Kevin Hayes Visits With Philadelphia Flyers
Since acquiring the exclusive negotiating rights of Kevin Hayes earlier this month, the Philadelphia Flyers have had some preliminary conversations with the pending free agent on a potential contract. Yesterday, Hayes actually met with the Flyers in person and according to Frank Seravalli of TSN was impressed with his visit. Still, Seravalli reports that Philadelphia “isn’t No. 1″ on the veteran center’s list, and notes that the Columbus Blue Jackets and Arizona Coyotes might be of interest.
Hayes, 27, was acquired from the Winnipeg Jets for a fifth-round pick in order to give Philadelphia a head start on contract negotiations. It’s not the first time that Hayes might be intrigued by the idea of free agency however, as he decided not to sign with the Chicago Blackhawks out of college despite the team spending a first-round selection on him in 2010. The Boston College alum decided to sign with the New York Rangers instead, and played the first four and a half seasons of his pro career there before a mid-season trade took him to Winnipeg in February.
There are plenty of reasons why the Flyers would be interested, given that Hayes is coming off his best offensive season. The 6’5” center recorded 54 points in 71 games, though failed to crack the 20-goal mark once again. He has done so in just one of his NHL seasons, something of a red flag for a team expecting him to contribute big numbers at even strength. Still, his size and two-way ability make him a desirable asset for pretty much anyone looking for depth down the middle, something Philadelphia could use if Claude Giroux is going to stay on the wing.
As one of the younger players available this summer, there will be no shortage of suitors for Hayes. The Blue Jackets would make sense if Matt Duchene departs in free agency, while the Coyotes have been trying to find consistent production at the center position for years. Both teams also have former teammates of Hayes from New York involved in some way. Derek Stepan is a leader in the Arizona locker room, while Rick Nash has been working with Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen for the last while.
Edmonton Oilers Extend AHL Coach Jay Woodcroft
Though there have been many changes since Ken Holland took over as Edmonton Oilers GM, one won’t be happening behind the minor league bench. The organization announced today that Jay Woodcroft has signed a three-year extension to remain head coach of the Bakersfield Condors.
Woodcroft took the Condors to a level that they had never seen before, setting a franchise record with 42 wins and getting to the Calder Cup playoffs for the first time. The group also completed an incredible 17-game winning streak in early 2019, tying the second longest streak in AHL history. Despite a long career as an assistant in the NHL, this was Woodcroft’s first head coaching job at the professional level.
Holland is familiar with Woodcroft from his days in Detroit, where he started his coaching career as a video assistant after retiring as a player in 2005. Todd McLellan was on that staff, and is someone Woodcroft has basically followed around the league since, spending more than a decade as his assistant in San Jose and Edmonton. That led to some speculation that he might be heading to Los Angeles to rejoin him, but after experiencing so much success with the Condors and being a positive influence on the development of Edmonton’s young players, it makes sense for Holland and the Oilers to keep him around.
Coaching Notes: Nelson, Snowden, Bales
The Anaheim Ducks are still without a head coach for the 2019-20 season, but we now know a little bit more about the search. Scott Sandelin interviewed for the job last week but instead took a long-term extension with his Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, and now The Athletic’s Eric Stephens (subscription required) is reporting that Todd Nelson will also be staying in his current job. Nelson is no longer in the running for the Ducks’ role, though Stephens actually includes a note about Sandelin not necessarily being completely out of the picture, even though it looks that way.
The final candidates now seem to be New York Islanders assistant Lane Lambert (UPDATE: Stephens is now reporting that Lambert is also no longer a candidate) and San Diego Gulls head coach Dallas Eakins, though Rick Bowness also may remain in the running. Eakins, the presumptive favorite after the Ducks fired Randy Carlyle, last coached in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers in 2015 but has compiled an impressive 154-95-23 record through four years with San Diego.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs minor league system has found a ton of success over the last few years, including a Kelly Cup championship this season for the Newfoundland Growlers. The Growlers only entered the ECHL this season, but went all the way and took home the title in their inaugural season. Why not then reward the man who led them there? The Maple Leafs today announced a two-year extension for head coach John Snowden, who took over for Ryane Clowe during the season when he was forced to resign due to medical issues.
- The Carolina Hurricanes will start a search for a new goaltending coach after Mike Bales resigned his position with the team. Bales had been with the organization for two seasons, but is now being linked to the Buffalo Sabres by Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. That would make sense, given that Bales served as goalie coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins while Buffalo GM Jason Botterill was still working there. The 47-year old Bales had a long professional playing career, including 23 appearances in the NHL.
New York Rangers Won’t Rule Out Buyouts
The New York Rangers are on their way to a quick rebuild, armed with a huge number of young talented players that should make an NHL impact as soon as this season. That’s why they’ve been connected to several top free agents, who could potentially propel them back into the playoffs right away. The question of whether they can afford said free agents has also been asked however, given some of the bad contracts still on the books for another few seasons. GM Jeff Gorton spoke about that with Larry Brooks of the New York Post about the team’s offseason, and admitted that they haven’t ruled out buying someone out this summer.
