Minor Transactions: 01/22/19
The bye weeks have started and because of it there are just five games on the schedule for tonight in the NHL. The best of those may be a potential Stanley Cup preview between the San Jose Sharks and Washington Capitals, two teams in clear “win-now” modes. The Capitals have recently lost their grip on the Metropolitan Division and will need to break a five-game losing streak if they’re to get back on top.
- The Florida Panthers have sent Jayce Hawryluk, Josh Brown and Ian McCoshen to the minor leagues while they’re on break, in order to get the young players even more playing time. Sending those three down will also save some money given they are all on two-way contracts.
- Similarly the Los Angeles Kings have sent Austin Wagner and Sean Walker to the minors over their break, saving a bit of cash and keeping them on the ice. The Kings likely don’t want to stop playing as they’ve turned things around a bit of late, climbing out of the basement of the league standings and giving their fans a respectable product to watch. The Kings now sit 27th in the league with 44 points.
- After clearing waivers today the Ottawa Senators have sent Justin Falk to the minor leagues. Falk hasn’t played since before Christmas, meaning he’ll get into some games at the AHL level before potentially returning to the Senators.
- The Anaheim Ducks have recalled Adam Cracknell from the San Diego Gulls after the veteran forward has scored seven goals and 13 points in 13 games. Cracknell was acquired from Toronto earlier this season and has always been a strong offensive player in the minor leagues.
Edmonton Oilers Sign Mikko Koskinen To Three-Year Extension
The Edmonton Oilers have already made three transactions earlier today by waiving Ty Rattie and Ryan Spooner while assigning Caleb Jones to the minors, and are close to a third according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. The Oilers are close to signing goaltender Mikko Koskinen to a three-year extension worth $4.5MM per season reports Friedman. Chris Johnston of Sportsnet added the yearly breakdown while also reporting that the contract includes a limited no-trade clause.
- 2019-20: $5.2MM
- 2020-21: $3.3MM + $500K signing bonus
- 2021-22: $4.5MM
Koskinen, 30, came back to the NHL this season after the better part of a decade overseas playing in Finland and Russia, and has given the team some relatively good goaltending throughout the season. The huge, 6’7″ netminder has posted a .911 save percentage through 27 games this season and has gone 14-10-1 in those matches. That kind of production was certainly enough to consider giving him an extension, but there are plenty of red flags in this deal as well.
For one, this almost certainly means the end of Cam Talbot‘s tenure in Edmonton unless the veteran goaltender is willing to sign an inexpensive contract extension. The team already had almost $70MM committed to their roster for next season with definite upgrades that need to happen at the forward position. While Koskinen has outplayed Talbot this season, essentially handing over the starting position to a goaltender with just 31 NHL starts under his belt is a risk. Perhaps the team can find another goaltender to form a solid tandem, but Koskinen will need to carry the majority of the load for this team moving forward.
Relying on him might be tough to do given his recent performance. While Koskinen started the season on fire, his play over the last month has gone downhill with the rest of the team performance. The big goaltender has posted an .877 save percentage in his last ten games, making the timing of this extension at least questionable—though they had probably been working on it for some time.
At the very least, the Oilers will go into the offseason with a bit of cost certainty at the position. For a team that will obviously have to make changes in order to compete for the Stanley Cup while Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are in their prime and under contract, knowing exactly how much you can spend in free agency is a positive measure. With an improved team perhaps Koskinen’s play will bounce back and make this extension look like a genius stroke in a year’s time.
Minor Transactions: 01/21/19
The NHL has just four games on the schedule for today as bye weeks are about to start, including an afternoon matchup between the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche are trying desperately to stay within striking distance of the Predators in the Central Division, something that seems to be slipping away even as Nashville goes through some struggles of their own. As those teams and the rest of the league prepare for some time off for the All-Star break, we’ll keep track of all the minor moves.
- The Los Angeles Kings have returned Matt Luff to the Ontario Reign, given that today is their last game until February 2nd. Luff has ten points in 30 games for the Kings this season, but can spend the break playing big minutes for the Reign and continuing his offensive explosion at the minor league level.
