Matt Cullen Announces Retirement
After 21 seasons in the NHL, Matt Cullen is finally calling it quits. The 42-year old forward has announced his retirement through a video essay posted on the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Twitter account. In it, Cullen examines all of the “lasts” he experienced in his career, including the final season with the Penguins in 2018-19.
Beloved by nearly everyone he came in contact to throughout his career, Cullen will actually go down as one of the most successful American-born players in history. A three-time Stanley Cup champion, Cullen trails only Chris Chelios in games played by Americans and ranks 19th overall with 1,516 regular season contests. He added another 132 playoff contests including those long title runs with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006 and Penguins in 2016 and 2017.
While he was never a top offensive player, Cullen still made quite an impact on the game. A defensively responsible center, he still contributed at least 30 points in 14 of his seasons with a career-high of 49 in 2005-06. He finishes his career with 731 regular season points.
It’s been a long time coming for Cullen, who has flirted with retirement for the last several years. After a season that saw him record just 20 points and be limited to just fourth-line minutes, it was time to hang up the skates and move on to the next phase in his career.
Columbus Blue Jackets Sign Justin Scott
The Columbus Blue Jackets have re-signed minor league forward Justin Scott to a one-year, two-way contract. Scott was a restricted free agent and eligible for salary arbitration, but did not file and instead worked out the short-term deal.
Scott, 23, has played three seasons in the Blue Jackets organization since signing out of the OHL in 2016. Undrafted, he has become a solid depth piece for the team that can contribute some offense when required and serve as a defensively responsible forward. In fact, he tied for the team lead with three empty net goals this season, on the ice for many of the team’s last-second defensive efforts.
The former Barrie Colts forward scored just 24 points last season for the Monsters and has no NHL experience, meaning he’s likely ticketed for Cleveland once again. This season he will not be waiver-exempt however, meaning he’ll be available to the rest of the league should the team try to send him down.
Washington Capitals Sign Aliaksei Protas
The Washington Capitals have signed another prospect, this time inking Aliaksei Protas to a three-year entry-level contract. Protas was selected 91st overall in last month’s draft.
Protas, 18, came over from Belarus to play for the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL last season but took a while to get acclimated to the North American game. Scoring just 11 goals and 40 points in 61 regular season games, he also helped his country to a silver medal at the D1A World Juniors (those countries that do not qualify for the top tournament) before taking off in the WHL playoffs. The 6’5″ forward recorded 12 goals and 22 points in 23 games to help the Raiders to a WHL title and Memorial Cup berth.
His low point totals in the regular season can be somewhat explained by the tremendous depth that Prince Albert had as one of the very best teams in the CHL. The fact that by the time the playoffs rolled around Protas was a key part of that team—along with fellow Washington draft pick Brett Leason—can only be seen as a positive, and something that should have Capitals fans excited for his future. Even with his new NHL contract it is much more likely that Protas returns to the WHL next season and continues his development, meaning the deal will slide forward at least one year.
New York Islanders Sign Jared Coreau
According to CapFriendly, the New York Islanders have signed goaltender Jared Coreau to a one-year two-way contract, giving them some additional depth at the position. Coreau will earn $700K at the NHL level and be an unrestricted free agent again next summer.
Coreau, 27, has been a top AHL goaltender for years, but struggled last season with the San Diego Gulls and San Antonio Rampage. In his first year outside of the Detroit Red Wings organization he posted just an .889 save percentage and allowed the third most goals of any AHL netminder. He now heads to the Islanders to try and prove he can still be a valuable addition to any depth chart, though there won’t be much opportunity at the NHL level.
The former Northern Michigan University star has played just 21 games in the NHL, all of them coming with the Red Wings. With Semyon Varlamov and Thomas Greiss ahead of him that number isn’t expected to increase, though he might be the next option if someone is injured. The only other goaltender with any NHL experience in the organization is Christopher Gibson, who has just ten starts at that level.