Brooks suggests two candidates for the process, Brendan Smith and Kevin Shattenkirk, who combined would save the Rangers more than $8MM in cap space this season if bought out. The first buyout window opens on Saturday, but another one will also open later in the summer as long as multiple restricted free agents file for arbitration (the Rangers currently have six players in the organization eligible to file). The scribe also notes that the team has found no interest on the trade market for either player, even offering to retain 50% of their remaining salary.
Smith, 27, has performed poorly since signing his four-year $17.4MM contract with the Rangers in 2017. He ended up clearing waivers and being sent to the minor leagues in 2017-18, and even suited up at forward several times this season just to get him into some game action. In 63 games during the 2018-19 season he recorded just 13 points.
Shattenkirk meanwhile was the prize of free agency in 2017, but ended up signing just a four-year $26.6MM deal in order to play for New York. That relatively short term looks like a brilliant decision by the Rangers now, given how far his game has fallen since the deal was inked. Once a premiere offensive defenseman that logged at least 40 points in five consecutive (full-length) seasons, Shattenkirk has seen his point production fall off and his playing time with it. He recorded just 28 points in 73 games this season and was a healthy scratch at times. While he still provides excellent possession numbers, it’s clear that head coach David Quinn can’t trust him enough in the defensive zone to give him the 22+ minutes a night he was once earning in St. Louis.
Even if they don’t go down the buyout road, the Rangers are in pretty good health financially when it comes to the salary cap. Only two players on the entire roster are signed for more than two seasons, and both—Brady Skjei and Mika Zibanejad—are young enough that a decline should not be expected during those deals. Nearly the entire forward core is on their last season under contract, meaning the team can structure their salary situation however they please over the next 12 months. If that includes going after a big name in free agency so be it, but it also could revolve around new deals for players like Chris Kreider, who will enter next season as a pending unrestricted free agent and top trade bait if the year starts without an extension.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Minnesota Wild Re-Sign Matt Bartkowski
The Minnesota Wild have re-signed veteran defenseman Matt Bartkowski to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay Bartkowski $700K at the NHL level.
The 31-year old Bartkowski was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, after spending nearly the entire year in the minor leagues. Through 70 games with the Iowa Wild he registered 19 points and was a valuable veteran to help the squad reach the Calder Cup playoffs for the first time in franchise history. That’s likely the role he’ll play next season as well, but the Wild will also welcome him as depth in case of injury.
Bartkowski is a product of hard work after being selected 190th overall in 2008, and has been rewarded with 255 NHL games over his career. Suiting up for the Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks, and Calgary Flames before joining the Wild, he has recorded 48 points in 255 games. Minnesota is in the midst of a culture change at the NHL level, but continuing their minor league success is an important part of developing the next wave of talent.
West Notes: Canucks, Wheat Kings, Perry
The Vancouver Canucks will not be signing Linus Karlsson or Toni Utunen this summer, according to Rick Dhaliwal of Sportsnet. Both prospects will stay in Europe for at least one more season to continue their development. Karlsson, acquired from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Jonathan Dahlen, was a third-round pick last June and spent this season in the Swedish second league, where he put up 18 points in 52 games. Utunen meanwhile played the season in Finland’s top league after being a fifth-round selection by the Canucks last year. Vancouver will retain both their exclusive draft rights.
Dhaliwal also notes that the team may re-sign restricted free agent Reid Boucher, but no decision has been made at this point. Boucher played just a single game with the Canucks last season, but was a force at the minor league level with 62 points in 56 games. The 25-year old is arbitration eligible however, meaning that if the team issues him a qualifying offer he could file and force a potential one-way deal. Boucher has 42 points through 133 NHL games.
- If you thought your job was complicated, imagine what it must be like for Kelly McCrimmon. The newly promoted Vegas Golden Knights GM is also still the owner of the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings, and today announced that the team will not be bringing back head coach David Anning. This comes after McCrimmon also relieved Wheat Kings’ GM Grant Armstrong of his duties last month, leaving huge gaps in management for next season. While his junior club is searching for a coach and GM, McCrimmon also has to navigate the upcoming NHL draft in which the Golden Knights hold five picks in the first three rounds.
- Darren Dreger was on TSN radio today discussing potential buyout candidates, and noted that Corey Perry will have a market around the league if he finds himself an unrestricted free agent suddenly later this month. Perry looks like he will be leaving the Anaheim Ducks one way or another this offseason, and Dreger suggests the Edmonton Oilers as a team that may kick the tires on him as a veteran leader to help Connor McDavid turn things around. Perry currently has two years remaining on his current contract that carries a $8.625MM cap hit, but could be an attractive option at a much lower number if he happens to be bought out.
Oilers Notes: Gretzky, Hawkey, Samorukov
The Edmonton Oilers have decided to retain Keith Gretzky despite not giving him the job as general manager. The team announced today that Gretzky will remain with the organization as an assistant GM, taking over control of the Bakersfield Condors. Gretzky served as interim GM for the Oilers when Peter Chiarelli was fired, and was a finalist for the job before it eventually went to Ken Holland.
