Jimmy Schuldt Signs With Vegas Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights will have Jimmy Schuldt in training camp after all, as he has signed a one-year, one-way deal worth $850K. Schuldt will still be a restricted free agent next summer.
Schuldt, 24, was the prize of the college market earlier this year when he finished his four-year stint at St. Cloud State. The smooth-skating defenseman put up 118 points over 156 games for the Huskies and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker award in both his junior and senior seasons. Serving as captain since his sophomore year, Schuldt was expected to step right into an NHL lineup as a bottom-pairing option even as he learns the ropes of professional hockey.
The Golden Knights won the recruiting war against almost every other team in the league, and brought Schuldt in on a one-year entry-level deal that would be immediately burned. He played one game down the stretch for the team but would have been a restricted free agent this summer regardless, giving him some negotiating leverage coming out of the NCAA system. Unfortunately the Golden Knights found themselves in quite a tough financial situation this offseason and needed to jettison several players to even make room for the ones they already had under contract, thanks to expensive extensions for Mark Stone, Nate Schmidt and others kicking in for the 2019-20 season.
That left little room for Schuldt, but getting a deal done before the young defenseman misses any of his first NHL training camp will allow him to be ready to compete for a full-time job. The team has some other options including Zach Whitecloud and Nic Hague that will be competing for what may be just one available roster spot, meaning Schuldt has to do more than just show up to be on the opening night lineup. He will still be waiver-exempt this season, meaning he could very well start in the minor leagues if the team goes in a different direction.
Morning Notes: Krug, Coyne-Schofield, Horvat
The Boston Bruins have two defensemen still unsigned in Brandon Carlo and Charlie McAvoy, so Torey Krug‘s contract negotiations haven’t even started yet. That’s what the veteran defenseman told media including Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press, explaining that though he hasn’t had any talks with the Bruins about extending his contract—which is scheduled to expire after the 2019-20 season—he can understand why as they try to get his teammates back in time for training camp.
Krug will be an unrestricted free agent next summer if an extension isn’t worked out, and likely among the most sought-after names on the open market. The 28-year old is coming off three consecutive seasons in which he has recorded at least 51 points, including an incredible 53 in just 64 games last year. Krug could also have been in the running for the Conn Smythe trophy had the Bruins taken home the Stanley Cup, after posting 18 points in 24 postseason games. Though he has been involved in constant trade speculation for the last several seasons, Krug may carry even more importance on the Boston blueline to start the season if either Carlo or McAvoy (or both) miss time.
- Kendall Coyne-Schofield will join the San Jose Sharks broadcast team as a color analyst for select games this season, as she continues her boycott of the professional women’s hockey leagues. Coyne-Schofield, who gained increased public exposure when she took part in the NHL All-Star Fastest Skater competition last season, was part of a group of more than 200+ women who decided to announce a boycott in May to further their pursuit of increased resources for the women’s game. The PWHPA, formed soon after, will be putting on a showcase of the top talent this fall, but Coyne-Schofield will not be taking part in the Toronto stop on September 21.
- Bo Horvat is ready to take on the captaincy of the Vancouver Canucks, if the team decides to give it to him. Horvat told media including Frank Seravalli of TSN that he would welcome the honor and that it “would change the type of player [he] wants to be.” Horvat was dubbed a potential future captain from the moment he hit the ice for the first time with the Canucks in 2014, and has developed into an extremely important part of their lineup. The 24-year old center is coming off his best season as a professional, in which he scored 27 goals and 61 points in 82 games.
Minor Transactions: 09/05/19
It’s now September and teams are still filling out their organization depth charts as they wait on the restricted free agent market to heat up. With moves being made daily in the minor, professional, collegiate and European leagues, we’ll keep track of all the notable ones right here. Check back often for an updated list:
- Former Montreal Canadiens prospect Martin Reway will be playing in the Czech Republic again this season, signing a one-year deal with Kladno for 2019-20. The 24-year old was a fourth-round pick of the Canadiens in 2013 and signed his entry-level deal in 2016, but ended up terminating it the next year. Reway was a dominant junior player for Slovakia for several years internationally, but has had a very up-and-down professional career so far that included an illness which sidelined him for an entire season.
- 17-year old defenseman Victor Mancini has committed to the University of Nebraska-Omaha for his collegiate future, after he’s done developing his game overseas. Mancini will play for the Frolunda junior program in Sweden this season as he continues to try and grow his draft prospects. The 6’3″ defenseman from Saginaw, Michigan will be eligible for the 2020 draft and could put himself on the map by performing well in the Swedish leagues.
