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Mikhail Sergachev Changes Agents

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The Tampa Bay Lightning cleared out cap space moving forward by selling off Ryan McDonagh, and now one of the biggest options on their to-do list is signing Mikhail Sergachev to a long-term extension. Heading into the final year of his current deal, the 24-year-old will be eligible to sign an extension this summer and will now be doing it with new representation.

Sergachev has joined Dan Milstein of Gold Star Hockey, according to Darren Dreger of TSN. Colleague Chris Johnston notes that the young defenseman is likely to sign an extension in the coming weeks.

While an agent change can sometimes bring a worry to a front office, the Lightning group is quite familiar with Milstein. He also represents Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy, two players that Tampa Bay had no trouble locking up. In fact, some might say that both Russian superstars gave the Lightning a discount of sorts–something that is a bit offset by the lack of state income tax–when they signed their current contracts, both for $9.5MM per season.

Kucherov signed an eight-year, $76MM contract just a few days after he became eligible in 2018, and Vasilevskiy took just a few weeks before signing an identical one (at least in years and total dollars) the following summer.

With McDonagh now in Nashville, there will be even more responsibility heaped on Sergachev (and fellow extension candidate Erik Cernak) in the coming years. Coming off a three-year bridge deal that carried a cap hit of $4.8MM, the young defenseman has a huge amount of leverage in any negotiation, and should see a monster number on his next deal. Not only does he sit 27th in scoring among all defensemen since he entered the league–ahead of names like Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Darnell Nurse–but his current contract is set to pay out $7.2MM this season. That means a matching qualifying offer would be necessary just to keep him in 2023-24, a season which would also be his last before unrestricted free agency.

It would be difficult to create better conditions for a massive long-term extension, another reason why the team needed to clear money off the back end this summer.

Latest On Ilya Mikheyev

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The Toronto Maple Leafs made it clear to teams last week that they would be willing to trade Ilya Mikheyev’s rights before the start of free agency, as it seemed unlikely that he would be re-signing with the team. That is because of the contract demands of the pending free agent winger. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic tweets that Mikheyev and agent Dan Milstein will be looking for a multi-year contract with a cap hit somewhere between $4.75MM and $5.5MM, a hefty price and one that the Maple Leafs likely cannot pay.

Mikheyev, 27, did have a strong season, scoring 21 goals in 53 games including four short-handed tallies. That’s an 82-game pace of 32 goals and it was done without a ton of powerplay time or extended play in the top-six. Often used as a more defensive weapon, Mikheyev started a higher percentage of his shifts in his own end than almost any other Maple Leafs forward. His penalty-killing stats jump off the page, and his speed is something that can change a game at any moment.

Still, this is a player that has just 146 NHL games under his belt and has scored just 36 goals so far. A strong 82-game pace is one thing but at this point, the 2021-22 season could just as easily be an outlier, and Mikheyev’s production is closer to the 15 goals he scored across years one and two. A severe wrist injury during that time did affect his ability to shoot the puck but given how much of his offense has come from counter-attacking with speed and not controlling the play–he had just 11 assists this season–there is some risk that in a new system, those chances disappear.

At this point, with so much money tied up in their other big-name forwards, spending $5MM on Mikheyev doesn’t make much sense for the Maple Leafs. The team will have to look for cheaper options to replace his production or promote an internal option.

Morning Notes: DeBrincat, Staios, Bowness

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As the 2022 NHL Draft approaches, many eyes are on the Chicago Blackhawks with speculation running rampant over the future of young sniper Alex DeBrincat. It’s not often that a player has two 40-goal seasons under his belt by the time he’s 24, even rarer for that player to be available in trade. With the Blackhawks starting a scorched earth rebuild in Chicago though, DeBrincat could find his way out the door.

Scott Powers and Mark Lazerus of The Athletic believe that the Blackhawks would pull the trigger on a DeBrincat deal if they received the right offer, and suggest that could be a top-10 pick and a quality prospect. That may seem like a disappointing return to fans who are hoping for a franchise-altering haul for their young star.

