Prospect Notes: Draft Rankings, Foote, Brodeur
The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler has released his midseason draft prospect ranking (subscription required), where he takes a detailed look at the top 31 prospects while also ranking the second round. It won’t surprise you that Alexis Lafreniere is at the top, though the rest of his first round comes with some surprises.
One of those may be Jake Sanderson, who is the lone American-born player in the top-31. Sanderson sits at No. 25, making it quite a weak draft for the United States (especially compared to last year’s loaded class). The piece has enough information for you to spend an afternoon picking apart, especially as draft picks are swapped over the next several days.
- The Kelowna Rockets of the WHL have made a change behind the bench, releasing former NHL defenseman Adam Foote from his duties as head coach. This is almost unheard of for a team to do just before they host the Memorial Cup, but with Kelowna sitting with a losing record obviously they felt a change should be made. Foote’s son, Nolan Foote, just had a big change in his career path as well after being traded from the Tampa Bay Lightning to the New Jersey Devils. He’ll have to chase that Memorial Cup without his dad looking over his shoulder.
- Another famous hockey name is in the news today, as Jeremy Brodeur has signed with the Sheffield Steelers of the EIHL. Son of legendary NHL goaltender Martin Brodeur, the 23-year old netminder went undrafted and played last season in the ECHL.
Vegas Golden Knights Acquire Alec Martinez
Wednesday: The trade for Martinez has been officially announced. Vegas receives the veteran defenseman in exchange for their 2020 second-round pick and St. Louis’ 2021 second-round pick. The Kings will not retain any of Martinez’ salary.
The Golden Knights have also recalled Jimmy Schuldt, Zach Whitecloud and Nicolas Roy, while placing Alex Tuch on injured reserve.
Tuesday: The Vegas Golden Knights are trying to get in on the defenseman party, as Bob McKenzie of TSN reports they are working on a deal that would see Alec Martinez arrive from the Los Angeles Kings. In return, McKenzie believes the Kings would receive a package of two second-round picks. The deal has not been completed yet, and may not be officially announced until tomorrow, even though Martinez will not play for Los Angeles this evening.
Martinez, unlike the other rental defensemen traded today, has another year left on his contract. He also carries a $4MM cap hit, meaning the Golden Knights would need to make some extra room by either sending down a player or having the Kings retain some of Martinez’ salary. That also could be the hold up in the deal, as by waiting another day they will open enough cap space to fit Martinez in without any salary retention. Vegas sent down Zach Whitecloud earlier today and sit with just 20 players on the roster.
The Golden Knights do have two second-round selections this season (their own and Pittsburgh’s) and three next year (their own, New Jersey’s and St. Louis’). They also have a desperate need for some help on defense if they are to compete in the Pacific Division, which is so tightly packed there is just two points between first and fifth. More specifically, the Golden Knights need a player who can quickly get the puck up to their talented forwards to take some pressure off Nate Schmidt and Shea Theodore. While Martinez hasn’t had the same offensive impact the last few years in Los Angeles, he was once a staple on the team’s powerplay and has multiple 30+ point seasons.
The fact that he is signed for another season is also a huge bonus for the Golden Knights, who currently have three regulars in Nick Holden, Jonathon Merrill and Deryk Engelland set to become unrestricted free agents in the summer. Though Whitecloud, Nicolas Hague and Jimmy Schuldt all could be up in the NHL next year, Martinez gives Vegas another legitimate top-four option.
Over each of the past five seasons, Martinez has averaged at least 21 minutes a night for the Kings, playing in all situations. His versatility is maybe his best attribute, especially the fact that he has no problem playing the left or right side (despite being left-handed). That will certainly come in handy (pun intended) during a playoff run, as teams often deal with injuries on the back end.
Columbus Blue Jackets Sign Stefan Matteau
The Columbus Blue Jackets have rewarded one of their minor league forwards, signing Stefan Matteau to a two-year, two-way contract. The deal takes Matteau through the 2020-21 season, and replaces the AHL contract he had been playing in the minor leagues under. PuckPedia reports that the deal carries a cap hit of $725K in the NHL.
Matteau will join the Blue Jackets before Thursday’s game. GM Jarmo Kekalainen explained why he made the deal:
Stefan has played very well while serving in a leadership role with our AHL affiliate in Cleveland this year. He has earned this opportunity and we are excited to see him continue to develop as a member of our organization.
Matteau, 25, settled for a AHL contract after becoming a group VI unrestricted free agent at the end of last season. A first-round pick by the New Jersey Devils in 2012, Matteau never did grow into his potential and has only played 64 games in the NHL. During his tenure in the minor leagues he has been a solid contributor, but his 28 points this year actually set a career-high.
For Columbus, Matteau is just another call-up in an injury riddled season that they’ve somehow managed to navigate. He likely won’t play a major role, but does give them some professional experience in the bottom six.