Minor Transactions: 09/04/19
It’s now September and teams are still filling out their organization depth charts as they wait on the restricted free agent market to heat up. With moves being made daily in the minor, professional, collegiate and European leagues, we’ll keep track of all the notable ones right here. Check back often for an updated list:
- Former NHL forward Jim Slater has announced his retirement, ending his playing career after four successful seasons in Switzerland. The 36-year old was originally selected in the first round by the Atlanta Thrashers back in 2002 and played 584 games over his NHL career. Slater is set to join Michigan State University as an assistant coach for the upcoming season, returning to the place he made a name for himself as a Hobey Baker finalist in 2004.
- Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Kalle Loponen has decided to bring his talents to North America, signing with the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL for the 2019-20 season. Loponen was picked in the seventh round earlier this year but will get a much bigger opportunity in Sudbury than he would have in Finland. The 18-year old does not have an NHL contract at this point, but it will be much easier for the Maple Leafs’ brass to get an in-person look at his potential.
- Boston University grad Max Willman has found a home to begin his pro career. The former Brown University standout has signed a one-year deal with the ECHL’s Reading Royals, the team announced. A fifth-round pick of the Buffalo Sabres in 2014, Willman is an athletic and intelligent player. He totaled 51 points in 135 NCAA games, including one near point-per-game campaign at Brown, and should be able to translate his ability easily to the pros.
- Cross-town rival Lincoln Griffin of Northeastern University has also signed in the ECHL. He is set to join the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on a one-year contract, the team announced. Griffin is fresh off of a season in which he was a top-six scoring forward for a Huskies program that was a national contender. The speedy winger will look to take another step forward in his jump to the pro ranks.
Snapshots: Marleau, Morrissey, Flyers
When Patrick Marleau accepted a trade from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Carolina Hurricanes earlier this offseason, the writing was on the wall. Marleau would be bought out by the Hurricanes and would be free to return to the San Jose Sharks to finish his career where he was a franchise icon. Not so fast, as Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports that Marleau’s agent Pat Brisson says there is no fit with the Sharks at this time and that his client will pursue other NHL opportunities.
Where exactly those opportunities may lie isn’t clear. The prevailing thought is that Marleau would rather spend his remaining time in the NHL near the west coast to be closer to his family that has moved back to San Jose, but there isn’t a clear fit with any of the California teams. The Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks are trying to get younger, not bring in a soon-to-be 40-year old winger who just experienced his worst offensive season since 1997-98. The Edmonton Oilers were recently suggested as a potential landing spot, though it is not clear at this point. As Kevin Kurz of The Athletic points out, Marleau continues to suit up with the Sharks during informal skates in his old Maple Leafs’ gear.
- With the Winnipeg Jets still focused on their two unsigned star forwards, it’s easy to forget that next summer they will have another tough negotiation. Josh Morrissey, who has developed into a legitimate first-pairing option for the Jets over the last few years is entering the final season of a two-year deal signed last September and will be an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent next summer. Ken Wiebe of The Athletic caught up with Morrissey today to ask him about any potential negotiations and the young defenseman explained that there has been preliminary talks about a potential long-term extension. Morrissey told Wiebe, “I would love to play [in Winnipeg] throughout my career” but that he’s focused on the upcoming season. The 24-year old had 31 points in 59 games for the Jets last season.
- The Philadelphia Flyers have made a few changes to their front office, promoting Ian Anderson to Director of Hockey Analytics and Jacob Hurlbut to Lead Developer in the department. The team has also hired Tom Minton as Director of Hockey Information/Video and Matthew Karliner as an Analyst. GM Chuck Fletcher has obviously chosen to invest in the team’s analytic department moving forward, hoping to find any edge possible.
Carolina Hurricanes Sign Roland McKeown
The Carolina Hurricanes have signed another restricted free agent, this time inking Roland McKeown to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal carries an NHL salary of $700K, and will keep him an RFA at its expiry. Hurricanes GM Don Waddell released a short statement on the deal:
Roland is a reliable defenseman who is also able to contribute offensively. He was a big part of Charlotte’s success last season and we’re excited to bring him back.
