Ottawa Senators Acquire Travis Hamonic
The Vancouver Canucks have made a move with cap savings in mind, trading veteran defenseman Travis Hamonic to the Ottawa Senators. The Canucks will receive a third-round pick in exchange, one that actually originally belonged to them. It’s the same pick that was sent to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Nate Schmidt in 2020, and then sent to Ottawa in last summer’s Evgenii Dadonov deal. No salary will be retained.
Hamonic, 31, is signed through next season and carries a $3MM cap hit, a number that certainly hasn’t been very valuable to the Canucks. After dealing with some early-season vaccination and quarantining issues that routinely kept him out of the lineup, Hamonic has played in just 24 games for Vancouver this season. While he has averaged over 18 minutes in those appearances, he has just three goals and seven points.
From the Senators perspective, this was a chance to add a stable, veteran presence to a lineup that is hoping to turn the corner and contend for the playoffs next season. Ottawa has no problem taking on a cap hit like that, especially when there’s still a real chance that Hamonic can live up to it if given the opportunity. A true stay-at-home defenseman, there was a time not too long ago when Hamonic could be relied on to completely erase an opponent’s best players, forcing them to play extremely low-event hockey. That time does seem to have passed, at least somewhat, though perhaps with a new team and new opportunity, he can return to being that true top-four right-handed shutdown defenseman that is so coveted.
Getting a third-round pick out of the deal is a huge bonus for the Canucks, who could have just as easily lost Hamonic before the season began for nothing when he was placed on and cleared waivers. There were some extenuating circumstances at that point, but just ridding the cap hit for next year should be considered a win for a team that will need all the wiggle room they can get.
The new management group led by Jim Rutherford and Patrik Allvin have been clear about wanting to clear some money off the books, and they’re now $3MM lighter for the 2022-23 season. They’ve also added a nice draft pick, though it was actually once already theirs.
Darren Dreger of TSN was first to report the trade.
Anaheim Ducks Claim Gerry Mayhew
The Anaheim Ducks have decided to claim minor league star Gerry Mayhew off waivers from the Philadelphia Flyers, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.
Mayhew, 29, has been a top goal scorer in the AHL for several years, including a 39-goal season in 2019-20 with the Iowa Wild. Unfortunately, that minor league success hasn’t translated to much playing time in the NHL, with Mayhew suiting up just 42 times in his career so far. Twenty-five of those have come this season with the Flyers, resulting in six goals (and no assists).
The undrafted forward will now take his talents to the west coast, where the Ducks have sold off several pieces over the last few days. Among the outgoing names was Nicolas Deslauriers, meaning they have some minutes available up front. While Mayhew is certainly not a Deslauriers replacement in style, he at least can give them a bit more depth down the stretch and perhaps even add a few more of those goals.
Signed to a one-year, two-way contract that comes with an NHL cap hit of $800K, Mayhew cannot be assigned to the minor leagues and will stay on Anaheim’s NHL roster for the time being. Importantly, that also means that he won’t be eligible to play in the AHL down the stretch or into the playoffs, as he won’t be there at tomorrow’s roster deadline.
PHR Panel: 2022 Trade Deadline Predictions
With just 48 hours remaining before the 2022 NHL trade deadline, things are heating up around the league. Several big moves have already been made, with Josh Manson, Brandon Hagel, Calle Jarnkrok, and Ben Chiarot all traded to contenders. There’s more coming before Monday’s deadline, with Claude Giroux and others still yet to be moved.
As we get closer, it’s time to unearth one of our old features: The PHR Panel. This time it’ll come with a bit of a twist as instead of answering questions, we’re going to have a bit of fun. Each of us will give one prediction for a deadline move, and we encouraged each other to go a bit outside the box if necessary. These deals are completely speculative and just done for fun–but make sure you tell us why we’re out of our minds in the comments!
Q: Suggest one trade that makes sense at this year’s deadline.
Brian La Rose: Pittsburgh trades Kasperi Kapanen, Marcus Pettersson to Vancouver for Conor Garland, Travis Hamonic
With all of the smoke surrounding Vancouver, it sure feels like the Canucks are going to do something. We all know team president Jim Rutherford is a big fan of Kapanen and he’s the one who gave Pettersson a five-year, $20.125MM contract that hasn’t aged very well. Clearly, he’s also a believer in him. On the other hand, he’s not the one that brought Garland in from Arizona and if they want to shake up their core, he could be the one to go instead of the likes of J.T. Miller or Brock Boeser. GM Patrik Allvin is also quite familiar with both players from his days in Pittsburgh and knows what he’d be getting with those two.
