Minor Transactions: 10/04/19
Two days into the NHL season and we’ve already seen a huge number of injuries pile up for teams around the league. With that in mind we’ll likely see some movement between the AHL and NHL in the coming days. As always, we’ll keep track of all the moves around the hockey world right here.
- The Chicago Blackhawks have recalled Dennis Gilbert from the AHL, though he was already in Europe with them preparing for today’s action. The Blackhawks take on the Philadelphia Flyers this afternoon from Prague, Czech Republic. Gilbert will be playing in just the second NHL game of his career, filling in for the injured Calvin de Haan.
- Former NHL goaltender Karri Ramo has signed a contract with Djurgardens IF taking him to the SHL for the first time in his career. Ramo has played in nearly every elite league in the world, and will try to continue his playing days in Sweden.
- Stefan Noesen has agreed to an AHL contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, after failing to find an NHL job this summer. The 26-year old played in 41 games for the New Jersey Devils last season, recording eight points. Originally a first-round pick of the Ottawa Senators, Noesen has just 159 NHL games under his belt.
- Dalton Prout has been moved to injured reserve, meaning the San Jose Sharks needed another body on the blueline. The team has decided to recall Jacob Middleton for that purpose, though Erik Karlsson did return to practice today after the birth of his daughter kept him out of the team’s season-opener.
- As expected, the Edmonton Oilers have recalled Ethan Bear once again from the minor leagues. Coming up with him from Bakersfield will be William Lagesson, while Evan Bouchard is on his way back down.
St. Louis Blues Extend Brayden Schenn
The St. Louis Blues have locked up a part of their core, signing Brayden Schenn to an eight-year extension. The deal will carry an average annual value of $6.5MM and keep Schenn in St. Louis through the 2027-28 season. CapFriendly gives us the full breakdown:
- 2020-21: $8.0MM
- 2021-22: $8.0MM
- 2022-23: $5.2MM
- 2023-24: $8.0MM
- 2024-25: $8.0MM
- 2025-26: $6.5MM
- 2026-27: $4.3MM
- 2027-28: $4.0MM
Schenn, 28, was one of two big names the Blues had scheduled for unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2020, alongside captain Alex Pietrangelo. After locking up their second-line center to a long-term deal, they’ll now be able to put their full focus on the defenseman to try and keep him around. Pietrangelo’s future was put into the spotlight after the team recently acquired and extended Justin Faulk from the Carolina Hurricanes, but there is obviously still plenty of time to get a deal worked out if the team can find the cap space.
That may be an issue after this new extension for Schenn, as the Blues now have close to $74MM in salary commitments for the 2020-21 season. A $6.5MM cap hit matches Faulk’s new deal and puts Schenn ahead of everyone else not named Vladimir Tarasenko or Ryan O’Reilly, who are both signed through 2022-23 with $7.5MM average annual salaries.
Not only does this contract put the squeeze on the Blues front office in terms of cap dollars, it also brings with it a fair amount of risk given the age of Schenn when it will kick in. He’ll turn 29 before ever playing a game on the new extension, meaning the deal will take him into his mid-thirties when most players enter a rapid decline phase. The trade for that was keeping the cap hit relatively low, especially after seeing other free agent centers like Kevin Hayes receive more than $7MM this summer. Schenn compares favorably to Hayes in terms of offensive production, especially if he can get back to the level he showed in 2017-18.
One of the biggest questions about the deal however will be whether Schenn stays at center throughout the length of the contract. The 2009 fifth-overall pick has rarely been a full-time pivot and moving to the wing does take away some of his value to the team. If his offensive totals don’t rebound from the 17-goal disappointment last season and he is moved out of the center position, the $6.5MM could seem like an expensive price tag in a few years.
Still, the Blues just won the Stanley Cup on the backs of physical forwards like Schenn and they’re banking on him being an impact player for a while longer. On their playoff run last season he scored 12 points and registered 83 hits in 26 games, buying in completely with head coach Craig Berube‘s system.
Nate Schmidt Out “Week-To-Week”
The Vegas Golden Knights got off to a great start to the 2019-20 season last night when they took down their rivals the San Jose Sharks, but it didn’t come without a cost. Nate Schmidt left the game after colliding with Logan Couture in the first period, and will now be out “week-to-week” with a lower-body injury according to head coach Gerard Gallant.
Schmidt ended up playing just over three minutes in the contest, forcing the rest of the Golden Knights defense to pick up the slack. That’s something that will have to continue, but this could open up an opportunity for one of the team’s other young defensemen. Jimmy Schuldt or Nicolas Hague in particular could slot into Schmidt’s spot, though neither offer the time of minute-munching ability of the 28-year old.
Even after missing the first 20 games of the 2018-19 season thanks to a PED suspension, Schmidt still recorded 30 points to trail only Shea Theodore (37) in scoring among Golden Knights defensemen. His +22 rating was easily a team-high and he was used heavily on both the powerplay and penalty kill at various times. That all packages together as one of the most valuable players on the team, and one Vegas can hardly afford to lose for any stretch of time.