- The Edmonton Oilers similarly have just a single game left before the break, meaning they can send Caleb Jones down to get some more playing time in the minor leagues. Jones has shown himself to be a capable NHL player this season, recording six points in 17 games for the Oilers and logging big minutes of late. He’ll almost assuredly be back up at some point, though several injured defensemen are set to return shortly meaning his minor league stint may be longer than expected.
Jack Hughes, Kaapo Kakko Lead Central Scouting Mid-Season Lists
With the 2018-19 NHL season more than half over, the league’s Central Scouting Bureau has released their rankings of the best draft-eligible prospects from around the world. These players are eligible to be selected in just a few months at July’s draft in Vancouver, and two familiar names lead the way. Central Scouting breaks their lists into the top North American and International skaters and goaltenders, not directly comparing the groups. The top names from each are as follows:
- C Jack Hughes, USA National Team Development Program
- C Kirby Dach, Saskatoon Blades, WHL
- C Dylan Cozens, Lethbridge Hurricanes, WHL
- D Bowen Byram, Vancouver Giants, WHL
- C Alex Turcotte, USA National Team Development Program
- RW Kaapo Kakko, TPS, Finland (Liiga)
- RW Vasili Podkolzin, SKA St. Petersburg, Russia (MHL)
- D Philip Broberg, AIK, Sweden (Allsvenskan)
- C Ilya Nikolaev, Yaroslavl, Russia (MHL)
- D Victor Soderstrom, Brynas, Sweden (SHL)
- Spencer Knight, USA National Team Development Program
- Hunter Jones, Peterborough Petes, OHL
- Mads Sogaard, Medicine Hat Tigers, WHL
- Pyotr Kochetkov, Ryazan, Russia (MHL)
- Samuel Hlavaj, Slovakia U20, Slovakia*
- Hugo Alnefelt, HV71, Sweden (Jr.)
Hlavaj recently joined the Lincoln Stars of the USHL.
Columbus Blue Jackets Hire Martin St. Louis
The Columbus Blue Jackets have struggled on the powerplay for several years now, so head coach John Tortorella has called up an old friend for help. The Blue Jackets have hired Hall of Fame forward Martin St. Louis as a special teams consultant. Tortorella explained why the team has brought in his old captain:
Marty St. Louis made himself into a Hall of Fame player through sheer determination, hard work and a great understanding of how to play the game the right way. We’re still developing his role, but he has so much knowledge about our game and what it takes to be successful, both individually and within the team concept, that he’ll be a great asset to our players.
St. Louis, the poster boy for overlooked and undersized forwards, certainly knows what it takes to make a good special teams player. He recorded 101 goals and 216 assists with the man advantage during his long career, and added an incredible 29 short-handed goals. The 11-time Lady Byng finalist also took only 310 penalty minutes in his entire 1,134 game career, meaning he was almost never the man unavailable in special teams situations.
Tortorella in the past has explained that St. Louis always had questions on how to do something better, or more efficiently and suggested at the Hall of Fame ceremony that there was a future in coaching if he wanted it. That journey has started today, though it’s not clear exactly where St. Louis will take this new career path.
Teuvo Teravainen Signs Five-Year Extension
The Carolina Hurricanes have locked up one of their most consistent offensive performers, signing Teuvo Teravainen to a five-year extension. The deal will carry an average annual value of $5.4MM and keep Teravainen from reaching free agency until after the 2023-24 season. The 24-year old forward was scheduled to become a restricted free agent this summer. Carolina GM Don Waddell released a statement about the signing:
Teuvo has improved every year of his NHL career and has established himself as a cornerstone forward for the Hurricanes now and into the future. He has shown that he is capable of adapting and expanding his role with our team, becoming a key penalty killer for Rod [Brind’amour] this season. He’s still just 24 years old and we believe he will only continue to grow as a player.
Teravainen was acquired by the Hurricanes in a 2016 transaction that used their cap space as an asset, taking on Bryan Bickell‘s contract from the Chicago Blackhawks alongside the young forward. In his first season in Carolina the part-time center recorded 15 goals and 42 points, but really broke out in 2017-18 when he was moved to the wing. Teravainen finished with 64 points last season, just one behind Sebastian Aho for the team lead. That kind of production, when added to the 39-point season he’s working on so far in 2018-19, made him a prime candidate for a long-term extension in Carolina.
