Justin Schultz Returns To Penguins Practice
The Pittsburgh Penguins have been without one of their best puck-moving defensemen since early October. That’s when Justin Schultz was put on injured reserve with a broken leg, following his collision with Tomas Plekanec in a game against the Montreal Canadiens—so long ago that Plekanec is no longer even in the NHL. Schultz hasn’t skated with the team in a formal setting at all during the months that followed, that is until today when he joined his teammates on the ice for their morning skate. By no means does this indicate that Schultz will suit up for the Penguins tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning, in fact he may still be out a little while. But he’s getting closer, and head coach Mike Sullivan was clear how important this first on-ice session was:
It’s a big step. It suggests that he’s a whole lot closer, and the next step will be the contact part of the practices. We’re going to have some practices coming up over the next week, and we’re hopeful that we can get him to graduate into that step. That’s the last step before he gets into the lineup.
For the Penguins, getting Schultz back will be like making a huge trade deadline addition. It’s hard to overstate how important the right-handed defenseman has been when healthy for Pittsburgh since coming over from the Edmonton Oilers during the 2015-16 season. In 163 games, Schultz has recorded 90 points and is a +57, even garnering some Norris Trophy votes in 2017 for his work while Kris Letang dealt with injury. Once he gets back up to speed, the result will be felt throughout the entire defense corps as everyone will fall into more familiar positions.
Still, it also has some financial ramifications. Activating Schultz’ $5.5MM cap hit off long-term injured reserve will dramatically shrink what the Penguins have to work with at the deadline, even with their recent trade of Jamie Oleksiak to clear room on both the blue line and under the cap ceiling. While they won’t be pressed right up against it, they also won’t be able to take on a huge amount of salary at the deadline without moving someone else out. It just so happens that Derick Brassard has been rumored for months to be on his way out of Pittsburgh, but the team will have to be careful with who they target in return.
On the whole though, the idea of getting Schultz back before the deadline should be one of joy for Penguins fans. The offensive-minded defenseman should help an already lethal lineup score even more, as they try to climb back up the Metropolitan Division ladder—not to mention hold off the Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes who are nipping at their heels for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Michael Rasmussen Assigned To AHL
The Detroit Red Wings have placed young forward Michael Rasmussen on long-term injured reserve, and assigned him to the minor leagues on a conditioning loan. Rasmussen’s IR stint is retroactive to January 4th. Rasmussen has been dealing with a hamstring injury all month, and will likely need some time to get back up to game speed after returning to the ice.
In a lost season for the Red Wings, Rasmussen’s emergence has been a welcome sight. While he hasn’t put up the kind of offensive numbers some would hope for, the simple fact that he’s been a regular in the NHL before his twentieth birthday is a positive sign. Originally selected with the ninth overall pick in 2017, the 6’6″ forward could be a game-changing talent if everything breaks right for him over his career. The Red Wings hope time in the NHL will send him on that path, and let him grow into a core piece of their offensive attack.
Rasmussen will likely play just three games in the AHL before being recalled, and then try to put together a solid second half with the Red Wings. There could even be some increased opportunity if Detroit decides to move on from players like Gustav Nyquist.
Minnesota Wild, Eric Staal Have Not Held Extension Talks
In terms of rental centers that might be available at the deadline, most of the focus has been placed on just a few names. Matt Duchene, Kevin Hayes and Derick Brassard have been speculated on ad nauseam, but a new name may just enter the conversation before long. Eric Staal of the Minnesota Wild opened up to Michael Russo of The Athletic (subscription required) for a superb feature that examines how his play has been affected by the lack of contract talks this year, and how the veteran forward knows that the next few games might decide whether he is playing for the Wild or someone else after the deadline. The biggest takeaway from the piece is that Staal and the Wild have still had no conversations at all regarding a potential extension, despite him being in the final season of a bargain three-year contract and scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency on July 1st.
Though it’s obviously impossible to know just how much a team would pay up for Staal’s services down the stretch, Russo asked a few front office executives who all believed that the Wild would not be able to secure a first-round pick for the 34-year old center. Any asking price though is contingent on what the Wild do over the next few weeks, since they currently sit in third place in the Central Division and would be going to the playoffs if the season ended today. Like other teams over the last few years though, perhaps the Wild know that even if they do make the playoffs they’re not going to be able to navigate the field of powerhouses in the Western Conference. The team would be looking at a first-round matchup with the Nashville Predators at the moment, and getting through both Nashville and the Winnipeg Jets seems almost impossible at the moment.
