Robert Hagg Signs With Philadelphia Flyers
After a report surfaced this morning that Shayne Gostisbehere is available for trade, the Philadelphia Flyers have moved to lock up one of their other defensemen. Robert Hagg has signed a new two-year contract that will carry an average annual value of $1.6MM. Hagg was scheduled for restricted free agency next month and was arbitration-eligible. He will now be under contract through the 2021-22 season, after which he will be an unrestricted free agent.
Hagg, 25, was a second-round pick of the Flyers back in 2013 but spent several years in the minor leagues polishing his game. By the time he reached the NHL in 2017, he was a strong, punishing defender that offered a new look for the organization. In fact, over the last three seasons, Hagg has recorded 632 hits, fourth among all NHL defenders and tenth among all skaters. Over the same period, he has blocked 337 shots, a number that puts him only behind Ivan Provorov on the Flyers and still among the league’s best.
No, hits and blocked shots aren’t everything, but with so many other talented puck-moving defensemen in the Flyers system, Hagg’s physical profile fits in well. He offers a different look for opposing teams, while actually taking relatively few minor penalties. At $1.6MM per season, he will still represent an inexpensive option that can be deployed on the third pairing nightly.
For the Flyers, that leaves Philippe Myers and Nolan Patrick as the two biggest restricted free agents left to sign. Justin Braun is also a free agent—though the unrestricted variety—but there are other young options for Philadelphia if they choose to let him walk.
Shayne Gostisbehere Available In Trade
Though it may not come as much of a surprise, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic confirms that Shayne Gostisbehere of the Philadelphia Flyers is available in trade talks as the offseason approaches. The team has “shown a serious willingness” to move Gostisbehere for the first time, even though his name has been in trade speculation for years.
It’s easy to see why that might be the case. Gostisbehere has fallen out of favor with the new coaching staff, seen his offensive production fall off a cliff, and still carries a $4.5MM cap hit for the next three seasons. The 27-year-old scored just 12 points in 42 games this season, playing the fewest minutes of his career and barely even getting into the Flyers postseason.
That said, this is a player that recorded a 65-point season as recently as 2017-18 and has shown an ability to contribute huge numbers in the offensive end. A powerplay quarterback, he has twice received votes for the Norris Trophy as one of the league’s best defensemen. No one would call Gostisbehere a shutdown defender in his own end, but he still does produce strong possession stats and may be seen by another team as a serious buy-low candidate.
Importantly, as LeBrun points out, Gostisbehere’s contract was also heavily front-loaded. That means the enigmatic defenseman will only actually earn $3.25MM in salary over each of the final three seasons, a lot less money than his $4.5MM cap hit suggests. For teams looking to cut costs while still remaining cap compliant, he may be a rather attractive target.
Ottawa Senators Buy Out Bobby Ryan
After clearing waivers on Saturday, the Senators announced that they have officially bought out the final two seasons of Bobby Ryan‘s contract. GM Pierre Dorion released the following statement on the move:
This was a decision that required a lot of consideration. Bobby’s long been a deserving fan favourite in Ottawa. While we’re appreciative of his efforts on the ice, it’s outweighed by how proud we are of him for the courage that he has demonstrated off of it. As we continue to take strides in our rebuild, this decision was one that we felt was best for the organization. We wish he and his family the best as he moves forward.
The Masterton Trophy winner had two years remaining on a seven-year, $50.75MM contract he signed back in 2014 ($7.25MM AAV). The buyout saves the Senators $3.67MM in each of the next two seasons, but apply a $1.83MM penalty for the following two. The full cap hit will now be as follows:
- 2020-21: $3,583,333
- 2021-22: $3,583,333
- 2022-23: $1.833,333
- 2023-24: $1,833,333
Ryan, 33, had been with the Senators since the 2013-14 season, scoring 107 goals and 266 points over 455 games. This year he suited up just 24 times, leaving the team for a chunk of the season to deal with his addiction problems. Upon his return, he provided one of the most emotional moments of the year when he notched a hat trick in his first game back in Ottawa.
Coming into the league as a dominant presence for the Anaheim Ducks, Ryan recorded 30 or more goals in four straight seasons, hitting a career-high of 71 points in 2010-11. His deteriorated play in recent years made this an easy choice for the Senators though, one that was even discussed in years prior as his goal totals fell. The simple fact was that he can no longer provide the kind of value required for a $7.25MM cap hit, especially as finances are tightened league-wide.
That said, Ryan now becomes an unrestricted free agent that is able to sign a new contract with whatever team he chooses. For a much lower cap hit, perhaps someone believes they can bring back some of his production. After all, Ryan did score four goals in eight games after returning from the Player Assistance Program.
For the Senators, it’s not so much about the cap space (as they have more than they’ll ever need) but the actual salary owed. Ryan was due $7.5MM in each of the remaining two seasons, a total of $15MM that will be reduced to $11.3MM after the buyout.
