Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Theo Peckham Signs With ECHL Rapid City Rush

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Former Edmonton Oilers defenseman Theo Peckham signed an ECHL deal with the Rapid City Rush. Rapid City is the ECHL affiliate for the Arizona Coyotes and AHL Tuscon Roadrunners. Peckham last played in the NHL in 2012-13 for the Edmonton Oilers.

Peckham started out as the 75th selection in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, but could not hold a roster position in Edmonton. He bounced between the NHL club and its AHL affiliate the Springfield Falcons before finally playing a full season in Edmonton in 2010-11. There he scored 3G and 10A in 71 games, and racked up an impressive 198 PIM.

Since then, the hard-nosed defenseman has played in the AHL, ECHL, Slovakia, and Denmark before returning to the ECHL Wichita Thunder last season. The season did not go as expected as Peckham did not register a point in 16 games.

2016-17 Season Preview: Calgary Flames

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

As the NHL season is now less than a month away, we continue our look at each team’s offseason and preview the upcoming year. Today, we focus on the Calgary Flames.

Last Season: 35-40-7 (77 points), 5th in the Pacific Division.  Did not qualify for the playoffs.

Remaining Cap Space: $7.9MM per CapFriendly.

Key Newcomers: Brian Elliott (G) – trade with St. Louis; Chad Johnson (G) – free agent (Buffalo); Troy Brouwer (RW) – free agent (St. Louis); Alex Chiasson (RW) – trade with Ottawa; Linden Vey (C) – free agent (Vancouver).

Key Departures: Jonas Hiller (G) – free agent; Karri Ramo (G) – free agent; Joni Ortio (G) – signed in Sweden; Mason Raymond (LW) – signed with Anaheim; Joe Colborne (RW) – signed with Colorado; Josh Jooris (C) – signed with New York Rangers.

Players to Watch: Johnny Gaudreau and Brian Elliott. Gaudreau and Elliott’s performance this season will determine whether the Flames make a post-season push or whether they will be angling for a lottery pick. That is, of course, if and when the Flames sign Gaudreau.

Johnny Gaudreau is still an unsigned RFA after failing to come to terms with the Flames this offseason. As of writing, Gaudreau’s camp is reportedly firm on around $8MM per season, while the Flames are reportedly in the $6–6.5MM range. Not an insurmountable gap, but one that will only close after one side blinks. Gaudreau led the team in scoring last season with 30G and 48A in 79 games—15 points more than Sean Monahan who re-signed this summer for $6.375MM a year contract. The young winger’s impressive performance in the World Cup of Hockey only adds pressure on Calgary to lock up their potential future star. Look for both parties to settle around the $7.5MM range.

Brian Elliott comes to the Flames looking to shed his inconsistent label once and for all. Despite posting a .930SV% and a 2.07GAA last season, the St. Louis Blues opted to keep a young Jake Allen, and instead traded Elliott to the Flames. Unlike St. Louis, however, Elliott was brought in to be the clear starter, and this is a role that should allow him to finally establish himself despite years of consistent performance.

Key Storylines: Will the Flames make it back to the post-season after suffering a setback last year?

Two years ago the Flames made a surprising playoff run in a year where many predicted that they would challenge for a top-five pick. Both Gaudreau and Sean Monahan excelled in their 1st and 2nd seasons, respectively, and broke 60 points. In retrospect, goaltending looked to hold that team back from even higher heights.

But last year Calgary took a step back and missed the playoffs with largely the same team. This season is a chance to prove that the anomaly was last season, not the season prior. Monahan and Sam Bennett are one year older, and the Flames brought in Troy Brouwer to round out the scoring. Assuming they re-sign Gaudreau, the Flames can mount an exciting offense. The question mark lies in the team’s defensive capabilities. They did not drastically improve their blue line, but they did completely switch out their goaltending. It might not be enough to compete in the Pacific, but this team has been written off prematurely once before.

