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Pittsburgh Penguins Hire Greg Pateryn, Chris Butler

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The Pittsburgh Penguins have made some additions to their scouting and development staff, with one name having played in the NHL just last season. Greg Pateryn will join the team as a professional scout, essentially announcing his retirement as a player after parts of nine seasons in the league. The team has also hired Chris Butler as a player development coach and Garrett Peters as a global crossover scout.

Pateryn, 32, spent most of last season with the San Diego Gulls of the AHL, recording 12 points in 35 games. He also played ten times for the Anaheim Ducks, taking his career total to 290 regular season matches. A fifth-round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2008, he played for the Ducks, San Jose Sharks, Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars, and Montreal Canadiens over his professional career.

With the Penguins, he’ll be tasked with scouting western conference teams and will be based out of California, where he has played the last two years.

Butler, meanwhile, also concluded his playing career rather recently, retiring after the 2018-19 season. The 35-year-old former defenseman played 407 NHL games spread over parts of 11 seasons, suiting up for the Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames, and St. Louis Blues. After retirement, he spent a year with the Arizona Coyotes as an amateur scout but will now be joining Trevor Daley in helping the organization’s defensive prospects. He reports to Tom Kostopolous, the team’s director of player development.

Peters joins the Penguins have five seasons with the St. Louis Blues, where he served as an amateur scout. He will scout players in North America and Europe for the Pittsburgh organization.

Lawson Crouse Signs Five-Year Extension

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Arbitration will have to wait. Lawson Crouse and the Arizona Coyotes have agreed on a five-year contract extension, just ahead of their arbitration hearing that was scheduled for today. The deal will carry an average annual value of $4.3MM. Craig Morgan of PHNX Sports has the full breakdown:

  • 2022-23: $3.6MM
  • 2023-24: $4.6MM
  • 2024-25: $4.6MM
  • 2025-26: $4.8MM
  • 2026-27: $3.8MM

The two sides had exchanged arbitration figures over the weekend, with the Coyotes filing for $2.5MM and Crouse asking for a $4.0MM contract. That would have been a one or two-year deal, which is why the number crept a bit higher as the two sides agreed on a long-term solution. General manager Bill Armstrong released a short statement:

We are very pleased to sign Lawson to a long-term contract. He is a big, strong, skilled power forward and we look forward to him being a big part of our future.

Crouse, 25, still had two years of restricted free agency left, meaning this contract is buying out three UFA seasons for the power forward. He’s coming off his first 20-goal season, one in which he was an impressive blend of size, physicality, and scoring touch. Those 20 goals and 34 points came in just 65 games, along with his 181 hits.

Originally selected 11th overall by the Florida Panthers in 2015, Crouse was part of the trade that sent Dave Bolland’s LTIR-bound contract to the desert in 2016. Since then, he has played in 346 games for the Coyotes, scoring 56 goals and 110 points.

While those numbers don’t jump off the page, he did experience a solid improvement this season and is the kind of power-skill mix that is difficult to find in today’s NHL. He’ll join Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz as the only Arizona players who are signed for more than three years, and slides in as one of the team’s building blocks moving forward.

The team still has Barrett Hayton to sign as a restricted free agent, but otherwise looks rather set for the upcoming season. Arizona does still have close to $20MM in cap space, meaning they can continue to use that room to acquire more futures for the rest of the summer, if the opportunity arises.

Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet was first to break the news on Twitter. 

Boston Bruins Re-Sign Patrice Bergeron

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The captain is back, as Patrice Bergeron has officially re-signed with the Boston Bruins. The legendary defensive forward will be back for his 19th season, agreeing to a one-year, $2.5MM contract. The deal also has an additional $2.5MM in potential performance bonuses.

Not only does this bring back one of the best players in Bruins history but Bergeron has done the team a huge favor by agreeing to such a reasonable contract. Because he is over the age of 35 and signing a one-year deal, he’s eligible for performance bonuses. If any part of that bonus money would put the team over the salary cap ceiling by the end of the year, they can be pushed to the 2023-24 books.

Given the fact that Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports is reporting that the entire $2.5MM bonus is for 10 games played, this is essentially a way for the Bruins to split Bergeron’s cap hit between two seasons. They can now operate as if he is only taking up $2.5MM, while then incurring up to a $2.5MM penalty next season – whether he plays or not.

