Jordan Staal Placed On IR, Janne Kuokkanen Recalled
The Carolina Hurricanes were given a sharp wake-up call last night when they fell to the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1, and have made a move to try to spark their offense. The team has recalled minor league forward Janne Kuokkanen from the Charlotte Checkers, while moving Jordan Staal to injured reserve. Staal’s stint on IR will be retroactive to December 5th, the last time he played before suffering a concussion.
Micheal Ferland was also removed from last night’s game in the first period after he experienced some minor symptoms, though Darren Dreger of TSN notes that they may not have necessarily been linked to the concussion that has held him out of the lineup recently. Ferland was in his first game back since the injury.
Despite having some of the strongest possession metrics in the league, the Hurricanes can’t seem to finish many of their scoring opportunities this season and now sit second last in the league in goals for. 72 tallies through 29 games is just not enough to compete for a playoff spot, something Kuokkanen will try to help with. The young forward has 11 goals and 27 points in 26 AHL games this season and has looked dominant at times for the Checkers. He played four games for the Hurricanes last season but is still looking for his first NHL point.
Tampa Bay Sends Eddie Pasquale Back To AHL As Andrei Vasilevskiy Nears Return
The Tampa Bay Lightning have sent goaltender Eddie Pasquale to the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL. While that regularly may not be a very newsworthy transaction, this time might be different. The Lightning did not recall another goaltender in his stead, likely indicating that Andrei Vasilevskiy will be ready to return to action on Thursday night when Tampa Bay welcomes in the Toronto Maple Leafs. It’s not clear if Vasilevskiy would play in that game, but it does mark four weeks since the star goaltender was given a four to six week timeline for recovery from his broken foot.
It’s hard to imagine the Lightning actually getting stronger this week, given the 12-2 record they have since Vasilevskiy went down but goaltending might be the one place they can actually still improve. Despite Louis Domingue winning the second star of the week recently for a 3-0 performance, he still has a sub-par .905 save percentage through 18 games and carries a 2.95 goals against average. Those numbers have been good enough behind a blazing Tampa Bay offense, but are quite a bit south of the Vezina-caliber goaltending that Vasilevskiy routinely brings to the ice.
Before he was injured, the 24-year old netminder was actually putting up the best numbers of his career. Even after season in which he finished third in Vezina voting and led the league with 44 wins, Vasilevskiy had found a new gear and was carrying a .927 save percentage through 13 games. That kind of goaltending will make the already league-leading Lightning even more powerful as we move forward, something that must give the rest of the Atlantic Division nightmares.
Tampa Bay has a 24-7-1 record on the season and an eight point lead on the Toronto Maple Leafs, who just happen to be second in the entire NHL. That dominance makes them an early favorite for the Presidents Trophy, and a dangerous team to watch out for when trade season comes around. Amazingly, the Lightning still have some cap space available this season, even if they won’t be able to take on much term with Brayden Point about to break the bank with his upcoming extension. It’s hard to find much fault in the Lightning roster at the moment, and with Vasilevskiy back in the crease it’ll be hard to find much room in net.
Snapshots: Houston, Liljegren, Hunwick
Ever since Tilman Fertitta bought the Houston Rockets of the NBA in September 2017, the market has been the center of much speculation that an NHL franchise could soon be heading there. Fertitta has expressed public interest in bringing the NHL to Houston, and visited the league offices to speak with the commissioner’s office about what it would take. None of that means in the slightest that there is actually going to be a second Texas-based team in the near future, but it does keep Houston at the forefront of any expansion or relocation speculation.
Today Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston reported on Twitter that Fertitta has had “preliminary talks” regarding the purchase and relocation of the Arizona Coyotes, though the Rockets’ owner would not comment on the story. There have been other rumors recently that the Coyotes are speaking with potential buyers, but absolutely no indication that they or the league would be interested in relocation at this time. Expansion, the other option for potentially getting a team to Houston, is also seemingly off the table for the time being given that Seattle has just been introduced. The NHL has fought hard to keep the Coyotes in Arizona for years, even through struggles with the fan base, arena and on-ice product. While this report doesn’t undo any of that, it once again indicates that there is an interested owner ready to pounce should the league’s position change.
