Konstantin Okulov Linked To Toronto, Montreal
The Toronto Maple Leafs have received a great contribution from young Russian forward Ilya Mikheyev this season and may be looking to add another forward from the KHL before long. On last night’s Sportsnet broadcast, insider Chris Johnston explained that Konstantin Okulov is the latest overseas player to be linked to the Maple Leafs, though also noted that the Montreal Canadiens are the other interested party.
According to Johnston, other teams are hesitating to even invest any time in the recruitment of Okulov because of his connection with the Maple Leafs and Canadiens. The 24-year old scored 20 goals and 31 points last season and is off to a blazing start in 2019-20.
For a team like Toronto that has so much money tied up in a few players, finding talent elsewhere is absolutely imperative. Mikheyev has given the team another legitimate NHL winger for an entry-level salary, scoring seven points in his first nine games—all of them at even-strength.
Montreal meanwhile doesn’t have the intricate cap problems that Toronto deals with on a daily basis, but are building a deep forward group to rival their Atlantic Division opponents and won’t pass up an opportunity to improve it. Montreal has 12 picks in this year’s draft, a good young core and cap space to make moves, a situation that makes them dangerous in any free agent situation.
Okulov is scheduled to become a free agent after this season but would be held to the entry-level system on any contract. While Toronto and Montreal are the front-runners, this is surely not the last time we hear his name throughout the year.
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Poll: Which Team Has Had The Most Surprising Start?
The 2019-20 NHL regular season is now a little over two weeks old and already there has been talk of coach firings, long-term injuries to star players and surprising performances from some young talent. In a league that never gives you exactly what you expect, things have gotten off to an exciting start.
It’s hard not to start with the Buffalo Sabres, who are currently leading the entire NHL with a 6-1-1 record through their first eight games. You can’t ignore a team that has been so dominant, but can they keep it going? The Sabres are getting solid goaltending and have a powerplay that is converting at a scorching 35.5%—thanks, Victor Olofsson. They don’t show any signs of slowing down.
At the other end of the spectrum have been the Dallas Stars and San Jose Sharks, both expected to compete for the playoffs this season—even penciled in as Stanley Cup contenders by some. Both teams started the season dreadfully, though the Sharks have now won three straight to at least stay out of the basement in the Pacific Division. The Stars can’t seem to score a goal when they need one and are now 1-6-1 through their first eight, barely staying ahead of the tumultuous mess that is the Minnesota Wild.
The Sabres aren’t the only team that failed to make the playoffs in 2018 off to a great start this time around. The Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks lead the Pacific with excellent records to start the year, each relying on different strategies to emerge victorious. The Oilers are leaning heavily on Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl who lead all forwards in ice time this season, while the Ducks have a goaltending tandem that has allowed just 12 goals on 212 shots (a .943 save percentage through seven games).
Which team has surprised you the most through the first few weeks? Cast your vote and make sure to jump into the conversation down below.
[Mobile users click here to vote]
New Jersey Devils Extend Nico Hischier
The New Jersey Devils have extended one of their key forwards, but unfortunately it’s not Taylor Hall. The team has reached a seven-year extension with Nico Hischier that will carry an average annual value of $7.25MM. Hischier is in the final year of his entry-level contract and scheduled for restricted free agency next summer. Chris Johnston of Sportsnet and PuckPedia provide the full breakdown:
- 2020-21: $4.0MM salary + $3.0MM signing bonus
- 2021-22: $7.25MM salary
- 2022-23: $4.5MM salary
- 2023-24: $7.75MM salary
- 2024-25: $7.75MM salary + 10-team no-trade clause
- 2025-26: $8.0MM salary +10-team no-trade clause
- 2026-27: $8.5MM salary +10-team no-trade clause
The first-overall pick from 2017, Hischier stepped directly into the NHL and had immediate success on a Devils team that shocked many by making the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. Scoring 52 points he trailed only Hart Trophy-winner Taylor Hall for the team lead, but actually finished seventh in Calder Trophy voting thanks to an impressive rookie class (Mathew Barzal and his 85-point season took home the award).