Minor Transactions: 02/19/20
Six games are on the schedule for this evening, including an interesting matchup between the division leading Boston Bruins and Edmonton Oilers. It will be a real test for the Oilers without Connor McDavid or Oscar Klefbom, against one of the true Stanley Cup contenders this season. As they and the rest of the league prepare, we’ll keep track of all the minor moves right here:
- The Pittsburgh Penguins have placed John Marino on injured reserve after his recent surgery, meaning they had a spot on the roster for another defenseman. Zach Trotman is that defenseman for now, after he was recalled today from the AHL.
- The San Jose Sharks have recalled Nicolas Meloche from the AHL to fill Brenden Dillon‘s spot, after the veteran was traded yesterday. Meloche has yet to play an NHL game in his young career, but was the 40th overall selection in 2015.
- Christian Folin has been recalled by the Montreal Canadiens, after Victor Mete left last night’s game with an injury. Folin has played in seven games for the Canadiens this season, recording two points.
- The Philadelphia Flyers have recalled Mark Friedman from the minor leagues, giving them another defenseman for tomorrow’s road game in Columbus. Friedman has played five games for the Flyers this season.
- Glenn Gawdin has been returned to the AHL by the Calgary Flames, who only recalled him two days ago. The 22-year old forward is still waiting to get his first NHL game action.
Edmonton Oilers Recall Evan Bouchard
The Edmonton Oilers have recalled top prospect Evan Bouchard from the AHL, as they deal with the injury to Oscar Klefbom. Markus Granlund has been assigned to the Bakersfield Condors, while Klefbom moves to injured reserve.
In 50 games this season with Bakersfield, Bouchard has recorded seven goals and 33 points, easily leading all defenders and trailing only Josh Currie and Tyler Benson for the team scoring lead. The 20-year old defenseman was selected 10th overall by the Oilers in 2018 and played seven NHL contests with them last season before returning to the London Knights of the OHL.
A two-way horse that regularly logged more than 30 minutes in a single game while in junior, the 6’3″ Bouchard’s real upside is in his offensive ability. Though he doesn’t have the same skating ability or puck skills of some other top rookie defensemen like Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes, his quick decision making and precision passing (even at great distances) can create countless chances for his teammates. His shot has also always been a weapon, including getting him to a 25-goal season in his draft year.
Klefbom is dealing with an injury that will keep him out a few weeks, meaning Bouchard may get a chance to show what he can do at the NHL level. The question is how many games will he get, as his contract is still slide-eligible. That means if Bouchard plays in fewer than ten games with the Oilers down the stretch his entry-level contract would still not kick in until next season, giving Edmonton another cheap year. Of course, many teams look much more closely at the 40-game threshold that would move a player one year closer to unrestricted free agency, something that Bouchard can no longer hit this season.
Toronto Maple Leafs Acquire Denis Malgin
Just moments after announcing that Andreas Johnsson will miss six months following surgery, the Toronto Maple Leafs have potentially replaced him in the lineup. Toronto has acquired Denis Malgin from the Florida Panthers in exchange for Mason Marchment. According to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, Malgin had asked several times for a trade out of Florida.
Not only does Malgin bring a bit more skill to the Maple Leafs’ group, he’s also a familiar face for one of their brightest stars. Auston Matthews was a teammate of Malgin during the 2015-16 season with Zurich of the Swiss NLA. It’s hard to imagine the two playing on the same line in Toronto, but after head coach Sheldon Keefe has repeatedly called out his bottom-six for not producing enough of late, there will be opportunity for the former Panther to find playing time.
Malgin, 23, has just four goals and 12 points in 36 games for Florida this season, but has at least shown an ability to compete at the NHL level. The same can’t really be said for Marchment, who despite being more than a year older has just four games under his belt with the Maple Leafs. The son of a former NHL defenseman, Marchment went undrafted but was developed by the Toronto organization into a physical forward that can contribute some offense at the minor league level.
In terms of cap implications, Malgin actually carries a slightly lower hit this season at $750K but would require waivers to go to the minor leagues. He is also a restricted free agent at the end of the year with arbitration rights, though his production so far would not warrant much of a raise. Marchment, who was sent back to the Toronto Marlies yesterday, is waiver-exempt for this season but will also become an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent in the summer.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Andreas Johnsson Out Six Months
February 19th: Johnsson has undergone surgery, but his timeline has now been changed to six months. The winger will not be available for the playoffs, but could be ready for next season’s training camp if the recovery timeline is correct.
February 14th: The Toronto Maple Leafs have lost another winger for a lengthy period of time, as head coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters today including Chris Johnston of Sportsnet that Andreas Johnsson will require surgery on his injured knee. Johnsson is expected to miss at least eight weeks after suffering the injury last night.
Johnsson joins Ilya Mikheyev, Cody Ceci and Morgan Rielly on the sidelines for the Maple Leafs, who suddenly have real question marks in the forward group as they try to navigate the last part of the season. If the team wants to make any sort of meaningful upgrade on defense, Johnsson or Kasperi Kapanen seemed the most likely candidates to be traded. With an injury of this magnitude Johnsson may now be out of the question, given teams won’t know exactly what they’re receiving.
The Maple Leafs do however have a little more cap flexibility after this news. Johnsson can now be placed on long-term injured reserve through the end of the season, opening up his $3.4MM in cap space for a deadline acquisition. It is still complicated, but could provide some relief if the team is after a replacement or defensive upgrade.
