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Evening Snapshots: Sobotka, Roslovic, Karlsson, Team Canada

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News and notes from around the NHL this evening:

  • By now you’ve heard that Vladimir Sobotka has joined the St. Louis Blues and signed a three-year extension that kicks in next season. The Czech native will play this season under his arbitration-awarded $2.75MM contract. According to CapFriendly, Sobotka will earn $45K for playing in the Blues’ final two games this season. Not bad for a weekend of work.
  • Winnipeg Jets forward prospect Jack Roslovic makes his NHL debut tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Making the debut extra special is that Roslovic is from Columbus, and, as Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch points out, becomes the first Columbus-born NHL player. Roslovic has toiled in the minors all year, posting 13G and 32A in 61 games for the AHL Manitoba Moose. The 2015 25th overall draft pick spent last season at Miami University (OH) where he put up 10G and16A in 36 games.
  • According to the Boston Globe’s Fluto Shinzawa, Boston Bruins prospect Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson has finally secured his work visa and can join the team professionally. The Bruins signed Karlsson to a three-year ELC a few days ago, but the Swede has been unable to play in a game due to a work visa delay. He has, however, practiced with the team since leaving Boston University. He was successful at BU, posting 14G and 19A in 39 games this season.
  • TSN’s Darren Dreger tweeted that Winnipeg Jets’ Mark Scheifele and Colorado Avalanche’s Matt Duchene and Nathan MacKinnon have agreed to play for Team Canada at the 2017 World Championships this spring. As is tradition, players on teams out of the playoff picture will begin to join their respective countries in the World Championships. Teams usually struggle to attract all the big-name players available, however, because some players would rather recuperate than continue to play more hockey.

Mitch Marner Likely To Hit All Schedule A Bonuses

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Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner hit 60 points tonight against the Buffalo Sabres, and as Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston points out, all but guarantees that Marner hits all his Schedule A bonuses to collect an additional $850K.

The CBA allows for two types of ELC bonuses, creatively called Individual “A” and “B” bonuses. “A” Bonuses are capped at an aggregate total of $850K, and “B” bonuses are capped at an aggregate total of $2MM. Thus, a player could theoretically earn up to $3.77MM in base salary and bonuses. Marner was given no Schedule B bonuses, but is eligible to obtain the max Schedule A bonuses.

Schedule A bonus thresholds are defined in the CBA as:

  • Ice Time: Top 6 Forward / Top 4 Defenseman
  • Goals: 20 FW / 10 D
  • Assists: 35 FW / 25 D
  • Points: 60 FW/ 40 D
  • PPG: .73 FW / .49 D
  • Plus/Minus: Top 3
  • Blocked Shots: Top 2 (D only)
  • Making All-Star game
  • Voted ASG MVP
  • Voted to NHL All-Rookie team

After tonight’s game against the Sabres, Marner has achieved four categories: Ice Time (4th), Assists (41), Points (60), and PPG (.83). Given that most teams award $212,500 per category, it’s almost assured that Marner has earned the max money available for Schedule A Bonuses.

Official Responses to NHL Olympic Announcement

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Earlier today the NHL announced that it would not allow its players to participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics. This announcement came after months of public negotiations involving the IOC, IIHF, NHLPA and the NHL.

The NHLPA released a response to the NHL’s announcement, and we’ve reproduced it in full below:

The players are extraordinarily disappointed and adamantly disagree with the NHL’s shortsighted decision to not continue our participation in the Olympics.

Any sort of inconvenience the Olympics may cause to next season’s schedule is a small price to pay compared to the opportunity to showcase our game and our greatest players on this enormous international stage. ​

A unique opportunity lies ahead with the 2018 and 2022 Olympics in Asia. The NHL may believe it is penalizing the IOC or the players, or both, for not giving the owners some meaningful concessions in order to induce them to agree to go to PyeongChang. Instead this impedes the growth of our great game by walking away from an opportunity to reach sports fans worldwide.

Moreover, it is doing so after the financial issues relating to insurance and transportation have been resolved with the IOC and IIHF. The League’s efforts to blame others for its decision is as unfortunate as the decision itself. NHL players are patriotic and they do not take this lightly. A decent respect for the opinions of the players matters. This is the NHL’s decision, and its alone. It is very unfortunate for the game, the players and millions of loyal hockey fans.”

The NHLPA clearly disagrees with the NHL’s position, and lays the non-participation solely at the feet of the NHL.