Gretzky, 52, has been with the Oilers since 2016 when he came over from the Boston Bruins, but has long been a respected scout in the NHL. His plan is likely still in place for the upcoming draft, given Holland’s relative inexperience with the Edmonton organization, though it will obviously be tweaked by the former Detroit boss. More notes on the Oilers:
- Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal reports that the Oilers won’t sign Hayden Hawkey given their numurous goaltending prospects already in the system. Hawkey was acquired from the Montreal Canadiens last summer in exchange for a fifth-round pick, but returned to Providence College for his senior season. The 24-year old posted a .921 save percentage for Providence this season and will become an unrestricted free agent in August. The Oilers, with Shane Starrett, Dylan Wells and Stuart Skinner already under contract, likely didn’t have a place for Hawkey to play next season and thus not much to offer him in terms of opportunity.
- Matheson also tweets that the Oilers are excited about third-round pick Dmitri Samorukov, and quotes Gretzky who believes that the young defenseman will be on a second pair in the NHL one day. Still just 19, Samorukov had an incredible playoffs with the Guelph Storm of the OHL, recording 28 points in 24 games and being a driving force in their Memorial Cup run. The team signed Samorukov to his entry-level deal way back in 2017, but it slid twice and will now run through the 2021-22 season.
Edmonton Oilers Re-Sign Patrick Russell
The Edmonton Oilers are bringing back a pending free agent, signing Patrick Russell to a one-year contract for 2019-20. Russell was scheduled to become a Group VI unrestricted free agent this summer after failing to play in 80 NHL games through his first three professional seasons.
Russell, 26, was signed out of St. Cloud State back in 2016 after impressing through his two seasons there. The Danish forward has then kept working hard to develop his game in the minor leagues, reaching a new career high in points with 40 this season for the Bakersfield Condors. That was enough to earn him a taste of NHL action, which unfortunately ended with zero points through six games. Still, his work ethic and development has been noticed by the team enough for them to extend him a new contract, one that may come with some more NHL playing time.
The Oilers are starved for consistent offensive production at the wing, and though Russell hasn’t yet produced at the highest level he does come with a scoring pedigree. The fact that he turned in a +30 season for the Condors also won’t be overlooked, though part of that is simply playing on a much improved squad. If he can carve himself out a role on the NHL squad at training camp perhaps he can prove that he is more than just a minor league scoring threat.
Spencer Foo Heading To KHL
One of the prizes of college free agency in 2017 was Spencer Foo, who had just finished putting up 62 points in 38 games for Union College as a junior and appeared ready to take his talents to the NHL. The Calgary Flames eventually landed Foo, who inked a two-year entry-level deal and jumped right into professional hockey with plenty of success. The Edmonton native has played 129 regular season games for the AHL Stockton Heat over the past two seasons, recording 37 goals and 77 points during that time. He’s also chipped in two goals in four NHL appearances with the Flames, but it doesn’t look like he’ll get another chance anytime soon.
Foo has agreed to a contract with Kunlun Red Star of the KHL according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, who notes that it would give the young forward a chance to play for China at the 2022 Olympics where they will be part of the tournament as host nation. The 25-year old was scheduled to become a restricted free agent this summer, and while the Flames can retain his negotiating rights temporarily with a qualifying offer, they would expire before his KHL contract does.
Phil Kessel Trade Now Unlikely, Says Pittsburgh GM
The Pittsburgh Penguins tried to trade Phil Kessel last month to the Minnesota Wild, but after the enigmatic forward wouldn’t waive his no-trade clause the deal fell apart. Now, in conversation with The Athletic’s Josh Yohe (subscription required), Penguins GM Jim Rutherford admits that Kessel will likely play for Pittsburgh next season.
Kessel, 31, has three years remaining on his contract with the Penguins but holds a no-trade clause that limits the teams he can be sent to. In fact, Kessel submits a list of just eight teams he would accept trades to, and given his history in certain markets that likely leaves only a few real options for Rutherford. With such a huge leverage advantage, it’s easy to see why the Penguins GM is resigned to having his star forward remain next year. There was no use in trading him without getting something in return, as even with his ‘problem child’ persona—tenuous as that moniker may be.
Kessel is after all an incredible offensive weapon even as he enters his thirties. He recorded 82 points in 82 games last season, and now has 823 for his career through 996 regular season games. That huge total of games played comes from the face that he has now not missed a single game in nine consecutive seasons, consistency that is also valuable to a team looking to contend for the Stanley Cup.
Still, Rutherford has been clear that he intends on shaking things up in Pittsburgh this summer. While he has backed off his earlier comments about Evgeni Malkin potentially not being a core piece any longer—Rutherford tells Yohe that he “knew [Malkin] was going to be part of this team going forward”—there is still real change brewing for the team. Kessel’s nixed trade proves that, but the veteran GM will need to find another way to clear cap space and give his club a different look next season.