Overseas Notes: Reunanen, Tuulola, Wiley
Tarmo Reunanen, who had been previously loaned to TUTO of the Finnish second league, will jump up a tier and join HPK until further notice. The New York Rangers prospect is under contract in North America but hasn’t actually come over yet. Selected 98th overall in 2016, Reunanen has played the last two seasons with Lukko and recorded 19 points in 51 games in 2019-20. In the release, it states that though Reunanen will return for NHL training camp, if he can’t find a spot with the organization he will be returned to Finland to continue his development.
More notes on prospects playing overseas:
- Eetu Tuulola has parted ways with Vasterviks IK in the Swedish second league after the player he had replaced due to injury is set to return. Tuulola, a Calgary Flames prospect, will have to be found another spot to play by the Flames if they want to keep him on the ice. The 22-year-old forward spent last season with the Stockton Heat, scoring 23 points in 50 games.
- Adam Helewka, who signed an AHL contract with the Cleveland Monsters earlier this offseason, will play in Slovakia until the minor league season begins. The 25-year-old forward has had quite the journey already in his hockey career, traded three times in the NHL, playing for four different minor league teams, and spending time in the KHL and SHL. He’ll play for HKM Zvolen for now, as he waits for his next chance in North America.
- Wiley Sherman wasn’t given a qualifying offer by the Boston Bruins last month, meaning he became an unrestricted free agent able to sign anywhere in the world. That job search has taken him to Denmark, where he’ll join Esbjerg Energy this season. The 25-year-old defenseman played just 20 games for the Providence Bruins in 2019-20, recording six points.
Christoffer Ehn Signs In SHL
After not receiving a qualifying offer from the Detroit Red Wings, Christoffer Ehn became an unrestricted free agent. He’s off the open market now after signing a new deal with Frolunda in the SHL for the rest of the season.
Ehn, 24, played 114 games for the Red Wings over the last two seasons but wasn’t able to add much offense to the team, scoring just 13 points. With younger, more dynamic prospects pushing for playing time, the Red Wings obviously felt like Ehn’s role wasn’t going to be there this year and let him go.
Still, given he is so young, remember the name for next offseason when teams are looking for depth forwards with some experience. He does bring a big frame and experience at center, things that are always coveted on the open market.
2020 Arbitration Tracker
Originally published on Oct 13
The dates for the upcoming arbitration hearings have been set, with the first three being held on October 20. Hearings will continue through November 8. It is important to remember that this offseason, once a hearing begins, teams are no longer allowed to negotiate with the player in question while the arbitrator deliberates.
The full schedule is:
October 20
Andrew Mangiapane – Settled, 2 years $2.43MM AAV
Anthony DeAngelo – Settled, 2 years $4.8MM AAV
Matt Grzelcyk – Settled, 4 years, $3.69MM AAV
October 21
Ilya Mikheyev – Settled, 2 years $1.65MM AAV
October 22
Connor Brown – Settled, 3 years, $3.6MM AAV
October 25
Tyler Bertuzzi – Player filing: $4.25MM – Team filing: $3.15MM – Awarded: $3.5MM
October 26
Linus Ullmark – Settled, 1 year, $2.6MM AAV
October 27
Sam Reinhart – Settled, 1 year, $5.2MM AAV
October 28
Jake Virtanen* – Settled, 2 years, $2.55MM AAV
October 30
Joshua Ho-Sang – Settled, 1 year, $700K AAV (two-way)
October 31
Devon Toews – Settled, 4 years, $4.1MM AAV
Alexandar Georgiev – Settled, 2 years, $2.43MM AAV
November 1
Nick Paul – Settled, 2 years, $1.35MM AAV
November 2
Gustav Forsling – Settled, 1 year, $700K AAV (two-way)
November 4
Victor Olofsson – Settled, 2 years, $3.05MM AAV
Warren Foegele – Settled, 1 year, $2.14MM AAV
November 5
Ryan Strome – Player filing: $5.7MM, Team Filing: 3.6MM – Settled: 2 years, $4.5MM AAV
November 6
Brendan Lemieux – Player filing: $2MM, Team Filing: 2 years, $1.0125MM AAV – Settled: 2 years, $1.55MM AAV
Ryan Pulock – Settled, 2 years, $5.0MM AAV
November 7
Christian Jaros – Settled, 1 year, $750K (two-way)
November 8
Chris Tierney – Settled, 2 years, $3.5MM AAV
MacKenzie Weegar – Settled, 3 years $3.25MM AAV
Haydn Fleury – Settled, 2 years, $1.3MM AAV
*Virtanen was not included in the NHLPA’s announcement, but Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports he will have a hearing on the 28th.
