Matt Hendricks Announces Retirement
Brooks Orpik isn’t the only player hanging up his skates today. Michael Russo of The Athletic passes on the news that veteran forward Matt Hendricks will call it quits on a long professional career, joining the Minnesota Wild’s player development department instead.
Hendricks, 38, was originally selected by the Nashville Predators in the fifth round of the 2000 draft, and had a long and winding road to the NHL. Four years at St. Cloud State landed him nothing but a minor league contract, and the hard working forward had to grind through games for the Milwaukee Admirals, Florida Everblades, Lowell Lock Monsters, Rochester Americans, Hershey Bears, Providence Bruins and Lake Erie Monsters before ever sniffing the NHL. That first chance came with the Colorado Avalanche during the 2008-09 season, and Hendricks would never look back.
Still a journeyman at heart, the fourth-line center would end up playing for Colorado, Washington, Nashville, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Minnesota during his 607-game NHL career, recording 116 points and 722 penalty minutes along the way. Considered a natural leader everywhere he went, Hendricks was never much of an offensive player but continued to play important minutes for every team he went to. Never able to capture the Stanley Cup, he’ll retire with just 39 playoff games under his belt.
St. Louis Blues Extend Craig Berube
The St. Louis Blues have finally done what was decided long ago, signing head coach Craig Berube to a three-year contract and officially removing the interim tag from his position. Berube took over as head coach of the Blues last November and eventually led them all the way from last place in the NHL to the Stanley Cup. GM Doug Armstrong explained exactly why he signed his coach to a three-year deal:
Craig made an enormous impact on our team when he took over last November. He restored our identity and provided our players with a clear sense of direction and purpose. The chemistry and trust that he developed with our players was integral in bringing our franchise the 2019 Stanley Cup.
You can’t have a more successful first season as head coach of an NHL team, and there was little doubt that Berube would eventually become the long-term boss of the Blues. The team went 38-19-6 under him in the regular season, and then bashed and bruised their way to the first Stanley Cup in franchise history. Berube’s playing style came through in every game the Blues played under him, taking lessons from his 3,360 career penalty minutes.
Whether that physical, in-your-face style will be replicated around the league or not, you can bet the Blues come back next season with a similar approach. St. Louis tallied 819 hits in their 26-game playoff run, and slowly wore down their opponents all the way to a league title.
This isn’t the first time Berube has taken over as head coach of a team, as he was promoted to run the Philadelphia Flyers bench, replacing Peter Laviolette early in the 2013-14 season and taking them on an excellent regular season run. Unfortunately the Flyers would go 33-31-18 in the 2014-15 season and miss the playoffs, leading to Beurbe’s dismissal. Blues fans will hope that doesn’t happen in St. Louis, given how well Berube seemed to gel with the roster that he took control of this year.
Tampa Bay Lightning Sign Nolan Foote
It didn’t take long for the Tampa Bay Lightning to get their top draft choice under contract, inking Nolan Foote to a three-year entry-level contract today. Foote was selected 27th overall in Friday’s draft, joining his brother Cal Foote in the Lightning organization.
The 18-year old Foote was something of a surprise selection at the end of the first round, as many publications had him ranked a little further down the draft board. NHL Central Scouting for instance had the Kelowna Rockets forward ranked 37th among North American skaters in their final ranking. Still, it’s hard to question an organization that has been so successful in the draft over the last decade.
First and foremost when evaluating Foote, one notices the top-end awareness and quick decision making that comes from being around hockey from birth. The son of former NHL defenseman Adam Foote, the 6’3″ forward often anticipates where the play will go before it does and finds himself in an excellent position to contribute offensively. Add that to his solid frame and willingness to drive the puck to difficult areas and you at times have what looks like an NHL power forward in the making. Unfortunately, like his brother, Foote comes with questionable skating and playmaking ability. Though he can often seem unstoppable coming off the wall if he has time to get up to speed, his edges need work and it’s unclear where his offensive ceiling really lies.
Still, the Lightning obviously believe they can groom Foote into a force at the NHL level. He’ll almost certainly return to the WHL next season to play, while he is also on Canada’s camp roster for this year’s World Junior Summer Showcase.
Adam Musil Placed On Unconditional Waivers
Tuesday: Musil has cleared waivers and will see his contract terminated.
Monday: The St. Louis Blues have placed Adam Musil on unconditional waivers, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. The move is likely a precursor to a mutual contract termination, as Musil still has one year remaining on his entry-level deal.
