Minor Transactions: 01/31/20
Seven games are on tap in the NHL this evening, including a Pennsylvania rivalry and Connor McDavid welcoming in the Stanley Cup champs. Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals are back in action as well as he looks to pass another great on the all-time leaderboard. Ovechkin sits just a single goal behind Mark Messier for eighth and just seven shy of becoming the newest member of the 700-club. Given his history of 29 goals in 47 games against the Ottawa Senators, another giant could fall later tonight.
- After last night’s win over the Buffalo Sabres, the Montreal Canadiens have decided to send Cale Fleury to the minor leagues. Fleury hasn’t played for Montreal in a few weeks, so he needed to get some games in to continue his development.
- Adding injury to insult, the Buffalo Sabres appear to have lost Kyle Okposo in the game last night. The team recalled Jean-Sebastien Dea today to replace him, though it is not yet clear how serious the injury is.
- Kevin Gravel has been recalled by the Toronto Maple Leafs, giving them another defensive option as they head into a Saturday matchup against the Senators. It is a bit of an interesting move as the team is coming home from a road trip, but perhaps someone is fighting a new injury (Update: After Gravel filled in at practice with Travis Dermott fighting an illness, he has been returned to the minor leagues.)
- Justin Dowling has been placed on injured reserve by the Dallas Stars, while Joel Kiviranta is on his way up to the NHL club. Kiviranta played seven games earlier in the season for Dallas, but has spent most of the season with the Texas Stars of the AHL.
Edmonton Oilers Make Several Roster Moves
The Edmonton Oilers have placed Joakim Nygard and Kris Russell on injured reserve, while recalling Tyler Benson and William Lagesson. Nygard is out with a hand injury that “could be a serious” one according to head coach Dave Tippett, while Russell has been placed in the concussion protocol. This will be Benson’s first call-up to the NHL.
At Least Eight Teams Pursuing Chris Kreider
The top rental on the open market this season as the trade deadline approaches is undoubtedly Chris Kreider of the New York Rangers. It shouldn’t surprise anyone then when Pierre LeBrun reports on the latest edition of TSN’s Insider Trading that “at least eight teams” have expressed interested in the big winger.
LeBrun does not expand on who those teams may be, but does suggest that the asking price would be similar to what the Rangers received for Kevin Hayes last year. That deal with the Winnipeg Jets included a first-round selection and young forward Brendan Lemieux. According to the insider, contract talks between the Rangers and Kreider haven’t been ruled out, but they also haven’t occurred at this point.
An All-Star this season, Kreider should be of interest for many teams around the league that need an upgrade in their forward ranks. The 28-year old has 17 goals and 32 points in 48 games, but more importantly also brings incredible speed and physicality to the ice every night. In fact, Kreider placed third in the Fastest Skater competition at the All-Star festivities, behind only Connor McDavid and Mathew Barzal.
That kind of dynamic speed is something that allows Kreider to fit in almost anywhere in a lineup, but add it to the fact that he’s 6’3″, 217-lbs and you have a player that has opposing executives drooling at the thought of adding him to their group. The question will be who is willing to pay the highest price for a player who is only guaranteed for a few months.
Kreider is currently on the final season of a four-year, $18.5MM deal he signed in 2016 and holds an 11-team no-trade list. He’ll be due a huge raise on that number in the summer, given he will almost definitely reach the 20-goal mark for the fifth time in six seasons.
Snapshots: Draft Ranking, Nygard, Gallagher
Alexis Lafreniere has topped another list, this time leading TSN’s mid-season ranking. Bob McKenzie compiles the list based on the determinations of ten NHL scouts, but writes that Lafreniere is in a “class all by himself.”
The rest of the list includes 61 other ranked players (plus five honorable mentions), with the usual suspects like Quinton Byfield, Tim Stuetzle and Jamie Drysdale near the top. Jake Sanderson is one of the interesting risers, finding himself the top-ranked American and in the top-10.
- There is at least one casualty of the battle between the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames. Joakim Nygard is still being evaluated by the Oilers’ medical staff after leaving last night’s game, but head coach Dave Tippett explained that it looks like it “could be a serious injury.” Nygard blocked a shot in the first period and could miss another huge chunk of games in his rookie season.
