHL)

Dallas Stars (via team release)

F Francesco Arcuri (to Kingston, OHL)
F Justin Ertel (to North Bay, OHL)
F Conner Roulette (to Saskatoon, WHL)
F Matthew Seminoff (to Kamloops, WHL)
D Jacob Holmes (to Sudbury, OHL)
D Christian Kyrou (to Erie, OHL)
F Logan Morrison (released from ATO)
D Jacob Murray (released from ATO)

Edmonton Oilers (via team release)

F Reid Schaefer (to Seattle, WHL)
D Max Wanner (to Moose Jaw, WHL)

Minnesota Wild (via team release)

F Tanner Kaspick (to Iowa, AHL)
F Ty Ronning (to Iowa, AHL)
F Mike O’Leary (to Iowa, AHL)
D Turner Ottenbreit (to Iowa, AHL)
D Benjamin Finklestein (to Iowa, AHL)
G C.J. Motte (to Iowa, AHL)

Nashville Predators (via team release)

D Jack Matier (to Ottawa, OHL)
D Graham Sward (to Spokane, WHL)

New York Rangers (via team release)

F Adam Sykora (to HK Nitra, Slovakia)

Vegas Golden Knights (via Jesse Granger, The Athletic)

F Colt Conrad (to Henderson, AHL)
F Daniel D’Amato (to Henderson, AHL)
F Connor Ford (to Henderson, AHL)
F Patrick Guay (to Henderson, AHL)
F Marcus Kallionkieli (to Henderson, AHL)
D Kyle Marino (to Henderson, AHL)
F Lynden McCallum (to Henderson, AHL)
F Mason Primeau (to Henderson, AHL)
F Alex Swetlikoff (to Henderson, AHL)
D Connor Corcoran (to Henderson, AHL)
D Peter DiLiberatore (to Henderson, AHL)
G Jordan Papirny (to Henderson, AHL)
G Isaiah Saville (to Henderson, AHL)
F Jordan Gustafson (to Seattle, WHL)
F Ben Hemmerling (to Everett, WHL)
F Matyas Sapovaliv (to Saginaw, OHL)
D Artur Cholach (to Barrie, OHL)
D Joe Fleming (to Sherbrooke, QMJHL)
G Jesper Vikman (to Vancouver, WHL)
D William Riedell (released from PTO)

Winnipeg Jets (via team release)

F Danny Zhilkin (to Guelph, OHL)
D Dmitry Kuzmin (to Flint, OHL)
G Domenic DiVincentiis (to North Bay, OHL)

This page will be updated throughout the day

Florida Panthers Extend Spencer Knight

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The Florida Panthers have locked up their future in net, signing Spencer Knight to a three-year extension. The deal kicks in for the 2023-24 season and will carry an average annual value of $4.5MM. Panthers general manager Bill Zito released a statement:

Spencer is a phenomenal goaltender, as well as an exceptional athlete and person. He has thrived in his professional career, dedicating himself to his training through his first two seasons with our organization. With this extension, we are excited about the present and future of Panthers goaltending.

A three-year extension means Knight’s contract status now lines up with Sergei Bobrovsky, with both expiring after the 2025-26 season. While the team will have to carry a combined $14.5MM cap hit those three years, Knight will still be an RFA in the summer of 2026, meaning a long-term extension can still be worked out with the money that Bobrovsky was earning.

For this year, the 21-year-old netminder is still in the final season of his entry-level contract, despite already being a regular at the NHL level. The 13th overall pick from 2019 played in 32 games for the Panthers last season, registering a .908 save percentage. He also got into 11 games with the Charlotte Checkers to stay fresh, posting a .905 in the AHL.

Incredibly composed in net, Knight is basically the prototype for the modern NHL goaltender. Big and agile with strong positioning, there are few goaltending prospects better. While his results do leave a little bit of room for improvement, the Panthers obviously believe he is the real deal, signing him to a rather expensive bridge deal. He comes in ahead of Jake Oettinger (3 years, $4.0MM AAV), and Carter Hart (3 years, $3.979MM AAV), two other young goaltenders with big expectations.

It will be interesting to see how much Knight starts to take over in Florida, and whether the Panthers will ever consider moving on from Bobrovsky. While he holds a full no-movement clause at the moment, that will change to a 16-team no-trade list in the summer of 2024. It would obviously be difficult to move his massive contract but one thing in the Panthers’ favor is the financial structure. Bobrovsky will have earned $57.5MM of the $70MM deal by the end of 2023-24.

