Patric Hornqvist Suffers Concussion
As if Patric Hornqvist hadn’t already had enough bad injury luck, he is now out with another concussion according to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Hornqvist was hit by a puck in Tuesday’s game against the Florida Panthers, a match that also forced Zach Aston-Reese out of the lineup with an upper-body injury. Mackey reports that Aston-Reese will be out “longer term.”
Hornqvist has already missed time earlier this season with a concussion, but has been extremely effective for the Penguins when in the lineup. The tenacious, physical forward has 15 goals and 26 points in 34 games, which would put him on pace for the best season of his career if he had been able to play in all 82 games. Unfortunately that isn’t going to happen, and it’s not clear how long he’ll now be out. Mackey notes on Twitter that this is Hornqvist’s fifth concussion since December 2014.
The Penguins do have some time off coming up later this month, when they’ll go eight full days between games thanks in part to the All-Star break. That time will hopefully help their forward group get healthy, and ready for a second half run to put them back in Stanley Cup contention. After starting the season slowly, the Penguins are 9-1 in their last ten and have climbed within just two points of the Washington Capitals for first place in the Metropolitan Division. It’s not only Hornqvist and Aston-Reese getting them there, but having those two healthy and in the lineup gives them a dimension that few others can.
Alec Martinez Activated From Injured Reserve
The Los Angeles Kings will have one of their normal defenders back on the ice tonight after a month absence, one that very well could be moved before the February trade deadline. Alec Martinez has been activated from injured reserve and will play in his first game since December 8th while his name is continually bandied about in trade speculation.
Martinez, 31, has 11 points in 30 games this season has proved over the years to be one of the most reliable defenders in Los Angeles. That reliability is extremely attractive when paired with a reasonable $4MM cap hit for the next two seasons, and should draw plenty of interest over the next six weeks. Craig Custance of The Athletic (subscription required) recently listed Martinez on his trade bait board, reporting that the expected asking price for Martinez is a second-round pick and a good prospect. The Kings are heading into a quick retool mode and need to get some youth and speed into the lineup, including opening up some minutes on the back end.
Eating up those tough minutes is what Martinez is known for, once again being a part of the Kings penalty killing group and starting a good amount of his shifts in the defensive end. To get any sort of return at the deadline though, Martinez will need to prove he’s healthy enough to contribute down the stretch and get back to logging 20+ minutes a game, a threshold he had failed to crack for the four games before being taken out of the lineup due to injury. Any team willing to part with a good prospect and high draft pick will be expecting top-four contributions, something he’ll have to prove he can still provide.
Poll: Where Will Sergei Bobrovsky Finish The Season?
It seems every day there is a new name dominating the headlines around the NHL as we approach the February 25th trade deadline, and today that name is Sergei Bobrovsky. The veteran goaltender will not dress for the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight after an incident took place which “failed to meet expectations and values” of the club. Though a spokesperson for the team originally said the goaltender was expected back at practice on Friday night, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic (subscription required) did a bit more digging and found out that GM Jarmo Kekalainen will have a meeting with Bobrovsky first to determine the next step.
No matter how that meeting goes, there is a bigger question than when Bobrovsky will return to practice—will he be with the team at the end of the season? The 30-year old goaltender will become an unrestricted free agent after the 2018-19 season if he and the Blue Jackets don’t come to an extension, something that seemed extremely unlikely even before this latest incident. Now the team must decide whether they even want to keep him past the trade deadline and put him out there for a playoff run, or cash in to get whatever assets they can from a contender looking for an upgrade in net.
It’s clear that even if Bobrovsky is mired in one of the worst seasons of his career that he would still be an upgrade for many potential contenders. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner hasn’t completely lost his game and is still at an age where goaltenders can usually find success. Even his .906 save percentage is still better than names like Martin Jones, Philipp Grubauer, Jake Allen, Cam Talbot and Mike Smith, all expected to be front line starters at the beginning of the season for their respective clubs. There’s little doubt there would be some interest if Bobrovsky was made available.
The problem is that it’s not necessarily even Kekalainen’s decision. When we asked a similar question yesterday regarding pending UFA forward Wayne Simmonds, less than seven percent of votes believed he would finish the year with Philadelphia. After all, Simmonds has limited no-trade protection (names 12 teams he will not go to) and a struggling team. But Bobrovsky is a different situation not only because of the strength of the Blue Jackets, but also the full no-movement clause he holds. If he doesn’t want to go to another team there is no way the team could force it, meaning he also would have a big say in where he ended up.