McKeown, 23, was the 50th overall pick in 2014 and has been an excellent player for the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL over the last several years. Turning pro in 2016, he has the right-handed defenseman has recorded 59 points in 206 AHL games, including a career-high 25-point season in 2018-19. While that lags behind some of the other offensive options in the Carolina system, McKeown has shown solid ability in his own end and may be a part of the NHL roster down the line.
In 2017-18 he got that chance, at least for a little while, and recorded three points in ten games for the Hurricanes. Though he hasn’t made it back, that taste will give McKeown some valuable experience if he finds himself called up this season for whatever reason. The Hurricanes obviously have some of the best defensive depth in the entire NHL, but we’ve seen countless times that that can disappear in an instant.
Interestingly though, McKeown is actually not waiver-exempt any longer and will need to clear in order to go back to Charlotte in the first place. Among those who will be on waivers at the end of training camp he may stick out as a potential option for claim if the team decides to send him down, especially for a rebuilding team looking for right-handed options. Perhaps in just a month’s time he’ll find himself in an even better situation, one that could result in some legitimate NHL playing time to bring to the arbitration table next summer.
Drew Stafford To Attend Minnesota Wild Training Camp
The Minnesota Wild will bring in some more experience to training camp, signing Drew Stafford to a professional tryout. Stafford has spent the last two seasons with the New Jersey Devils, actually making the team last year after accepting a similar PTO to attend training camp.
Stafford, 33, has recorded just 13 points in 57 games last season for the Devils but could potentially fill a role as the 13th forward for Minnesota depending on what they want to do with some of their youngsters. Players like Luke Kunin, Jordan Greenway and Nico Sturm certainly seem like solid candidates for the NHL roster, but with their waiver-exempt status could still see time in the minor leagues to continue their development.
New GM Bill Guerin of course likely remembers playing against Stafford near the end of his career when both were in the Eastern Conference. As the new executive tries to reshape the Minnesota roster, bringing in experienced veterans for training camp will hopefully cause some more competition among the young players and instill some professional habits.
Calgary Flames Sign Four Players To Professional Tryouts
The Calgary Flames will have several experienced NHL players battling for a contract in training camp, as the team announced today that Devante Smith-Pelly, Tobias Rieder, Zac Rinaldo and Alexandre Grenier have all signed professional tryouts. The team had previously announced that Andrew MacDonald would be in training camp on a PTO as well.
Smith-Pelly may inspire the most interest from Flames fans given his playoff heroics for the Washington Capitals in 2018, but after recording just eight points in 54 games last season and clearing waivers in February it’s hard to expect him to have much of an impact on the roster. The 27-year old spent a good chunk of the 2018-19 season in the minor leagues and is likely just trying to hold onto his place in the NHL.
Rieder meanwhile played 67 games for the Edmonton Oilers and was expected to provide a little offensive punch after scoring double-digit goals in each of the previous four seasons. Unfortunately things went horribly wrong for the 26-year old forward and he was held without a single goal all season. Rieder was infamously the target of some pointed criticism from Oilers CEO Bob Nicholson after his disappointing season, and will have to try to convince someone in the NHL to give him another chance to perform.
It’s important to remember that the Flames are cap-strapped already thanks to the impending contracts of Matthew Tkachuk and Andrew Mangiapane, meaning they don’t have a lot of money to go spending on these players if they do earn a contract. Any of the four could only really expect a league-minimum salary (or close to it) if they prove to be worthwhile investments.
Los Angeles Kings Sign Adrian Kempe
The Los Angeles Kings have signed restricted free agent Adrian Kempe to a three-year contract worth a total of $6MM. The young forward was the final RFA the Kings had to sign and will be arbitration eligible when the deal expires.
Kempe, 22, was originally selected in the first round of the 2014 draft and has now been a full-time NHL roster player for two years. After a nice season in 2017-18 when he showed his upside with 16 goals and 37 points, his offensive production dried up a bit last year. Transitioning to center, Kempe recorded just 12 goals and 28 points on a Kings team that struggled to find much success. The fact that they’ve now locked him in at a very reasonable number coming off that down season leaves plenty of room for Los Angeles to receive excess value from this contract, especially if Kempe can take over as the team’s second-line center at some point.
To do that though, Kempe does need to bring more consistency to his game and be a threat more often in the offensive zone. At the international level the Swedish forward has shown he can be an extremely dangerous player with the puck, something that has to come out every night in the NHL. An excellent skater that has the size and skill to win one-on-one battles anywhere on the ice, there’s no reason why he can’t experience a breakout at some point during the length of this deal.