His removal from the roster will also provide more minutes for the young Senators core, a group that is actually quite impressive. Not only do they have one of the best prospect systems in the league already, but Ottawa also has seven picks in the first two rounds and thirteen overall this year.
TSN’s Darren Dreger was the first to report that Ryan’s deal was being bought out.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Snapshots: Entry Draft, Daccord, Koivu
The NHL Entry Draft is just around the corner and the Ottawa Senators will be almost living at the (virtual) podium. Ottawa owns seven picks in the first two rounds including the third and fifth overall selections. Jeff Marek gave his thoughts on that fifth pick in today’s 31 Thoughts podcast for Sportsnet, including some interesting names that may be in play.
Five’s gonna be interesting. I’m told there are three different beliefs in that organization.
There is the “let’s take a defenseman here.” There is a belief that that would be Jake Sanderson, Geoff Sanderson‘s kid. There is another belief within the organization that they are thin on the right side as it comes to prospects after players like Drake Batherson. That Jack Quinn, who was a 50-goal scorer two-way player with the Ottawa 67’s, the local boy, might be the right fit for Ottawa…and then the wildcard in all of it is the goaltender.
Yaroslav Askarov, that goaltender Marek mentions, is one of the more interesting prospects to follow in the draft given the wide-ranging opinions on where netminders should be taken in the draft. In the same podcast, Elliotte Friedman suggests that even the New Jersey Devils would consider Askarov at seven, despite having Mackenzie Blackwood in the organization already.
- The Arizona Coyotes have named Brian Daccord special assistant to the general manager and director of goaltending operations. Daccord comes to Arizona by way of Toronto after spending the last several seasons with the Maple Leafs. Father of Ottawa Senators goalie prospect Joey Daccord, Brian comes with plenty of experience in professional hockey including seven years as the goaltending coach for Adler Mannheim in the DEL.
- Mikko Koivu‘s time in Minnesota may be over, but that doesn’t necessarily mean his playing career is done. Koivu told reporters including Michael Russo of The Athletic that he is returning to Finland to start training as if he is playing in 2020-21, though he hasn’t made a decision on his future just yet. Koivu, 37, scored just four goals in 55 games for the Wild this season and has played in nearly 1,100 games over a long career.
Justin Barron Out Indefinitely Following Medical Procedure
One of the top prospects available for the 2020 NHL Entry Draft will not start his junior season on time. Justin Barron is out indefinitely following a medical procedure. A further timeline will be given after a follow-up examination. Barron missed several months last season with a blood clot, though the press release does not clarify whether this is the same issue or even related.
The QMJHL season is set to start next week, with the Halifax Mooseheads playing their first game on October 2. Barron is ranked 16th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting and was expected to be taken in the first round.
The 18-year-old is among the most polished defenders available in the draft and scored 41 points in 68 games during the 2018-19 season. While those numbers fell as he dealt with the blood clot issue this year, Barron was still considered a strong prospect that would be snatched up quickly in the draft.
Montreal Canadiens Extend Jeff Petry
The Montreal Canadiens have made a huge move just a few weeks before free agency opens, extending Jeff Petry for another four years. Petry was still under contract for the 2020-21 season but will now be locked up through 2024-25. The new deal is worth a total of $25MM, giving him a $6.25MM cap hit starting in 2021-22. It also includes a 15-team no-trade clause and a no-movement clause, meaning he will require automatic protection in the upcoming expansion draft. Chris Johnston of Sportsnet tweets the full breakdown:
- 2021-22: $5.0MM salary
- 2022-23: $3.0MM signing bonus + $4.5MM salary
- 2023-24: $3.0MM signing bonus + $4.5MM salary
- 2024-25: $2.0MM signing bonus + $3.0MM salary
Though he still doesn’t get quite the recognition of one, Petry has developed into one of the best two-way defensemen in the league over the last few years. In fact, his 128 points over the last three seasons put him 17th among all NHL defenders, while his 36 goals sit 11th over the same time period. Though he’ll never get the same type of press that teammate Shea Weber receives, Petry is almost equally important to the Canadiens and showed it this postseason.
The 32-year-old defenseman averaged more than 25 minutes a night as Montreal shocked the hockey world by defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins in the qualification round and took the Philadelphia Flyers to six games. For a team that wasn’t even expecting to be included in the playoffs, their performance was admirable and as Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic tweets, could have had a real impact on the uber-competitive Petry’s decision to remain.
There’s no doubt that Petry earned an extension with his play, but it’s not like this deal comes without a fair bit of risk for the team. Petry will turn 33 in December (likely before the 2020-21 campaign even begins), meaning this deal takes him deep into his thirties at an expensive cap hit. While his current play is deserving of a raise on the $5.5MM cap hit he currently carries, it’s hard to expect him to continue at that level for the duration of his new contract.