While his sophomore season was marred by injury and he’s already been banged up this year, Hischier hasn’t disappointed fans in New Jersey that saw him as a rock-solid two-way center in his draft class. Slotting him in along with Jack Hughes as the team’s top-two pivots for years is the basis of a very good forward group, even if it’s not paying off so far this season.
After a summer which saw several star restricted free agents miss part of training camp and the preseason, teams are locking up their young names even quicker this time around. Hischier joins names like Alex DeBrincat, Clayton Keller and Thomas Chabot signing long-term deals well before they hit the open market.
Because he hit the NHL so young, a seven-year extension actually buys out three UFA seasons for Hischier, keeping him at a reasonable price for the Devils to work with. While his offensive totals haven’t quite popped off the page so far, his underlying numbers and defensive ability make for a very valuable player.
For the Devils, who desperately want to extend Hall if they can before he hits unrestricted free agency, getting Hischier done now gives them a ton of cost-certainty moving forward. Hughes won’t need an extension for another few seasons, while P.K. Subban and Damon Severson are locked in through at least the 2021-22 season.
Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic was first to break news of the deal.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Snapshots: Bruins, Clarke, Helm
The Boston Bruins are set to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs this weekend in a rematch of their first round playoff series, but it appears both teams will be without a star center. Not only will the Maple Leafs be missing John Tavares from the lineup, but the Bruins will also be without David Krejci who will not travel with the team.
Krejci missed last night’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning after suffering an upper-body injury earlier in the week. Joakim Nordstrom will also not play against the Maple Leafs, but Patrice Bergeron is expected to after missing practice with a lower-body injury. The Bruins may call someone up from the AHL before tomorrow night’s tilt.
- New Jersey Devils prospect Graeme Clarke will undergo shoulder surgery and is expected to miss four months according to Kenny Walls of TSN. Clarke was picked in the 2019 third round and is an important piece of the Ottawa 67’s in the OHL. He was recently named to that league’s roster for the upcoming Canada-Russia series, which he will obviously miss.
- The NHL has fined Detroit Red Wings forward Darren Helm $5,000 for his slash last night on Elias Lindholm. This was the maximum allowable fine under the CBA.
Los Angeles Kings Recall Prokhorkin, Assign Bjornfot To AHL
The Los Angeles Kings will now have another KHL star on the roster. Nikolai Prokhorkin has been recalled by the Kings after just four games with the Ontario Reign, while 2019 first-round pick Tobias Bjornfot has been sent down. Bjornfot is still just 18 but is allowed to play in the AHL given he was drafted out of Sweden. Carl Grundstrom, another top prospect of the Kings, has also been assigned to the AHL.
Prokhorkin, 26, has finally made it to the Kings after a long and winding road. Originally selected by Los Angeles in the fourth round of the 2012 draft, he actually signed a contract with the organization a few months later. That deal was ruled invalid however thanks to his KHL contract, sending him back to Russia after just eight games with the Manchester Monarchs of the AHL.
The talented winger would stay in the KHL for the next seven seasons, reaching a career-high in points last year with 41 in 41 games for SKA St. Petersburg. He signed a new one-year, entry-level contract this spring almost seven years after he was drafted.
Bjornfot actually played three games with the Kings after surprisingly making the team out of training camp, but sending him to the minor leagues actually keeps his contract from kicking in. Should he play in another seven games this season the first year of his entry-level contract would be burned, but AHL games do not count towards that total. The 18-year old was picked 22nd overall out of the SHL and has already shown his NHL upside.
Grundstrom meanwhile was acquired by the Kings last season from the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Jake Muzzin deal and scored five goals in just 15 games for them down the stretch. Still just 21 he has more developing to do before he can be a real force at the NHL level.