  • Sixty-six points in 59 regular season games, an OHL championship, and a Memorial Cup final. It was a pretty nice season for undrafted defenseman Nathan Staios even before the personal awards. He was named both OHL Most Outstanding Defenseman and CHL Defenseman of the Year, giving him a nice platform to negotiate from as he tries to turn pro. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet notes that the Florida Panthers have shown some interest in the 21-year-old, who is the son of former NHL defenseman Steve Staios.
  • Not only does Rick Bowness have a two-year deal as the head coach of the Winnipeg Jets, it includes a third-year option as well. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reports that it is a club option worth close to $3MM. Bowness, 67, is coming up on 40 years since he first stepped behind the bench with the Jets, joining the organization as an assistant in 1984 after his playing days ended there.

Anthony Duclair Suffers Achilles Injury

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July 2: The Panthers have announced that Duclair has undergone successful surgery with an anticipated return of midseason.

June 29: The start of the 2022-23 season isn’t going well for the Florida Panthers. According to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic and Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, Panthers forward Anthony Duclair suffered an Achilles tendon injury during offseason training and will likely require surgery. Though Friedman notes that the current timeline is unclear, surgery would mean a lengthy recovery.

In 2018, for instance, Jean-Gabriel Pageau suffered a torn Achilles during the first day of training camp with the Ottawa Senators and was given a six-month recovery timeline. Panthers fans will be happy to know that it took nowhere near that long for him to actually return. Pageau was activated less than four months later and was in the lineup in early January.

Of course, there are other instances that weren’t so successful. Michal Kempny of the Washington Capitals underwent Achilles surgery in October 2020 and ended up missing nearly the entire 2020-21 season.

For Duclair, this is brutal timing given his recent performance. The 26-year-old winger is coming off a 31-goal season with the Panthers–the best of his career–and is finally an important member of a team’s attack. The 2013 third-round pick worked his way through the New York Rangers, Arizona Coyotes, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Ottawa Senators before arriving in Sunrise but has found a home with Florida.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Dallas Stars Extend Riley Tufte

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The Dallas Stars continue to make quick work of some minor deals, this time signing Riley Tufte to a one-year, two-way contract extension. The young forward was set to be an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent this summer.

This contract follows similar pacts with Ryan Shea and Joseph Cecconi over the last few days, moves that assured the depth of the organization will continue through next season. Unlike the other two though, Tufte was selected in the first round six years ago and hasn’t quite reached the level that the Stars had hoped for at this point.

Standing 6’6″ with a reach that seems to extend the entire rink, the Minnesota native was a force in college, winning two consecutive national championships with the University of Minnesota-Duluth. There were few players at that level who could knock him off the puck, and he fit in well with a team that was always on top of you, grinding the puck in the corner or laying big hits.

The offense hasn’t really shown up at the professional level though, with just 44 points in 143 AHL games. Tufte made his NHL debut this year and scored one goal in ten games, though it is still unclear where exactly he fits into the long-term plan.

Because of his age, he will actually qualify for Group VI unrestricted free agency next summer, should he fail to play in 70 games this season. While there’s certainly a chance he locks down a bottom-six role and plays that many, it’s no guarantee. One thing helping him out is that in order to send him to the minor leagues, Tufte would now need to clear waivers. His size and draft pedigree would likely be of interest to some teams, meaning the Stars might be forced to keep him in the NHL or risk losing him for nothing.

Tampa Bay Lightning Considering Ryan McDonagh Trade

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After barely missing out on their third consecutive Stanley Cup championship, the Tampa Bay Lightning may be forced to do some drastic reshuffling of the core. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports that the team is working with Ryan McDonagh to find out if there is a fit somewhere else in the league. McDonagh has a full no-trade clause and can essentially decide where he plays at this point.

Friedman notes that the team wants to retain both Nick Paul and Ondrej Palat (among others) who are set to become unrestricted free agents. Moving McDonagh would essentially be a cap move, given the $6.75MM hit he carries through 2025-26.

