Chicago Blackhawks Extend Mackenzie Entwistle
The Chicago Blackhawks have signed Mackenzie Entwistle to a two-year contract extension through the 2023-24 season. The young forward still has one year left on his entry-level deal, but will earn $800K in each of the following seasons.
Entwistle, 22, made his NHL debut this season, playing in five games for the Blackhawks and recording two points. Acquired in the Marian Hossa deal with the Arizona Coyotes three years ago, he was originally selected 69th overall in 2017. After showing he could be a solid contributor in the minor leagues, the 6’3″ forward was given a chance with the big club and obviously impressed.
The two-year extension is a one-way deal, suggesting that Entwistle’s role with the Blackhawks is likely going to increase in the coming seasons. While it’s a very crowded forward group in Chicago this year, big change could be right around the corner. Remember that both Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews will see their matching eight-year, $84MM contracts expire after the 2022-23 season, and though the Blackhawks will obviously want to keep them around, they’re getting closer to a seismic shift in the core of the team.
The next core, which will likely be anchored by Seth Jones, Alex DeBrincat, and Kirby Dach, still needs some help if it’s to get to a level of real Stanley Cup contention. Depth players like Entwistle can certainly help, especially if he can bring a level of consistent play to the bottom-six on an $800K cap hit.
Mason Shaw Signs With Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild have signed minor league forward Mason Shaw to a two-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay him $750K at the NHL level in both years. His AHL salary in 2021-22 will be $100K, while it increases to $125K in 2022-23.
Shaw, 22, was a restricted free agent this offseason but ineligible for salary arbitration. His entry-level contract, originally signed in 2018 after being the 97th overall pick in 2017, came and went without a single NHL game to his name. The former WHL star initially struggled to make the transition to the AHL, but came on this season, posting 22 points in 30 games for the Iowa Wild. Standing 5’9″ it will be hard for him to ever really make it as an impact player in the NHL, but that’s not for lack of effort. The undersized forward is usually the first on the puck in the offensive zone, relentlessly creating turnovers and trying to make a play for his linemates.
It’s going to be difficult to find many opportunities in Minnesota this season, given how many depth pieces they have, but perhaps another strong start with Iowa will allow Shaw to climb up the chart a bit. If the NHL club runs into several injuries, he could potentially earn a call-up. It’s the second year of the deal that’s likely Shaw’s best chance at making it though, given how many players in the system are on expiring deals. Victor Rask, Nick Bjugstad, Kyle Rau and Nico Sturm are all pending UFAs, meaning someone will have to fill those spots. A big season in the AHL could put Shaw on the radar, all you can ask for as a minor league player.
Nashville Predators Turning Focus To Mattias Ekholm Extension
The Nashville Predators locked in Juuse Saros this week to a four-year, $20MM contract, but the work doesn’t end there for GM David Poile. The executive told ESPN radio that the focus will now turn to an extension for Mattias Ekholm.
Now that we’re past the Juuse situation, we’re going to turn our focus now to Ekholm. I actually spoke with his agent yesterday afternoon and we’re going to talk either later this week or next week on that.
Ekholm, 31, is heading into the final season of his six-year, $22.5MM contract signed in 2015 that turned into one of the best bargains in the NHL. Originally a fourth-round pick in 2009, Ekholm has been a key member of the team’s blueline since 2014 and has averaged at least 22:52 in each of the last five seasons. This year he had 23 points in just 48 games and is part of the reason why someone like Ryan Ellis was deemed expendable this offseason. The Predators moved Ellis to the Philadelphia Flyers in a deal that cleared some cap and added some more young forward talent, but still have Ekholm and captain Roman Josi to anchor the back end.
While Josi is locked in long-term, Ekholm would be one of the top free agents if he hit the open market next summer. An extension would likely have to include a substantial raise on his current $3.75MM cap hit, with a contract like Jake Muzzin‘s recent four-year, $22.5MM deal being an easy comparable. The fact that Ekholm will be 32 whenever his next contract begins is a big factor, but he has shown no real signs of slowing down to this point. The Predators have three depth defensemen–Mark Borowiecki, Matthew Benning, and Ben Harpur–all coming off the books after this season, which could free up a little bit of space depending on their replacements. The trio currently combines for $3.8MM.