Minor Transactions: 10/18/19
Jack Hughes got his first NHL point and the New Jersey Devils recorded their first win of the season, topping the New York Rangers 5-2 to quiet their critics for the time being. The Minnesota Wild were not so lucky as they were dominated from start to finish by the Montreal Canadiens and now sit at 1-6 on the season. As teams prepare for tonight’s action which includes six matchups, we’ll be right here keeping track of all the minor moves.
- Nelson Nogier has been returned to the AHL by the Winnipeg Jets, in what is quickly becoming a pattern. Nogier has already been involved in five transactions this month between the two leagues and will likely bounce up and down for a good part of the season.
- The Philadelphia Flyers have assigned Connor Bunnaman to the minor leagues after he played four games with the team so far this season. Bunnaman was rewarded for a strong preseason but failed to register his first NHL point. The 21-year old fourth-round pick scored 19 goals and 32 points for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms last season and will continue his development as a legitimate NHL prospect this year.
- Curtis Lazar has been assigned to the AHL after being called up just a few days ago. Lazar hasn’t played in a single game with the Buffalo Sabres this season, but does have one point in three contests for the Rochester Americans.
- Now that Jacob Markstrom has returned to the Vancouver Canucks, the team has sent Zane McIntyre back to the AHL’s Utica Comets. Markstrom was away for a personal reason, giving Thatcher Demko the net for a short time.
- Danil Yurtaykin has been sent to the minor leagues by the San Jose Sharks, ending his short stint in the NHL after just four games. The 22-year old Russian winger needs some seasoning in the AHL before he returns.
Washington Capitals Place Richard Panik On LTIR
The Washington Capitals are walking a salary cap tightrope this season, meaning that injuries can really complicate things whenever they happen. Today, in order to recall some reinforcements they were forced to place Richard Panik on long-term injured reserve. Panik will have to miss at least ten games with the upper-body injury he suffered against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jonas Siegenthaler is considered a game-time decision while the team recalled both Travis Boyd and Martin Fehervary with the additional cap space created by the Panik move.
Michal Kempny is also expected to return for the Capitals, who welcome in the New York Rangers tonight. Panik meanwhile will be out at least until mid-November after he collided with Siegenthaler and was forced from Wednesday’s game against the Maple Leafs.
It’s an unfortunate turn for Panik, who was already struggling to find his role in the Capitals offense after signing a four-year contract this summer. The 28-year old has yet to register a single point and actually saw his minutes greatly reduced even before exiting Wednesday’s game. With a $2.75MM price tag, the Capitals were relying on Panik to be a source of secondary scoring this season to replace the outgoing Brett Connolly, but so far nothing has gone right in 2019-20.
PHR Chat Transcript: 10/17/19
Click here to read a transcript of this week’s live chat with PHR’s Gavin Lee.
Joakim Nygard Out With Rib Injury
Thursday: The Oilers have placed Nygard on injured reserve, recalling William Lagesson to take his place on the roster. Lagesson is in his second year of professional hockey in North America and has one point through two games for the Bakersfield Condors this season.
Wednesday: The Edmonton Oilers will be without Joakim Nygard for up to a month thanks to a rib injury. Nygard has been given a timeline of two to four weeks for recovery, meaning he’ll miss at least a handful of games.
The 26-year old Swede came to the Oilers from the SHL this season after potting 21 goals for Farjestads, but had already looked a bit overmatched at times at the NHL level. Nygard’s ice time had been dropping consistently, and it still wasn’t clear what kind of role he could have on Edmonton. The Oilers were looking for help on the wing all offseason, but with the resurgence of James Neal as a top-six option they have been rolling of late.
Still, the team is putting a huge amount of responsibility on the shoulders of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl who are current playing more minutes than any other forwards in the league. Losing depth players will only stress that group even more, meaning Nygard’s absence will be felt all the same.
Even just two weeks would keep him out for the next eight games.