MacKenzie Weegar Signs With Florida Panthers
The arbitration process for 2020 is now over as MacKenzie Weegar, the final player with a hearing scheduled for this weekend has signed a new contract with the Florida Panthers. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports that Weegar will sign a three-year deal with an average annual value of $3.25MM. The full breakdown is as follows:
- 2020-21: $2.0MM
- 2021-22: $3.0MM
- 2022-23: $4.75MM
Weegar was scheduled for a hearing on Sunday, the final day of arbitration, and would have had to exchange filings with the team today. That hearing will obviously no longer be necessary.
The 26-year-old has turned into one of the more underrated defensive defensemen in the league over the last few seasons, spending a good amount of his ice time alongside Aaron Ekblad in Florida. Though he doesn’t give you much offensively—Weegar has just 41 points in 172 career games—Weegar has consistently posted strong possession numbers and is a staple on the penalty kill.
Standing just 6’0″ and without exceptional speed, Weegar does a little bit of everything on the ice. He’ll hit when needed, but will never lead the league in that category and isn’t going to blind you with any 100-foot stretch passes. But he can quietly shut down rushes with strong position and an active stick, making life easier on his partner.
That might be why so many teams were linked to him this offseason as a potential trade candidate. Now that he has a contract, perhaps that talk will resume (teams rarely like to trade for a player with an arbitration case on the schedule) but if not, he’ll slot in behind Ekblad, Keith Yandle, and Anton Stralman as a rock-solid fourth option in Florida.
Brendan Lemieux Avoids Arbitration
The New York Rangers won’t need their arbitration hearing for Brendan Lemieux, as the two sides have come to a new agreement. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports that the Rangers have signed Lemieux to a two-year contract that carries an average annual value of $1.55MM. The young forward’s hearing had been scheduled for today, with Lemieux filing for $2MM and the Rangers looking for a two-year contract with an AAV just over 1.01MM. This falls almost right in the middle, where arbitration likely would have landed anyway.
Lemieux, 24, scored 18 points in 59 games last season but was among the league leaders in penalty minutes, racking up 111 of them as an in-your-face pest every night. He won’t play a scoring role with the Rangers but doesn’t kill you at even strength and provides some bite to the bottom of the lineup.
With the new contract signed, the Rangers now have about $4.8MM in cap space and all of their players locked up. If they want to spend a little on free agency they have that ability, though with some big extensions coming up in the next few years it may be wise to only take on short-term money.
Speaking of money, the Rangers will now receive a second buyout window on Sunday where they could potentially free up even more cash. Brendan Smith is really the only candidate left, though at this point it doesn’t really make a lot of sense. A buyout would only save them a little more than $1.5MM in cap space this season, not a lot more than they would get by burying Smith in the minor leagues again. Taking on the buyout penalty in 2021-22 that would come along doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Instead, the Rangers may just look ahead with their roster set and next season representing a new chance. Loaded with young talent all over the roster, New York should be considered a playoff contender.
Anaheim Ducks Sign Jacob Perreault
The Anaheim Ducks have signed one of their 2020 draft picks, inking Jacob Perreault to his three-year entry-level contract. Perreault was selected 27th overall and plays for the Sarnia Sting of the OHL.