- Timothy Liljegren has been replaced on the Swedish World Junior preliminary roster by Philip Broberg, due to the ankle injury he suffered recently. The Toronto Maple Leafs prospect would have been one of the country’s returning players after taking home a silver medal last season. Broberg meanwhile is a potential first-round pick in the upcoming draft, and could improve his stock even further with a top performance as a 17-year old. The smooth-skating defenseman can take over a game with his puck-moving skills, and has the size to really be a difference maker at the NHL level.
- Matt Hunwick is set to head to the AHL on a conditioning stint in order to get back in game shape after a long rehab process. The former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman was traded to the Buffalo Sabres along with Conor Sheary this summer, but has yet to play a game for the organization. There isn’t a ton of room on the Sabres blue line for the veteran when everyone is healthy, but the way Sabres defensemen have been suffering injuries he may be needed as soon as possible. Hunwick is in the second season of a three-year contract that carries a $2.25MM cap hit, and is currently on long-term injured reserve.
Chad Johnson, Martin Bakos Placed On Waivers
Tuesday: Bakos has cleared waivers and will see his contract terminated, while Johnson has been claimed by the Anaheim Ducks.
Monday: After making a move to recall Jordan Binnington yesterday, it was obvious something was brewing in St. Louis. The Blues today have placed goaltender Chad Johnson on waivers, likely with the intention of sending him to the minor leagues. The Boston Bruins meanwhile have placed Martin Bakos on unconditional waivers according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.
It’s a tough break for Johnson, who signed a one-year $1.75MM contract in the offseason to replace the outgoing Carter Hutton—who coincidentally, replaced Johnson in Buffalo. The veteran goaltender has not played well this season, posting an .884 save percentage through ten appearances, but is by no means the only problem in St. Louis. The entire team has struggled to string any wins together, but this is the move that they’ve decided to make to shake things up.
Johnson, 32, does have a history of success in the NHL, but took a big step backwards last season with the Sabres and has followed it up with an even worse start. It would be surprising to see anyone jump at the chance to claim him given his cap hit, though there are some teams around the league in need of goaltending help that may take a chance. More likely is he reports to the minor leagues to try and get his game back in order, before eventually returning to the NHL to help the Blues. If he does clear and is assigned to the AHL, the Blues will also get a $1.025MM break on his cap hit, though Binnington’s $650K eats up most of the savings.
Bakos on the other hand has been playing the entire season in the minor leagues with the Providence Bruins, after signing a one-year two-way contract in the summer. The Slovakian forward has played the last few seasons in the KHL or Czech league, and figured he’d try his hand at North American hockey. That experiment seems to be over, and Bakos will return to Europe after seeing his contract terminated with the Bruins.
Anaheim Ducks Claim Goaltender Chad Johnson
Anaheim Ducks goaltender Ryan Miller suffered an injury on the weekend, and the team has quickly made a move to fill his role behind starter John Gibson. The Ducks today claimed Chad Johnson off waivers from the St. Louis Blues, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. Miller is expected to be out around six weeks, giving Johnson the opportunity to show that he can still be an effective goaltender in the NHL.
While Johnson brings a good amount of NHL experience to Anaheim, the move does come with a substantial amount of downside for the Ducks. The team is already using long-term injured reserve in order to stay below the salary cap, and will take on Johnson’s entire $1.75MM contract by claiming him. That amount can’t even be fully buried in the minor leagues, meaning he’ll remain on their books even after Miller returns unless someone else claims him at that point. He also represents the team’s 50th contract, putting them at the limit and restricting any other potential moves they can make. The Ducks now can’t make another waiver claim without removing a contract, nor can they sign a college or European free agent. That problem can be fixed later on with a trade, but it does limit their flexibility for the time being.
All that in mind, the team certainly needed to find an answer in net. While Gibson is an outstanding starter, he does have a history of injury and the team didn’t have much NHL experience behind him. Jared Coreau is up with the team at the moment, and has just 21 mostly unsuccessful appearances under his belt. Johnson has played in 183 NHL games, starting his career back in 2009-10 with the New York Rangers.