For the Canucks, they add two players that Rutherford is quite comfortable with and their hope is that Kapanen will be a better long-term fit than Garland who has quieted off after a hot start to the season. Pettersson fits as a potential partner for Tucker Poolman when he’s healthy on Vancouver’s third pairing.
As for the Penguins, Garland on the wing for one of Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin (likely the latter) would be an opportunity for him to step into the scoring role that Kapanen was supposed to provide while Hamonic would help to shore up their third pairing. His shorter-term contract than Pettersson (he’s only signed through next season) would be easier to move this summer than Pettersson’s if Pittsburgh needs to free up money to try to re-sign Malkin, Kris Letang, or Bryan Rust. Team president Brian Burke helped bring Hamonic to Calgary from the Islanders back in 2017 and that familiarity could help here as well.
From a cap perspective, it’s pretty close to neutral this season. Pittsburgh adds $725K to their books, an amount that can be offset by simply sending Radim Zohorna to the minors for the time being. Garland has one extra year left than Kapanen but is at a price tag that’s somewhat similar to what a long-term contract for Kapanen will cost. That will make the cost for Vancouver a little higher beyond this season but nothing overly drastic. In the end, it’s an old-fashioned ‘hockey trade’, one we could see a few of before Monday with so many teams right against the cap where player for player swaps will be their only realistic option.
Zach Leach: Los Angeles Kings acquire Mark Giordano
It has been very quiet out of Los Angeles with the trade deadline looming. Though they have been linked to available names here and there, they have not been painted as an active buyer. Is the young team merely content with their current squad? Or are they simply lurking in the background and waiting for the right time to strike? I believe that it’s the latter. The Kings have every reason to fight for a playoff spot this season. They have aging core players eager to make another run, promising young players who could desperately use some postseason experience, and find themselves in the weakest division in the NHL with a real chance to make a run to the Western Conference Final (and perhaps beyond). GM Rob Blake has shown a willingness to spend on prime talent of late with the Phillip Danault signing and Viktor Arvidsson trade and I would expect him to do so again with his team in a great spot in the Pacific.
Perhaps the hesitancy from the media to project major moves from the Kings comes from a lack of believability–which is somewhat well-founded. L.A. has been willing themselves to victory this season despite some concerning numbers. The team ranks second-worst among current playoff-seeded clubs in goal differential at +2, just a few unlucky bounces away from a net negative mark. Special teams have also been a nightmare; the Kings are ranked in the bottom five in both power play and penalty kill efficiency. L.A. is also below average (or worse) in scoring, hits, blocked shots, and takeaways. Pretty bleak, huh? Yet, they play a smothering defensive system and possession game that allows the fewest shots against the in the NHL and as a result, are one of the goals against leaders in the West.
So why add a defenseman? First of all, in the case of a team with numerous holes, there’s something to be said for identifying a strength and leaning into it. Plus, the injury-plagued Kings are currently out four starting defensemen, including Drew Doughty, Matt Roy, and Mikey Anderson, with Sean Walker done for the year and Alex Edler only just returning. The defense may be a strength in L.A., but they need some immediate help to keep it going.
More importantly, Mark Giordano is no ordinary defenseman. The Seattle Kraken captain is the most experienced top-four defender on the trade market with over 1,000 games played and continues to perform like a player in his prime. Even for a struggling expansion team, the 38-year-old has managed to record 23 points in 55 games and has improved his possession numbers from the past two years in Calgary. Giordano does everything that the Kings need more of; he leads the Kraken in Corsi and powerplay time on ice, is among the top three skaters in time on ice, powerplay points, shots, and blocked shots, and is among the top five skaters in assists and short-handed time on ice. On a more talented team with a strong defensive system, Giordano will only improve. Given the Kings’ poor blue line depth, it also helps that Giordano is used to eating minutes (23:35 average time on ice over the past 13 years) and has largely stayed healthy in his career. He would be well-equipped to take over a top pair spot in L.A. and eventually join with Doughty to create a formidable pairing of past Norris Trophy winners. The Kings thought that they were creating a dynamic veteran duo when signing Edler this off-season but it hasn’t worked out. They now have a second chance.