The 22-year old Musil was born in Canada, but spent much of his childhood living in the Czech Republic where his father and uncle, former NHL players Frantisek Musil and Bobby Holik, are from. He eventually returned to play in the WHL and was selected in the fourth round of the 2015 draft by the Blues, eventually signing and playing for the San Antonio Rampage, their AHL affiliate.
In 65 games last season Musil recorded just 14 points, and may be looking at a return to the Czech Republic to continue his career. If a termination does take place, he would be an unrestricted free agent and able to sign wherever he wanted.
Arizona Coyotes Acquire Carl Soderberg
The Arizona Coyotes have acquired Carl Soderberg from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Kevin Connauton and a 2020 third-round pick. Coyotes’ GM John Chayka released a short statement on the acquisition:
Carl is a versatile, 200-foot player who has a history of being productive and playing tough minutes. He will be a stabilizer in our lineup and gives our coaching staff lots of flexibility.
Soderberg, 33, had an excellent bounce-back season in 2018-19, recording 23 goals and 49 points while playing in all 82 games. That kind of production is exactly what the Avalanche expected when they signed him to a five-year, $23.75MM deal in the summer of 2015 but after a good initial season in Colorado he had fallen off a cliff offensively. In fact, during the 2016-17 campaign the Swedish center only recorded 14 points in 80 games and many called for the Avalanche to get rid of him through one way or another. Their waiting has paid off, as his entire $4.75MM cap hit will now be transferred to Arizona while receiving a quality depth defenseman and pick in return.
In Arizona though, Soderberg will be a veteran addition to a club trying to get over the hump and qualify for the playoffs. His versatility down the middle will help take some pressure off the other offensively gifted players on the Coyotes and add to what has now become something of a strength for the club. Just a few years ago the Coyotes were trying everyone they could at the center position in hopes of finding a quality option, but now have Soderberg, Derek Stepan, Nick Schmaltz and Brad Richardson who can be penciled in with Christian Dvorak and Alex Galchenyuk also having experience in the middle.
For Colorado though, this move seems to indicate something bigger is on the horizon. GM Joe Sakic spoke at the end of the year about being more aggressive in free agency, and with nearly $40MM in cap room he can basically go after any player he wants. A good chunk of that money is owed to the team’s own restricted free agents—most notably star winger Mikko Rantanen—but there is more than enough to go around in free agency. In fact, the team might even be able to clear more cap space if they are actually still considering moving Tyson Barrie in his final year. With the addition of Connauton, the Avalanche have seven NHL defensemen under contract with Nikita Zadorov a restricted free agent and Bowen Byram pushing for a spot after being selected fourth overall.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
NHL Announces 2019 Regular Season Schedule
We already learned the dates for the 2019 home openers, and now we have a full schedule for the 2019-20 NHL schedule. Things will kick off on October 2nd with four games including a match between the last two Stanley Cup winners. The St. Louis Blues will raise the first banner in franchise history with the Washington Capitals in town. The season is wrapped up on April 4th, 2020.
Notable breaks in the schedule are between December 24-26 for Christmas and January 23-26 for the All-Star festivities. There will also be several overseas games taking place at the beginning of the year as Chicago and Phildelphia face off in the Czech Republic while Buffalo and Tampa Bay play in Sweden. Outdoor games include a matchup between the Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets on October 26th, the Dallas Stars and Nashville Predators on New Year’s Day, and the Los Angels Kings and Colorado Avalanche on February 15th, 2020.
Adam Clendening Re-Signs With Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced a two-year contract extension for Adam Clendening, keeping him in the organization through the 2020-21 season. Both seasons will carry a $700K cap hit at the NHL level, though the deal will be a two-way contract in 2019-20 and a one-way deal the following year. Clendening was set to be a restricted free agent this summer for the final time.
Still just 26, Clendening seems to have been around the league forever thanks to a long list of transactions in his relatively short career. Originally selected by the Chicago Blackhawks 36th overall in 2011, he played another season at Boston University before jumping into the AHL with a bang. The offensively gifted defenseman recorded 46 and 59 points in his first two professional seasons, before cracking the NHL in 2014-15. Unfortunately for Clendening that debut in the NHL was followed quickly by the first of many address changes as he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in January of 2015.
