Pittsburgh Still Pursuing Jason Zucker
Last summer, before he was traded to the Arizona Coyotes, Phil Kessel was asked by the Pittsburgh Penguins to waive his no-trade clause for a deal that would send him to the Minnesota Wild. That trade reportedly included Jason Zucker as the main piece coming the other way (with Jack Johnson and Victor Rask also involved at one point). While Kessel decided not to allow the transaction to take place, it apparently hasn’t stopped Penguins’ GM Jim Rutherford from trying to get the smooth skating Minnesota forward.
In Elliotte Friedman’s latest 31 Thoughts for Sportsnet, he notes that Pittsburgh are still in pursuit of Zucker, though the Wild “aren’t yet ready to concede” the season. Minnesota is in last place in the Central Division, but only seven points out of a playoff spot in the tight wild card standings. Trading Zucker, who not only has been one of the teams most effective offensive players this season but is also signed for another three years, would essentially mean they are entering a rebuild under new general manager Bill Guerin.
A rebuild does seem to be a possibility after a report recently came out that the Wild are “open for business” and Mathew Dumba is potentially available. He and Zucker are likely two of the most valuable trade pieces on the roster, but would also leave huge holes in the current group.
Just as in the summer, Zucker does seem like a perfect fit for the Penguins however. Perhaps even more so now that the team has lost Jake Guentzel for the season, taking away some of their scoring punch alongside star forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin (and, apparently Bryan Rust). That injury also gives the team a little more cap flexibility, given they could use long-term injured reserve if necessary.
It is important to remember that the Zucker-Kessel trade was worked out with the old Minnesota regime. Guerin obviously has a strong connection to the Penguins organization however and may have a good idea of what they can offer in terms of prospects or young players. Either way, Zucker’s name is one to keep an eye on as the calendar turns to February, especially if the Wild don’t start winning.
Minor Transactions: 01/22/20
With just two games remaining on the schedule before the entire league breaks for the All-Star Game festivities, there will be many minor moves today seeing players head down to the AHL. Anyone that isn’t tied down by waiver eligibility will be heading down to get some extra work during the break and save their NHL club a few cap dollars. As always, we’ll keep track of those moves right here.
- The New York Rangers have sent down Igor Shesterkin and Phillip Di Giuseppe, though the former is still not expected to take part in the AHL All-Star event. Shesterkin was selected for the minor league game after going 15-4-3 with a .932 in his first taste of North American professional hockey, but was replaced earlier this week as he continued to play with the Rangers.
- Nicolas Hague and Nicolas Roy have both been sent back to the AHL by the Vegas Golden Knights, a trip both of them got used to earlier in the season. While Roy has continued to bounce up and down between the two leagues, Hague has been in the NHL since the middle of November and playing regularly for the Golden Knights. The 21-year old defenseman has 11 points in 38 games.
- The Chicago Blackhawks have returned Brandon Hagel and Dennis Gilbert to the AHL. Hagel still hasn’t suited up for an NHL game, but he’s obviously getting closer to that dream after several call-ups in recent days.
- Andrew Agozzino, Joseph Blandisi, Sam Lafferty and Kevin Czuczman have all been assigned to the AHL by the Pittsburgh Penguins, allowing the NHL club to bank a little extra cap space as they continue to push for the playoffs. The Penguins have quite a bit of flexibility when it comes to deadline additions thanks to some savvy saving and the potential long-term injured reserve cap room created by Jake Guentzel‘s injury.
- The Penguins cross-state rival have also sent several players to the minors, as Alex Lyon, German Rubtsov and Connor Bunnaman are all leaving the Philadelphia Flyers for now. The Flyers don’t play again until January 31st, giving them a chance to sort out their roster in a week’s time.
- Sebastian Aho, no not that Sebastian Aho, has been sent to the minor leagues by the New York Islanders. The young defenseman has been brought up a few times as injury insurance since Adam Pelech went down earlier this month, but still hasn’t found his way into an NHL game this season.