Combine that with the fact that Weber still has six years left on his current contract, which keeps him at a $7.86MM cap hit through 2025-26 and the Canadiens will have quite a bit of space eaten up by two aging defensemen. Of course, there are ways around that, including a revamped cap recapture system should Weber decide to retire before his contract expires. But with a Montreal team that is still looking for an identity upfront, committing so much money to aging defensemen could end up backfiring.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Montreal Canadiens Agree To Terms With Joseph Blandisi
The Montreal Canadiens have come to an agreement with Joseph Blandisi on a new contract, a one-year two-way pact that will carry a $700K salary at the NHL level and a $325K salary in the AHL. Blandisi was scheduled to become a restricted free agent next month.
Blandisi, 26, was actually a sixth-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche back in 2012, but never did sign a contract with them. Instead, he re-entered the 2014 draft and was completely passed over, becoming an undrafted free agent that had to return to junior. Perhaps motivated by the snub, Blandisi scored 52 goals and 112 points in the 2014-15 season, earning himself an entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils in the process.
Beating the odds once again, Blandisi was up with the NHL squad the following season, playing in 41 games for the Devils and scoring 17 points as a rookie. Unfortunately, those would be his career-highs to this point. Blandisi has just 101 games played and 31 points in the NHL, but can serve as a depth option for the Canadiens next season.
Toronto Maple Leafs Hire Paul MacLean
The Toronto Maple Leafs have added another familiar name to their coaching staff, hiring Paul MacLean as an assistant today. MacLean most recently served as an assistant on the Columbus Blue Jackets bench, but is coming back to Ontario where he was head coach of the Ottawa Senators for four seasons.
Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe released a statement on his new staff member:
Over nearly two decades as an NHL coach, Paul has filled every role on a coaching staff, winning a Stanley Cup and Jack Adams trophy along the way. Adding someone of Paul’s expertise and character to advise and assist our staff is something that we felt was very important as we seek to make tangible steps next season.
Ironically enough, MacLean actually served for several years in Detroit and Anaheim under former Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock, who Keefe replaced last season. He has also worked with Bruce Boudreau in Anaheim, another name that was rumored to be in the mix for the Toronto staff. Instead, he’ll be the one joining Keefe, incumbent assistant Dave Hakstol and newcomer Manny Malhotra in Toronto.
MacLean is expected to be the “eye-in-the-sky” for the Maple Leafs according to Jonas Siegel of The Athletic, the role that Malhotra held for the Vancouver Canucks before coming to Toronto. In his only time as a head coach, MacLean actually took the Senators to the playoffs twice, posting a 114-90-35 record with the team. He took home the Jack Adams Award as Coach of the Year in 2013. He was also a star player in his day, recording 324 goals and 673 points in 719 career NHL games.
If you are wondering what kind of relationship MacLean and Keefe will have given the former’s experience as an NHL head coach, remember that Keefe’s long-time minor league and junior assistant A.J. MacLean is Paul’s son.
Philadelphia Flyers Sign Alex Lyon
The Philadelphia Flyers will bring back some of their goaltending depth for another season, signing Alex Lyon to a new one-year contract. The deal is worth $700K and will allow Lyon to avoid unrestricted free agency next month.
There’s no doubt that Carter Hart will be the Flyers starter and workhorse next season, but as we discussed yesterday goaltending depth could have even bigger importance due to the condensed schedule. Lyon, while not exactly pushing for a full-time roster spot in the NHL, does provide solid performance as an organization’s third goaltender. In 145 AHL appearances, the undrafted free agent signing has recorded a .913 save percentage and 2.73 goals-against average.
One thing to always remember with Lyon is that he is no longer waiver-exempt, meaning that in order to be stashed in the minor leagues he’ll have to pass through unclaimed. While he’s done it before, an injury at the wrong time to the wrong team could mean a desperate grab for an available netminder like Lyon.
There is also still some uncertainty over who will serve as backup for Hart in the NHL next season. Brian Elliott is scheduled for unrestricted free agency and is now 35, while the team’s other young prospects are likely not yet ready for duty in the big leagues. If they don’t sign another goalie over the next few months, Lyon could potentially have a pathway to that spot.
Joona Luoto Loaned To HIFK
At some point European leagues will run out of spots for NHL prospects, but not today. The Winnipeg Jets have loaned Joona Luoto to HIFK in Finland, though immediately announced that he will be back when the 2020-21 season starts in North America.
Luoto, 22, found himself in the Jets lineup for 16 games this season during his first year in North America but failed to register a single point. The 6’3″ winger came over from Finland as an undrafted free agent and ended up splitting the year between the AHL and NHL.
While offense was clearly not his strong suit this year, Luoto has been playing at the professional level since he was a teenager and should be a fine bottom-six depth option for the Jets next season. He’ll turn 23 tomorrow but still has two years remaining on his entry-level contract.