The son of longtime NHL forward Yanic Perreault, the 18-year-old winger is a completely different player than his father. Lining up almost exclusively at right wing, Jacob Perreault is a legitimate sniper who can score in a variety of different ways, including loading up his lethal wrist shot from the top of the circle. In his first two seasons of OHL hockey, he recorded 69 goals in 120 games.
He was the second first-round pick the Ducks had this season and will join an impressive group of forward prospects in the system. While the NHL team still includes quite a bit of veteran salary, there are better times ahead for Anaheim if even a handful of these high draft picks work out.
Of course, with any prospect these days, the question will be raised about where Perreault will play. The OHL is hoping for a February start but has had questions around the idea of playing without body checking, while Perreault is too young to play in the AHL. Under contract now, he could potentially be loaned overseas, though it would be much more difficult for the Ducks to have a say in his development.
Poll: Which 35+ Player Would You Sign?
In today’s NHL, by the time a player reaches the age of 35, many consider his career to be over. ‘He’s too slow,’ is usually the critique, given how fast the game has gotten over the last few decades. Even players that were once considered strong skaters are being passed by young phenoms, able to carve up the ice. But for some, that isn’t the case. The rare player is still effective into his mid and late-thirties, able to compensate for the declining footspeed with experience and awareness.
Joe Thornton, currently the oldest active player under contract in the NHL, recently signed a new deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs at age-40. He’s just a few months the senior his longtime teammate Patrick Marleau, who also just inked a new deal, this time to return to the San Jose Sharks. Henrik Lundqvist is the oldest goaltender in the league, though he’s only a few weeks older than Mike Smith.
For a long time now, Zdeno Chara has held the title of the oldest in the league. But the 43-year-old defenseman has still yet to sign a contract for the upcoming season. Perhaps after more than twenty years in the league, he’s prepared to hang up his skates, but you certainly can’t rule him out at this point. He’s still an effective penalty killer and can add instant leadership and experience to any locker room.
But beyond Chara, there exist some interesting older players on the open market.
Ron Hainsey, for instance, is coming off a season in which he logged nearly 21 minutes a night for the Ottawa Senators. The 39-year-old defenseman actually led the team in +/- and even recorded 12 points in 64 games, despite heavy defensive deployment. Hainsey averaged more than three minutes of short-handed ice time, but was actually quite an effective penalty killer.
Then there is Andy Greene, a longtime member of the New Jersey Devils who actually served as captain for five seasons. Not only did he earn $5MM on the last year of his deal, but he also netted the Devils a second-round pick at the deadline when he was acquired by the New York Islanders. Greene actually scored at a better point-per-game pace than Chara and is another respected leader.
Then there are the forwards. The whole league just watched Corey Perry go all the way to the Stanley Cup Final with the Dallas Stars, looking rejuvenated and as feisty as ever. Perry scored as many goals (5) in the postseason as he did in the regular season, but could still be a valuable fourth-line addition for a team that wants that bite for the playoffs.
Brian Boyle is also player that has plenty of playoff experience and can add a bit of physical presence. He’ll turn 36 in December but still scored 15 points in 39 games for the Florida Panthers this season, an 82-game pace that puts him over 30. There’s nothing wrong with that kind of production, especially when it comes along with a 6’6″ frame that is one of the most imposing in all of professional hockey.
Not to be forgotten of course is Ilya Kovalchuk, the enigmatic winger that is likely headed for the Hall of Fame one day. He could reach the 1,000 regular season game threshold if he plays in the NHL in 2020-21, and will likely break 900 career points as well. Kovalchuk is certainly not playoff-tested and has seemingly disappeared at times throughout his career, but that short stint in Montreal this season—when he scored 13 points in 22 games and looked re-energized—may excite a front office even as he approaches his 38th birthday next spring.
Who would you sign? All of these players would be eligible for bonus-laden deals, if they agree to a one-year contract. Could they still play a role on your NHL team? Cast your vote below and make sure to explain your thoughts in the comments.