Clendening would eventually find himself on the roster of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, Arizona Coyotes and finally the Blue Jackets over the next several seasons, never quite finding a home that he could settle into. This two-year deal will hopefully bring some stability to a career that always seemed on the brink of a breakout given the ease in which he can move the puck and rack up points on the powerplay. In 2018-19 Clendening recorded 37 points in 45 games with the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL, but found himself in the NHL playoff lineup more often than not for the Blue Jackets at the end of the year. While he may not be a full-time member of that NHL blue line moving forward, there’s no doubt he’ll see at least a little bit of time if the team’s depth is tested.
Ottawa Senators Re-Sign Cody Goloubef
The Ottawa Senators have re-signed defenseman Cody Goloubef to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay him $800K at the NHL level and $425K in the AHL. Goloubef was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, but will now remain with the team through the 2019-20 season.
Goloubef, 29, has experienced what it’s like to be a professional hockey journeyman the last few seasons, playing for seven different NHL or AHL teams since the start of the 2016-17 season. Last year he suited up 16 times for the Providence Bruins before a trade took him to Ottawa in early January in exchange for Paul Carey. With the Senators organization Goloubef still spent the majority of the time in the minor leagues, but got a taste at the NHL level and could be used as an injury replacement again next season.
While his 134 NHL games are something to be proud of, Goloubef received the opportunity of a lifetime when he suited up for Team Canada at the 2018 Olympics. With the NHL not participating, players like him were able to represent their country on the highest stage. Goloubef and Canada took home a bronze medal at the tournament, something he’ll never forget.
Brooks Orpik Announces Retirement
The Washington Capitals won’t be bringing Brooks Orpik back for another season. The veteran defenseman announced his retirement from professional hockey today, indicating that his body just couldn’t handle the grind of another NHL season.
I’ve been extremely lucky to have the best job in the world for many years, but my body is telling me it is time to move on to something new. I’m excited for more family time and to experience a lot of the things that being a professional athlete forces you to miss out on. Thank you to the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins for giving me the opportunity to play against the best athletes in the world. I’ll be forever grateful for the memories and relationships that hockey has given me.
Orpik, 38, was originally selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins 18th overall in a very different era of the NHL. The 6’3″ 217-lbs defenseman had registered just 10 points in 38 games that season for Boston College, but was a feared physical presence at even that young age. Not drafted for his offensive ability, Orpik nevertheless put up a pair of solid seasons at both ends of the rink for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to start his career before jumping onto the Pittsburgh roster and not looking back. In parts of 11 seasons with the Penguins, Orpik played 703 regular season games and registered 2,187 hits. Every opponent knew when he was on the ice, but sometimes couldn’t do anything to avoid getting run over.
In 2009, Orpik would win his first Stanley Cup with the Penguins, logging more than 20 minutes a night and registering 112 hits in just 24 games. An Olympic silver medal followed the year after, and a second NHL title years later with the Washington Capitals. “Batya” as the Capitals teammates called him, was an integral piece of their locker room and still a playoff warrior on the ice.
Orpik will finish his career with 1,035 regular season games, 194 points and 3,148 hits.
Philadelphia Flyers Trade Ryan Hartman
The Philadelphia Flyers have decided to move on from Ryan Hartman just a few months after acquiring him. The young forward is on his way to the Dallas Stars in exchange for Tyler Pitlick. Hartman is a restricted free agent this offseason, and was part of the deal that saw Wayne Simmonds head to the Nashville Predators at the trade deadline.
Hartman, 24, has now been part of four NHL organizations since being selected 30th overall in 2013. Reaching a career-high 19 goals and 31 points with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2016-17, he hasn’t been able to replicate that kind of production in Nashville or Philadelphia. In fact, Hartman recorded just 26 points total in his most recent season and didn’t find a great fit offensively with the Flyers. Still, his physical style still brings some potential to slide into the Stars’ top-nine and provide something that the team covets.
The fact that he is a restricted free agent shouldn’t be too much of an obstacle, but does likely mean that the Stars are taking on some salary in the deal. Pitlick was in the final season of a three-year deal that carries a $1MM cap hit, making him an affordable depth forward for the Flyers. Pitlick played 47 games for the Stars last season, recording 12 points but still providing a physical edge. The 27-year old has never been much of an offensive threat, recording a career-high 27 points in 2017-18.
While Hartman hasn’t lived up to his potential so far, this is quite a drop in value over the last few years. The Predators originally acquired him from the Blackhawks in 2018 in exchange for a package including Victor Ejdsell and a first-round pick, while he then landed them coveted deadline acquisition Simmonds a year later. While Pitlick will surely play for the Flyers, he doesn’t represent the kind of upside many believed Hartman to have just a few seasons ago.