It’s shocking news, given how good McDonagh has been for Tampa Bay since arriving in 2018. Acquired from the New York Rangers along with J.T. Miller for a package that revolved around Brett Howden, Libor Hajek, and draft picks, it was a move that was critical in building the squad that won two years later. McDonagh has averaged nearly 22 minutes a night with the Lightning, eating up the toughest defensive assignments to allow Victor Hedman, Mikhail Sergachev, and others to contribute more at the offensive end of the rink.

Now 33, with nearly 1,000 tough, physical games under his belt, it might be prudent for the Lightning to get out from under McDonagh’s contract before it becomes an issue. He is signed longer than any other defenseman on the roster and yet is several years older than most. Despite his continued strong play, and the fact that he is “hugely popular” in the locker room according to Friedman, the Lightning need to make a change somewhere if they’re going to keep Palat and Paul.

The team already projects to be over the cap for next season, though Brent Seabrook’s contract will provide a little bit of long-term injured reserve wiggle room. Jan Rutta, a depth defenseman that has been useful over the last few years, and Riley Nash, who stepped into the lineup in Brayden Point’s absence this postseason, are also both scheduled to become UFAs.

There have been other players jettisoned from the Lightning over the years. Miller, Tyler Johnson, and Yanni Gourde left with money still on their contracts. Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow couldn’t be re-signed because of higher bidders on the market. Still, none of those moves seem as important as a McDonagh move would be, given how integral he has been to the defense over the last several years. His absence would leave a gaping hole on the second pairing, one that the team doesn’t appear to have an internal candidate for.

Perhaps a player like Cal Foote could step into an increased role, but a McDonagh move could leave the Lightning looking outside the organization for an answer. A cheaper answer, it would be, and likely one that isn’t quite as effective as the veteran–at least for the time being.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Coaching Notes: Engel-Natzke, Nasreddine, Jets

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The Washington Capitals have made history with the promotion of Emily Engel-Natzke to video coordinator, making her the first woman to hold a full-time coaching role in the NHL. Engel-Natzke served as the video coach of the Hershey Bears for the past two seasons. General manager Brian MacLellan released a statement:

We are extremely pleased to name Emily as our new video coordinator. Emily’s work ethic, skill set, and passion were displayed in her tenure with the Hershey Bears, and we feel she is ready and deserving of this opportunity. She will be a tremendous asset to our coaching staff.

Prior to working with the Bears, Engel-Natzke served as video coordinator for the University of Wisconsin (men’s and women’s teams), and USA Hockey. More from around the coaching world:

  • Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports is reporting that Alain Nasredding will be joining the Dallas Stars as an assistant coach. He leaves the New Jersey Devils after seven seasons, including the 2019-20 campaign when he stepped in as interim head coach for a time. The Stars will have a brand new look behind the bench after hiring former New Jersey coach Peter DeBoer earlier this month. Interestingly enough, Nasreddine only joined the Devils the season after DeBoer was fired as head coach, meaning this will be the first time they work together on an NHL bench.
  • The Winnipeg Jets are down to five candidates for their own head coaching position, according to Kevin Weekes of ESPN. Scott Arniel, Rick Tocchet, Jim Montgomery, Jeff Blashill, and Pascal Vincent are the finalists according to Weekes, though Andrew Brunette has also been linked previously. Montgomery, a top candidate for several jobs, also has been listed as a finalist for the Boston Bruins job, though there have been no official announcements yet from either team.

Ottawa Senators Promote Trent Mann; Hire Ryan Bowness

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After losing assistant general manager Peter MacTavish to the agent world earlier this month, and parting ways with Pierre McGuire, the Ottawa Senators had some vacancies in the front office. They’ve filled two of them today, by promoting chief amateur scout Trent Mann and hiring Ryan Bowness. Both men will take on assistant general manager titles, effective tomorrow.