Unfortunately for the Golden Knights, they’ll be without Schmidt when they take on the Sharks in the second half of a home-and-home tomorrow night in San Jose.
Edmonton Oilers Recall Bouchard, Place Larsson On LTIR
3:40pm: The Oilers have announced that Larsson will be out for six to eight weeks after fracturing his right fibula.
12:30pm: The Edmonton Oilers have recalled Evan Bouchard from the minor leagues, assigning Ethan Bear to the Bakersfield Condors in the process. This might be more than a quick stint for Bouchard however, as the team also placed Adam Larsson on long-term injured reserve.
Larsson played last night for the Oilers and even logged more than 22 minutes of ice time, but will now need to be out for at least ten games after being placed on long-term injured reserve. The shuffle of Bear and Bouchard is to maximize the amount of cap relief the Oilers will receive, but we could easily see both up at some point given the team is only carrying five other defensemen.
This is a huge hit for an Oilers team that was relying on Larsson to be their top right-handed option this season. Bear played just over 15 minutes last night, and Matt Benning logged just under 12. If Bouchard is inserted into the lineup or the other two are moved up, the Oilers will really be pushing their luck in the top-four. Kris Russell could also very well find himself playing on the right side again, with Brandon Manning jumping in if they want Bouchard to continue to play in the minors.
Calgary Flames Extend Brad Treliving
The Calgary Flames have signed GM Brad Treliving to a multi-year contract extension. His current deal was set to expire at the end of this season, but he now won’t have to worry about his future. Flames’ president and CEO John Bean explained why the team decided to move forward with Treliving:
Over the past five years, Brad has done an excellent job putting a team together on and off the ice. Continuity is important in this role. Brad has earned the trust and respect of our Ownership Group and our fans. We look forward to continuing our work together as we strive for our ultimate goal; another Stanley Cup championship for the City of Calgary.
With the team since 2014, Treliving has built the Flames into a Western Conference contender that took home the top seed last season with 107 points. The team is expected to challenge for that seed again this year and have their core locked up for at least the next three years. That’s the length of Matthew Tkachuk‘s new bridge deal, which made him the highest-paid player on the team at just $7MM. While teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs are throwing money at their top few players, Treliving has gone the opposite route and built a deep forward group that has 11 forwards making at least $1.25MM this season.
The deal is expected to be three years in length, keeping Treliving in charge through the 2022-23 season. Not only will that give the organization some front office continuity, but it also gives him the security to make moves to improve the Flames down the line instead of right now. Calgary begins play tonight against the Colorado Avalanche.
AHL, PHPA Ratify New Five-Year CBA
Labor peace, labor peace everywhere. The AHL announced today that they have ratified a new five-year CBA with the Professional Hockey Players’ Association, the union that represents minor league players. David Andrews, AHL President and CEO released a statement:
The American Hockey League remains fortunate to have an extremely positive and open relationship with our players and with the PHPA. This new Collective Bargaining Agreement is the product of a sustained positive and open dialogue between the players and ourselves over the past several months, and continues a longstanding spirit of respect for each other that has allowed the American Hockey League and its players to grow and prosper.
The new deal was ratified unanimously by all parties, and will keep the two sides at peace through August 31st, 2024. Though this doesn’t have a direct impact on the NHL, it does guarantee the health of the primary development league and its teams. Just recently, the AHL announced that Palm Springs would be the home of the league’s 32nd franchise and will serve as the primary affiliate for the Seattle NHL expansion team right from inception.
Josh Ho-Sang Requests Trade
The New York Islanders are looking for a trade partner for Joshua Ho-Sang after his representative requested one, GM Lou Lamoriello told reporters including Arthur Staple of The Athletic. Ho-Sang was told not to report for a few days after clearing waivers while the team tried to find a deal.
Though teams obviously had a chance at Ho-Sang when he was placed on waivers, the fact that he has now cleared actually increases his value. The young forward can now be assigned to the minor leagues for whichever team acquires him, though that still doesn’t guarantee a deal will be made. The 23-year old was the 28th overall pick in 2014 but has just 53 NHL games under his belt so far despite strong offensive numbers in the minor leagues.
Never much of a goal-scorer, Ho-Sang has excellent puck skills and playmaking ability, especially with the man-advantage. He has recorded 84 assists in 156 AHL regular season contests, and does have 24 points in his 53 NHL appearances. If the Islanders can find a new home for him, Ho-Sang will likely have to prove himself once again for their minor league affiliate before getting another opportunity at the highest level.
Pheonix Copley Headlines Three Players On Waivers
Thursday: Copley has cleared waivers and will be assigned to the Hershey Bears of the AHL. The other two have also cleared.
Wednesday: The Washington Capitals have seemingly decided to make the switch to Ilya Samsonov as their backup goaltender. Pheonix Copley has been placed on waivers, along with New York Islanders forward Scott Eansor and Carolina Hurricanes forward Max McCormick. Eansor recently announced he would be retiring from professional hockey, meaning this placement will probably precede a mutual contract termination.