So where will his season end? Does Bobrovsky get another chance to lead the Blue Jackets back to the playoffs, a place where he has traditionally struggled? Or will a contending team blame the rest of the Columbus organization for failing to win a single playoff series and acquire the veteran goaltender to take that next step in a different uniform? Cast your vote below and explain your reasoning in the comments.
Where will Sergei Bobrovsky finish the 2018-19 season?
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Columbus Blue Jackets 15% (175)
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Philadelphia Flyers 12% (140)
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St. Louis Blues 10% (116)
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Calgary Flames 9% (100)
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San Jose Sharks 7% (84)
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Colorado Avalanche 6% (68)
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Edmonton Oilers 6% (65)
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New York Islanders 6% (63)
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Florida Panthers 4% (43)
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Toronto Maple Leafs 4% (40)
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Chicago Blackhawks 3% (36)
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Carolina Hurricanes 2% (28)
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New Jersey Devils 2% (18)
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Pittsburgh Penguins 1% (15)
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Winnipeg Jets 1% (15)
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Minnesota Wild 1% (14)
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Ottawa Senators 1% (14)
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Buffalo Sabres 1% (12)
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Vancouver Canucks 1% (12)
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Arizona Coyotes 1% (10)
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Los Angeles Kings 1% (10)
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Boston Bruins 1% (9)
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Washington Capitals 1% (9)
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Detroit Red Wings 1% (8)
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Montreal Canadiens 1% (7)
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Dallas Stars 1% (6)
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Anaheim Ducks 0% (5)
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New York Rangers 0% (5)
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Tampa Bay Lightning 0% (5)
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Vegas Golden Knights 0% (5)
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Nashville Predators 0% (2)
Total votes: 1,139
[Mobile users click here to vote]
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Mackenzie Blackwood Moved To Injured Reserve
The New Jersey Devils have moved impressive young goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood to injured reserve, retroactive to January 2nd. Kevin Rooney has been recalled to take the roster spot, but Blackwood will be eligible to return on Saturday if fully healthy.
That means that the Devils will be going with Keith Kinkaid again tonight as they take on the Toronto Maple Leafs, a tough ask of any goaltender this season. Kinkaid has struggled since getting back into the net last week, recording an .870 save percentage since Blackwood’s injury. That injury happened last Friday against the Arizona Coyotes, and though it is not considered serious is a tough break for such a young and promising career.
Blackwood, 22, was originally selected in the second round of the 2015 draft as the second goalie off the board. His NHL career got off to a shaky start against those very same Maple Leafs when he allowed two goals on ten shots in a relief effort in mid-December. Since then though the goaltender has been almost unbeatable, stopping 190 of 199 shots and recording two shutouts. With Cory Schneider‘s future unclear due to injury and inconsistency, Blackwood looks just about ready to take over for the Devils full-time.
Kinkaid meanwhile is a pending free agent who is playing for his NHL future, something that seems far less certain after his recent struggles. The backup goaltender has had the opportunity to steal the starting job in New Jersey over the past few seasons, but will probably have to look for a new home this summer if Schneider can find any semblance of health. A strong run in any opportunity he does get will go a long way to landing Kinkaid that next gig, whether in New Jersey or elsewhere.
Tampa Bay Lightning Trying To Trade Slater Koekkoek
Though there were certainly more exciting headlines generated by Elliotte Friedman’s latest 31 Thoughts column for Sportsnet—including that Carolina and Micheal Ferland are still not close on a contract extension—Tampa Bay Lightning fans likely focused in on one nugget in particular. Friedman reports that the Lightning are working to find a “new home” for Slater Koekkoek, who is currently with the Syracuse Crunch on a conditioning stint.
It’s been several years of disappointment for Koekkoek, who was selected 10th overall in 2012 as a do-it-all defenseman that could potentially grow into a nice complement behind Victor Hedman in Tampa Bay. Though his minor league career got off to a very solid start in 2014, Koekkoek has played just 85 NHL games to date and regularly found himself sitting on the bench late in games even when he was dressed. With the addition of Ryan McDonagh and Mikhail Sergachev as additional left-handed options the future seems bleak for Koekkoek even if he could stay healthy.
Just finding a new home could be quite difficult. Though Koekkoek carries just an $865K cap hit this season, he’s waiver eligible and a restricted free agent with arbitration rights in the summer. Nothing he’s done so far in his NHL career has shown that he would be even worth a qualifying offer given the risk of arbitration, meaning teams aren’t going to want to give up a lot to get him. If Tampa Bay is truly set on moving him it would likely be more of a “fresh start” trade that brings back very little, a tough ending for an organization who has invested a high pick and several years of development.
