Raphael Lavoie, Phil Kemp Assigned To AHL
The Edmonton Oilers are bringing back a pair of prospects, assigning Raphael Lavoie and Phil Kemp to the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL. The two played this season with Vasby IK in Sweden’s second league in order to make sure they didn’t miss a year of development.
Lavoie, 20, dominated the league, registering 45 points in 51 games to lead his club and finish 12th overall in scoring. The 38th overall pick in 2018, Lavoie is a big frame that has shown an ability to score everywhere he’s played, racking up goals with his impressive shot off the rush and power in front of the net. After an outstanding year overseas, he’ll try to take the next step into North American professional hockey and continue his development.
Kemp, 22, is certainly a bit of a different story. Selected 208th overall in 2017, the big defenseman spent three years playing for Yale and was headed for a fourth before the school’s hockey program shut down for the year. Instead, Kemp signed his entry-level contract with the Oilers last November and then was shipped overseas to get ice time and his first taste of the professional scene.
Even after a relatively successful season in Sweden, Kemp still doesn’t have the kind of upside that someone like Lavoie possesses and will have to scratch and claw for every opportunity in his career. The steady, 6’3″ defender is an interesting piece to keep an eye on in Edmonton though, given the other more offensive blue line talents the team has in their pipeline. Perhaps Kemp can be a counterpoint to someone like Evan Bouchard, taking on the heavy defensive and penalty-killing minutes.
COVID Protocol Related Absences: 03/26/21
Each day, the NHL will publicly release the list of players that are unavailable to their respective teams due to being in COVID-19 Protocol. Here is the list for today so far:
Anaheim – Alexander Volkov
Boston – Jake DeBrusk, Sean Kuraly
Minnesota – Zach Parise
Montreal – Joel Armia, Jesperi Kotkaniemi
NY Rangers – Brett Howden (plus part of the coaching staff)
Pittsburgh – TBA
St. Louis – TBA
Vancouver – Travis Boyd
As a reminder, inclusion on this list does not mean that a player has tested positive for Coronavirus or even that they have been confirmed as a close contact to another positive person. Included in the NHL’s list of possible reasons for someone being on the list is are the following:
(1) an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (2) mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (3) required quarantine as a high-risk close contact in accordance with the Positive Test Protocol; (4) isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or; (5) quarantine for travel or other reasons as outlined in the COVID-19 Protocol
Players removed today: None
No changes to the list today, though a couple of reports are still to come in. Eric Staal will soon be added to the Montreal list given his travel plans. According to Eric Engels of Sportsnet, the veteran center will fly back from Boston to Buffalo then drive to Montreal and start his quarantine.
After missing the Sabres game last night, interim head coach Don Granato and assistant coach Matt Ellis have cleared the protocol and joined the team after practice. They can get behind the bench for Buffalo’s next game.
*denotes new addition
Latest On Taylor Hall
After Eric Staal was dealt from the Buffalo Sabres earlier today for a moderate return (if that), hockey fans all across the country rushed to CapFriendly to see what else might be included in the team’s fire sale. Top of the list is a former Hart Trophy winner in Taylor Hall, who will certainly command a lot of attention as the deadline draws near.
Earlier today, Darren Dreger of TSN tweeted that Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams has spoken to multiple teams about a Hall trade and now we may know what he was saying. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reports that the initial asking price for Hall involves a first-round pick, though the insider suggests it will be difficult to even get that at this point. Staal only landed the team a third-round pick and a fifth-round pick, even with Buffalo retaining half of his already relatively low cap hit. That retention will likely have to happen for Hall too regardless of where he goes, given how expensive his one-year deal is.
The 29-year-old inked a one-year, $8MM deal with Buffalo in the offseason as a chance to play top-line minutes next to Jack Eichel and build his value back up after a disappointing season, but his time with the Sabres has done anything but that. In 32 games, Hall has just two goals and 17 points, numbers that really only compare favorably to depth forwards, not top talent. In fact, Staal even had more goals than him (3) in the same amount of games, and has the added benefit of experience and a Stanley Cup championship.