This extension buys out just two years of unrestricted free agency, allowing the Hurricanes to keep the cap hit relatively low while still locking Teravainen up through his prime. His contract actually compares directly to one that the Hurricanes just acquired in Nino Niederreiter, who signed a very similar five-year contract in 2017 that carries a $5.25MM cap hit. Those two project to be Carolina’s top earning forwards next season, at least until Sebastian Aho signs his next deal which will likely also be of the long-term variety.
Carolina is trying to build a forward core that can stay and grow together over the next few years, and there was little doubt that Teravainen would be a part of that. Getting his deal done early also signals to the rest of their group that they’re willing to hand out reasonable long-term deals, something that was in question after failing to get anything done with Elias Lindholm before trading him out of town. Next on the agenda could be Micheal Ferland, who is a pending unrestricted free agent and top trade chip, but one the Hurricanes have indicated they would like to re-sign if possible.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Andreas Johnsson Out With Concussion
If you were a team holding onto a defensive asset hoping the Toronto Maple Leafs would come calling at the trade deadline, one of your biggest targets may have just been knocked out of the lineup. Andreas Johnsson, one of the Maple Leafs’ young forwards that has speculated as a potential trade chip this season has been ruled out of Wednesday’s action with a concussion suffered in last night’s game against the Arizona Coyotes. Johnsson was hit by Niklas Hjalmarsson in the corner and did not return to the game.
Johnsson, 24, is in his first full season in the NHL after winning the Calder Cup playoff MVP last year. The Swedish forward has 22 points in 43 games while bouncing up and down the lineup, seeing time beside Auston Matthews of late. TSN’s Frank Seravalli had recently listed Johnsson at #24 on his Trade Bait board, just behind fellow Maple Leafs forward Kasperi Kapanen. Both players are pending restricted free agents and could be cut loose given Toronto’s upcoming cap crunch.
For now though, the Maple Leafs will have to operate without Johnsson in the lineup and find out a way to get back on the right track. The team has lost four of five games and is loosening their grasp on the second spot in the Atlantic Division. If that sparks action in the front office, it’s unclear whether they would be able to get full value for Johnsson now that he is out indefinitely with the second reported concussion of his North American career.
Brian Flynn Clears Unconditional Waivers
Saturday: Flynn has cleared waivers. The Rampage announced (Twitter link) that St. Louis has terminated his contract at Flynn’s request.
Friday: According to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, former NHL forward Brian Flynn has been placed on unconditional waivers by the St. Louis Blues with the intention of terminating his contract. Flynn has spent the season with the San Antonio Rampage, but would be able to pursue other opportunities should the process go forward without any problems.
It’s been quite a while since Flynn saw the NHL, last suiting up for one playoff game in 2017 for the Montreal Canadiens. After spending all of last year with the Texas Stars, the 30-year old signed a one-year two-way contract with the Blues on July 1st. He was likely meant to give the Rampage a veteran hand up front, but has recorded just a single goal in 21 games.
If Flynn does see his contract terminated he could sign elsewhere around the league or go overseas in search of work. The undrafted forward out of the University of Maine played 275 career regular season games in the NHL, scoring 27 times and recording 61 points.
Poll: Where Will Derick Brassard Finish The Season?
This week’s player of choice in the NHL rumor mill appears to be Derick Brassard, who had seen fewer than 13 minutes of ice time in consecutive games before getting a little more time on Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks. Brassard recorded a goal in that game to give him eight on the year and a total of just 14 points in 37 games heading into tonight’s action. That kind of production just hasn’t been enough for the Penguins, who have seemingly made it known to every publication in Pittsburgh about his availability. Perhaps Tuesday’s deployment was a showcase of sort, given the news today that the Sharks have inquired on Brassard at some point.
It’s not just the Sharks that will be interested though, if Penguins GM Jim Rutherford decides to sell Brassard. When the Ottawa Senators decided to make the veteran center available last season, Pittsburgh had to beat out several teams including the Columbus Blue Jackets, St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets for his services, eventually involving a third team to make the salaries work. It cost them a hefty price in terms of draft picks and goaltending prospect Filip Gustavsson, meaning there must have been other substantial offers on the table.