That’s what Los Angeles will hope for as they try to transition their team to a younger, more skilled group. The bruising, defensive, puck-control hockey that brought them so much success over the last ten years failed them last year when they dealt with injuries and inconsistency, meaning new head coach Todd McLellan will need to find a new way to compete in the Western Conference. Kempe and other young forwards will likely be given an opportunity to make a bigger impact this season, though they’ll need to prove they can carry the load early on.
Clayton Keller Signs Eight-Year Extension
The Arizona Coyotes have locked up top young forward Clayton Keller to an eight-year extension. The deal will carry a cap hit of $7.15MM. Keller was scheduled to become a restricted free agent next summer, but instead will sign long-term with the Coyotes. Arizona GM John Chayka released this statement:
Clayton is elite in every sense of the word. He is not only an All-Star and one of the premiere offensive playmakers in the league, but he is equally special as a person with his drive and determination to be great. We are thankful to Clayton for believing in our future and look forward to him playing a vital role on this team for many years to come. We are also very appreciative of Mr. Meruelo’s willingness to invest in our future and solidify one of our core players here in Arizona for a long time.
In an unprecedented move, agent Scott Barlett released the full breakdown of the contract extension on Twitter. The deal will pay out as follows:
- 2020-21: $2.5MM salary + $3.0MM signing bonus
- 2021-22: $7.0MM salary
- 2022-23: $4.5MM salary + $3.0MM signing bonus
- 2023-24: $6.0MM salary
- 2024-25: $7.0MM salary + Full no-trade clause
- 2025-26: $7.0MM salary + Full no-trade clause
- 2026-27: $6.5MM salary + Full no-movement clause
- 2027-28: $6.7MM salary + Full no-movement clause
The 21-year old Keller has shown how good he can be in his young career, but this contract certainly doesn’t lack risk for the Coyotes. In his rookie year in 2017-18 the 2016 seventh overall pick exploded onto the scene with 65 points in 82 games, but Keller took a large step backwards last season. With just 14 goals and 47 points in 82 games, his production fell far short of expectations and put him in a points-per-game bracket alongside players like Brett Connolly, Josh Anderson and former teammate Alex Galchenyuk. That was even despite seeing slightly more ice time on the powerplay and overall.
Still, the Coyotes are betting that Keller’s first year is more indicative of his performance moving forward and it’s easy to see why. After shooting 10.8% as a rookie, a more than reasonable number for a player of his skill, Keller’s shooting percentage dropped all the way to 7.0% last season and should rebound considerably in the future. You can also bet on some natural development given his still very young age—he turned 21 just over a month ago. With strong possession numbers and a tantalizing skill set, the Coyotes may have a bargain down the line if he can continue to take steps forward.
That bet is exactly how the Coyotes have done business under Chayka. The GM has signed young players like Nick Schmaltz, Christian Dvorak and Jakob Chychrun to long-term deals before they really “proved themselves,” knowing that if he waited they might price themselves right out of Arizona’s market. The team can’t throw money around like bigger organizations like the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers, but have shown a willingness to assume some risk on long-term deals in order to get who they believe are core players under contract.
Part of this contract is also likely a reaction to the restricted free agent market this summer. A dozen teams are in limbo waiting for their young players to sign, something that Chayka will now not have to worry about with regards to Keller. The team still has some who will need new deals, but if Keller performs as many believe he can he would have been the centerpiece of the entire 2020 offseason for Arizona. That time can now be focused on other things as they try to establish themselves as a playoff contender in the Western Conference with new additions Phil Kessel and Carl Soderberg giving them some more depth up front.
As for what this means for that current RFA market, it’s unclear. We’ve heard all offseason how this class is set to re-establish the market for players coming off their entry-level deals, but Keller just sold four years of unrestricted free agency at a relatively low point in his negotiating leverage. Coming off a difficult season and still a year away, he decided to lock in long-term for a number that while substantial, is likely less than he could have gotten if he rebounded this year.
With Kessel now in the fold and Keller locked up, the Coyotes will now be expending quite a bit of capital on their forward group starting in 2020-21. The team will have more than $30MM tied up in five players including Kessel, Keller, Schmaltz, Dvorak and Derek Stepan, which doesn’t leave a lot of extra money for the rest given their hefty expenditures on defense. It very well could mean there is a move coming at some point down the line to free up some space, especially with several veterans who are set to become unrestricted free agents in 2021.
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