Still, that is a ridiculously low number for a player of his ability. The 37-year-old had one of the best defensive seasons in history last year, and added 25 goals and 65 points in 73 games, winning his record fifth Selke Trophy in the process. Had he actually been on the open market, he likely could have secured multiple years and a much higher salary.

There was never any chance of him going somewhere else though, as Boston has been his home for two decades. The Bruins selected Bergeron 45th overall in 2003, and he has been a pillar of consistency in their lineup basically ever since.

One of the few players left in the league to have played before the 2004-05 lockout, Bergeron was a rookie in 2003-04 and scored 16 goals and 39 points as a teenager. After the NHL resumed in 2005, he was already an All-Star level talent, with 31 goals and 73 points in his sophomore year. After 1,216 regular season games with the team, he sits on 400 goals and 982 points, meaning he’ll have another milestone night at some point this year.

Whether the rest of the Bruins roster is good enough to contend for the Stanley Cup still remains to be seen but there is no arguing against the fact that Bergeron gets them closer. The veteran forward will be in the Hall of Fame one day, and the team is paying him as if he’s a depth option.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

2022 Arbitration Tracker

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The dates for the upcoming arbitration hearings have been set, with the first one scheduled for July 27. Hearings will continue through August 11 this year, with that being the busiest day of the schedule. It is important to note that the CBA agreement in 2020 changed the rules for arbitration so that once a hearing begins, teams are no longer allowed to negotiate with the player in question.

The full schedule is:

July 27
Isac Lundestrom (Anaheim Ducks) – Settled: 2 years, $1.8MM AAV

July 29
Jesse Puljujarvi (Edmonton Oilers) – Settled: 1 year, $3.0MM

July 30
Kasperi Kapanen (Pittsburgh Penguins) – Settled: 2 years, $3.2MM AAV
Matthew Phillips (Calgary Flames) – Settled: 1 year, $750K AAV (two-way contract)

August 1
Mathieu Joseph (Ottawa Senators) – Settled: 3 years, $2.95MM AAV
Steven Lorentz (San Jose Sharks) – Settled: 2 years, $1.05MM AAV

August 2
Yakov Trenin (Nashville Predators) – Awarded: 2 years, $1.7MM AAV

August 3
Jesper Bratt (New Jersey Devils) – Settled: 1 year, $5.45MM AAV

August 5
Andrew Mangiapane (Calgary Flames) – Settled: 3 years, $5.8MM AAV

August 6
Miles Wood (New Jersey Devils) – Settled: 1 year, $3.2MM AAV

August 7
Kailer Yamamoto (Edmonton Oilers) – Settled: 2 years, $3.1MM AAV

August 8
Ethan Bear (Carolina Hurricanes) – Settled: 1 year, $2.2MM
Lawson Crouse (Arizona Coyotes) – Settled: 5 years, $4.3MM AAV
Zack MacEwen (Philadelphia Flyers) – Settled: 1 year, $925K

August 9
Maxime Lajoie (Carolina Hurricanes) – Settled: 1 year, $750K (two-way contract)

August 10
Keegan Kolesar (Vegas Golden Knights) – Settled: 3 years, $1.4MM AAV
Oliver Kylington (Calgary Flames) – Settled: 2 years, $2.5MM AAV

August 11
Mason Appleton (Winnipeg Jets) – Settled: 3 years, $2.167MM AAV
Morgan Geekie (Seattle Kraken) – Settled: 1 year, $1.4MM AAV
Tyce Thompson (New Jersey Devils) – Settled: 2 years, $762.5K AAV (partial two-way)
Matthew Tkachuk (Florida Panthers) – Settled: 8 years, $9.5MM AAV
Jake Walman (Detroit Red Wings) – Settled: 1 year, $1.05MM
Pavel Zacha (Boston Bruins) – Settled: 1 year, $3.5MM

Anaheim Ducks Sign John Klingberg

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The market for John Klingberg this offseason never did materialize as he had hoped, so he will try again next summer after signing a one-year, $7MM contract with the Anaheim Ducks.  GM Pat Verbeek released the following statement about the signing:

We are extremely excited to add John to our group. John is a gifted player who can quarterback a power play and give us needed scoring from the blueline. He also adds veteran leadership and character to our team.

It didn’t take long for Klingberg’s new agency to get a deal worked out, after he switched to Newport Sports Management earlier this week. The 29-year-old defenseman had been looking for a seven-year deal on the open market but after two weeks of waiting, he’ll have to settle for a one-year, high-money contract to set himself up for next season.