We know that the Kraken are going to deal their captain. Even though Giordano is the locker room leader for the league’s newest team, his expiring contract and high trade value will force GM Ron Francis‘s hand. Giordano is currently sitting out in anticipation of a trade, protecting a prized asset–especially after the Josh Manson and Ben Chiarot trades set a high bar for top-four rentals. The Kings can offer Seattle return options that most other contenders cannot. First, they do not need to ask Seattle to retain much, if any, of Giordano’s $6.75MM price tag as their numerous injuries allow them to create additional LTIR space while eventually they will still have room for all of their currently sidelined players on the active roster outside of Walker. Additionally, while most contenders are trying to push draft picks and long-term project prospects on Seattle, the Kings are littered with elite, NHL-ready prospects. So much so in fact that the team could send one or two to Seattle for Giordano and still have plenty to send to Arizona for Jakob Chychrun in the off-season (another player that they have been linked to but whose injury status could delay a trade). The Kraken should want to improve next season rather than enter a rebuild already. Opting to send Giordano to L.A. in exchange for a player like Gabriel Vilardi, Rasmus Kupari, Jaret Anderson-Dolan, Alex Turcotte, Samuel Fagemo, Akil Thomas, or others (see what I mean by prospect depth?) is a long-term benefit but more helpful in the short-term than acquiring picks or prospects that are years away from contributing. Giordano’s familiarity with the Pacific Division, namely the division-leading Flames, is just the cherry on top of a deal that seems to be a great fit.
Josh Erickson: New York Rangers acquire Mark Giordano
It’s no secret that MVP-caliber goalie Igor Shesterkin has been the largest impetus of the Rangers’ success this season, catapulting them into a sure-fire top-three spot in the Metropolitan Division come season’s end. But the team has started to slip in recent weeks and their five-on-five play, particularly defensively, is now starting to expose cracks that have been forming all year. While no single acquisition will likely fix a team-wide issue like this, the need for a veteran left defenseman at this point is just too glaring to ignore.
As Zach details above, Giordano can be a difference-maker even at this point in his career. The Rangers can comfortably deal either their 2022 or 2023 first-round selection to Seattle, and the team also has a large number of prospects that the Kraken would be interested in taking on as well (is this a chance for Vitali Kravtsov to get a new start?).
They’ve gotten solid performances out of their top four defensemen all season, but the bottom pairing has become an issue. Patrik Nemeth has created more problems than he’s solved with his play this season, and while Giordano’s offensive game has dipped with age this year, he’s still been solid defensively. He’s a logical fit either next to Adam Fox, allowing Ryan Lindgren to draw more favorable matchups, or he can slot in on the third pairing and help mentor the young Braden Schneider as the Rangers go down the stretch run.
John Gilroy: Minnesota Wild acquire Andrew Copp
Still holding onto a playoff position in the Central Division but vulnerable, the Minnesota Wild could use a spark in their lineup, and with $11MM in cap space on deadline day, the Wild are poised to make a splash. In addition to cap space, the Wild also hold all but one of their draft picks over the next three years, missing only their 2022 seventh-round pick. One spark that seems to make plenty of sense for Minnesota is Winnipeg Jets’ forward Andrew Copp.
Copp, 27, is currently making $3.64MM and is a pending UFA, but could certainly slot into Minnesota’s long-term plans if they can re-sign him. The forward currently has 13 goals and 19 assists in 54 games for Winnipeg this season, which would put him tied for fifth on the Wild in points. However, Copp’s talent is not limited to his offense, as he currently profiles as a strong penalty killer for the Jets and is incredibly responsible, recording just eight penalty minutes in 54 games this season, and just 82 penalty minutes in 465 career games.
One concern might be the return for Copp. While the Jets are not in playoff contention, they do not appear headed for a rebuild, having a majority of their core signed or under team control through at least 2023-24. Trading Copp for draft picks, which the Wild have plenty of, would return his value, but may not make much sense for the Jets if they intend to win soon. One player that may make sense in a return for Copp would be prospect Jack McBain. The 22-year-old McBain has been the center of trade rumors recently for Minnesota, as he is eligible to hit free agency this summer. However, McBain, who is from the Toronto area, may also prefer to sign closer to home.
Ultimately, it appears that Copp is on his way out of Winnipeg, and if the two sides can come to terms on a suitable return, it would be in the best interests of the Wild to make a move for an energetic and well-rounded forward to spark a team that has struggled mightily as of late.
