Carolina Monitoring Chicago Goaltending Situation
The Carolina Hurricanes have a deep defensive group (even with Dougie Hamilton sidelined), a trio of impressive young forwards and a former captain returning as a midseason boost. The team is third in terms of goal differential in the Metropolitan Division, yet head into the All-Star break in fifth place and battling to hold onto a wild card position.
One thing the team has been desperate to find over the last several years has been a solid starting goaltender, something that has proved elusive to this point. Petr Mrazek reinvigorated his career last season when he posted a .914 save percentage through 40 games with the Hurricanes, but after struggling in the playoffs he has been his old inconsistent self again this year. The bounce-back for James Reimer has been enough to keep the Carolina goaltending situation afloat, but according to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic (subscription required) the Hurricanes are still keeping their eye on the market.
LeBrun writes that the Hurricanes have “monitored closely” the goaltending situation in Chicago, where the Blackhawks find themselves with two strong options in net who are both headed towards unrestricted free agency. Robin Lehner in particular is of interest, as LeBrun explains the Hurricanes tried to sign him as a free agent last summer and like him “a lot.”
What’s not to like? After finishing third in Vezina Trophy voting last season Lehner has proven it wasn’t just the tight New York Islanders defensive system that pushed his numbers into the stratosphere. The 28-year old goaltender has a .922 save percentage with the Blackhawks this season, which is actually only slightly ahead of his career average. Remember that Lehner also posted a .936 in the Islanders’ eight-game playoff run last spring, including coming oh-so-close to stealing Game 1 against the Hurricanes in the second round.
Lehner is headed for unrestricted free agency again and this time wants to be paid fairly for his career performance. LeBrun notes that the Blackhawks had a “brief conversation” with his camp recently and plan to speak again, but it’s not clear yet how the situation with Lehner and Corey Crawford, a franchise icon and fellow pending UFA, will turn.
PHR Chat Transcript: 01/23/20
Click here to read a transcript of this week’s live chat with PHR’s Gavin Lee.
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Snapshots: Methot, Muzzin, AHL All-Stars
Though it certainly will come as no surprise given he hasn’t appeared in an NHL game since November of 2018, Marc Methot doesn’t expect to play professional hockey ever again. He told TSN radio that he tried to work his way back from the knee surgery he had a year ago, but is probably going to take a step back from the game and focus on his family.
Methot, 33, has played in just 45 games since the start of the 2017-18 season and will likely end his career with 624 regular season contests under his belt. Playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Ottawa Senators and Dallas Stars, he carved out a role as a tough-as-nails defender that could handle skating alongside a roving offensive player. Methot’s final four-year, $19.6MM contract expired at the end of last season.
- Another gritty defenseman is on his way back from injury, as Jake Muzzin has been loaned to the Toronto Marlies on a conditioning stint. The Maple Leafs’ defender has been out for several weeks with a broken foot but could be back after the All-Star break to help Toronto’s own-zone woes.
- Evan Bouchard and Sam Miletic have been added to the AHL All-Star festivities, joining the Pacific Division and Atlantic Division squads respectively. The two young prospects are both having great success in the minor leagues this season, despite coming to professional hockey in very different ways. Bouchard was the 10th overall pick in 2018 and remains one of the Edmonton Oilers’ top prospects, while Miletic is an undrafted free agent that signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2017.
Sharks’ Doug Wilson Receives Vote Of Confidence
The San Jose Sharks have made a change at the top of their business division, naming Jonathan Becher sole president of Sharks Sports & Entertainment and alternate governor. John Tortora who had served as a co-president will be leaving the organization. While this move will likely have financial impact on the club, the interesting part of the announcement for hockey fans comes directly from owner Hasso Plattner:
While we are all very disappointed in the team’s performance thus far this season, Doug [Wilson] has a long history of leading our team to success. The last time we failed to meet our winning standards in the 2014-15 season, we were able to quickly rebound and re-establish a winning culture for the next several years. I am supportive of Doug’s plan to get our team back on track.