So really what is Hall worth? He has only reached the playoffs twice in his career, and though that 2017-18 Hart campaign was outstanding, now has just 69 points in his last two seasons combined (97 GP). Remember too that he has only reached those lofty MVP-type totals on two occasions, recording 65 points or fewer in nine of his 11 seasons because of injury or inconsistency.
There is also the debate on what a first-round pick is even worth this season, given how much uncertainty surrounds the scouting profession. Teams haven’t had multiple extended looks at many of the top prospects, meaning the spread of draft talent could be even wider this time around. Perhaps that’s why Buffalo was happy to take mid-round picks for Staal, hoping to hit on a prospect that falls due to limited exposure, but that would be relying on their relatively small scouting department to identify things that others miss.
At the very least, the Staal trade has indicated two things. One, the reduced quarantine on players traveling to Canadian teams has opened the market, and two, waiving a no-trade clause to get out of Buffalo doesn’t seem like such an obstacle. Greg Wyshynski of ESPN confirmed that Staal did have the Canadiens on his no-trade list, but he agreed to the deal anyway. Louis Jean of TVA Sports adds some more context, tweeting that the Canadiens “didn’t need to convince Staal” to waive the clause—certainly a bit of an indictment of the Sabres current situation. Hall also holds the cards in that situation with a full no-movement clause, but it is hard to see him blocking any deal to a contender after 16 straight losses in Buffalo.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Buffalo Sabres Trade Eric Staal To Montreal Canadiens
The Buffalo Sabres are working the phones today, after suffering another loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins last night. Earlier in the day, Darren Dreger of TSN reported that Sabres GM Kevyn Adams has spoken to multiple teams about a Taylor Hall trade and now has dealt Eric Staal to the Montreal Canadiens. The Sabres will receive a 2021 third-round pick and a 2021 fifth-round pick for the veteran center. Buffalo will also retain $1.625MM (50%) of Staal’s salary and cap hit.
Adams received an up-close and personal look at the Sabres last night, moving behind the bench while interim head coach Don Granato isolated due to COVID protocols. What he saw was another listless effort from his squad, losing 4-0 to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Sabres have now lost 16 straight games and have been shutout more times than they’ve won on the season.
Like everyone else in Buffalo, Staal has been a shadow of his former self this season, recording just three goals and ten points in 32 games. The 36-year-old seemed to be battling father time quite admirably last season, scoring 19 goals and 47 points in just 66 games for the Minnesota Wild. That was the fourth strong season in a row for Staal in Minnesota, but an offseason trade brought him to Buffalo where he has struggled to get anything going. Chemistry never formed with Hall and at times, Staal has been used as a bottom-six player for the Sabres. His average ice time of 15:34 on the year is the lowest in his entire career and the results have followed.
Still, there’s no doubt he was an intriguing option to teams looking to bolster their center group for the stretch run. With a cap hit of just $3.25MM that expires at the end of the year, the financial commitment by an acquiring team would be small. Getting 1,272 regular season games of experience, not to mention a Stanley Cup championship (where he easily could have been awarded the Conn Smythe), would be an attractive option for any contender if the price is right.
For the Sabres, trading Staal is a no-brainer given how poorly the season has gone, and the recent decision by the Canadian government to reduce the quarantine for incoming players only increased their market. Staal does have a 10-team no-trade clause, but failing to get something in return for him would have been a serious misstep by the Buffalo front office.
Still, two mid-round picks for a player of Staal’s stature may speak to the state of the market right now. There aren’t many teams in the league that are looking to add money at the deadline and the Sabres obviously felt they weren’t going to get a better offer.
For the Canadiens, a third and a fifth is basically nothing, given how many other draft picks they already have. The team had hoarded 14 picks for the 2021 event, including three third and three fifths. It will be the Montreal picks that are going to Buffalo, not those they have acquired from other teams.