Regardless, locking up Knight at this point was important if they plan on giving him more responsibility this season. A breakout campaign would send his price skyrocketing, and potentially take a bridge deal off the table. Locking him in now is a bit risky, as it assumes he will continue to progress, but there aren’t many goaltenders that would be a better bet.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports

Snapshots: Extension Talks, Sutter, Border Mandates

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There are several players around the league that have been involved in extension talks over the summer, including the likes of MacKenzie Weegar and Bo Horvat. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet touches on several of these situations in the latest 32 Thoughts podcast, giving his thoughts on whether in-season negotiation will be an option.

In Weegar’s case, Friedman notes that there is a feeling that once the season begins, extension talks will be shelved to the end of the year. The 28-year-old defenseman is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and is coming off a career-best 44 points last season. While Horvat’s situation is a bit murkier, Friedman believes that David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins is open to talking throughout the year.

  • Another important member of the Calgary Flames is in the final year of his contract but he isn’t a player. Friedman believes that Darryl Sutter will likely be extended at some point, as his three-year deal approaches expiry. Sutter was hired in 2021, making the first year of his deal the end of the 2020-21 season, and has had a strong effect since returning to Calgary. Under his leadership, the team went from missing the playoffs with a sub .500 record in 2020-21 to winning the Pacific Division and reaching the second round.
  • The Canadian government is dropping all vaccine requirements for non-citizens entering the country as of October 1, meaning that unvaccinated players in leagues like the NHL, NBA, and MLB should now be able to travel with their teams for games in Canada. Last season, for instance, the Detroit Red Wings were forced to leave Tyler Bertuzzi behind when they went on road trips north of the border, something that may well have cost him the team lead in scoring, given the pace he produced at through 68 games. Hopefully, the league will not need to deal with these limitations in the future, as health officials continue to reduce restrictions.

Brock Boeser Undergoes Hand Surgery

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After signing a new three-year, $19.95MM contract this summer, there was plenty of excitement around a potential bounce-back season for Brock Boeser and the Vancouver Canucks. Unfortunately, his debut will have to wait, as Boeser suffered a hand injury at practice on Saturday and underwent surgery today. He is out for three to four weeks.

The 2021-22 season was something of a disappointment for Boeser, who dealt with injury and the death of his father. He still scored 23 goals in 71 games, but his 46 points were the worst per-game pace of his career. With contract security in tow, it seemed likely that he could make it back to the dynamic offensive piece he was in years past.

Now, with another training camp disrupted by injury, it’s not clear what the Canucks will receive from Boeser for the first part of the year at least. A hand injury is certainly not what you want to hear for a player that relies so much on his shot, but hopefully, the three-week timeline has him back on the ice after missing just a few games.

With Boeser out – and Ilya Mikheyev, who is still being evaluated – there will be some minutes up for grabs in the top six. General manager Jim Rutherford did tell Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK TV today that Nils Hoglander has impressed him, and that Andrei Kuzmenko still has some adjustments to make with the North American game.

Conor Geekie Returned To WHL

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As we now get closer and closer to the start of the regular season, some of the top selections of the 2021 and 2022 drafts will be sent back to their junior teams to continue developing. Making the NHL is a difficult task, and with CHL players under the age of 20, the AHL is not an option due to age restrictions. Today, the Arizona Coyotes have sent Conor Geekie back to the WHL’s Winnipeg ICE, where he will remain for the rest of the season. The team has also sent undrafted netminder Anson Thornton to the Barrie Colts.

Geekie, 18, was the 11th overall pick in this year’s draft, after his outstanding 2021-22 season that saw him score 70 points in 63 games with Winnipeg. He and Matthew Savoie, the ninth overall pick (Buffalo), drive one of the most exciting offensive teams in junior hockey, and should make the ICE a contender once again this year.

Standing 6’3″ but with a game focused more on skill than size, Geekie projects to be a long-time asset down the middle for the Coyotes. At this point in the rebuild, there is no benefit from rushing a player like him, meaning a trip back to junior was always in the cards. Still, it will be interesting to see what kind of forward momentum he can build this year after already dominating most nights as a 17-year-old.

Notably, since he only turned 18 in May, Geekie will not be eligible for the AHL in 2023-24 either, as he will still be under the 20-year-old cutoff. That means the ICE could potentially get him for two more years, should he fail to make the Coyotes again next fall. For now, he’ll likely be a candidate for the Canadian Word Junior team in December, and a top performer all year in the WHL.

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