- In an absolute must-win for the Montreal Canadiens, they’ll have the heartbeat of their forward group back. Brendan Gallagher is expected to return for the team after missing six games with headaches, as they take on the Buffalo Sabres for the rights to fifth-place in the Atlantic. The Sabres and Canadiens both have 51 points and are seeing their playoff hopes slip away as we enter the last third of the season.
St. Louis Blues Agree To Terms With Ville Husso, Niko Mikkola
The St. Louis Blues have agreed to terms on two-year contract extensions with both Ville Husso and Niko Mikkola. The contracts are one-way, and will carry average annual values of $750K and $787.5K respectively. Both players were scheduled for restricted free agency, though Husso likely would have been eligible for Group VI unrestricted free agency given he has still not made his NHL debut.
Though it simply may be a reward for his hard work at the AHL level, a deal like this for Husso also has expansion draft implications. The Blues previously had just one goaltender signed for the 2021-22 season, prospect Joel Hofer, and he is ineligible for the draft. Given that at least one goaltender needs to be exposed, Husso’s deal makes a lot of sense. Jordan Binnington and Jake Allen both become unrestricted free agents in the summer of 2021, and if the former is re-signed the Blues would want to protect him from the draft.
For Mikkola, it’s a little different story. The 23-year old made his NHL debut this season after being originally selected in the fifth round of the 2015 draft, and looks to be at least a capable injured replacement for the Blues. If the 6’4″ defenseman can continue on his solid development path he could even become a regular for a team that is going to need inexpensive options.
The Blues have committed $12MM to Colton Parayko and Justin Faulk next season (and beyond) but are also going to be tasked with re-signing captain Alex Pietrangelo. That deal could push close to, or even past, $10MM per season, meaning the bottom end of the roster will have to be as cheap as possible. That is of course if they do get a deal done with Pietrangelo, but having some depth options is never a bad thing.
Both players’ cap hits will not be counted against the Blues if they are in the minor leagues.
David Backes Will Not Play With Providence Bruins
The Boston Bruins waived veteran forward David Backes earlier this month and assigned him to the minor leagues in order to bury part of his $6MM cap hit. He was given time to consider his future and whether he would report to the Providence Bruins of the AHL, but today it was announced that he will not play for them. Boston GM Don Sweeney released a short statement explaining the situation (in part):
After speaking with David, we have agreed that it is in the best interest of David and the Bruins for him not to play in Providence at this time. David is fit and able to play, but in order to preserve all potential options for both David and the Bruins moving forward, we have decided this is the best course of action.
Long-time NHL analyst John Shannon weighed in on Twitter, suggesting that the Bruins are trying to “manufacture a trade” for Backes before the deadline. That would seem to be a difficult task, given how expensive he is. The 35-year old forward has another season on his contract with that $6MM cap hit, though his actual salary is just $4MM.
By keeping him in the minor leagues, the Bruins save $1.075MM in full-season cap hit, but retirement or a mutual termination would be much better options for the club. That would wipe Backes’ entire contract off the books, though he would have to be willing to give up the money remaining on it.
Another option for the Bruins would be to buy him out in the summer. A buyout for Backes in June would mean the Bruins save $2MM against the cap for 2020-21, but would incur a $1MM penalty in 2021-22.
No matter what the eventual outcome, it’s a tough way for the former St. Louis Blues captain to go out. Once a reliable power forward that could contribute at both ends of the rink, Backes hasn’t been able to generate any offense since 2018. He has just three points in 16 NHL games this season.
Minor Transactions: 01/30/20
The hockey world got what it was waiting for last night when Zack Kassian and Matthew Tkachuk finally dropped the gloves in what was a fiery edition of the battle of Alberta. While many gave the decision to the bigger Edmonton Oilers forward, the same can’t be said for the outcome of the game. The Oilers were defeated in a shootout by the Calgary Flames and are now two points behind their provincial rivals in the standings. As always, we’ll keep track of all the minor moves around the league today as teams prepare for their own battles this evening:
- The Boston Bruins have recalled Karson Kuhlman and Jeremy Lauzon from the AHL, as they prepare to return to action after ten days off. The Bruins are on a two-game road trip that will stop in Winnipeg and Minnesota on back-to-back nights, and need all the healthy bodies they can get.