There’s another big fish in Nashville scheduled for unrestricted free agency after this season though, as Filip Forsberg will be reaching the end of his six-year, $36MM deal. Poile also explained the team’s gameplan on an extension with the 27-year-old forward:
Shortly before training camp we’ll reach out to Filip Forsberg and his camp to sort of get a lay of the land as where Filip’s thoughts are right now. Those are the next two priorities.
Once again, Forsberg was a driving force behind Nashville’s offense (such as it is), scoring 32 points in 39 games. Incredibly, that was actually the most by any forward on the team despite him missing a good chunk of the season, showing just how important Forsberg is to the team overall. Nashville is basically running it back with almost the same group up front this season after only really bringing back Mikael Granlund in free agency, though several young players should be given a bigger role. Newcomer Cody Glass joins Eeli Tolvanen (who does not yet have a contract as an RFA) and Philip Tomasino as the team’s net wave of forward talent that could really tip the scales toward contending again.
It’s Forsberg though that will need to be the focus in a few weeks, as relying on the development of those young players without a consistent offensive player like him in the mix will be a difficult task. Ryan Johansen and Matt Duchene have both been huge disappointments thus far, Viktor Arvidsson was traded this offseason and even Calle Jarnkrok, who finished second among all Nashville forwards this year, was lost to the Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft. Losing Forsberg in free agency would create a giant hole up front similar to the one Ekholm would leave on the back end, meaning these two negotiations are extremely important if the Predators want to stay competitive in the short-term.
Snapshots: Sweater Ads, Penguins, Sabres
The NHL board of governors has unanimously approved a policy that will add a small advertisement to player sweaters for the 2022-23 season, another move to help the league recoup some of the revenue it has lost over the last 18 months. Sportico was first to break the story that has since been confirmed by multiple sources, and reports that the ad must fit in a rectangle of three by three and a half inches. This follows the move to have advertisements on helmets this season, a change that will continue moving forward.
While fans may not like the idea of ad space being rented out on their favorite sweater, the league is looking for any opportunity to create revenue streams. The move, albeit indirectly, is another step towards increasing the salary cap down the line, which would, in turn, lead to higher player salaries as well.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins have hired Alec Schall as director of hockey operations, hiring the long-time player agent that previously represented James van Riemsdyk, Alec Martinez, and others. Schall will be responsible for “aiding Pittsburgh’s hockey operations department with player contract negotiations, managing the salary cap, as well as assisting with other hockey-related duties.” He will report directly to GM Ron Hextall, who took over the team earlier this year.
- The Buffalo Sabres continue to bring back former players, this time hiring Tim Kennedy and Nathan Paetsch as development coaches. Both spent time with the Sabres during their playing days and will get a chance to work with Adam Mair and Dan Girardi in the Buffalo development team. Paetsch, who played 167 games at the NHL level, also served as a sort of player-coach with the Rochester Americans between 2017-20.
Minor Transactions: 08/17/21
We’re headed into the quietest part of the year for the NHL, as rosters are mostly set and general managers aren’t looking to make splashy trades. That’s not necessarily the case for the AHL and other professional leagues though, as they continue to try and work through free agent negotiations. As always, we’ll keep track of the notable minor moves right here.
- The Manitoba Moose have signed Evan Polei to a two-year AHL contract, while also inking Philippe Desrosiers, Tristan Pomerleau and Dean Stewart to one-year AHL deals. The quartet gives the Moose quite a bit of a depth upgrade, especially in net where Desrosiers brings starter-level talent. The 26-year-old goaltender spent the entire 2020-21 season on the Florida Panthers taxi squad after posting a .916 save percentage in 29 games for the Springfield Thunderbirds in 2019-20.
- The Toronto Marlies have signed Matt Hellickson to a one-year AHL contract, following his senior season with the University of Notre Dame. The 23-year-old defenseman was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in 2017 and actually played five games for their AHL affiliate this spring. Since the Devils failed to reach a contract with him this summer, he was a free agent that could sign anywhere.
- Christopher Merisier-Ortiz has signed a two-year AHL contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, now that he has aged out of the junior level. The 20-year-old defenseman split this season between the Baie-Comeau Drakkar and Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the QMJHL, racking up 36 points in 39 games.
- The Abbotsford Canucks have signed defenseman Alex Kannok Leipert to a one-year AHL deal. The 21-year-old was a sixth-round pick by Washington back in 2018 but didn’t sign with the Capitals. Kannok Leipert spent his entire junior career with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants, captaining that team for the past two years. He had 18 points in 22 games last season.