GM Pierre Dorion released the following:

Trent’s promotion and Ryan’s hiring represent two significant additions of our front office staff. On top of the success they have achieved in NHL, both are excellent hockey minds, hard workers and quality leaders. Trent has shown to be one of the top evaluators of amateur talent in the industry and has progressed to become an invaluable resource to the entire organization. Ryan is a critical thinker whose experience will allow him to contribute to a wide variety of areas. His success in professional scouting along with his ability to communicate in detail makes him an ideal complement to our hockey group.

Mann, 48, has been with the team since 2010 and quickly climbed up the organizational chart. In the press release for his promotion, the team indicates that he will still serve in the same scouting role while adding “greater player developmental responsibilities.” A former goaltender, he has been an integral part of the Senators draft decisions over the last several years and will continue to lead their team when they make five selections in the first three rounds next month.

Bowness comes with a surname that many will recognize, as the son of long-time NHL coach Rick Bowness. The 38-year-old executive has been with the Pittsburgh Penguins for the last six years, serving most recently as the director of professional scouting. With his new team, he will serve as general manager of the Belleville Senators while also overseeing “contractual-related items.”

It’s a homecoming of sorts, as his father was the first head coach in Senators franchise history when they came into the NHL in 1992. Ryan Bowness was just nine years old at the time and played minor hockey in the area before moving on to the Brampton Battalion of the OHL.

Toronto Willing To Trade Ilya Mikheyev’s Rights

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It never did look like the Toronto Maple Leafs were going to be able to afford Ilya Mikheyev this summer and now they’ve basically made it clear that an extension is off the table. Both Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet and Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic are reporting that the Maple Leafs’ front office has made it clear to teams around the league that Mikheyev’s rights are available for trade if they want to try and sign him before he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 13.

The 27-year-old winger had a strong season for Toronto, scoring 21 goals in just 53 games including four short-handed tallies. The 6’3″ Mikheyev has blinding speed and a long reach, making him a perfect penalty-killing option that is dangerous on the counterattack. His offensive skill sometimes leaves something to be desired, as Maple Leafs fans will tell you he can’t always finish on his chances but there is still a valuable player to be had this summer.

In fact, a recent report suggested that Mikheyev is looking for somewhere between $4-5MM per season, something that the cap-strapped Maple Leafs just wouldn’t be able to afford. If they can get back an asset–any asset–before he hits the open market in two weeks, it would seem a win for Toronto.

Alternatively, getting Mikheyev before he gets a chance to talk to the whole league might also save a team some cap space, especially if it comes with a long-term deal. The undrafted winger carried a cap hit of just $1.645MM in each of the last two seasons and will be looking to cash in on his strong season.

There has been the suggestion that the Maple Leafs could do the same thing with Jack Campbell, given a similar contractual impasse. The netminder will likely be too expensive for Toronto to retain, meaning getting an asset for him by trading him before free agency might be the best option they have at the moment.

Montreal Canadiens Looking For Additional Top-10 Pick

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The Montreal Canadiens already have the first-overall selection in next week’s draft but it appears as though they’re trying to provide even more entertainment for the crowd at the Bell Centre. Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia reports that the Canadiens have called every team in the top ten trying to get a second high pick.

Montreal of course already has the 26th pick as well, one that came from the Calgary Flames in the Tyler Toffoli trade. They also have two seconds, three thirds, and three fourths, meaning they’ll be infusing their system with a huge amount of talent either way. Those mid-round picks, which remember include the first choice in each round (33rd, 66th, and 98th), could be leveraged in a deal to move up to the top ten, should they find a taker.

Philadelphia Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher, who sits at No. 5, spoke about the potential of a trade-down scenario yesterday, and while he wouldn’t rule it out, explained how rare it is to move a pick that high. The New Jersey Devils have openly stated that they would consider moving the second-overall, though again it seems they are not actively pursuing it and would need to be blown away by an offer.

The Arizona Coyotes, Seattle Kraken, Columbus Blue Jackets, Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres, and Anaheim Ducks are the other teams in the top ten.

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