- The Jets made a pair of moves themselves as they prepare for Boston tomorrow night, recalling Cameron Schilling and Logan Shaw. The 31-year old Schilling still hasn’t played in an NHL game this season, but does have 20 points in 42 games for the Manitoba Moose.
- The Florida Panthers have recalled both Riley Stillman and Sam Montembeault, as they get ready for an afternoon tilt on Saturday. Florida can potentially put a fork in division-rival Montreal with a win, putting them 12 points up in the standings.
- Givani Smith, Filip Zadina and Dennis Cholowski have all been recalled as the youth movement continues for the Detroit Red Wings. All three players figure to be core pieces for the squad moving forward and will get a chance down the stretch to really establish themselves.
- Connor Bunnaman and Alex Lyon have been recalled by the Philadelphia Flyers, who are still waiting on Carter Hart‘s return from injury. The team will use Brian Elliott for the time being, but need their young star goaltender back as soon as possible.
- After being taken along on the road with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tyler Gaudet is on his way back to the AHL. Toronto gave Gaudet a chance to come with them when they visited Nashville, the organization that had him for parts of the last two seasons. He isn’t expected to see any NHL action for the Maple Leafs.
- Chase De Leo is on the way back the San Diego Gulls, assigned today to the AHL. The 24-year old has played just a single game this season with the Anaheim Ducks, and just four in his career.
- With Marc-Andre Fleury forced to miss a game after pulling out of the All-Star festivities, the Vegas Golden Knights have recalled Oskar Dansk. Nicolas Roy is coming with him with William Karlsson and Cody Glass still injured.
Edmonton Oilers Extend Zack Kassian
Before Zack Kassian takes the ice to confront Matthew Tkachuk and the Calgary Flames later tonight, he’ll be the subject of some other news. The Edmonton Oilers forward has signed a four-year contract extension according to Bob McKenzie of TSN, which will carry an average annual value of $3.2MM. Kassian was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. McKenzie adds that the deal does not contain any trade protection and that the breakdown of the contract is as follows:
2020-21: $2.5MM salary, $1MM signing bonus
2021-22: $2.5MM salary, $1MM signing bonus
2022-23: $3.5MM salary
2023-24: $2.3MM salary
Kassian, 29, signed a three-year, $5.85MM deal with the Oilers back in 2017, meaning he’s getting quite the raise after logging some tough minutes with the club. A reclamation project by the time he ended up in Edmonton, Kassian has steadily developed into a real contributor for the team and has 13 goals and 28 points while often skating beside Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
While some will argue that his offensive production is entirely dependent on those superstars, other players have struggled when given those minutes. Kassian’s above-average skating ability isn’t common in a player who plays such a physical game, and even before he came to Edmonton he had shown some goal-scoring promise around the net.
Still, at four years, the length of the deal comes with some significant risk. The Oilers aren’t exactly in a situation where they can throw around $3.2MM, given they have so much committed to McDavid and Draisaitl. The team is getting out from under some other bad contracts over the next few seasons, but that doesn’t mean they can afford to sign new ones. While Kassian certainly isn’t guaranteed to decline over the length of the deal, he also doesn’t offer a ton of upside as a top-six option.
Edmonton does have a huge number of decisions to make on their forward group for next season however. Even after signing Kassian they still have six forwards on the roster that will become unrestricted free agents at the end of this season. At the very least they know that the power forward can slot somewhere into the NHL lineup next year.
From Kassian’s point of view, it’s easy to understand why he would want to sign long-term in Edmonton. Originally drafted 13th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2009, he has been open about his battle with addiction and alcohol abuse in the early years of his professional career. Not only has he found a place among some of the best forwards in the world, but sobriety and a new chapter in his hockey playing story. Now he’ll get to spend the next several years trying to show why he was picked so high in the first place.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Minor Transactions: 01/29/20
Six games are on tap in the NHL this evening, including Jason Spezza‘s return to Dallas after leaving the Stars for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season. The Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers will have the latest battle of Alberta as well, with all eyes on Matthew Tkachuk and Zack Kassian after their altercation the last two times these teams played.