So where will Brassard end up this season? It’s hard to imagine the Penguins would give him up for prospects or picks without enough time to flip those assets, given they intend on competing for the Stanley Cup this season. If a deal like that happens it would likely have to occur with time to get in another deal before the deadline, meaning we could get an answer on Brassard sooner than other potential deadline deals—not to mention Rutherford’s propensity to get his shopping done ahead of time. If he can’t get a deal he likes, perhaps there’s still even reason to keep Brassard for a run and hope he can find his game in the playoffs.
Where do you think he’ll end the year, and what will he bring back if traded? Cast your vote below and make sure to explain your choice in the comment section.
Where will Derick Brassard finish the season?
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Pittsburgh Penguins 13% (151)
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Winnipeg Jets 13% (147)
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San Jose Sharks 12% (130)
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Columbus Blue Jackets 8% (85)
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Dallas Stars 5% (54)
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Vegas Golden Knights 5% (52)
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Carolina Hurricanes 4% (44)
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Edmonton Oilers 3% (38)
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Boston Bruins 3% (35)
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St. Louis Blues 3% (33)
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Colorado Avalanche 2% (27)
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Nashville Predators 2% (27)
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New York Rangers 2% (27)
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Calgary Flames 2% (25)
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Anaheim Ducks 2% (24)
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Montreal Canadiens 2% (24)
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Buffalo Sabres 2% (23)
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Toronto Maple Leafs 2% (22)
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Minnesota Wild 2% (21)
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New York Islanders 2% (19)
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Philadelphia Flyers 1% (16)
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Los Angeles Kings 1% (14)
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Chicago Blackhawks 1% (12)
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Detroit Red Wings 1% (12)
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Florida Panthers 1% (12)
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Arizona Coyotes 1% (11)
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Ottawa Senators 1% (10)
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Vancouver Canucks 1% (9)
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Washington Capitals 1% (7)
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New Jersey Devils 1% (6)
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Tampa Bay Lightning 1% (6)
Total votes: 1,123
[Mobile users click here to vote]
San Jose Sharks Have “Checked In” On Derick Brassard
The Western Conference is ripe for a trade deadline arms race given the tight races at both the very top of the standings and playoff bubble, and Eastern Conference teams have a lot to sell. One of those assets for sale is Pittsburgh Penguins forward Derick Brassard, who hasn’t been a fit since he arrived and is almost surely to be sent out of town in the next few weeks. It isn’t clear where the veteran center will be headed, but Elliotte Friedman did suggest on Sportsnet radio today that the San Jose Sharks have “checked in” on Brassard. Friedman notes that the Sharks will be looking for an addition that can play in the middle of the ice.
It hasn’t been a secret that the Sharks will be active at the deadline once again. Earlier this month GM Doug Wilson indicated that he would be open to pursuing rentals again even after sending so many assets out to acquire Evander Kane and Erik Karlsson over the last year. The Sharks sit in second place in the Pacific Division but should already be considered a Stanley Cup contender, something that they might not be able to say a few years down the road.
If there is any team that could see their core group deteriorate quickly it might be San Jose. The team is currently relying on players like Joe Pavelski (34 years old) and Joe Thornton (39) up front, while already giving out long-term deals to Brent Burns (33) and Marc-Edouard Vlasic (31). While those players may be primed for a Cup run this season, three years from now the Sharks might be a very different animal. That’s not to say the team will definitely decline, but the front office has obviously realized that this could be their best chance to win and will do everything they can to compete this season.
Brassard meanwhile cost the Penguins quite a bit last season and won’t be given away for free this time around. Even if Pittsburgh GM Jim Rutherford knows he is going to send the pending free agent somewhere, he can easily wait for that arms race to kick up a notch before pulling the trigger. While Brassard hasn’t fit well in Pittsburgh, he’s still a very talented player that can be relied on for some secondary scoring. In a different fit he could be quite productive, and there will be several interested buyers at the deadline.
It’s there where the Sharks may find themselves at a disadvantage. The team does not own a first-round pick for the next two consecutive drafts thanks to the Kane and Karlsson trades, and also rid themselves of good young prospects like Josh Norris and Rudolfs Balcers. There are still a few bullets left in the chamber, but it will be tough to outbid teams like the Vegas Golden Knights and Winnipeg Jets if it comes to that.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images