There’s little doubt that Klingberg can be a difference-making offensive weapon but with a history of inconsistent defensive play and a tough season results-wise (he finished a -28, the worst of his career), there may have been hesitation from teams willing to hand out long-term deals. Players like Ben Chiarot and Erik Gudbranson, two heavy, physical defensemen, were able to secure multi-year contracts at a hefty price but the offensive-minded Klingberg will have to settle for the one-year deal and try to prove he can still be a top-pairing option.

Heading to Anaheim is an interesting choice, given what the team already has in place. Kevin Shattenkirk and Jamie Drysdale are already good puck-moving options on the right side, and Cam Fowler was the team’s leader on the powerplay in 2021-22. While Shattenkirk has just one year remaining on his deal and Drysdale is still just 20 years old, one has to wonder how the team will fit Klingberg into the mix, at least in terms of deployment.

In terms of potential upside? The Ducks are certainly that, with plenty of young talent buzzing all over the ice and a need for some veteran playmakers to add to the mix. The team already brought in Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano in free agency, showing that they’re ready to start competing again after adding some top prospects to the mix.

Most notably for Anaheim, perhaps, is that Klingberg could potentially be a top trade chip at the deadline, should the team not be quite ready to make the playoffs this season. Adding that kind of chip–a trade with retained salary would likely net at least a first-round pick–for nothing but a little offseason cap space is a savvy move from Verbeek. It’s worth noting that the deal only contains a no-trade clause until January 1st, PuckPedia reports. After that, it turns into a 10-team no-trade clause. The team wasn’t in any danger of putting themselves in a tricky cap situation, as before signing Klingberg they had nearly $26MM in space. It makes perfect sense for the team to spend some of it to add an asset to the organization, even if it will be for only a few months.

There is also the chance that Klingberg could sign an extension in Anaheim, though that would have to wait until January 2023 now.

Overall, this seems like a player who is trying to make the best out of a disappointing free agent result, and a team capitalizing on having cap space in a market that is so tight.

ESPN’s Kevin Weekes was the first to report the deal.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Latest On Patrick Kane

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It’s clear that the veteran leadership in the Chicago Blackhawks dressing room is disappointed in the direction of the franchise the last few months, selling off young, core pieces for future assets. General manager Kyle Davidson has suggested it will be a five-plus year rebuild, something that doesn’t sound appealing to captain Jonathan Toews.

Unlike Toews, who has struggled in recent years to stay healthy and productive, Patrick Kane is still one of the most dynamic offensive players in the league and would likely draw a crowd if made available. While David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period tweets that the Blackhawks have engaged in trade discussions regarding Kane and lists the Dallas Stars as one of the teams with recent interest, Mark Lazerus of The Athletic has thrown cold water on any speculation. Lazerus has been informed by a source that there have been no trade talks so far, though admits that teams are likely “sniffing around” on the superstar forward.

Kane, of course, holds most of the power here, with a full no-movement clause that allows him to dictate who he can be traded to, and when. If he wanted to stay in Chicago for the final year of his current contract, there’s nothing that the Blackhawks could do about it. If he’s willing to move though, it represents another high-priced asset that could allow Davidson to add even more talent to the team down the road.

For many fans in Chicago though, trading Kane (or Toews) is more than just moving out an asset. The first-overall pick in 2007 has spent his entire career with the Blackhawks, winning three Stanley Cup championships, a Calder Trophy, the Hart, Pearson, and Art Ross all in the same year, and a Conn Smythe. He has 1,180 points in 1,107 games and would be a lock for the Hall of Fame even if he retired today.

At 33, he is still very much a dominant presence in the NHL and scored 92 points just this past season. That actually might be part of the reason why the Blackhawks would want to move him in the first place. In a season in which they appear to be tanking for the best odds in the 2023 draft, Kane’s presence could potentially elevate teammates to competitive status and help them win too many games.

So while Toews has been vocal with some of his frustration, Kane remains the player most fans are focused on this offseason. If he gives the okay, there will likely be an arms race to try and acquire him, especially if the Blackhawks are willing to retain half of his remaining contract (and why wouldn’t they, really). Kane carries a cap hit of $10.5MM but is due just $6.9MM this season, with $4MM of that to be paid in signing bonuses.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Dallas Stars Sign Ben Gleason

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The Dallas Stars have signed Ben Gleason to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2022-23 season. The young defenseman was a restricted free agent after his previous one-year deal had expired this summer.