- Edmonton will have a familiar face back in the lineup tonight for the battle as Matt Benning has been activated from long-term injured reserve. Benning hasn’t played in nearly two months, after suffering multiple head injuries.
- The Los Angeles Kings have also activated a defensemen, bringing back Joakim Ryan for their game tonight. Ryan has missed ten straight games for the Kings with a lower-body injury.
- With all eyes on the New York Rangers’ goaltending situation, they’ve recalled Igor Shesterkin again after the break. The team will have three goalies on the roster until they decide what to do with Alexandar Georgiev.
- Dennis Gilbert is on his way back to the NHL after being recalled by the Chicago Blackhawks, where he has spent half the season. The third-round pick from 2015 looks like he might be a full-time member of the squad at some point in the future, but so far has split his year between the Blackhawks and Rockford IceHogs.
- After the St. Louis Blues placed Oskar Sundqvist on injured reserve earlier today, they have recalled the recently waived Troy Brouwer. The veteran forward hadn’t even reported to the AHL yet and was still deciding whether to continue his career.
Trade Deadline Primer: Boston Bruins
With the trade deadline now less than a month away, we will be taking a closer look at the situation for each team over the coming weeks. Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs? Next up is a look at the Boston Bruins.
Another year, another postseason appearance for the Boston Bruins. The highly decorated franchise has finished with an Atlantic Division spot for each of the last three seasons and out of the playoffs entirely just seven times since 1967. This year the team has a great chance of finishing in first place in their division and could load up with deadline talent to help push them over the top.
Record
29-10-12, first in the Atlantic Division
Deadline Status
Buyer
Deadline Cap Space
$4.62MM in a full-season cap hit (using LTIR), 1/3 used salary cap retention slots, 47/50 contracts per CapFriendly
Upcoming Draft Picks
2020: BOS 1st, BOS 2nd, BOS 3rd, BOS 5th, BOS 6th, BOS 7th
2021: BOS 1st, BOS 2nd, BOS 3rd, BOS 4th, BOS 5th, BOS 6th, BOS 7th
Trade Chips
When the 2019 trade deadline rolled around, Bruins’ GM Don Sweeney decided to add two players to his forward group in Charlie Coyle and Marcus Johansson, while removing a younger option in Ryan Donato. That’s the same kind of move the team could make this season given their group of talented-but-unpolished youngsters that haven’t been able to consistently provide a secondary scoring punch.
Once again the Bruins find themselves with just a handful of forwards providing regular offense, with Coyle’s versatility perhaps still doing enough to be added to that top group. Danton Heinen and Anders Bjork have been extremely inconsistent, and now total just 36 points combined in 73 games. The former is signed for another season, while the latter will become an arbitration eligible restricted free agent in the offseason. If there was a big upgrade to be made, perhaps an acquiring team would be asking about them.
It is the minor leagues that may hold more interesting options however. Trent Frederic and Jack Studnicka are both high draft picks that have had success for AHL Providence, and even suited up a couple of times in the NHL. Both still have enough upside to be extremely enticing to a rebuilding squad, though Boston would seem to be loath to give them away.
There likely aren’t many rentals available that would deserve a return of that magnitude anyway, meaning unless the Bruins go after a player with term like Coyle, they could be dealing out of their draft pick cupboard instead. That’s what they did last season to land Johansson, who played very well for them on their path to the Stanley Cup Final.
Five Players To Watch For: F Danton Heinen, D John Moore, F Anders Bjork, F Oskar Steen, F Jeremy Lauzon
Team Needs
1) Second Line RW/C: Given the flexibility of Coyle, who can play both right wing and center, the Bruins can cast a little wider net on the trade market. Still, the perfect fit would be another right-handed option, given David Pastrnak is the only true right winger in the top-nine. Chris Kreider, the top rental on the market is a lefty, but Tyler Toffoli—a name often speculated about with regards to the Bruins—plays on the right.
2) Secondary Scoring: Really though, the team just needs to add some more punch up front. If it’s on the left side, there are enough good players on the Boston roster that the team could make it work. Defensive depth has also been bandied about as a potential spot to add, but the team already has several players waiting in the minor leagues for their next chance.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.