 

Snapshots: Hartnell, Lundqvist, Las Vegas, Connauton

at CDT | by 2 Comments

News and from around the NHL:

  • Columbus Blue Jacket’s Scott Hartnell has rescinded his offer to waive his no-movement clause—and with it retracts his list of preferred teams. Hartnell agreed to waive his no-movement clause earlier this summer so that Columbus could explore potential trade options. Hartnell still has three years left on his contract that pays him $4.75MM a year. While that isn’t necessarily excessive, Columbus has the cap space of a playoff team rather than the lottery team it was last season. Hartnell still scored 23G and 26A in 79 games for the Blue Jackets, but the team could not find any deals they liked over the summer.
  • Henrik Lundqvist’s workload may reduce this season as the veteran goalie enters his twelfth season. Newsday reports that New York Rangers Coach Alain Vigneault is considering reducing his star goalie to between 50-58 starts this season. Backup Antti Raanta will be expected to shoulder the increased workload. Raanta was 11-6-2 with a .919SV% and a 2.25GAA last year. The plan is to rest Lundqvist for a potential deep playoff run and to balance against his increasing age and starter role for Sweden in the World Cup of Hockey. His reduction could be the first of a few across the league as teams guard their prized goaltenders from injury.
  • The Las Vegas NHL Expansion Team signed a 20-year lease to build a practice facility just outside the Las Vegas strip. The facility will be located in Summerlin, which is northwest of the city center and in the Las Vegas Valley. It is approximately a 30m drive to the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas’s home arena.
  • Arizona Coyotes Kevin Connauton will miss the start of the team’s training camp because of a lower body injury. Connauton scored 4G and 5A in 38 games for the Coyotes after the team picked him up off of waiver from the Columbus Blue Jackets. The rugged defensemenn will be battling for a bottom-pairing role in camp alongside Luke Schenn, Zbynek Michalek, and others.

Atlantic Division Notes: Lupul, Marchand, Galchenyuk

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

TSN’s Frank Seravelli reports that Joffrey Lupul is rumored to have failed his pre-season physical and expects to start the NHL season on injured reserve. The oft-injured Maple Leafs forward only played in 46 games last year, scoring 11 goals and 3 assists.

Lupul has faced a variety of injuries in his career, but none more severe than his back issues which have sidelined him for significant periods of time. When healthy, Lupul is an excellent contributor, but his repeated injuries often derail successful campaigns.

Lupul began his Maple Leafs career with a bang, netting 45 goals and 105 points in his first 110 contests spread out over parts of three seasons in Toronto after a 2011 deadline trade with Anaheim. His strong play led to a massive five-year contract extension worth $26.25MM in total despite the fact the skilled forward had seen action in no more than 66 games in a single season since 2008-09. Unfortunately for both parties, Lupul has missed nearly a full season’s worth of games (76 in total) since inking that extension and has produced just 0.46 points-per-game during that time.

The Maple Leafs are currently over the cap by $827K, but moving Lupul to LTIR will free up $5.25MM in space. Assuming Stephane Robidas also starts the season on LTIR, the Leafs go from slightly over the cap to over $8MM under the cap. The Leafs will have the option of freeing up additional space by placing Nathan Horton on LTIR as well, which would further lower their overall cap commitment to around $60MM.

Lupul was originally the seventh overall pick in the 2002 NHL entry draft, chosen by the Anaheim Ducks. Ironically, he has twice been included in trades involving Chris Pronger, first going from Anaheim to the Oilers in exchange for the Hall of Fame defenseman, then returning to the Ducks as part of a package that saw Pronger head to Philadelphia. Toronto would acquire Lupul and Jake Gardiner from Anaheim as part of a trade for veteran blue liner Francois Beauchemin.

More from the Atlantic Division:

  • Joe Haggerty joined local Boston sports talk show, Toucher and Rich, and discussed Brad Marchand’s pending free agency. Marchand, of course, ranked 6th in the NHL in goals scored in 2015-16, tallying a career high 37. He is currently playing on what many consider to be the best line in the World Cup, skating on the left of all-world pivot Sidney Crosby with Bruins teammate Patrice Bergeron on the right. Haggerty opines that the Bruins need to lock up the agitating winger before he hits the free agent market, suggesting it will take a seven-year contract with an AAV of $7MM per season. He also listed the Penguins as a potential suitor should Marchand make it to free agency. Haggerty cites the fact both Marchand and Crosby are originally from Nova Scotia and that the success the two players are experiencing at the World Cup might prompt an impassioned plead to Penguins management from their best player to go get Marchand. Of course while Marchand might be getting a glimpse of how fun it might be to play with Crosby every day, he’s also reminded of just how good playing with Bergeron is.
  • It appears the Montreal Canadiens have anointed Alex Galchenyuk as the team’s #1 center, with head coach Michel Therrien saying he plans to start the talented American on the top line with Max Pacioretty and Brendan Gallagher, as Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette reports. Galchenyuk, who has moved back-and-forth between wing and center since breaking into the league in 2012-13, may have finally earned the trust of the coaching staff on the heels of a strong 30-goal campaign, which included netting 18 over the team’s final 27 games. Veteran center Tomas Plekanec will then assume the role of #2 pivot and is expected to have new offseason additions Andrew Shaw and Alexander Radulov on his wings.