That vote of confidence comes as the Sharks languish near the bottom of the Western Conference standings, ahead of only the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks. The team has huge financial commitments to aging players and no first-round pick this season, putting tons of pressure on the front office to figure out a way to turn things around.
Part of that turnaround plan according to Craig Custance of The Athletic is expected to be trading Melker Karlsson, Brenden Dillon and Tim Heed before this year’s trade deadline. All three players are scheduled for unrestricted free agency, along with Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Stefan Noesen, Radim Simek and Aaron Dell. While some of those names may hold little or no trade value, the three Custance references should at least be able to bring back some sort of asset for Wilson to work with.
Still, with nearly $48MM of cap space dedicated annually to Logan Couture, Evander Kane, Erik Karlsson, Brent Burns, Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Martin Jones through at least 2023-24 (all of whom will be at least 29 years old at the start of next season), the Sharks are in danger of being overrun with albatross contracts that cripple Wilson’s ability to do anything.
Chicago Blackhawks Sign Matt Tomkins To NHL Contract
The Chicago Blackhawks have decided that Matt Tomkins has done enough this season to deserve an NHL deal. The team has agreed to terms with the minor league goaltender on a two-year, two-way contract that carries an average annual value of $700K. The deal starts this season, but Tomkins will remain in the minor leagues with the Rockford IceHogs for the time being.
The 25-year old netminder was originally drafted by the Blackhawks back in 2012 but spent a year in the AJHL and then four more at Ohio State University. When he was finished college, the team signed him to a minor league deal and he has spent the last two and a half seasons splitting time between the ECHL’s Indy Fuel and Rockford. He has a .916 save percentage in nine appearances this season, but was also part of the victorious Team Canada at the Spengler Cup.
A deal like this gives the Blackhawks another goaltender to recall in emergency situations, an important step given that only he and Colin Delia are now signed through the 2020-21 season. Robin Lehner and Corey Crawford are both scheduled to become unrestricted free agents at the end of the year, while Kevin Lankinen will be an RFA.
Minor Transactions: 01/23/20
The last few teams have now packed up their things and headed out of town for the All-Star break, leaving behind some waiver-exempt players to head down to the minor leagues for another week. With NHL games suspended for the time being, several clubs will be using the AHL to keep their young prospects in action. As always, we’ll keep track of all the minor moves right here.
- The Los Angeles Kings have sent Blake Lizotte to the minors for the first time in his short career. Lizotte was signed as an undrafted free agent out of the NCAA last season and has played in 45 games with the Kings this year. The 22-year old has four goals and 15 points in those games, after failing to register a point in his NHL debut at the end of the 2018-19 campaign.
- Givani Smith, Filip Zadina, Dennis Cholowski and Calvin Pickard have all been sent to the minor leagues to continue their respective seasons. The Detroit Red Wings have recalled Kaden Fulcher from the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye in order to keep enough healthy goaltenders on the roster, but he isn’t expected to see any action. Fulcher actually made his NHL debut at the very end of last season, but has been limited to just two appearances in the minor leagues due to injury this year.
- The Columbus Blue Jackets have sent Adam Clendening and Matiss Kivlenieks to the AHL over the break. Kivlenieks won his NHL debut just a few days ago by stopping 31 of 32 shots against the New York Rangers and could return after the break to back up Elvis Merzlikins until Joonas Korpisalo is back.
- Nelson Nogier, Cameron Schilling and Kristian Vesalainen have all been sent to the Manitoba Moose, following the Winnipeg Jets’ final game before the break. The trio are all waiting for their first game in the NHL this season and could be called up when the Jets are back in action.