- The Detroit Red Wings are one of the few teams in action today, and have recalled Dennis Cholowski ahead of their game against the Minnesota Wild. Cholowski has split his time between the NHL and AHL this season, suiting up 29 times for the Red Wings.
- Karson Kuhlman, Jeremy Lauzon and Dan Vladar have all been returned to the AHL by the Boston Bruins. Lauzon, 22, scored the second NHL goal of his career last night for Boston, even while playing his off-side.
- The Florida Panthers have returned Riley Stillman and Sam Montembeault to the minor leagues over the break. Stillman has played in 16 games with the Panthers this season, but is still looking for his first career NHL goal.
Lias Andersson Practicing With Swedish Club
There hasn’t been much communication between the New York Rangers and prospect Lias Andersson since he left the organization and was subsequently suspended, but that has started to change according to Larry Brooks of the New York Post. Brooks reports that the young forward has been communicating directly with team president John Davidson for the last ten days. That report comes after one earlier today that indicated Andersson has started skating with a low level team in Sweden as he works toward whatever future his playing career holds.
Andersson played 17 games for the Rangers and 13 games for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL this season but hasn’t yet lived up to the top billing he received as the seventh-overall selection in 2017. The 21-year old center made an incredible impression in his first training camp with the team after being drafted, but has since been in a sort of limbo, switching leagues and roles often.
Through 66 games at the NHL level Andersson has scored just nine points, meaning any trade out of the Rangers organization would be giving up an asset at its lowest value. Brooks notes that the Rangers have given their approval to get him skating again, though he does not suggest what the next step would be at this point.
Andersson’s entry-level contract extends through the 2020-21 season, after which he would become a restricted free agent.
East Notes: Trade Bait, Red Wings, Bruins
Trade season is starting to heat up, and Frank Seravalli of TSN has put together his latest Trade Bait board for all those who want to know who might be on the market. The top name on the list is Chris Kreider of the New York Rangers, but he’s not the only Eastern Conference player that might be on the move.
In fact, eight of the first ten assets on Servalli’s board are from the east, with only the Los Angeles Kings taking a couple of spots away. The Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils, Detroit Red Wings and Carolina Hurricanes all have pieces near the top.
- Speaking of the Red Wings, with the playoffs already out of the question, it is hard to get excited about their games on a daily basis. That apathy is only amplified when top players are out of the lineup, as will be the case for the next several weeks. Anthony Mantha is “still a ways away, a month maybe” according to head coach Jeff Blashill, who also told reporters today that Mike Green will also be out “a couple weeks” with an upper-body injury.
- With only a handful of games left before the All-Star break, the AHL transaction page hasn’t been as busy as usual this week. The Boston Bruins did make a move today however, recalling Jeremy Lauzon and assigning Steven Kampfer to the minor leagues. Lauzon will skate on a pair with Matt Grzelcyk, playing in an NHL game for just the second time this season.
Snapshots: McDavid, Manning, Milano
The legend of Connor McDavid is about to grow at the NHL All-Star Game, where not only will he be a participant, but a documentary will air examining his return after a knee injury at the end of last season. Ryan Rishaug of TSN spoke today about how McDavid turned down the surgical option that could have kept him out for the entire 2019-20 campaign, and instead went down a road of grueling rehab.
McDavid, who turned 23 just over a week ago, is having another outstanding season with 76 points through 49 games. The young forward is on track for his fourth consecutive season with more than 100 points, and third Art Ross Trophy as the top offensive player in the league.
- While McDavid is heading to St. Louis to represent the Edmonton Oilers organization, Brandon Manning won’t even be getting on the ice for a while. The Oilers’ minor league defenseman has been suspended five games for using a racial slur towards an opponent last night. Keith Gretzky, the Bakersfield Condors’ general manager, released a statement supporting the league’s suspension and condemning Manning’s actions.