Even with the salary retention, Staal’s presence in Montreal squeezes the Canadiens right up against the cap ceiling. Pushing Paul Byron‘s contract to the taxi squad will allow them to complete the move, given he is still eligible after clearing waivers, but it will be a tight dance for the rest of the year. Montreal GM Marc Bergevin had been repeatedly explaining that his cap situation would limit their deadline maneuvering, but it certainly didn’t stop them from landing one of the best rentals on the market.
Frank Seravalli of TSN was first to report that a deal with Montreal was close.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Morning Notes: NWHL, Josephs, Trade Ideas
The NWHL has released information on their COVID testing prior to this weekend’s Isobel Cup Playoffs, and it’s all good news. There were zero positive test results among the PCR tests administered to players and team personnel traveling to Boston, zero positive test results among the rapid tests administered prior to boarding transportation to Boston, and zero positive test results from the rapid tests administered upon arrival at Warrior Ice Arena prior to today’s semifinals.
This is great news for the NWHL, who had to postpone their playoffs earlier this year thanks to outbreaks at their tournament in Lake Placid. The Toronto Six and Boston Pride will kick things off later today, before the Minnesota Whitecaps and Connecticut Whale battle in the second semifinal. The winners will compete for the Isobel Cup on Saturday night. All three games will be televised on NBCSN and streamed on the NBC Sports app in the U.S.. The games will be streamed on Twitch in Canada and other international markets.
- Troy Josephs has been loaned to HC Lugano for the rest of the season after his Swiss League playoff run ended. The former Pittsburgh Penguins prospect has been a star in that lower league, scoring 89 points in 75 games over the last two seasons. The jump to the National League, Switzerland’s top tier, will be a good test for the offensive skills he has always shown.
- Thomas Drance and Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic teamed up to find some “perfect fits” for the trade deadline, reaching out to various general managers to speculate on potential trade scenarios. Among them is Kyle Palmieri reuniting with Lou Lamoriello in New York, but also some more interesting ideas like the Carolina Hurricanes acquiring Adam Lowry from the Winnipeg Jets. The pair of scribes don’t suggest for a minute that these trades are brewing, but provide some analysis on what deadline deals might look like.
Christian Wolanin Clears Waivers
March 26: Wolanin has cleared waivers and can now be assigned to the taxi squad or minor leagues.
March 25: The Ottawa Senators have placed Christian Wolanin on waivers today, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. The team recalled Braydon Coburn from the taxi squad earlier today, suggesting he’ll be in the lineup against the Maple Leafs tonight.
Wolanin, 26, made the Senators roster immediately after signing out of the University of North Dakota in 2018, but hasn’t been able to keep a grip on that spot in the years since. With just 58 games of NHL experience, he is heading towards an offseason where he will become a Group VI unrestricted free agent. That is unless he plays 22 games down the stretch, something that would require quite a bit of luck given the Senators only have 21 remaining. If he were claimed and quickly forced through the quarantine protocols it is possible, but very unlikely at this point.
The fact that the Senators allowed him to reach that status in the first place is puzzling, given how little they are playing for this season. The team is not in contention for a playoff spot and are basically letting an asset reach free agency unnecessarily. Still, perhaps they were not planning on giving Wolanin a qualifying offer anyway as he comes off a season where he is earning $1MM on a one-way deal.
The 6’2″ defenseman has never been mistaken for a top-pairing player, but he does have the ability to fit into an NHL lineup in a depth role. Given there is no commitment past this season he could potentially be claimed, though skaters have passed through waivers unscathed routinely this year.
Taxi Squad Shuffle: 03/26/21
There has been plenty of roster movement between NHL teams and the taxi squad on a daily basis this season. Although some major names may be highlighted in separate articles, this is where you’ll find the majority of that shuffle news each day:
West Division
- The Arizona Coyotes made a move as they usually do, this time recalling Michael Chaput from the taxi squad and bringing up Michael Bunting from the AHL to take his place.