PHWA Announce 2019-20 Midseason Awards
Though they have no bearing on the eventual winners, each season the Professional Hockey Writers Association vote for the Midseason Awards to give fans an idea of who is leading the charge around the NHL at the halfway point. Today those ballots have been tallied and the midseason trophies were given out:
Hart Trophy – Most valuable player
1. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
2. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
3. David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins
Norris Trophy – Best defenseman
1. John Carlson, Washington Capitals
2. Roman Josi, Nashville Predators
3. Dougie Hamilton, Carolina Hurricanes
Selke Trophy – Best defensive forward
1. Sean Couturier, Philadelphia Flyers
2. Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
3. Ryan O’Reilly, St. Louis Blues
Calder Trophy – Best rookie
1. Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
2. Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks
3. Victor Olofsson, Buffalo Sabres
Lady Byng Trophy – Sportsmanship & gentlemanly conduct
1. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
2. Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
3. Ryan O’Reilly, St. Louis Blues
Vezina Trophy – Best goaltender
1. Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
2. Ben Bishop, Dallas Stars
3. Darcy Kuemper, Arizona Coyotes
Jack Adams Award – Best coach
1. Mike Sullivan, Pittsburgh Penguins
2. John Tortorella, Columbus Blue Jackets
3. Craig Berube, St. Louis Blues
Jim Gregory GM of the Year Award
1. Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche
2. John Chayka, Arizona Coyotes
3. Doug Armstrong, St. Louis Blues
Rod Langway Award – Best defensive defenseman
1. Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes
2. Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
3. Roman Josi, Nashville Predators
Comeback Player of the Year Award
1. William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs
2. Anthony Duclair, Ottawa Senators
3. Max Pacioretty, Vegas Golden Knights
Auston Matthews To Sit Out All-Star Game
Toronto Maple Leafs star forward Auston Matthews will not participate in any on-ice events at the All-Star festivities, but will be still be there in St. Louis. Matthews is dealing with a wrist injury and has been listed as day-to-day by the Maple Leafs. In his place, Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators will join the Atlantic Division roster.
Matthews was the captain of the Atlantic squad last season when the game was held in San Jose, and took part in both of his first two years as well. While the fans won’t get to see him participate in any of the action, he will still join Maple Leafs teammates Frederik Andersen and Mitch Marner at the event.
For Tkachuk though, this is a significant honor. Not only will this be his first time at the event, he’ll get to make his All-Star debut in his hometown of St. Louis and alongside his brother Matthew Tkachuk who will participate for the Pacific Division squad. Linemate Anthony Duclair will also be there from the Ottawa Senators.
The younger Tkachuk is in his sophomore season and has 27 points through 45 games. Selected 4th overall in 2018, the big winger won’t turn 21 until September.
Travis Zajac Not Currently Willing To Waive No-Trade Clause
When Travis Zajac and his representatives negotiated the eight-year, $46MM contract extension that he is currently playing under, they not only landed him long-term financial security but also a full no-trade clause throughout. That guaranteed that the two-way forward would be able to stay in one spot for nearly his whole career if he wanted to. Now, it seems he has exercised that right.
Zajac’s agent, Kurt Overhardt, recently told Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet that the New Jersey Devils approached the veteran forward with a potential deal but that he was not willing to waive his no-trade clause right now. Overhardt explained “we’ll see about the future after the season,” indicating that Zajac doesn’t want to go anywhere at the moment. At the end of the season, Zajac will be 35 and have one year remaining on his contract, which carries a $5.75MM cap hit.
Though there is no confirmation which team was involved, Friedman speculates that it was likely the New York Islanders, who are currently run by the same man who extended Zajac in the first place, Lou Lamoriello. The Islanders are in third place in the Metropolitan Division and could use another responsible forward to plug into Barry Trotz‘ lineup, especially one with such a reliable history.
Zajac has averaged just under 45 points per 82 games throughout his career, reaching the 40-point threshold eight different times. Only once has he played at least 75 games in a season and not scored 40, and last year saw him reach his highest goal total in a decade. While he hasn’t found the same offensive touch this season, his 19 points in 48 games still rank sixth among Devils’ forwards.
It’s not necessarily his offense that would make him a fit in New York however. An excellent faceoff man throughout the years, Zajac has also received Selke Trophy votes as one of the best defensive players in the league on eight different occasions. For a team that is committed to protecting their goal first, that kind of play is respected.
Still, it doesn’t seem like it will happen this season if Overhardt speaks truthfully for his client. The Devils will have to look for another way to gather assets at the trade deadline, and revisit a Zajac trade in the summer.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images