Gavin Lee: Detroit Red Wings trade Nick Leddy (50% retained) to St. Louis Blues for Klim Kostin, Marco Scandella
“Stevie Y is up to something.” That’s the text that Emily Kaplan of ESPN received this week, as the Red Wings prepare for the deadline in an interesting position. The team obviously isn’t good enough yet to contend for the Stanley Cup but has the building blocks to start pushing for a playoff position as soon as next season. With that in mind, targeting young players that have yet to make an impact makes sense, instead of just collecting draft picks like deadlines past.
Leddy has been linked to the Dallas Stars in recent days, and while they make sense, it seems more likely that they’re offering up a package of futures, instead of someone like Kostin who could impact the Red Wings lineup down the stretch and next season. The 30-year-old Leddy isn’t the player he once was but can still make an impact in a more limited role, something he could receive in St. Louis as they try to work their way back to the Stanley Cup.
You aren’t going to steal Kostin out of St. Louis for a few months of a depth defenseman though, so Detroit would need to provide some other value to the Blues. That’s where Scandella comes in, as the 32-year-old has taken a noticeable step back this season and is signed through 2023-24 at a $3.275MM cap hit. The thing is, for a team like the Red Wings, acquiring a cap hit like Scandella is almost meaningless given how much financial flexibility they’ve built, and he could essentially replace the veteran presence of Marc Staal next season. Scandella does hold a partial no-trade clause, but how likely is it that Detroit is one of the seven teams he has blocked?
The prize here is Kostin, a player that has struggled to find regular minutes in St. Louis. Since being selected 31st overall in 2017, the big forward has spent most of his time in the AHL, playing in most of three seasons before even making his NHL debut and now ending up back there this year. There’s a risk here for Detroit; Kostin isn’t signed past this season and could bolt for the KHL as a restricted free agent this summer, but there’s also a possibility that he establishes himself quickly as a middle-six option for a rebuilding club.
A second-round pick is nice, sure, but at some point, the Red Wings will have to start looking at players closer to the NHL. Kostin is exactly that, and the teams have a recent history of something just like this. In 2019, Detroit acquired Robby Fabbri from the Blues in exchange for Jacob de la Rose, and gave him an opportunity he wasn’t ever going to receive in St. Louis after major knee surgery. Kostin hasn’t been blocked because of injury, but perhaps the Red Wings could provide a similar chance for him to play more than the nine minutes he’s averaged over his 46-game career to this point.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Ryan Fitzgerald Clears Waivers; Tyson Foerster Loaned To OHL
Saturday: Fitzgerald has cleared waivers, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports.
Friday: The Philadelphia Flyers have placed Ryan Fitzgerald on waivers, suggesting he is ready to return to action after spending the entire year to this point on season-opening injured reserve. In addition, the team has made another interesting transaction, loaning Tyson Foerster back to the Barrie Colts of the OHL.
Foerster, 20, was one of the handful of young players allowed to spend this season in the AHL even when he would have normally been ineligible, because of the number of minor league games he played in 2020-21. Unfortunately, just a few weeks into the season he suffered a shoulder injury that has limited him to just nine games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. His loan back to Barrie is a good sign that he’s ready to return and try to help the Colts chase down a playoff spot over the next few weeks.
Fitzgerald meanwhile is a player who would have normally been waived prior to the season, as his one-year, two-way contract was never supposed to make him a regular on the Flyers roster. In fact, the 27-year-old forward is still waiting for his first taste of NHL action, now five years into his professional career. Originally selected 120th overall by the Boston Bruins in 2013, Fitzgerald had 21 points in 28 games for the Phantoms last season and should provide a nice veteran boost to the group once he’s back up to speed. Given his injury history and inexperience, it is unlikely that Fitzgerald is claimed.
Tampa Bay Lightning Acquire Brandon Hagel
The Chicago Blackhawks have begun the teardown, though it will start with a very surprising move. They are trading Brandon Hagel and a pair of fourth round picks in 2022 and 2023 to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Boris Katchouk, Taylor Raddysh, a 2023 first-round pick, and a 2024 first-round pick. After the deal became official, Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson issued the following statement:
“I said a few weeks ago that we are rebuilding, and this is clearly the start of that. Getting two first round draft picks as well as two, young, NHL players helps us kickstart that process in a major way. We know that Brandon Hagel was a fan favorite — our fans loved him for all the reasons we loved him — and we know he be successful with the Lightning.”