There could very well be another benefit for the Lightning though, given that they currently sit just under the 50-contract limit. With 49 players under contract in the organization, they will be limited at the trade deadline and at the end of the college season. That alone could be worth moving Koekkoek, if they’ve truly decided that he’s not part of the future.
Minor Transactions: 01/10/19
It’s another busy day in the NHL with 24 teams in action, including the Vegas Golden Knights and San Jose Sharks who are battling for position in the Pacific Division. As teams prepare for tonight we’ll be right here keeping track of all the minor moves.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs have recalled goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo once again, who will serve as backup for Michael Hutchinson tonight. Frederik Andersen is close to returning for Toronto but will be held out of at least one more contest as he continues to rehab from a groin injury. Kaskisuo played yesterday for the Toronto Marlies, and has still not received a single start in the NHL.
- Mackenzie MacEachern scored twice for the San Antonio Rampage last night and today he’s headed to the NHL. The St. Louis Blues have recalled the 24-year old forward for the first time this season. MacEachern is still waiting for his NHL debut, but has 15 points in 31 games for the Rampage this season.
- With Mike Green returning to the Detroit Red Wings lineup, the team has sent Brian Lashoff back to the minor leagues. Lashoff has been bouncing up and down, but is still waiting for his first chance to actually play in an NHL game this season.
- Brandon Pirri was returned to the Chicago Wolves of the AHL. However, hours later, he was recalled to Vegas, per the AHL’s Transactions Page. Pirri has scored seven goals and ten points in his eight appearances for the Golden Knights, but is in a tough situation as one of the only waiver-exempt players on the roster. Should Pirri play two more games with the Golden Knights he would become waiver eligible again.
- Troy Grosenick has been recalled under emergency conditions by the Nashville Predators. He’s taking the place of Juuse Saros who is day-to-day due to illness.
Sergei Bobrovsky Will Not Dress Due To Team Incident
The Columbus Blue Jackets have issued a press release indicating that Sergei Bobrovsky will not dress for the team’s game against the Nashville Predators tonight, citing an “incident” which has caused the team to basically suspend (though not in those words) the veteran goaltender. GM Jarmo Kekalainen explains:
There are certain expectations and values that we have established for our players that define our culture. An incident occurred in which Sergei failed to meet those expectations and values, so we made the decision that he would not be with the team for tonight’s game. This is an internal matter and we will have no further comment at this time.
In Bobrovsky’s place the team has recalled Jean-Francois Berube while also moving Brandon Dubinsky and Markus Hannikainen to injured reserve. The veteran goaltender is expected to be back with the team at practice on Friday, and head coach John Tortorella would not go into any more detail about the situation when pressed by media.
The development is certainly an interesting one given the situation that is brewing in Columbus. Bobrovsky is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and has been considered a potential trade target for months. Pulled in his last game after allowing four goals, the 30-year old goaltender now sits on just a .906 save percentage for the year, a far cry from his career average of .919 or the heights he reached as a two-time Vezina Trophy winner.
Poll: Where Will Wayne Simmonds End The Season?
It seems as though the biggest name in the rumor mill of late is that of Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds, who remains unsigned past this season and could be a huge help to basically any Stanley Cup contender. His unique mix of skills is a difficult thing to come by, and a reasonable cap hit of $3.975MM makes him able to fit into almost anyone’s budget.
That’s not to say that he is guaranteed to be traded. Under former GM Ron Hextall the Flyers had talked about an extension with Simmonds that would keep him in Philadelphia for several more years, but it’s unclear where new GM Chuck Fletcher stands on the matter, though he had previously tried to acquire the winger when in Minnesota. Now, Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic (subscription required) reports that Fletcher and agent Eustace King have spoken recently and that another conversation will take place this week.
If he doesn’t re-sign in Philadelphia and the Flyers decide to move him at the deadline, there won’t be any shortage of suitors for Simmonds. The Toronto Maple Leafs have been linked because of their apparent need for a physical net-front presence and it being Simmonds’ hometown, while Tampa Bay, Winnipeg and Calgary have also been suggested as good landing spots—though no link has been reported between any of them.
The Flyers have lost eight consecutive games and fallen all the way to the bottom of the Metropolitan Division, a clear sign that they will be sellers at the deadline. Simmonds is easily their most attractive expiring contract, though obviously Fletcher could choose to place a bigger explosive in the room and change the entire look of the team.