Copley, 27, was just signed to a three-year $3.3MM extension in February, though that was at least in part due to the upcoming expansion draft. The backup goaltender played in 27 games with the Capitals last season and recorded a 16-7-3 record with a .905 save percentage, but is a little too pricey for the team right now with his $1.1MM cap hit. Samsonov, who carries just a $925K cap hit on his entry-level deal, is one of the top goaltending prospects in the world and should get his first taste of NHL action this weekend.
The 22-year old Samsonov dominated the KHL for three straight seasons between 2015-18, but struggled somewhat in his first season in North America. Posting an .898 save percentage for the Hershey Bears, he showed some inconsistency even behind a strong group. Despite those disappointing stats, he still possesses all the potential in the world and could push for a starting role at some point in the future. Seeing exactly what they have will be important to the Capitals, who have starter Braden Holtby approaching unrestricted free agency and in line for a huge raise on the open market.
Minor Transactions: 10/03/19
The NHL regular season is underway, and the stars have already made their mark. Auston Matthews showed why he’s a perfect prop bet in season-openers by scoring his eighth and ninth goals through four opening games, while Connor McDavid showed that his knee is just fine as he cut through the Vancouver Canucks defense for the game-winner late in Edmonton. Eight more games are on the schedule for tonight including Jacob Trouba‘s first test against his former club and a top tier matchup between the Calgary Flames and Colorado Avalanche. As teams prepare, we’ll be right here keeping track of all the moves.
- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled Victor Olofsson and Henri Jokiharju as expected, while sending Jean-Sebastien Dea, Curtis Lazar and Lawrence Pilut back to the Rochester Americans of the AHL. These moves had been done just as some cap gymnastics to get Buffalo the most room possible, and were always expected to be reversed before they start their season in Pittsburgh tonight.
- After keeping Timothy Liljegren on the opening night roster, the Toronto Maple Leafs have sent the top prospect back to the minor leagues. Liljegren was kept up for salary cap purposes, but will switch spots with the recently-waived Nic Petan today. Petan should serve as one of the extra forwards for the Maple Leafs that might rotate in, alongside Jason Spezza who was a healthy scratch last night.
- Manuel Wiederer has been assigned to the San Jose Barracuda, where he is expected to spend the season. The 22-year old forward suffered an upper-body injury earlier in the preseason, but is likely recovered enough to rejoin his teammates now that he has officially been sent down.
- With Sam Steel and Ondrej Kase being cleared ahead of tonight’s home opener, the Anaheim Ducks have opened up space on the roster by reassigning Isac Lundestrom and Max Comtois to the AHL’s San Diego Gulls. Lundestrom and Comtois, as well as Steel, a part of a large group of impressive young NHL-ready forwards pushing for ice time this season. This is certainly not the last you’ll hear of them this year.
Chicago Blackhawks Extend Alex DeBrincat
The Chicago Blackhawks won’t play around with a long restricted free agent negotiation next summer, instead getting their homework done early. The team has announced a three-year extension for Alex DeBrincat, taking him through the 2022-23 season. DeBrincat will earn an average of $6.4MM each year, quickly making him the third-highest paid forward on the Blackhawks roster. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic has the full breakdown:
- 2020-21: $1.0MM salary + $4.0MM signing bonus
- 2021-22: $5.1MM salary
- 2022-23: $9.0MM salary
It’s hard to argue with a contract that locks up one of the league’s best goal-scoring talents before he even sniffs free agency, but this deal does come with a bit of risk. The third-year salary means that the Blackhawks will have to issue DeBrincat a $9MM qualifying offer, and the young forward will be arbitration eligible. Still, with two RFA years remaining after this deal and coming off an incredible 41-goal season, GM Stan Bowman did well to avoid any drawn out contract talks. In fact, should DeBrincat take another step forward this season and push for the Rocket Richard trophy, $6.4MM will seem like a steal (if it doesn’t already).
There are few players in the NHL that can match DeBrincat’s uncanny ability to get open. Whether it is slowing down on the rush to open up for a cross-ice pass, or settling into an open area after the puck has been cycled, the 5’7″ forward constantly finds himself with enough room to snap his quick shot into the back of the net. Obviously playing with talented playmakers like Patrick Kane helps, but there’s no denying the skill of DeBrincat in the offensive zone. Through the first two years of his career he has shot a whopping 17.2% and while that is likely to go down somewhat, DeBrincat’s shot selection is elite and should naturally lead to higher percentages.
The fact that he has scored 69 goals through 164 games perhaps isn’t mentioned enough when hockey fans talk about the next generation of NHL stars. Brock Boeser and Kyle Connor for instance have both scored fewer goals so far in their careers, and neither has hit that impressive 40-goal threshold in a single season. Locking up a potential league-leading goal machine for three years at a reasonable amount is nice work for the Blackhawks and Bowman.
Interestingly, a three-year extension for DeBrincat lines up with a pair of other contracts in Chicago. Kane, Duncan Keith and Jonathan Toews are all scheduled to become unrestricted free agents in 2023, meaning the team will have the ultimate flexibility at that point to pivot in a different direction if they feel the need. Should DeBrincat demand another huge raise at that point, the team will be able to craft a lineup revolving around him.