This isn’t a situation exactly like Columbus, where the Blue Jackets must make a decision about whether holding onto Artemi Panarin through the deadline is worth it. Panarin’s potential return through trade would be enormous, and it seems less and less likely that he wants to re-sign with the Blue Jackets at the end of the season. Staal is open about his desire to stay in Minnesota if possible, and if the potential return is just say, a second-round pick, it’s hard to imagine Fenton slapping a for sale sticker on his first-line center.
Still, there’s a reason why Staal still found himself in our Top-20 Midseason UFA Power Rankings. The veteran center brings almost everything that a contender like the Jets, Boston Bruins or Pittsburgh Penguins would be looking for at the deadline, and should have several suitors chasing him in free agency if he reaches it. A recent resurgence has him with 36 points through 49 games this season, just after recording 42 goals and 76 points for the Wild in 2017-18. While a first-round pick at this exact moment may be out of reach, remember how the Bruins ended up paying a lofty price to secure another veteran goal scorer last season. Rick Nash cost Boston a first-round pick and prospect Ryan Lindgren, even if the Rangers did take some salary back in Ryan Spooner and Matt Beleskey. If an arms race does ramp up closer to the deadline, Staal might be the ticket to recouping some of the draft picks the Wild have sent packing over the last few seasons.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Winnipeg Jets Looking For Depth Forward
Though the Winnipeg Jets have been linked to nearly every potential free agent forward including the very best of the best, it might be a smaller move that gets things kicked off for the Western Conference contender. Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press reported yesterday that Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has been working to bring in an experienced depth forward in order to “give head coach Paul Maurice more options in his bottom six.” McIntyre notes that the Jets have too often become a three-line team, benching their fourth unit because Maurice can’t quite trust them.
That can be seen perhaps most notably in the ice time logs of a young player like Jack Roslovic, who until recently had been limited to fewer than ten minutes almost every night. In fact, Roslovic has played fewer than seven minutes in 14 of his 49 games this season, hardly giving the young forward a chance to contribute. While Roslovic has been given an opportunity to play a little more recently, there is obviously a balance issue on the Jets that could be addressed with adding some more experience down in the lineup.
While McIntyre and just about every other media member points out how the Jets could also use a legitimate second-line center for the stretch drive—the role that Paul Stastny filled last season after being acquired from the St. Louis Blues at the deadline—it’s an interesting note that Cheveldayoff seems more focused right now at adding down in the lineup.
Perhaps that is because the Jets believe more names will be put out onto the market in the coming weeks. The Ottawa Senators have seemingly not yet made Matt Duchene available in trade as they continue to try and sign him, and with Kevin Hayes recent comments about wanting to stay with the New York Rangers perhaps he’s not the ideal target. Other names like Mark Stone, Wayne Simmonds and Artemi Panarin are all in complicated situations and don’t fit into the Jets structure perfectly because of their position on the wing.
The Jets will no doubt make a move at some point in the next three and a half weeks, but it’s still not clear how much they want to give up this time around. Remember that Stastny cost them a first-round pick last season meaning they didn’t select until 60th overall, and the team is already without their 2019 third-rounder from an expansion draft trade. Even though Winnipeg has built one of the strongest pipelines of talent in the entire league, they’re not a team that can afford to throw away futures every year. Still, the team looks as dangerous as ever as the playoffs draw closer and Cheveldayoff will have to decide whether it’s worth taking another crack at a top rental to push them over the edge, or just settle for a bottom-six addition in the meantime.
Minor Transactions: 01/30/19
Just two games are on the schedule tonight but one is a battle between Eastern Conference contenders. The Tampa Bay Lightning will travel to Pittsburgh to take on All-Star MVP Sidney Crosby and the Penguins in a game that could have dire consequences for the home team. While the Penguins are never a team to write off, they now sit just two points ahead of Buffalo and four points ahead of Carolina for the final wild card spot. Tampa Bay will be a tough task if they want to get back on the winning track.
- Denis Gurianov has been recalled by the Dallas Stars, a move that takes them to the full 23 man roster once again. Dallas will take on the Sabres tonight and could have their young forward in the lineup. Gurianov has been lighting up the AHL this season and seems to have turned a corner in his development. The 21-year old is a big part of the future for the Stars, and should get amply opportunity down the stretch.