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Olle Lycksell Loaned To Sweden
It’s back to Sweden for young forward Olle Lycksell, who has been loaned back to Vaxjo of the SHL for the 2021-22 campaign. Lycksell signed his two-year entry-level contract with the Flyers in May and will burn the first year regardless of where he plays.
Now 21, Lycksell was actually a sixth-round pick of the Flyers back in 2017 and would have seen his exclusive draft rights expire if he didn’t sign before June this year. The undersized forward has done well enough in his three-plus years at the SHL level that he was worth a contract slot though, especially after a promising 2020-21 campaign with Farjestad BK. He matched his goal and point totals–nine and 21 respectively–from the year prior, but did it in just 46 games this time. That progression is encouraging, though he’s obviously not ready for the NHL at this point.
This is a flier by the Flyers, hoping that Lycksell finds a way to overcome his size weakness and show he can put up big numbers in his fifth professional season. Though there could potentially be a place for him in Philadelphia’s bottom-six because of his positional versatility, the scoring ability will have to be there if he’s not bringing any size or physicality. With excellent hands and puck skills, perhaps he breaks out this year and really shows he can be a dominant offensive player in the SHL, but until that happens, an NHL roster spot is still a distant thought.
Ottawa Senators Sign Scott Sabourin
The Ottawa Senators are bringing back a familiar face, signing Scott Sabourin to a one-year, two-way contract. Sabourin will earn $750K at the NHL level (despite the press release indicating $700K, the league minimum is $750K for 2021-22) and $200K in the AHL. Senators GM Pierre Dorion released a short statement on the deal:
Scott is a player and person with whom the organization has familiarity. He plays hard, has a physical presence, is respected on the ice and maintains strong leadership qualities. We’ll look to him to help guide our younger players and prospects.
Sabourin, 29, played 35 of his 36 career NHL games with the Senators in 2019-20, working his way up to the big leagues after a long career in the minors. The undrafted forward has never been known for his scoring ability, but is a well-respected teammate and physical presence. His role with the organization will be to help protect the young players with the Belleville Senators, with the odd appearance in the NHL if the team feels like it needs some extra toughness.
It’s the fourth one-year, two-way deal that Sabourin has signed in his career, but this one is actually coming with a slightly lower minor league salary than what he earned with the Toronto Maple Leafs last season. That’s the one that matters most, as it’s unlikely Sabourin will get more than a handful of days at the NHL level if any at all.
Columbus Blue Jackets Sign Ole Julian Bjorgvik-Holm
The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed one of their 2020 draft picks, inking Ole Julian Bjorgvik-Holm to a three-year entry-level contract. Bjorgvik-Holm spent part of this season with the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL on an amateur tryout contract. PuckPedia reports the breakdown of the deal, which has a cap hit of $845,000, is as follows:
- 2021-22: $750,000 NHL salary, $85,000 SB, $15,000 games played bonus, $80,000 minor league salary
- 2022-23: $750,000 NHL salary, $87,500 SB, $37,500 games played bonus, $80,000 minor league salary
- 2023-24: $775,000 NHL salary, $90,000 SB, $35,000 games played bonus, $80,000 minor league salary
Selected 145th overall in last year’s draft, Bjorgvik-Holm has had quite an interesting hockey career to this point. After playing in his native Norway through 2017-18, he came to North America to join the Colorado Thunderbirds, a AAA U16 team. He also played two games during the 2018-19 season with the Tri-City Storm and that’s where it seemed like his next step would be. But in the 2019 CHL Import Draft, the young defenseman was selected 32nd overall by the Mississauga Steelheads and less than two weeks later he was committed to the OHL club.
With 19 points in 57 games for the Steelheads, he earned that fifth-round selection and likely would have been back in the OHL this season. Unfortunately, the junior league didn’t have a season thanks to COVID restrictions, meaning Bjorgvik-Holm had to find somewhere else to play. Back to Norway he went, where this time he suited up at the professional level. He had an impressive 10 points in 22 games for Manglerud, before coming back to North America to play for the Monsters. At the end of the season, he was back on an airplane to Latvia to compete for Norway at the IIHF World Championship, lining up against NHL talent.
It’s not often that fifth-round picks make an impact, but there is real hope that Bjorgvik-Holm can quickly climb the ladder and be an NHL option for the Blue Jackets. He held his own in the minor leagues even at just 18 years old and is already physically mature. The interesting thing about him is that since he established himself in North America and was selected out of the OHL, the Blue Jackets actually only held his rights until June of next year. Another interesting situation will come in the next few months, as that draft status also should make him ineligible for the AHL. He may need to go back to the CHL (or play overseas again), though there have been exceptions made for European players in the past.