Boston Bruins Sign Danton Heinen
Late last night, the Boston Bruins came to terms with one of their restricted free agents, signing Danton Heinen to a two-year contract through the 2020-21 season. The deal carries an average annual value of $2.8MM and will keep Heinen an RFA at its expiration.
The Bruins have several other restricted free agents to sign including Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo, but Heinen was the only one who was eligible and had filed for salary arbitration. This deal avoids that sometimes messy situation and gives the 24-year old forward a nice bridge contract. In parts of three seasons Heinen has recorded 81 points in 162 games, a pace that actually declined last season when he was able to register just 11 goals and 34 points. In the playoffs the young forward has all but disappeared, scoring just nine points in 33 games.
Still, there is a lot to like in his offensive profile and to get any production out of a fourth-round pick is a win for the Bruins. Though originally selected as a potential center, Heinen has played almost exclusively on the wing in the NHL and projects to stay there for the time being. The former University of Denver standout can be extremely elusive at times in the offensive zone and surprise defenders with his puck skills, but too rarely uses these talents to create and can rely on his linemates. If he can find a little more consistency while playing on this new contract, Heinen can set himself up for a big payday in 2021 when he has just a single year of restricted free agency left.
For the Bruins, even though they knew it was coming this deal does complicate things somewhat. The team now has just $7.4MM in cap space and two huge negotiations with McAvoy and Carlo to come. Since that cap number is assuming a 23-man roster there is some more wiggle room from the players that will be sent down to make room for the pair of young defensemen, but even so the Bruins will be extremely tight to the cap after inking the new deals. That is of course unless they find a way to move David Backes‘ $6MM hit, though the market for such a contract is obviously not a huge one.
Tampa Bay Lightning Sign Danick Martel
July 9: The Lightning have officially announced the contract for Martel.
July 4: The Tampa Bay Lightning have inked one of their restricted free agents, signing Danick Martel to a one-year two-way contract according to Joe Smith of The Athletic. Martel was eligible for salary arbitration but instead will get his contract done well in advance. The deal will be worth $700K at the NHL level.
Martel, 24, was claimed off waivers at the start of the 2018-19 season from the Philadelphia Flyers, but he ended up playing just nine games for the Lightning. Used as a press box regular, the undersized forward will be brought back to see if he can help the organization for another season. When the Lightning claimed him it seemed odd, given how little opportunity there was in the NHL forward group, but it’s hard to judge a team that has had such success finding undrafted talents out of the QMJHL in the past.
An 102-point scorer in his final year in junior, the 5’8″ Martel took quickly to the professional level and recorded three consecutive 20+ goal seasons with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Proven now at that level, the next challenge will be finding some NHL success. He has just 13 games under his belt at that level, meaning he will become a Group VI unrestricted free agent next summer if he fails to play in at least 67 contests this year. There actually may be a real opportunity for him to do so now that names like J.T. Miller and Ryan Callahan have moved on.
The Lightning still have lots of work to do this summer after signing Martel, as Brayden Point leads a trio of NHL restricted free agents without contracts. The team still has a little bit of wiggle room under the salary cap, but Point’s deal will determine whether they have to make another move to shed salary or not.
Poll: Which UFA Contract Will Look The Worst Next Year?
When July 1st rolls around every year, excitement around the NHL goes through the roof. Top players are available for nothing but money and fans want their favorite team to shell out the dollars and cents to improve the club. Unfortunately, the deals that are made on the unrestricted free agent market are so often flawed and doomed to fail. Teams overpay for over-the-hill veterans or lock up players already in their prime for far too long. Former NHL GM Brian Burke has long held the belief that more mistakes are made on the first day of free agency than any other.
Every year we get a reminder of just how tricky the free agent market is. In 2017 we saw players like Karl Alzner (five years, $23.1MM), Patrick Marleau (three years, $18.8MM) and Kevin Shattenkirk (four years, $26.6MM) all sign contracts that would be regretted down the road. Alzner has spent time in the minors after clearing waivers, Marleau has already been bought out of the last year of his deal and Shattenkirk could potentially face the same fate later this summer if the New York Rangers are desperate for cap space.