- Mike McKenna has been loaned to the minor leagues on a conditioning stint by the Philadelphia Flyers, a move that will save them from putting him on waivers for a little while longer. The Flyers will go with Carter Hart and Anthony Stolarz for the time being, with McKenna taking up residence with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
- Andrew Mangiapane is on his way back to the Calgary Flames, recalled today from the minor leagues. Mangiapane has played 13 games for the Flames this season, but is still looking for his first NHL goal.
- The Arizona Coyotes have recalled forward Michael Bunting from their AHL affiliate in Tuscon, the team announced. The 23-year-old scored a goal in his NHL debut earlier this season to kick off a four-game stint with the ‘Yotes, but has otherwise remained with the Roadrunners. He has made the most of his season though, earning an AHL All-Star nod with 26 points in 29 games.
- In a flurry of moves, the Vegas Golden Knights have swapped goaltenders and are prepared to give a young defenseman his first NHL start. The Knights announced that Oscar Dansk is on his way back to the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, with Maxime Lagace getting the call-up to replace sickness-struck backup Malcolm Subban. Lagace has yet to see any NHL action this year after making 16 appearances in Vegas’ inaugural season. Joining him for a possible debut of his own is defenseman Jake Bischoff, who could finally suit up for the Knights following an impressive campaign as a first-year pro last season.
Poll: Who Will The Los Angeles Kings Trade Next?
The Los Angeles Kings have realized they’re not going to compete for the Stanley Cup this season or any time soon with their current core, and have begun to move some pieces out in exchange for future assets. The first big move of that ilk was trading Jake Muzzin yesterday to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a package that included a first-round pick and two prospects. While some may argue that the Kings could have gotten more closer to the deadline, or that Muzzin should have been retained, the team has obviously made a decision to move forward with at least a partial rebuild.
So who else is on the move out of Los Angeles? Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar are still likely untouchable, be it because of their value to the franchise or their huge contracts or a combination of the two. But other core pieces like Jonathan Quick, Jeff Carter, Alec Martinez and Tyler Toffoli have all seen their names thrown around in trade speculation throughout the season. There have even been reports of the price it would take to get Martinez out of Los Angeles, and detailed examinations of how Carter could use retirement as a sort of no-trade clause.
There are other names like Carl Hagelin, Derek Forbort, Nate Thompson, Kyle Clifford and Trevor Lewis who will all see unrestricted free agency either this summer or next, making them potential short-term rentals for teams looking to upgrade. Each of those names has their share of red flags though that might end up limiting the return. Others like Dustin Brown, Dion Phaneuf and Ilya Kovalchuk have huge obstacles blocking the way of a trade, though there are always ways around those obstacles.
Who do you think will be moved out next? What will the return be? How long will Los Angeles wait before making another move? Cast your vote below and explain your reasoning in the comments.
Who will Los Angeles trade next?
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Tyler Toffoli 29% (420)
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Jeff Carter 21% (300)
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Alec Martinez 18% (263)
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Jonathan Quick 14% (200)
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Dion Phaneuf 6% (87)
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Dustin Brown 4% (54)
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Kyle Clifford 3% (48)
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Other 3% (48)
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Derek Forbort 1% (20)
Total votes: 1,440
[Mobile users click here to vote!]
Edmonton Oilers Sign Joel Persson To One-Year Extension
Last spring the Edmonton Oilers executed one of the more interesting transactions in recent history. The team signed Swedish defenseman Joel Persson to a one-year entry-level contract, but immediately assigned him back to the SHL for the 2018-19 season. The team was basically buying his rights moving forward, while leaving Persson to play for his regular team for the duration of the entry-level deal. The 24-year old would become a restricted free agent at the end of this season, but the Oilers would own his exclusive negotiating rights. Now the team has signed Persson to a one-year extension, and Cap Friendly reports the deal is worth $1MM. Despite having never played in the NHL, this contract is not limited by the entry-level salary restrictions.
Persson turned a lot of heads last season when he exploded onto the SHL scene with 34 points in 51 games. That was good enough for second among all defensemen only behind Lawrence Pilut, who then left for the Buffalo Sabres for 2018-19. With Pilut gone, Persson is now king in the SHL and is tied for the league lead among defensemen with 23 points through 36 games. His 19 assists rank sixth among any position.
There is a chance that the offensive defenseman could play some games for the Oilers this season, but an extension like this almost guarantees that he will see North American ice in 2019-20. Whether he can carve out a role on the powerplay with Edmonton is still to be seen, but the young defenseman has all the skills necessary to be a contributor with the man advantage.