Where do you think Simmonds will end the season? Does he re-sign with the Flyers and try to help them flip the script next season, or will he be bought by the highest bidder at the deadline for a deep playoff run? Cast your vote below and explain your reasoning in the comment section.
Where will Wayne Simmonds finish the season?
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Toronto Maple Leafs 17% (417)
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Boston Bruins 12% (285)
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Philadelphia Flyers 7% (166)
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Pittsburgh Penguins 6% (151)
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Nashville Predators 6% (138)
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Winnipeg Jets 5% (131)
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Edmonton Oilers 5% (128)
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Calgary Flames 5% (118)
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San Jose Sharks 5% (112)
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Buffalo Sabres 3% (79)
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Vegas Golden Knights 3% (77)
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Tampa Bay Lightning 2% (60)
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Colorado Avalanche 2% (55)
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Minnesota Wild 2% (53)
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Washington Capitals 2% (51)
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Montreal Canadiens 2% (49)
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Los Angeles Kings 2% (48)
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Dallas Stars 2% (46)
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St. Louis Blues 2% (45)
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Chicago Blackhawks 2% (41)
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New York Islanders 1% (34)
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Carolina Hurricanes 1% (31)
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Detroit Red Wings 1% (29)
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New York Rangers 1% (27)
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Columbus Blue Jackets 1% (26)
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Anaheim Ducks 1% (22)
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Vancouver Canucks 1% (22)
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Arizona Coyotes 0% (7)
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Florida Panthers 0% (7)
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New Jersey Devils 0% (6)
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Ottawa Senators 0% (6)
Total votes: 2,467
[Mobile users click here to vote]
Snapshots: World Cup, Draft Rankings, Pettersson
While there is no guarantee that a 2020 World Cup of Hockey occurs given the uncertainty surrounding the CBA talks between the NHL and NHLPA, the staff at The Athletic (subscription required) took a shot at what a Canadian roster would look like anyway. Once again the submitted rosters are overloaded by center talent, with Nathan MacKinnon, Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Mark Scheifele, Patrice Bergeron, John Tavares, Ryan O’Reilly, Jonathan Toews, Brayden Point and Steven Stamkos all making appearances.
That kind of depth down the middle has long been Canada’s claim to fame on the international hockey stage, though there are certainly more questions around the defensive group that has been suggested. It will be interesting to see what other names work their way into the conversation over the next year.
- If the next World Cup decides to go with another young North American team, they may be drawing from the 2019 draft class that is loaded with talent. Sam Cosentino of Sportsnet released his latest ranking for the upcoming draft, and while Jack Hughes remains on top, World Junior gold medalist Kaapo Kakko has closed the gap. Finnish forward Kakko scored the golden goal that toppled Hughes and Team USA in the final game, and basically cemented him as a top-2 pick at this point.
- It seems like the Vancouver Canucks might get their superstar forward back before long, as head coach Travis Green told the media today that Elias Pettersson will skate either Thursday or Friday of this week as he tries to return from a knee injury. Pettersson already missed time earlier this year with a concussion, but as Elliotte Friedman noted for Sportsnet, he’d have to miss a lot more to be caught in the Calder Trophy race.
Anaheim Ducks Make Three Roster Moves
The Anaheim Ducks have made three roster moves on Wednesday, first sending both Ben Street and Josh Mahura to the minor leagues. Street cleared waivers earlier this month and can be assigned to the AHL for now without going through the process again. Meanwhile, with the open roster spots the team has activated Rickard Rakell from injured reserve, ending a month-long stint on the sidelines.
Rakell’s return is huge for a Ducks team that reeling at the moment. Losers of eight consecutive games, the team has now fallen 12 points behind the San Jose Sharks for third place in the Pacific Division and are in danger of dropping out of the playoff race entirely. If it weren’t for the recent futility of teams like the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers that would be the case, but luckily Randy Carlyle‘s squad can still turn things around. The return of their best pure goal scorer will certainly help that turnaround, though Rakell hasn’t been quite himself this season.
After recording back-to-back 30+ goal seasons, the 25-year old forward found the back of the net just five times in his first 30 games. Much of that has to do with an abysmal shooting percentage, but the team desperately needs him to find his touch around the net going forward. Luckily, Rakell was still producing offensively and returns to the lineup with 20 points in those 30 games. Rakell is one of the most valuable assets in the entire league given his $3.8MM cap hit, and should change at least some of the fortunes in Anaheim.