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Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Columbus Blue Jackets Sign Vladislav Gavrikov
The Columbus Blue Jackets have inked one of their two key restricted free agents, signing Vladislav Gavrikov to a three-year contract worth a total of $8.4MM ($2.8MM AAV). Gavrikov was an RFA but did not have arbitration rights and could not be signed to an offer sheet. Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen released this statement on the deal:
Vladimir Gavrikov was everything we hoped he would be during his rookie season last year, establishing himself as a top four defenseman in the National Hockey League. He is still a young player that we expect will get better every year and continue to be an important part of our blueline.
A sixth-round pick from 2015, Gavrikov took his time before finally coming over to North America in 2019, but when he did he was an instant success. The 24-year-old defenseman has quickly become a top option for the Blue Jackets, scoring 18 points in 69 games this season while logging 19 minutes a night. Now that the team has moved on from Ryan Murray those should increase even further, but he’ll still be at a very reasonable price tag.
Gavrikov had little leverage in negotiations with the Blue Jackets, other than perhaps threatening to return to the KHL. Notably, the three-year term that he worked out will take him directly to unrestricted free agency at age-27, the best chance for him to maximize his value at this point.
For Columbus though, the third year is incredibly important. In the summer of 2022, they will need to work out new contracts for both Seth Jones and Zach Werenski, with the former actually being scheduled for unrestricted free agency. Having Gavrikov locked in for just $2.8MM when extensions kick in for both of their top defensemen will be key in keeping their financial situation in order.
It also will give them some security if David Savard, currently their trusty third option, leaves as a UFA after this upcoming season. Savard, 30, will carry a $4.25MM cap hit this year but should command a raise on the open market after so many years of steady play.
Now, the Blue Jackets can focus all of their attention on Pierre-Luc Dubois, the final RFA to sign and arguably their most important forward. Dubois will command a huge raise, but Kekalainen has been clear that he will not rush into a deal that doesn’t make sense for his team. Dubois could potentially sign an offer sheet, but with such little cap space left around the league that seems extremely unlikely at this point.
Winnipeg Jets Agree To Terms With Marko Dano
The Winnipeg Jets will be bringing back a familiar face, announcing today that they have agreed to terms with Marko Dano on a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will carry a salary of $700K in the NHL and $150K in the AHL.
Dano spent parts of three seasons in the Jets organization between 2015-18, playing 82 of his 141 career NHL games there. This offseason he was not issued a qualifying offer from the Columbus Blue Jackets, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Still just 25, it feels like a decade ago that Dano was picked 27th overall by the Blue Jackets. It was actually just 2013, but after being involved in multiple trades and suiting up for Columbus (twice), Winnipeg, Chicago, and Colorado without much NHL success he has the feeling of someone who will never really find his footing at the highest level.
In 141 career games, Dano does have 45 points but hasn’t recorded a single one since the 2017-18 season. For the last two years, he has been almost exclusively used at the AHL level, including a 30-point season for the Manitoba Moose in 2018-19. That’s likely where he’s heading again this time around, though he’ll obviously compete for a spot in training camp whenever it opens.
Josh Brook Loaned To Krefeld Pinguine
The Montreal Canadiens have loaned Josh Brook to the Krefeld Pinguine in the DEL for the next few months in order to get him playing again. The team expects to recall Brook in time for NHL training camp later this winter.
The 56th overall pick in 2017, Brook has just finished his first full season in professional hockey, scoring 13 points in 60 games with the Laval Rocket of the AHL. The former WHL star is one of a handful of young defensemen in the Canadiens’ system that could be battling for NHL roster spots, if ever any open up for them.
Montreal went out and added Joel Edmundson this offseason, re-signed Jeff Petry long-term, and are expected to have Alexander Romanov as a regular this season. With Shea Weber, Ben Chiarot, Brett Kulak, and Victor Mete also around, that doesn’t leave a lot of opportunity for players like Brook, Cale Fleury, or Noah Juulsen to make an impact.
Still, getting his feet under him overseas can only help Brook as he prepares for the season. Waiver-exempt with two years left on his entry-level contract, he’ll be headed to Laval upon his return in all likelihood.