Still, it’s been some time since Johnson was considered a premier backup in the league. Last season for the Buffalo Sabres he recorded a 10-16-3 record while posting a .891 save percentage, and those numbers have only gotten worse this year in St. Louis. While there may be reason to believe he can turn things around in Anaheim, the 32-year old is certainly no guarantee. If he does struggle with the Ducks, it seems unlikely that he would be claimed again on waivers, meaning Anaheim might be stuck with his contract for the entire season.
Carolina Hurricanes “Very Confident” They Can Sign Adam Fox
One of the perhaps underrated parts of this summer’s blockbuster trade between the Calgary Flames and Carolina Hurricanes was unsigned prospect Adam Fox. The young defenseman had been selected in the third round of the 2016 draft out of the US National Development Program, but shot up prospect rankings after incredible freshman and sophomore seasons at Harvard. The Flames had tried to get him under contract before the 2018 draft but failed, with Fox committing to return to Harvard for his junior year. That commitment put a ton of risk on Carolina for the acquisition, as there was no guarantee he would ever suit up as a Hurricane.
Now, in a piece that details Fox’ outstanding junior season for Harvard, Sara Civian of The Athletic (subscription required) reports that Carolina is “very confident” they can sign the young defenseman. In fact, Fox himself addresses the rumors that he wants to wait until he’s an unrestricted free agent in order to sign somewhere else:
I know people think I have some plan to sign with the [New York] Rangers because of where I grew up. But my dream, my goal, is to play in the NHL. As soon as possible.
That is huge news for Carolina fans hoping to get a look at Fox before long, and also puts even more intrigue on how the team will navigate the upcoming trade deadline. The Hurricanes already have a glut of young defensemen and have been interested in acquiring a top-end forward for some time. Players like Trevor van Riemsdyk are being underutilized because of the team’s depth, and prospects like Jake Bean can’t crack the lineup. It’s tough to imagine that is a strong negotiating position when sitting down with Fox, who is obviously ready to take the next step to the NHL right away.
If the Hurricanes feel so confident that they can sign Fox after his college season ends, perhaps they’ll be even more motivated to move one of their right-handed defensemen this trade season. That group is made up of van Riemsdyk, Justin Faulk, Dougie Hamilton and Brett Pesce, an incredibly deep unit that would be appealing to just about every team in the league.
Fox meanwhile could always go back to Harvard for his senior season, and potentially become an unrestricted free agent in August of 2020. That threat may have the Hurricanes scrambling to make room for him over the next few months, in order to avoid any last-minute decisions on his part. With the Hurricanes pushing for a playoff spot this season, there’s even the opportunity that Fox could get under contract and make his debut before the end of the NHL year.
Minor Transactions: 12/11/18
Ten. That’s how many games are on the NHL schedule on this fine Tuesday evening in December, as two thirds of the league will be suiting up. All eyes will be on a prime matchup between Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon in Colorado, as two of the fastest and most dynamic players in the league go head to head. There is plenty of intrigue around tonight’s games, so we’re keeping track of all the minor moves made throughout the day to prepare.
- The Buffalo Sabres have sent Scott Wedgewood back to the minor leagues, meaning Carter Hutton is healthy enough to suit up tonight. The Sabres goaltending situation has been solidified by bringing in Hutton through free agency and giving Linus Ullmark a full-time role with the NHL club, and it has Buffalo in a playoff spot. The Atlantic Division is still led by the Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs, but the Sabres are right there chasing them.
- Cole Schneider and Steven Fogarty are both on their way back to the AHL, given that the New York Rangers don’t play again until Friday. The team now sits with just 21 players on the active roster, and will likely make additional transactions later in the week.
- Antti Suomela has been reassigned to the San Jose Barracuda, ending his rookie season for the time being. The 24-year old Finnish forward has eight points in 27 games for the San Jose Sharks this year, his first after signing a one-year entry-level contract in the summer. Suomela will surely be up at some point in the future, but for now he’s on his way to the AHL.
- Brian Lashoff is back up with the Detroit Red Wings, his second recall in just a few days. The veteran defenseman has still not suited up for the team this season, but serves as valuable insurance while the team deals with injuries to their blue line.