The Oilers still have six other defensemen on one-way contracts for next season, but given the injury struggles of players like Andrej Sekera and performance issues by others like Brandon Manning and Matt Benning, there will certainly be an opportunity in Edmonton. Whether Persson is the answer to that won’t be known until he starts playing against NHL competition, but adding a 24-year old defensemen with plenty of offensive skill is never a bad idea. At worst, his cap hit would be completely buried in the minor leagues.
Austin Watson Suspended Indefinitely
Nashville Predators forward Austin Watson has been placed in Stage Two of the league’s Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program, and will be suspended indefinitely. The placement is “related exclusively to his ongoing issues with alcohol abuse.” The Predators have released a statement:
The Nashville Predators are saddened and disappointed for Austin Watson and his family as he enters the NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program for alcohol-related treatment. We are grateful for the NHL and NHLPA’s program and will cooperate in any way necessary as we continue to support Austin and his family as they go through this difficult time. Because of the personal nature of the Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program and our exclusive focus on Austin and his family’s well-being, there will be no further comment on this matter.
Watson already served an 18-game suspension earlier this season for a domestic violence arrest in the summer, one that was reduced from an original sentence of 27 games by a neutral arbitrator. It’s not apparent what has happened to force this second suspension, but the Predators are instantly without one of their most versatile forwards for the time being and perhaps the rest of the season.
After returning to the lineup on November 15th, Watson had collected seven goals and 13 points in 34 games while playing the most minutes of his short career. The big, physical forward had already collected 99 hits in those 34 games, which actually leads the Predators entire roster despite the missed time from suspension. For a team that is loading up for another long playoff run, losing a player of his nature is a tough blow.
It’s hard to know exactly what the outcome will be in this siutation. Joe Rexrode of the Tennessean believes that this is the end of Watson’s career in Nashville, and tells readers to simply root for the 27-year old’s survival at this point. Watson has one year remaining on his contract after this season, but there is no guarantee he ever suits up again for the Predators. For now, the team will support him and his family as they try to battle through the alcohol issues.
Blue Jackets Will Make “Hard Decision” With Regards To Artemi Panarin
The Columbus Blue Jackets were thrust back into the spotlight last night when Artemi Panarin‘s agent came out on Twitter to say that his client would not negotiate an extension before the end of the season. That has basically been Panarin’s stance since the beginning of last offseason, but to have it reiterated so close to the trade deadline has put even more pressure on a front office already facing some tough decisions. Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen didn’t run away from that speculation though, instead calling a press conference to speak with the media directly about the situation. The Athletic uploaded the entire presser, which starts out with a general explanation from Kekalainen:
We’ve said all along that we’re going to make hard decisions if we have to, but our focus is on getting our team better. Making it as competitive as possible for this spring but also into the future obviously. If we have to make a hard decision we will. We like Artemi and would like to keep him, but it’s his right to go to free agency and if he chooses to do so we’ll be knocking on his door July 1.
Obviously keeping Panarin around for the remainder of this season gives the Blue Jackets the best chance for playoff success, given the forward’s offensive impact every night. Panarin ranks seventh in league scoring since entering the NHL in 2015-16, and has actually performed even better in Columbus than he did in Chicago. His presence makes the Blue Jackets a tough out in any playoff series, but Kekalainen also wasn’t shy in telling reporters that the team is more than just a single player.
I’ve said it before. We love Artemi, but we had 108 points [the season] before he arrived here. We’re going to have a good team even if [Panarin and fellow UFA Sergei Bobrovsky] choose to go to the free agent market. We have some really good core players, we have more coming that aren’t even here yet. We’re going to be okay.
So understanding that Kekalainen believes in the team’s future, it does seem that he would be fine with keeping his free agents through the deadline if the right deal doesn’t present itself. He even mentioned that the team did just that last year, when Jack Johnson and Matt Calvert were both drawing interest. The Blue Jackets kept both and saw them walk in free agency, though neither would have brought back the kind of return that Panarin would if the team decided to sell. It’s just that there might not be a fit for Columbus that helps them this season. Kekalainen understands this, noting that most contenders who are in the market for rental forwards like Panarin are not willing to give up roster players. Instead, they are dealing in futures which isn’t what the Blue Jackets are necessarily interested in.
Columbus has handled the question of whether Panarin or Bobrovsky will re-sign extremely well, not allowing it to affect their on-ice performance so far this season. Even head coach John Tortorella spoke today about how well the two have handled their business, competing hard for the team all season long. Bobrovsky is set to get the start tonight against the Buffalo Sabres, while Panarin will be back on the ice doing what he does best. There’s now fewer than four weeks remaining before the trade deadline and at least the Blue Jackets now know exactly where their star forward stands. Now it’s up to other teams to offer a package that will make it a truly hard decision for Kekalainen.