Just one year after the 2018 frenzy and there are already several deals that look like mistakes. Jack Johnson‘s long-term deal (five years, $16.3MM) has Pittsburgh Penguins fans shaking their heads, while the Calgary Flames can’t find a spot for James Neal (five years, $28.8MM). Ilya Kovalchuk (three years, $18.8MM) looks like a shadow of what he once was.
Given the history of failure in this period, you can only assume that there will be teams deeply regretting things they did just a few days ago. Even just a year from now they might be trying to buy out some of the contracts they signed, or shipping them somewhere else to free up room. Which will be the worst? Which contract will be so unbearable a year from now that fans will be hollering for its removal? Cast your vote below and make sure to leave a comment explaining why:
Only contracts signed July 1, 2019 have been included
Which UFA contract will look the worst next year?
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Sergei Bobrovsky (FLA): 7 years, $70MM 23% (752)
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Brandon Tanev (PIT): 6 years, $21MM 13% (425)
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Tyler Myers (VAN): 5 years, $30MM 12% (399)
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Mats Zuccarello (MIN): 5 years, $30MM 11% (350)
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Semyon Varlamov (NYI): 4 years, $20MM 8% (272)
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Artemi Panarin (NYR): 7 years, $81.5MM 8% (255)
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Matt Duchene (NSH): 7 years, $56MM 7% (224)
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Anders Lee (NYI): 7 years, $49MM 5% (163)
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Joe Pavelski (DAL): 3 years, $21MM 5% (149)
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Anton Stralman (FLA): 3 years, $16.5MM 3% (100)
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Gustav Nyquist (CBJ): 4 years, $22MM 2% (72)
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Other (leave in comments) 1% (44)
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Joonas Donskoi (COL): 4 years, $15.6MM 1% (30)
Total votes: 3,235
[Mobile users click here to vote]
Ty Rattie Signs In KHL
After his first season playing more than half the year in the NHL, Ty Rattie is saying farewell to North America. The free agent forward has signed a one-year deal with Lokomotiv in the KHL according to Igor Eronko of Sport-Express, reuniting him with former Edmonton Oilers executive Craig MacTavish, who is now the head coach there. Rattie was not issued a qualifying offer by the Oilers last month, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Rattie, 26, played 50 games last season for the Oilers but recorded just 11 points, never establishing himself as a real offensive presence despite plenty of opportunity. Originally selected 32nd-overall in 2011, he bounced up and down in the St. Louis Blues organization for years before a short stint in Carolina and the last two seasons with Edmonton. In 99 career NHL games he has 30 points, but can’t seem to carve out a good number of minutes anywhere he goes.
A two-time 100-point player in the WHL, Rattie has found plenty of success in the AHL as well. He’ll head overseas to a team with a familiar face behind the bench to try and prove he can contribute with a bigger role, but it’s going to be tough to convince NHL front offices of his worth at this point.
Buffalo Sabres Acquire Henri Jokiharju
The Buffalo Sabres and Chicago Blackhawks have pulled off a whopper of a trade, swapping Alexander Nylander for Henri Jokiharju. Both players are still on their entry-level contracts for another two seasons.
For Buffalo, the acquisition of Jokiharju continues an overhaul of their blue line. The team has now acquired Brandon Montour, Colin Millar and Jokiharju over the last several months, all three of which are right-handed. This latest trade will only continue to fuel the speculation about Rasmus Ristolainen, but almost certainly means that someone will have to be moved out before long. Casey Nelson and Zach Bogosian also play that side, though perhaps it is not a guarantee that Jokiharju will start the season in the NHL.