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Evening Snapshots: Avalanche, Karlsson, Nylander

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News and notes from around the NHL this evening:

  • The Colorado Avalanche called up two players this afternoon: forward Rocco Grimaldi and defenseman Duncan Siemens. Grimaldi is having a great year in the AHL, scoring 29G and 22A in 51 games for the San Antonio Rampage. He’s on the final year of his ELC, and this opportunity should dictate the terms of his next contract. Defenseman Duncan Siemens—a former 2011 first round draft pick—will play just his second career NHL game. He has 2G and 4A in 68 games in the AHL this season. As AJ Haefele of BSN notes, the callups give the Avalanche a look at how its prospects fit in with the organization.
  • The Ottawa Senators announced that defenseman Erik Karlsson will return tonight against the Detroit Red Wings. Karlsson suffered a foot injury after blocking a shot Tuesday night against the Philadelphia Flyers. He missed the Senators’ next two games, and was in danger of missing a third before his surprise return. The Senators need all the firepower they can muster as they jockey for position in the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spots.
  • Buffalo Sabres forward Alexander Nylander makes his NHL debut tonight against his brother’s Toronto Maple Leafs, reports TSN’s Mark Masters. 2016’s 8th overall draft pick has played in the AHL all season, amassing 9G and 18A in 62 games for the Rochester Americans. In seven World Junior Championship games Nylander scored 5G and 7A. His much anticipated debut is heightened by the fact that it’s against his older brother William Nylander. The older Nylander has 22G and 37A this season, and the Sabres hope that their Nylander follows in his brother’s footsteps.

Morning Snapshots: Stamkos, McDonagh, Sherwood, Panarin, Quenneville

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News and notes from around the NHL this morning:

  • Despite reports that Steven Stamkos may return to the Tampa Bay Lightning, Tampa Bay Times writer Joe Smith reports that Stamkos will not play tonight against the Dallas Stars. Stamkos took part in the morning skate but confirmed that he will not lace up the skates this weekend. The Lightning have four games left on the schedule, including one each against the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs—two teams the Lightning are chasing for the East’s final wildcard spot. If Stamkos returns from his knee injury, expect him to play in those high-stakes games.
  • The New York Rangers will most likely be without captain Ryan McDonagh for a second straight game. NHL.com’s Dan Rosen reports that McDonagh did not skate with the team this morning ahead of its game against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Rangers captain suffered an undisclosed injury this week and missed Friday’s game. Coach Alain Vigneault did not expand on McDonagh’s injury, but assured reporters that it is day-to-day rather than something serious. Leaving McDonagh out may be nothing more than precautionary as the Rangers have all but locked up the first wild card slot in the East.
  • The Columbus Blue Jackets have assigned forward Kole Sherwood to the AHL Cleveland Monsters this morning. The Blue Jackets signed the undrafted free agent in July 2015, and the Ohio native lit up the OHL with the Flint Firebirds this season. Sherwood scored 33G and 52A in 60 games, and an additional 4G and 1A in 5 playoff games. The Blue Jackets prospect may make his professional debut today against the Iowa Wild.
  • According to TheAthletic’s Scott Powers, Chicago Blackhawks forward Artemi Panarin would hit his $1.75MM Schedule B bonus as of today. Panarin can trigger that bonus by finishing in the top-ten forward in scoring this season. If the season ended today, Panarin would sit 11th overall, but because Brent Burns is a defenseman, Panarin remains the tenth highest-scoring forward this season. Panarin may be looking over his shoulder, however, as both Winnipeg Jets’ Blake Wheeler and Dallas Stars’ Tyler Seguin are only one point behind.
  • The New Jersey Devils have reassigned forward John Quenneville to the AHL Albany Devils. The Devils rookie has 1G and 3A in 12 NHL games, but 12G and 29A in 53 AHL games this season. With the New Jersey Devils well outside the NHL playoff picture, the organization now focuses on Albany, where the Devils hold a playoff spot by only two points.

NHLPA May Bar Agents From Contacting Players Under 16

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TSN’s Rick Westhead reported last week that the NHLPA is considering a new regulation prohibiting any certified agent from contacting an under-16 player or player’s family. The NHLPA controls agents through a certification process, and only certified agents may represent NHL players.

The rule’s impetus lies with protecting young players from unreal expectations. According to TSN’s Craig Button, agents want to be hired, so they show these young players the upside without adequately explaining the potential downsides to professional hockey. An agent may hype up a potential signee without also focusing on a player’s faults. They provide the good without the bad, and that sets young players up with unreal expectations as to their professional future.

The downside to such a rule, however, is that young players benefit from advice pertaining to choosing between Canadian major junior hockey (OHL, WHL, QMJHL) and the NCAA. Players are drafted into the WHL as early as 14 years old, and joining any Canadian major junior team eliminates NCAA participation because the NCAA considers Canadian juniors a professional league.

Westhead quotes NHLPA spokesman Jonathan Weatherdon as stating that enforcing such a rule would be a onerous undertaking. It is difficult to police the actions of agents—especially when agents employ former players to act as liaisons to young players. These unofficial relationships make it difficult for a regulating body to determine whether an agent has directly violated any rules.