Hagel, 23, is on one of the most valuable contracts in the league this season and carries a cap hit of just $1.5MM through the 2023-24 season. The deal, signed in August, was after a rookie season that saw him score nine goals and 24 points in 52 games. This year he’s fired well past those marks, already racking up 21 goals and 37 points in 55 games.
That kind of an asset isn’t usually one that a struggling team trades, though the Blackhawks’ new management, led by general manager Kyle Davidson, has been clear that there is a full rebuild coming in Chicago. Trading Hagel now, when he very well might be at the peak of his value (but not necessarily his production), will give that rebuild a kickstart, even if it does mean they lose some prime, inexpensive years of a homegrown talent. Despite being selected by the Buffalo Sabres in 2016, Hagel waited and signed his entry-level contract with the Blackhawks two years later, and has only ever played for that organization.
Still, for a package of picks and players like this, it is easy to understand why Davidson pulled the trigger for his first trade since losing the interim tag and being officially named general manager earlier this month. The team had gutted their own system through previous acquisitions like the Seth Jones trade from last summer and it will likely be several years until they are truly considered playoff contenders again. If they are moving Hagel they are likely willing to trade just about anyone on the roster for the right price.
For the Lightning, they have no one to imitate but themselves when it comes to trade deadline moves. This deal is extremely similar to the one that landed them Blake Coleman two years ago, which–along with the addition of Barclay Goodrow–made their forward group incredibly deep and ultimately helped them win back-to-back Stanley Cup championships. Like Coleman, Hagel may be slightly undersized but plays a versatile, in-your-face game that can work in basically any spot in the lineup.
Even better, while Coleman was under contract for just one more season following that 2019-20 campaign, Hagel won’t even be an unrestricted free agent when his current three-year deal ends in 2024. He’ll still be an RFA at that point, meaning the Lightning have even more control. His extremely low cost means that he won’t negatively affect the Lightning’s cap situation, one that is always tight as they often find themselves in long-term injured reserve and in need of inexpensive options. In fact, simply moving out Katchouk and Raddysh makes the cap work for Tampa Bay, thanks to how cheap Hagel is.
While collecting draft picks is one thing, Davidson will soon have a bigger task on his hands than sending assets out the door. The Blackhawks are going to need to not only find the right players in the draft–the picks from Tampa Bay are certainly not expected to be very high, and even in the case that Tampa falters, the picks are top-ten protected–but also develop them into legitimate NHL talents. That work has already been mostly completed with Katchouk and Raddysh, who were both second-round selections and have been regulars this season in the Lightning lineup.
That’s not to say either of them will bring the level of offense Hagel had, though there are certainly some interesting aspects to the new Chicago forwards. For one thing, Raddysh isn’t heading into a room of unknowns, as he played on a line with Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Strome for the Erie Otters. He’s also been developing quite nicely in the Lightning system and, standing 6’3″, brings size that Hagel never could. Raddysh has five goals and 12 points in 53 games with Tampa Bay this season, though that comes while averaging just barely over 11 minutes a night.
Katchouk is another big, powerful forward, and another OHL graduate, this time from the Soo Greyhounds. He has two goals and four points in 38 games with the Lightning this season, averaging under ten minutes a game. Notably, though he has played 20 fewer games than some of his teammates and rarely sees the ice when he does get in the lineup, Katchouk ranks third among all Tampa Bay forwards in hits with 98. It will be interesting to see if size becomes a trademark of the Blackhawks under Davidson, given the first player out the door is a 5’11” 174-lbs winger, albeit one that has never shied away from contact or the physical side of the game.
Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff was first to report that Hagel had been traded, while John Buccigross of ESPN provided the specific details.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Andrej Sekera Placed On Waivers
March 18: Sekera has cleared waivers, according to Chris Johnston of TSN. The veteran defenseman can now be assigned to the minor leagues, where $1.125MM of his cap hit would come off the books.
March 17: A somewhat surprising name has hit the wire today, as Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff reports the Dallas Stars have placed Andrej Sekera on waivers. Sekera was only activated from long-term injured reserve a few days ago and hasn’t played since January.
Last playing on January 28, Sekera’s placement on waivers is most interesting because of the situation the Stars are currently in. The team is still battling for playoff spot in the Central Division but recently lost top defenseman Miro Heiskanen to mononucleosis. They have relied heavily of late on the trio of John Klingberg, Ryan Suter, and Esa Lindell, while Joel Hanley, he of just 108 career NHL games, is seeing only a handful of minutes.