North Division
- After losing in overtime last night to Toronto the Ottawa Senators have made a few moves. Alex Formenton and Filip Gustavsson have been re-assigned to the taxi squad, with Vitaly Abramov and Mark Kastelic going to the AHL to make room. Marcus Hogberg has also been assigned to the AHL on a conditioning stint. Given the Senators don’t play again until March 30, perhaps he’ll be ready to dress by their next game.
Central Division
- The Columbus Blue Jackets have recalled Alexandre Texier, placing Mikhail Grigorenko on the taxi squad to make room. Texier hasn’t played since March 14 and has just nine points in 30 games this season.
East Division
- The New Jersey Devils have sent Colton White to the AHL, moving him off the taxi squad after only recalling him yesterday. White, 23, has played in nine games at the AHL level this season but hasn’t yet cracked the New Jersey lineup. Later in the day, the team assigned Nicholas Merkley to the taxi squad and recalled Jesper Boqvist in time to play in this evening’s game.
This page will be updated throughout the day.
Kasperi Kapanen Out Week-To-Week
The Pittsburgh Penguins already have Evgeni Malkin, Brandon Tanev, Teddy Blueger, Mark Friedman and Jason Zucker on injured reserve, but might be adding another name soon. Kasperi Kapanen is out “week-to-week” according to head coach Mike Sullivan after suffering a lower-body injury in last night’s game.
Though Sullivan didn’t elaborate on what exactly the injury was or when it occurred, it seems likely to have happened when Kapanen blocked a clearing attempt by Brandon Montour. He immediately collapsed to the ice and left the game soon after, obviously dealing with pain in his lower half.
The 24-year-old Kapanen has been a strong performer in his return to Pittsburgh, re-acquired in the offseason from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Originally drafted by the Penguins 2014, he played over 200 games for Toronto before finally suiting up for Pittsburgh. In his 30 games this season, the speedy winger has seven goals and 21 points, good for sixth on the team behind the usual suspects.
That list of injuries for Pittsburgh is quite extensive and rips most of the forward depth out of the lineup. Even though they are facing the league’s worst team in Buffalo, it will be quite the test. The two games against the New York Islanders afterward will be even tougher, should they not receive any reinforcements.
PHR Live Chat Transcript: 03/25/21
Click here to read a transcript of this week’s live chat with PHR’s Gavin Lee.
COVID Protocol Related Absences: 03/25/21
Each day, the NHL will publicly release the list of players that are unavailable to their respective teams due to being in COVID-19 Protocol. Here is the list for today so far:
Anaheim – Alexander Volkov*
Boston – Jake DeBrusk, Sean Kuraly
Minnesota – Zach Parise
Montreal – Joel Armia, Jesperi Kotkaniemi
NY Rangers – Brett Howden (plus part of the coaching staff)
Ottawa – TBA
Vancouver – Travis Boyd
As a reminder, inclusion on this list does not mean that a player has tested positive for Coronavirus or even that they have been confirmed as a close contact to another positive person. Included in the NHL’s list of possible reasons for someone being on the list is are the following:
(1) an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (2) mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (3) required quarantine as a high-risk close contact in accordance with the Positive Test Protocol; (4) isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or; (5) quarantine for travel or other reasons as outlined in the COVID-19 Protocol
Players removed today: Danton Heinen, Anaheim Ducks; Ben Hutton, Anaheim Ducks; Jacob Larsson, Anaheim Ducks; Anthony Stolarz, Anaheim Ducks; Phil Di Giuseppe, New York Rangers
All four players that were added recently for the Ducks have found their way off, though Volkov has been added as he moves from one team to another. After being acquired late last night, the young forward will need to face a short quarantine period before he can join Anaheim.
For the Rangers, Di Giuseppe has exited the protocol along with assistant coaches Jacques Martin and Greg Brown. They have joined the team in Philadelphia and can take over their regular duties once again.
Unfortunately, they aren’t the only coaches facing an issue like this. The Buffalo Sabres have announced that interim head coach Don Granato and assistant Matt Ellis are self-isolating and will be unavailable for tonight’s game against the Penguins. Sabres GM Kevyn Adams will be being the bench as head coach instead.
*denotes new addition