Gleason, 24, experienced an outstanding season this year with the Texas Stars, racking up 44 points in 70 games to finish fifth among all AHL defensemen in scoring. Undrafted, he was signed out of the OHL in 2018 and has been an excellent performer for Texas ever since, even getting into four games with Dallas during his first professional season.

While he won’t likely play a big role at the NHL level this year, he certainly warranted bringing back on a two-way contract as he’s an integral part of the minor league depth chart. Perhaps he’ll receive a chance to play a few games but mostly, Texas fans should be ready to watch Gleason rack up points once again in 2022-23.

Stefan Matteau Signs In Sweden

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After spending most of last season in the minor leagues, Stefan Matteau is headed overseas. The free agent foward has signed a two-year contract with Linkoping HC of the SHL, ending his run in North America for the time being.

Matteau, 28, was a first-round pick of the New Jersey Devils back in 2012 and has bounced around the league over the last few seasons. Playing NHL games with the Devils, Montreal Canadiens, Vegas Golden Knights, Columbus Blue Jackets, and most recently the Colorado Avalanche, the versatile forward was unable to really establish himself as a full-time option.

It is somewhat interesting to see him head to Europe, given the fact that Matteau has landed NHL contracts over and over again, despite not really playing much at that level. Last season, he was signed to a one-year, two-way deal with the Avalanche that included a strong minor league guarantee of $250K. He had secured guarantees of $200K on each of his last three contracts as well.

Still, with the SHL being a very competitive league and Matteau describing this chance as an “adventure” for himself and his family, it makes sense for him to pursue the new challenge. If the two-year deal marks the end of his NHL career, he’ll finish with 92 games played and 11 points at the highest level.

Philadelphia Flyers Sign Owen Tippett

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The Philadelphia Flyers have locked up restricted free agent Owen Tippett for the next two years, signing him to a two-year, $3MM contract ($1.5MM AAV). PuckPedia reports that it will be worth $1.25MM in 2022-23 and $1.75MM in 2023-24.

Tippett, 23, is at something of a crossroads in his career. If there is ever to be a year where he needed to establish himself as a legitimate full-time NHL player, it is now, after being acquired by the Flyers last season as part of the return for Claude Giroux. Following the trade, he scored four goals and seven points in 21 games with Philadelphia, seeing more ice time than he had ever received with the Florida Panthers.

Despite having a powerful, accurate shot–one that was the biggest talking point when he went 10th overall in 2017–Tippett hasn’t actually scored at the rate many were expecting. His career shooting percentage has sat right around 8% since he entered the league, and he has just 18 goals in 115 NHL games. Even in Philadelphia, where he was thrust into substantial powerplay time as soon as he arrived, he managed just a single goal with the man advantage, a scenario where many expected him to dominate.

So this season, with a full summer with the organization, new coaching staff, and plenty of opportunities to play up in the lineup, Tippett will have big expectations once again. If he can take a step forward and become the big, powerful, offensive presence that many expected him to be, there is an opportunity for huge surplus value in this two-year deal. If he can’t, things might turn sour rapidly, as his career will always be connected to Giroux from this point forward in Philadelphia.

New Jersey Devils Hire Ryan McGill

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We’re at the point of the offseason when teams are starting to round out their coaching staffs for next season, and the New Jersey Devils are the latest to make an addition. Ryan McGill will join Lindy Ruff’s staff for 2022-23.

McGill, 53, had been with the Vegas Golden Knights since their inception, serving as an assistant coach for the last five years in the desert. Credited with helping along the development of several young defensemen including Shea Theodore, Nicolas Hague, and Zach Whitecloud, he’ll now join a New Jersey team that is ready to take the next step.

A former NHL defenseman himself, he will have quite the group of proteges to work with over the coming years. Not only do the Devils have established names like Dougie Hamilton and John Marino locked in long-term but also an emerging talent in Jonas Siegenthaler and some of the best defensive prospects in the league, with Simon Nemec and Luke Hughes. The development of those two, in particular, make this an important hire to get right, and McGill is certainly not coming in with a lack of experience.

Before joining Vegas, he had spent a few years coaching in junior with the Kootenay Ice and Owen Sound Attack, but there was also a seven-year period where McGill served as a head coach in the AHL.

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