Minor Notes: Royals, Thomson, Klimovich
The Reading Royals and Philadelphia Flyers have announced an extension to their affiliation agreement, continuing a partnership that began in 2014. Along with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL, Reading and Philadelphia form the “closest geographical chain of affiliates in professional hockey,” giving the organizations some obvious benefits. The agreement, which covers just 2021-22 also includes an option for the 2022-23 season.
Reading is set to enter their 20th season in the ECHL and has been one of the most consistent franchises in the low minors, qualifying for the playoffs nine straight years between 2010-18. They took home the Kelly Cup as league champions in 2013.
- The Henderson Silver Knights have signed Ben Thomson to a one-year AHL contract, bringing in the veteran minor league forward to fill out the depth chart. Thomson, 28, was a fourth-round pick of the New Jersey Devils in 2012 and played three NHL games in the 2016-17 season, but has spent the vast majority of his career in the minor leagues. In 31 games with the Binghamton Devils last season, he registered six goals and seven points.
- The Vancouver Canucks expect top draft pick Danila Klimovich to play in the QMJHL next season, according to Harman Dayal of The Athletic. The 41st overall pick in last month’s draft played for Belarus at the recent IIHF World Championship and is expected to take part in Olympic qualifiers at the end of the month. Klimovich was the 29th overall pick in the 2020 CHL Import Draft, and will play for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies if he does end up in the QMJHL.
Nashville Predators, Juuse Saros Avoid Arbitration
The Nashville Predators and starting goaltender Juuse Saros have reached a new agreement, signing a four-year, $20MM contract. The two sides had an arbitration hearing set for Wednesday, which will no longer be required. Adam Vingan of The Athletic provides the full breakdown:
- 2021-22: $4.0MM
- 2022-23: $5.0MM
- 2023-24: $6.0MM
- 2025-26: $5.0MM
The contract does not have any trade protection, despite buying out three years of unrestricted free agency for the 26-year-old goaltender. Saros experienced a real breakout this season, showing he could be the team’s full-time starter by appearing in 36 games and posting a .927 save percentage. He finished sixth in voting for the Vezina Trophy and even received some Hart Trophy consideration. Predators GM David Poile released a statement on the contract:
Juuse has proven himself as one of the best young goaltenders in the NHL, and we are very pleased to have him remain our No. 1 goaltender for years to come. While being mentored by Pekka Rinne, he has spent the last several seasons growing and taking steps physically and mentally to become a top goalie in this League, as evident by his spot on the NHL’s All-Rookie Team in 2017-18 to finishing near the top of Vezina Trophy voting this past season. Juuse gives our team a chance to win in every game he plays, and we feel confident that with him leading the tandem we’ve established with David Rittich, our goaltenders will be a large part of our success in 2021-22.
Even though this may have been the first year Saros was recognized on a national scale, Predators fans will know just how good he’s been since entering the league. As a 21-year-old rookie he posted a .923 in 21 games and has continued at a high level while playing backup to Nashville legend Pekka Rinne. Among goaltenders with at least 150 NHL appearances, he sits sixth all-time with a .920 save percentage.
With Rinne now retired and completely out of the picture, Saros will be asked to carry a heavy load. The team brought in David Rittich on a one-year, $1.25MM deal to serve as the primary backup, but there’s little doubt the newly extended Saros will get the bulk of the work.
The contract actually appears to be quite the bargain for the Predators, considering some of the other goalie deals that have been handed out recently. Linus Ullmark received the same four years and $20MM, for instance, but also negotiated a full no-movement clause in the first two seasons and a modified no-trade clause in the final two. While Ullmark was a UFA already, a year ahead of Saros, his numbers are also nowhere near as strong or as established.
Igor Shesterkin actually got a much higher contract, despite being two years away from UFA status and having just 47 games under his belt. While the Rangers netminder has been outstanding in the early going, his four-year, $22.67MM deal shows the haircut that Saros accepted on this new contract.
There are other extenuating circumstances to all of these negotiations, but this one seems like a win for the Predators, who have no shot of competing without high-level goaltending. The team has struggled to score for years now and has several bloated, underperforming, high-priced contracts on the books upfront. With Saros signed for $5MM, the team can allocate some extra money elsewhere to try and round out the roster.
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet broke the contract terms.
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