It’s an unfortunate end to the season for Johnsson however, who only recently returned from another injury. The 25-year old forward will finish with just eight goals and 21 points in 43 games, a far cry from the 20-goal season he put up last year as a rookie. It also puts a little more pressure on him moving forward, given his $3.4MM salary through the next three seasons.
There is a chance that the speedy forward returns for the playoffs, but the Maple Leafs will have to get there first. Once in the postseason, there is no longer a salary cap for the team to abide by, meaning they can activate their injured players.
Joonas Korpisalo Sent To AHL On Conditioning Loan
The Columbus Blue Jackets have been getting Vezina-type goaltending for the last month, but haven’t even had their presumed starter healthy. Elvis Merzlikins took over the net and is performing at an All-Star level, but now the real All-Star, Joonas Korpisalo, is on his way back. Korpisalo, who hasn’t played since the end of December, has been loaned to the AHL for a conditioning stint as he prepares to return to action.
The 25-year old has missed 22 games with a knee injury, but actually wasn’t placed on injured reserve until today. That allowed the Blue Jackets to send a goaltender down on off days to keep them fresh, while Merzlikins handled almost all of the NHL work.
Before his injury, Korpisalo had been playing extremely well. After a shaky start as the No. 1 goaltender in Columbus, he had posted a .932 save percentage over his last month with a 7-2-3 record. That earned him a nomination to the All-Star Game, though he could not attend. In his place, Merzlikins has kept up that incredible play, posting a .924 save percentage in 29 appearances including five shutouts.
When Korpisalo returns, the Blue Jackets will have a tandem with the ability to be one of the best in the league. Whether they decide to let them share the net is unclear, but after such a frustrating season injury-wise, it will be nice to have some added depth at the position.
Kole Sherwood has also been assigned to the Cleveland Monsters.
Snapshots: Muzzin, Jaskin, Trocheck
The Toronto Maple Leafs have defensive issues that go beyond this season, as Jake Muzzin, Tyson Barrie and Cody Ceci are all scheduled to become unrestricted free agents. That is about to change however, as another report—this time from Darren Dreger of TSN—confirms that the Maple Leafs have an agreement in place with Muzzin on a four-year extension that will carry a cap hit just over $5.5MM.
The deal, according to Dreger, will be “heavily front-loaded” and if completed will be announced later due to the “tagging” concerns that have been brought up previously. Teams have a limit to how much cap space they can have on the books for the following year, meaning the official announcement will likely not come until next month should everything go according to plan.
- Dmitrij Jaskin is having an outstanding season in the KHL after not receiving a qualifying offer from the Washington Capitals, scoring 62 points in 55 games while playing with former Vegas Golden Knights forward Vadim Shipachyov. His stay overseas may last just one season however, as Igor Eronko of Sport-Express reports that Jaskin has two NHL offers. The 26-year old forward has just 69 points in 303 NHL games, most of which came with the St. Louis Blues.
- Both Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic (subscription required) and Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet have written today on Vincent Trocheck, who is apparently generating interest despite being a big piece of the puzzle for the Florida Panthers. LeBrun suggests that given Florida’s defensive issues they “have no choice but to listen.” Obviously a deal for someone like that is complicated, especially when the Panthers are just two points out of an Atlantic Division playoff spot. Trocheck comes with a $4.75MM cap hit through the 2021-22 season.
Deadline Notes: Kreider, Carter, Namestnikov
After a rush on defensemen today the trade market is off to an early start, with the deadline still a week away. With a good number of rentals available and more teams than ever in a playoff race, there should be plenty of action still left to go. Below are some updates on a few available players:
- Frank Seravalli of TSN reports that the Colorado Avalanche and Boston Bruins have emerged as front-runners for Chris Kreider, who is still a member of the New York Rangers at the moment. The speedy winger is arguably the top rental available, and after the Rangers acquired another big scoring winger in prospect Julien Gauthier perhaps they are more inclined to move him out than re-sign him. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet also writes that he believes Boston and Colorado are interested, though also listed the New York Islanders and St. Louis Blues as potential suitors.
- Friedman’s latest 31 Thoughts column is filled with lots of speculation on the upcoming deadline, but one note is of considerable interest. That’s No. 5 on the list, which suggests that the Philadelphia Flyers have looked into Jeff Carter of the Los Angeles Kings. The Flyers obviously have a long history with Carter, given he played nearly 500 games there to start his NHL career. The 35-year old center has 17 goals on the season but just 26 points and is signed through 2021-22 at a $5.27MM cap hit—the end of an 11-year contract signed in 2010 with Philadelphia.
- Darren Dreger of TSN reports that the Ottawa Senators are getting calls on Vladislav Namestnikov, another one of their expiring contracts. The team already sent Dylan DeMelo to the Winnipeg Jets earlier today for a third-round pick and have several other potential trade pieces on the market. Namestnikov never really has fulfilled his potential as a top-line player, but does have 12 goals and 24 points since coming over from the Rangers in early October.