For now the new rule is merely a proposal with no imminent decision. The NHLPA would have to determine the rule’s scope, enforcement mechanisms, punishments, and enforcement strategies. If enacted, however, the rule would change the hockey representation landscape. Theoretically agents would have no contact with up-and-coming young players until their NHL potential is clear. It may prevent players from meddling agents hoping to latch on to the next star at a precarious age.

Maple Leafs Close To Extending Nikita Zaitsev To Seven-Year Deal

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As Bob MacKenzie first noted during the Toronto Maple Leafs – Nashville Predators intermission, the Maple Leafs are closing to re-signing defenseman Nikita Zaitsev to a seven-year deal. Mackenzie thinks that the AAV will be around $4.5MM, something that is confirmed by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

Zaitsev has 4G and 29A before tonight’s game against the Predators. The Russian rookie is close to breaking the Maple Leafs record for most assists by a rookie defenseman. The current record of 33A is held by Swedish defenseman—and fan favorite—Borje Salming. Despite being a rookie, Zaitsev turns 26 this year after playing his entire career with overseas in Russia.

Zaitsev is one of two Maple Leaf RFAs with arbitration rights this offseason. The other—Zach Hyman—is also having a breakout year and should be next on the Leafs’ to-do list. The Maple Leafs will have ample cap room after this season as they free themselves from over $8MM in buried contracts. Brooks Laich, Colin Greening, and Milan Michalek are all UFAs at season end.

Evening Snapshots: Mantha, Hamonic, Zaitsev

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Injury notes from around the NHL this evening:

  • Detroit Red Wings rookie Anthony Mantha suffered an upper body injury tonight in a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning and will not return, reports the Detroit Free Press’s Helene St. James. According to MLive’s Ansar Khan, Mantha was injured fighting Lightning defenseman Luke Witkowski in the first period. The Red Wings have not specified the extend of Mantha’s injury, but preliminary reports state that Mantha fractured his finger and may not return this season.
  • New York Islanders defenseman Travis Hamonic suffered an upper body injury and will not return, reports Newsday’s Arthur Staple. Hamonic may have been injured in a fight tonight against Philadelphia Flyers forward Dale Weise. Losing Hamonic for any period of time is a big blow for the Islanders as they struggle for the East’s last wildcard playoff spot. Before tonight’s game the Isles were four points back of that wildcard spot with one game in hand.
  • TSN’s Bob MacKenzie reported during the Toronto Maple Leafs – Nashville Predators first period intermission that the Maple Leafs are in talks with defenseman Nikita Zaitsev and are closing in on a seven-year deal. Zaitsev becomes a Restricted Free Agent after this season. The Russian defenseman has 4G and 30A in 76 games so far this season.

Snapshots: Red Wings, Kings, Bruins

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News and notes from around the NHL this evening:

  • Detroit Red Wings forward Andreas Athanasiou will not play tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes, reports Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press. Athanasiou is day-to-day after suffering an injury on the final play of last night’s game in the first of back to back games against the Hurricanes. The Red Wings forward was cross-checked by Hurricanes forward Victor Rask, causing Athanasiou to hit goaltender Eddie Lack. Lack ended up leaving the game on a stretcher, and now Athanasiou will miss some time as well.
  • The Los Angeles Kings have scratched forward Marian Gaborik tonight against the Edmonton Oilers, reports Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times. Gaborik has struggled this season, posting 10G and 9A in 51 games for the Kings. The Czech forward has endured multiple injuries this season, which may cause concern for the Kings who have Gaborik signed through 2020-21.
  • The Boston Bruins caused a small stir when they used an emergency call-up on goaltender Zane McIntyre this afternoon. Media initially speculated that Tuukka Rask was injured, but later Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald reported that backup Anton Khudobin suffered a minor injury today. Despite the recall, however, McIntyre did not suit up as Khudobin was okay to play by game time.

Kloos Chased By Flames And Wild

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Michael Russo of the Star-Tribune reported today that both the Calgary Flames and the Minnesota Wild are trying to sign University of Minnesota Gophers captain Justin Kloos. The Gophers failed to make the NCAA Frozen Four after losing to Notre Dame in the NCAA Regional tournament, ending Kloos’s four year run with the school.

Kloos is an intriguing college free agent. He had 18G and 25A in 38 games for the Gophers this season, equaling his point total from last season. The diminutive center—he’s only 5’9 and 179lbs—was second in team scoring, but ahead of recent New York Rangers signing Vinni Lettieri.

According to Michael Russo, the Wild offered Kloos a pro deal next season coupled with an amateur try-out with the AHL Iowa Wild this season. It is unclear at the moment what the Flames offered Kloos. If Kloos chose the Wild, however, he’d be playing in front of a home town crowd. Kloos grew up in Lakeville, MN—half an hour outside of Minneapolis—and was crowned Minnesota Mr. Hockey in 2012.

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