- Sonny Milano missed Columbus Blue Jackets practice today due to a court appearance in New York, according to Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch. Milano and Colorado Avalanche forward A.J. Greer had their assault charges dismissed after showing proof of community service and paying the medical bills of the victim.
Akim Aliu Signs In Czech Republic
The last several months have been a whirlwind for Akim Aliu, after a tweet went viral accusing former Calgary Flames head coach Bill Peters of using a racial slur during their time in the Rockford IceHogs organization. Through all the media attention, interviews and meetings with hockey leadership, Aliu has maintained that he is still pursuing a professional career as a player and has not given up on his dream of suiting up in the NHL. Today, Aliu has signed with HC Litvinov in the Czech Extraliga for the rest of the 2019-20 season.
The 30-year old forward has been involved in several controversies over the years, including a hazing incident in junior hockey that he believes hurt his chances in the NHL Entry Draft. Aliu would still be selected 56th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2007, but failed to ever get any real traction even in the minor leagues. There were seven NHL games spread across two seasons with the Calgary Flames, but the power forward has spent most of the last few years either overseas or in the ECHL.
While he continues his playing career, Aliu has also now become a figurehead for the NHL’s push to bring hockey to youth that might not normally have an opportunity to play the sport. He sat down with a one-on-one interview with Hockey Night In Canada’s Ron MacLean just a few days ago, to explain what he has gone through since sending that tweet.
Colton Sissons Sent To AHL On Conditioning Assignment
The Nashville Predators could be getting a key forward back soon, as Colton Sissons has been sent to the AHL on a conditioning assignment. Sissons has not played since December 27th, missing ten games since then including the Winter Classic.
Sissons, 26, is in the first season of the seven-year, $20MM contract he signed last summer that locked him into a reasonable cap hit for the prime years of his career. That reward came after a career-high 15 goals and 30 points in 2018-19, a mark he looked ready to at least match this year before getting hurt.
Through 37 games the checking center has seven goals and 13 points, while being a consistent physical presence and penalty killer. His return would give the Predators another reliable forward to help in any late-season push they have in them. The team currently sits in sixth place in the Central Division with 51 points.
Contract Slots Could Play Factor As Trade Deadline Approaches
Every season around the All-Star break, things really start to heat up on the trade market. Teams are starting to decide whether or not they are truly contenders and have had enough time to discuss extensions with their pending free agents. Even those players on one-year deals who can’t sign until the New Year have now had time to discuss the future, meaning clubs can put some of their best offers on the table.
One thing to remember as we close in on this year’s February 24th trade deadline is that a team can only carry 50 NHL contracts at any one time. By now, those entry-level contracts that don’t count against it if they are set to slide are almost all dealt with, meaning the number remaining is usually an accurate representation of the room a team has left to add.
Take the San Jose Sharks, Montreal Canadiens and New York Islanders for instance, who all currently have just a single contract slot open. For the Islanders especially, who sit third in the Metropolitan Division, that means adding any players through trade becomes a little more complicated. They would almost certainly have to send the same number of bodies back in any deal, if not include some extras to open a spot or two. Teams try not to spend much time right at the 50-contract threshold, especially once international and college seasons start to end.
For the Sharks it may not be as big of a hindrance given their place in the standings, but there are several other contenders sitting at 48 contracts. The Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers and Tampa Bay Lightning are all in playoff spots but have just two slots remaining, meaning they too have to be careful what they acquire.
It can certainly be used the opposite way as well however. A team like the New Jersey Devils, who sit with just 45 contracts on the books and at the bottom of the Metro, could help a team out by taking on a deal or two, as long as an asset comes with it.
This also lends even more power to a team like the Colorado Avalanche, who not only have five empty contract slots but also have plenty of cap space. They could potentially take on a bad contract alongside the player they are actually targeting, if it’s going to help them continue their run towards the top of the Central Division.