He did play 38 games for the Blackhawks last season and held his own at the NHL level. Recording 12 points and strong possession numbers while averaging close to 19 minutes a night at the highest level, his season also included a stint in the minor leagues with the Rockford IceHogs and a trip to the World Juniors where he took home the gold medal with Finland. When the season was over, he joined the Finnish World Championship squad as one of their only players with NHL experience and was a big part of them taking home the gold medal once again.
Overall it was quite the showing for Jokiharju, though his game at times did show the warts usually associated with 19-year old defensemen. The 29th-overall pick from 2017, he’ll need to find a little more consistency in his own end if he wants to really fulfill the promise he showed as a potential top-pairing player. That kind of potential is exactly what the Sabres are hoping to find, but it did cost them a pretty exceptional asset of their own.
Even though Nylander hasn’t quite found his footing yet at the NHL level doesn’t mean he won’t. Selected eighth overall in 2016, the younger brother of Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander has played just 19 games for the Sabres over the last three seasons. Even in the minor leagues, Nylander’s huge offensive ceiling hasn’t shown up consistently enough, leading to just 86 points in 165 AHL games. That performance though doesn’t tell the whole story, as Nylander has dealt with various injuries and could very well be in line for a breakout year at age-21.
Remember that this is a player who competed three times at the World Juniors, scoring 28 points in 21 games. He also won the CHL Rookie of the Year award in his only season with the OHL’s Mississauga Steelheads, scoring 87 points in 63 games. His puck possession skills are excellent and he can create offense both for himself and his teammates, even if his overall game hasn’t quite come together yet.
The Blackhawks have some recent history to look back on in terms of high picks finally fulfilling their potential upon arriving in Chicago. Dylan Strome was in much the same situation as Nylander when he was hopping back and forth between the minor leagues and Arizona Coyotes. Before joining the Blackhawks he had registered just 17 points in 48 games with Arizona but immediately broke out in Chiacgo to the tune of 51 in 58. That kind of offensive explosion is exactly what GM Stan Bowman will hope for once again.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Jared Bednar Signs Two-Year Extension
The Colorado Avalanche have signed head coach Jared Bednar to a two-year extension, keeping him in the organization through the 2021-22 season. Bednar was heading into the final year of his current deal but will get some security with which to work. GM Joe Sakic released a statement on the hiring:
Jared has done a tremendous job behind the bench and has earned the opportunity to continue leading this team. He is an outstanding coach who has the full trust of his players, coaches and staff. He has guided this franchise to two straight playoff appearances and we are excited with what this group can do moving forward.
Bednar has had quite the three seasons in Colorado, since being named head coach in late August 2016. He replaced the outgoing Patrick Roy, who had left the team suddenly just before training camp was set to start after struggles with management. Bednar has just a few weeks to prepare for his first NHL job, and that initial season did not go well. Coming off a championship with the Lake Erie Monsters, Bednar took control of a Colorado team that hadn’t made the playoffs in two seasons and things spiraled quickly out of control. The Avalanche would finish the 2016-17 season with just a 22-56-4 record, and many expected them to move on to a more experienced coach with more time to prepare.
Sakic stuck with Bednar though and it paid off in 2017-18 when he led the Avalanche back to the playoffs. A 43-30-9 record and a breakout season for Nathan MacKinnon—finally out of the shadow of Matt Duchene after an early season trade—was a huge turnaround in such a short period of time. Last season they followed it up with a second consecutive postseason appearance, and another outstanding year by MacKinnon and running mates Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog. Though the Avalanche struggled at times thanks to their dependence on that top line, Bednar still pushed enough buttons to guide them through the first round of the playoffs.
Now, with some added punch up front—the Avalanche brought in Joonas Donskoi, Nazem Kadri, and Andre Burakovsky—and a budding star on defense in Cale Makar, the outlook is outstanding in Colorado. Bednar will be there to guide it for the foreseeable future, trying to complete the trifecta of a Kelly Cup, Calder Cup and Stanley Cup in his coaching career.