Gabe Vilardi Officially Loaned To Team Canada
Finally some good news for the Los Angeles Kings. Today, the team officially loaned top prospect Gabe Vilardi to Team Canada for the upcoming World Junior Championship. Vilardi’s short career has been marred by injury, but he is finally healthy enough to take the next step in his development. The team also announced the recall of Sean Walker from the Ontario Reign, something that had already been reported after Alec Martinez and Kyle Clifford were left off the team’s current road trip.
Vilardi had already been named to the junior selection camp roster, but there’s little doubt that he will make the team now that he’s healthy. The 19-year old forward had one assist in four rehab games with the Ontario Reign, but will likely go back to the OHL after the upcoming tournament is over. A puck-possession monster, Vilardi has huge offensive potential but was limited last season as well. Selected 11th overall in 2017, if he’s finally healthy the Kings have plenty to look forward to.
Canada is a medal favorite once again, and Vilardi should be part of a forward group that also includes names like Alex Formenton and Kings teammate Jaret Anderson-Dolan who have already made their NHL debuts. Los Angeles will also likely have Rasmus Kupari in the tournament for Finland, another big part of their future. Even as the NHL club struggles near the bottom of the league, fans will have something to look forward to as they watch the next wave of talent compete on the world stage.
Snapshots: Nielsen, Ferland, Senators
With Seattle being officially announced as the upcoming 32nd franchise in the NHL, teams are already starting to prepare for an upcoming expansion draft. While the Vegas Golden Knights will be exempt from the draft, June 2021 will be a focus for all other 30 teams. One of the most notable rules as we move towards the process is the one surrounding no-movement clauses and their automation protection. Teams’ ability to protect their young skaters will hamstrung by these clauses, and could force them into a trade with Seattle.
The Detroit Red Wings were one of these teams, as it appeared that Frans Nielsen had a no-movement clause that would force protection despite him nearing the end of his playing career by the time the draft rolls around. CapFriendly today reported that they had been mistaken previously when listing Nielsen with that clause, as it actually expired at the end of last season. Nielsen now only holds a modified no-trade clause, which does not have the same restrictions in the draft process.
- Micheal Ferland has been activated by the Carolina Hurricanes, as he has fully recovered from his recent concussion. The forward still leads the Hurricanes in goals this season despite his four-game absence, and will try to step right back into the top-six role he’d shown the aptitude for. The physical, skilled forward is the only player on Carolina with double digit goals this season, something they’ve sorely lacked all year. Ferland is also a pending unrestricted free agent that carries just a $1.75MM cap hit this season, and will be very appealing to many teams at the deadline if Carolina drops out of the race.
- Ian Mendes of TSN recently looked at the history of eight-year extensions and when they were usually signed, noting that the Ottawa Senators are approaching “uncharted territory” if they still intend on signing long-term deals with Matt Duchene and Mark Stone. Both players are pending unrestricted free agents and could very well be among the highest-paid players on July 1st. The Senators meanwhile will have to consider long and hard on whether they want to hand out huge extensions during the very early stages of their current rebuild.
Calle Rosen Signs Two-Year Contract Extension
The Toronto Maple Leafs have locked up some of their defensive depth for the next two seasons, inking Calle Rosen to a two-year contract extension. The deal will carry an average annual value of $750K, and will take him to unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2021.
Rosen, 24, signed with the Maple Leafs out of Sweden in 2017 as an undrafted free agent who had found success with the Vaxjo Lakers of the SHL. Making the NHL roster out of training camp he played just four games last season with the Maple Leafs, instead spending the majority of the year in the minor leagues with the Toronto Marlies. Though he struggled at times to find consistency in his own end, by the time the Calder Cup playoffs rolled around Rosen was one of the most dynamic defensemen in the entire AHL. His 11 points in 16 postseason games helped lead the Marlies to a Calder Cup championship.
The left-handed, smooth skating defenseman has played in the minor leagues again this season, recording 19 points in 24 games. That production has put Rosen firmly in the Maple Leafs plans going forward, especially given the status of two of their NHL defensemen. Ron Hainsey and Jake Gardiner are both unrestricted free agents at the end of the season, and the Maple Leafs might end up not being able to afford them given the big contract already signed by William Nylander and pending extensions for Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. The team might look at the blue line for savings, and a $750K cap hit provides that.