Sekera would seem to be a fine depth piece to insert over Hanley if needed, and it even seemed that was the plan just a few hours ago. As Saad Yousuf of The Athletic tweets, head coach Rick Bowness said this morning that they would “for sure” get Sekera into the lineup on the weekend. If that is still the plan, it obviously is not hinging on the veteran defenseman clearing waivers today, something that’s certainly no guarantee this time of year.
While he does carry a $1.5MM cap hit, Sekera is also on an expiring deal, meaning a team could potentially claim him as if he were a deadline rental acquisition. It doesn’t seem out of the realm of possibility for a player with 834 games of NHL experience to draw some interest, even if his season hasn’t been a successful one. In 24 games, Sekera has registered just three points while averaging just under 14 minutes a night.
If he does clear, the Stars could potentially bury a good chunk of his cap hit in the minor leagues if they are looking to make an addition of their own at the deadline.
Latest On Nick Paul
March 18: On a live chat with followers today, Chris Johnston of NorthStar Bets explained that his understanding is the Senators’ most recent offer to Paul was a four-year, $10MM contract. Paul is reportedly looking for something with an average annual value closer to $3MM.
Additionally, Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reports that the Senators have made Paul a healthy scratch in advance of their matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers. He also reports that Paul is “expected to be moved” by the Senators shortly, in advance of Monday’s trade deadline.
March 17: The Ottawa Senators aren’t expected to be very active ahead of Monday’s deadline, but one player who could draw plenty of interest if made available is Nick Paul. The versatile forward is a pending free agent that carries a cap hit of just $1.35MM this season and could add some punch to a team’s bottom-six while also being an extension candidate wherever he lands.
Why isn’t he an extension candidate in Ottawa? That’s not entirely clear, as though Paul had been open about wanting to stay with the Senators it does not appear as though much progress has been made on a contract. In fact, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet wrote today that there has been “not much movement” and David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period tweets there is “no progress” between the two sides. Pagnotta now expects Paul to be moved before the deadline.
The 26-year-old forward (27 on Sunday) has 11 goals and 18 points in 59 games this season but has been moved all over the lineup to fill whatever role is necessary. Deployed in heavy defensive minutes on the regular, he’s spent more time at center this season than any year in the past and is averaging more than 17 minutes a night.
This certainly isn’t a player that a contender would want to plug into the top-six, but Paul’s grinding style does suggest that he would do well in a playoff atmosphere. That’s not something he’s experienced to this point in his career even in the minor leagues, meaning a chance at joining a contender might even be something he welcomes at this point.
With Thomas Chabot now out with a broken hand and Jake Sanderson‘s debut with the Senators likely delayed, the stretch run in Ottawa is getting grimmer by the day. Already the team has won just five of their last 18 games and could be looking at an even worse period without their top defenseman. If an extension isn’t going to get done, getting a draft pick for Paul seems to be the obvious move for general manager Pierre Dorion.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Nashville Predators Still Trying To Extend Filip Forsberg
The Nashville Predators sit firmly in the first wild card position in the Western Conference, four points ahead of the skidding Vegas Golden Knights and five points ahead of their Central Division rivals, the Dallas Stars. In fact, Nashville is closer to the second-place St. Louis Blues than the Stars are to the, though Dallas does hold two games in hand. With that playoff spot in hand, it certainly would be surprising to see the Predators sell pending unrestricted free agent Filip Forsberg before Monday’s deadline.
Perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising then when Darren Dreger of TSN reports that the Predators have re-engaged in extension negotiations with Forsberg. The insider explains that just “marginal” progress has been made, though the team maintains the focus is on keeping Forsberg, not trading him.
Forsberg of course has been involved in a deadline deal before, one that impacted his entire NHL career to this point. In the spring of 2013, the now-infamous deal for Martin Erat (and Michael Latta) brought the young Swedish forward to Nashville less than a year after he was selected 11th overall by the Washington Capitals. In the decade since, he’s racked up 210 goals in 545 games, including 32 tallies this season. That number puts him in a tie for ninth in the league, and in line for a huge contract, whether it comes with Nashville or not.