2019 Midseason UFA Power Rankings: Best Of The Rest
With the halfway point of the season now behind us and the trade deadline fast approaching, the All-Star break seemed like the perfect time to take a preliminary look at the UFA Class of 2019. These rankings are based on votes from writers Gavin Lee, Brian La Rose, Zach Leach and Holger Stolzenberg. We ran the top-10 yesterday, and spots 11-20 a few days ago.
Today, we’ll look at those names that just missed the cut but will still be interesting options this summer. All of these players were included on at least one ballot, but did not accumulate enough points to crack the top 20.
Mats Zuccarello, New York Rangers — Included on two of the four ballots and sitting as high as 15th, Zuccarello would probably make it into the top-20 most years. Unfortunately he hasn’t really been able to take advantage of the increased opportunity in New York this season, recording just 24 points in 35 games through the first part of the year. The versatile forward has always been a reliable presence in the Rangers’ attack, but he hasn’t looked the part of a 20-goal scorer for several years and this year has just 13 even-strength points. A foot infection has come at the worst time for both player and team, as Zuccarello was working on a five-game point streak through the middle of January and was improving his trade stock greatly. A strong finish on a playoff contender could certainly help his free agent market.
Alex Edler, Vancouver Canucks — It’s hard to vote for Edler as a free agent, given how adamant both sides have been about the potential of the veteran defenseman ending his career in Vancouver. Still, he made it onto one ballot all the way up at #14 earning him a place on our honorable mentions. The oft-injured Edler has been good again this year when in the lineup, but is about to turn 33 and has been clear about his desire to stay with the Canucks. If they can’t find a middle ground, there will be teams hoping Edler can find a way to stave off his decline a few more years—look for a deal similar to the ones Ron Hainsey and Trevor Daley signed in 2017.
Robin Lehner, New York Islanders — 15-7-4, .931 save percentage and a 2.02 goals against average. Still only good enough to get Lehner onto a single ballot. The former Buffalo Sabres starter has turned heads this year, but given that he’s only played in 27 games there should still be plenty of doubt over whether he can handle the load. If Lehner continues to find success down the stretch and leads the Islanders back to the playoffs—and perhaps a series win—someone will find the room to make him a starting goaltender offer in the summer. Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello is notorious for finding a premiere goaltender to start as frequently as possible. Whether he believes Lehner can be that is still to be seen.
Derick Brassard, Pittsburgh Penguins — Hard to believe that last season Brassard was one of the most sought after assets at the trade deadline, and now can’t even get on more than a single ballot. A year in Pittsburgh has not been good for the veteran center, as he has recorded just 27 points in 66 games including a dismal performance in the playoffs. Brassard is obviously not a fit in Pittsburgh, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be interest in him should he reach free agency. The question is how many years is a team willing to offer for a player who will be 32 before the 2019-20 season begins and is likely coming off his worst season in the NHL.
Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings — On just a single ballot, Howard is another player overshadowed by the talent available at his position. A warrior for the Red Wings for parts of the last 13 seasons, it’s hard to imagine that a team will be willing to pay up for a 35-year old goaltender. Re-signing in Detroit as a part-time starter might make the most sense, especially since they obviously value him quite highly. Howard is still playing well enough to take a team to the playoffs, but betting he’ll be able to do that again going forward is a pretty risky gamble.
Anton Stralman, Tampa Bay Lightning — Overlooked for basically his whole career, Stralman was another who received just a single vote. Despite seeming like he’s been in the league for decades, the veteran defenseman won’t turn 33 until August and is still playing excellent hockey for the best team in the NHL. Sure, his game has slowed a bit since he was a 30+ point defenseman, but teams are always looking for right-handed depth on the blue line and Stralman brings over 100 games of playoff experience. If the Lightning can bring home a Stanley Cup it would only further cement his place as a viable free agent option for any contender.
Brandon Pirri, Vegas Golden Knights — It’s not often that a player who has spent much of the season in the minor leagues receives a vote as one of the top free agents, but Pirri has been an unusual case for his entire career. The simple fact is that he can flat out score, has shown by his eight goals and 13 points in 14 games for the Golden Knights this year. No one is going to be handing out a long-term big money deal, but Pirri has done enough work to improve his game away from the puck that there will be interest. That is, if the Golden Knights don’t extend him themselves.