Contract totals for all teams (via CapFriendly):
Anaheim Ducks: 47/50
Arizona Coyotes: 45/50
Boston Bruins: 47/50
Buffalo Sabres: 45/50
Calgary Flames: 44/50
Carolina Hurricanes: 44/50
Chicago Blackhawks: 45/50
Colorado Avalanche: 45/50
Columbus Blue Jackets: 47/50
Dallas Stars: 48/50
Detroit Red Wings: 47/50
Edmonton Oilers: 48/50
Florida Panthers: 45/50
Los Angeles Kings: 47/50
Minnesota Wild: 47/50
Montreal Canadiens: 49/50
Nashville Predators: 45/50
New Jersey Devils: 45/50
New York Islanders: 49/50
New York Rangers: 46/50
Ottawa Senators: 48/50
Philadelphia Flyers: 48/50
Pittsburgh Penguins: 48/50
San Jose Sharks: 49/50
St. Louis Blues: 46/50
Tampa Bay Lightning: 48/50
Toronto Maple Leafs: 47/50
Vancouver Canucks: 47/50
Vegas Golden Knights: 46/50
Washington Capitals: 45/50
Winnipeg Jets: 45/50
Winnipeg Jets Recall Kristian Vesalainen
After losing Adam Lowry for the next month and on another two-game losing streak, the Winnipeg Jets have recalled one of their top prospects. Kristian Vesalainen will join the club after playing 44 games for the AHL’s Manitoba Moose this season.
Of course, this isn’t the first time Vesalainen will be in the NHL. The first-round pick from 2017 ended up making the club out of camp last season and played five games for the Jets at the beginning of the year. After not having a real spot for him in the NHL however, he eventually used a clause in his contract to go back to the KHL.
That meant Vesalainen played in three different leagues in 2018-19, not the perfect development path for a top prospect. This season has been much different, with all of his games coming at the AHL level. The 20-year old sits third on the Moose in goals with nine and has 22 points so far.
Whether he’ll get a real opportunity at the NHL isn’t clear, but the team does still have two games before the All-Star break. After losing their last two with a combined score of 12-3 they are now 25-20-4 and actually have a negative goal differential.
David Backes, Luke Schenn Placed On Waivers
Saturday: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that both Backes and Schenn cleared waivers. NHL.com’s Amalie Benjamin adds that Boston head coach Bruce Cassidy said that Backes will be given the same break that all NHL players are getting for the all-star break before the team decides whether it will send him to the AHL.
Friday: The Boston Bruins have decided to place veteran forward David Backes on waivers for the purpose of assigning him to the minor leagues. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet adds that Luke Schenn has also been placed on waivers by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Backes, 35, has finally worn out his welcome with the Bruins. The former St. Louis Blues captain signed a six-year, $36MM contract with Boston in 2016 but was almost immediately a disappointment. He failed reach the 20-goal mark in his first season with the Bruins, a threshold he had met in each of his previous five full seasons (not counting the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign). Still, at that point he was still at least adding some secondary scoring and providing a physical presence in the lineup on a nightly basis.
Injuries started really affecting that contribution however, which made many look at the deal as a potential problem. By the time the summer of 2019 rolled around Backes was a buyout candidate, and now he finds himself on the way to the minor leagues.
Backes’ $6MM cap hit will not be entirely buried by heading to the AHL. Only $1.075MM is covered by sending him down, and the Bruins will still be on the hook for the entire actual salary. This transaction couldn’t have been done last year when Backes still had a no-movement clause, but this very well could be the end of his time in the NHL.
For Schenn, this the second time he’s found himself on waivers since signing a one-year deal with Tampa Bay. He cleared just before the season began, but now that teams are dealing with injuries there is a chance he gets grabbed for a short-term fix. The 30-year old has 749 games of NHL experience under his belt, though is obviously not an extremely effective option at this point in his career.