One of Predators’ general manager David Poile’s trademarks is signing players to long-term extensions for reasonable–but risky–cap numbers and the 27-year-old forward is one of his biggest wins. Signed to a six-year, $36MM extension in 2016, just before he became a restricted free agent for the first time, Forsberg provided years of excess value as one of the most reliable goal-scoring wingers in the league. Now, on the precipice of just his third contract, he’s having the best season of his career and would likely be sought after by a huge chunk of the league this summer.
With that tempting experience just a few months away, it will certainly be difficult for the Predators to lock him up at this point. The team will undoubtedly need to offer a substantial raise on the $6MM cap hit he has carried so far, and the ink is just barely dry on Tomas Hertl‘s eight-year, $65.1MM contract extension that could shape this offseason’s market.
In this case, at least, the Predators don’t necessarily have to get a deal done before Monday’s deadline. Like any other team that is adding rentals, keeping Forsberg for their own playoff run seems prudent. But deadlines in general have a way of speeding up negotiations, meaning perhaps there will be a decision one way or another before the weekend is through.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
AHL Shuffle: 03/18/22
While the entire hockey world is focused on the trade deadline, there are still games to be played over the next few days. The six matches on the schedule for this evening include another entertaining bout between the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes, two teams that continue to do battle in the Metropolitan Division. The Hurricanes are on top but have lost two in a row, while the surging Capitals are on a three-game win streak and now just three points out of a divisional playoff spot. As they and others prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor shuffling.
Atlantic Division
- Last night the Toronto Maple Leafs made a curious roster move, adding Alex Steeves under emergency conditions while Wayne Simmonds gained non-roster status. The team clarified today that it was for personal reasons and Simmonds would be added back today, and he was with the group again at practice according to Mark Masters of TSN. The team will have to move Steeves (or someone else) off the roster to officially add Simmonds back.
- The Detroit Red Wings have assigned defenseman Luke Witkowski to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins. Witkowski, 31, is on his second tour of duty in Detroit and is best known for playing a throwback “enforcer” style of hockey that has become increasingly rare in today’s game.
Metropolitan Division
Central Division
- The Arizona Coyotes have assigned Michael Carcone back to the AHL, after he played his second NHL game earlier this week. The 25-year-old forward is a top option in the minor leagues but is still without a single point at the highest level.
Pacific Division
- The Anaheim Ducks have returned Danny O’Regan to San Diego of the AHL. He has played just four games with Anaheim this season, recording one assist but he has been more productive in the minors with the Gulls, picking up 26 points in 37 games.
This page will be updated throughout the day.
IIHF Announces Suspension Of Russian, Belarusian Teams
March 18: The Russian Ice Hockey Federation is protesting the decision and released the following statement:
The actions of the RIHF are in accordance with the belief that the IIHF’s restrictive measures against Russian athletes are discriminatory.
Banning players from international competition based on nationality fuels intolerance in the media and could lead to divisions within the ice hockey community, which has always been known for its unity.
February 28: The IIHF has officially announced an indefinite suspension of the Russian and Belarusian national and club teams in response to the recent use of military force in Ukraine. Luc Tardif, president of the IIHF, released a statement:
The IIHF is not a political entity and cannot influence the decisions being taken over the war in Ukraine. We nevertheless have a duty of care to all of our members and participants and must therefore do all we can to ensure that we are able to operate our events in a safe environment for all teams taking part in the IIHF World Championship program.
We were incredibly shocked to see the images that have come out of Ukraine. I have been in close contact with members of the Ice Hockey Federation of Ukraine and we hope for all Ukrainians that this conflict can be resolved in a peaceful way and without the need for further violence.
Under current conditions, these actions would be taken:
- 2022 IIHF Continental Cup (4-6 March 2022) – Belarus club team HK Gomel would not participate
- 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship (21 April-01 May 2022) – Russia and Belarus men’s U18 teams would not participate
- 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship (13-29 May 2022) – ROC and Belarus men’s national teams would not participate
- 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women’s World Championship (Dates TBB) – Russia women’s U18 national team would not participate
- 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship (Dates TBD) – Russia men’s U20 national teams would not participate
- 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship (26 August-4 September 2022) – ROC women’s national team would not participate
The IIHF has also announced that they have withdrawn the 2023 World Junior Championship hosting rights from Russia. In the coming months, discussions will be held to find a new host.
They have also “not left out the possibility of further actions” though they hope for a “swift and peaceful resolution to the war.”