*Mike Furlano contributed to this post.

2016-17 Season Preview: Anaheim Ducks

at CDT | by 2 Comments

As the NHL season is now less than a month away, we continue our look at each team’s offseason and preview the upcoming year. Today, we focus on the Anaheim Ducks.

Last Season: 46-25-11 record (103 points), 1st in the Pacific Division.  Lost 4-3 to Nashville in Round 1.

Remaining Cap Space: $7,5MM per CapFriendly.

Key Newcomers: Mason Raymond (LW) – free agent signing (Calgary); Jonathan Bernier (G) – trade (Toronto); Antoine Vermette (C) – free agent (Arizona); Jared Boll (LW) – free agent (Columbus).

Key Departures: Jamie McGinn (LW) – signed with Arizona; David Perron (LW) – signed with St. Louis; Frederik Andersen (G) – traded to Toronto;  Brandon Pirri (LW) – signed with NYR; Mike Santorelli (LW) – signed in Switzerland; Chris Stewart (RW) – signed with Minnesota; Anton Khudobin (G) – signed with Boston.

Player to Watch: Hampus Lindholm and Rickard Rakell. The former first round draft picks—and Swedish natives—remain unsigned as of writing. With training camp looming, it is possible that both are on the outside looking in when the puck drops October 12th.

Lindholm has established himself as one of the Ducks’ top defensive prospects, scoring 10G and 18A in 80 games while playing 22 minutes a night. Hampering Hampus’ negotiating power, however, is the presence of other defensive prospects Cam Fowler and Sami Vatanen. The Ducks have an embarrassment of riches on defense, and can afford to play hardball with Lindholm’s camp. What is not helping is Lindholm’s scarce playing time at the World Cup of Hockey. Lindholm has not received any significant exposure this fall in a tournament that could’ve showcased his skills and potentially increased his value.

Rickard Rakell is in a similar situation. An unsigned RFA playing for Team Sweden in the World Cup and hoping to increase his value—until complications from a previous appendectomy required additional surgery and a two week recovery period. Rakell broke out last season, scoring 20G and 23A in 72 games, and finished fourth in team scoring. An inability to come to terms with the Ducks most likely stems from whether the production outburst was a fluke, or just Rakell’s natural upward development.

Key Storylines: Can Randy Carlyle do what Boudreau could not, and can John Gibson handle a full starter’s workload?

Bruce Boudreau was let go at the end of last season despite four consecutive first place finishes in the Pacific. The problem in management’s eyes was that Boudreau could not get it done in big playoff games and a new voice was needed. One could debate the existence of ’clutch’, but losing four straight game sevens gave management enough ammunition to seek out someone new. Or Randy Carlyle, the man Boudreau replaced in 2011-12. Carlyle last coached the Toronto Maple Leafs, missing the playoffs in 2 of 3 seasons, and fired midway through the fourth. The former Ducks coach is an odd choice to replace Boudreau, but the thought is that an old voice may motivate veterans Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf.

On the ice, Anaheim shipped out RFA goaltender Frederik Andersen this summer to the Maple Leafs and move forward with John Gibson as their undisputed starter. Gibson appeared to grab the starter’s role from Andersen last season, going 21-13-4 in 38 starts, and posting a .920SV% and 2.07GAA. Those personal stats are slightly better than Andersen’s .919SV% and 2.30GAA. Either way, the Ducks had a decision to make in net, and chose the young netminder over the Danish RFA. Gibson has not played a full season, however, and questions remain as to whether his numbers can remain consistent with a full workload. The Ducks brought in Jonathan Bernier from the Leafs to potentially ease the growing pains, but the starter’s job is clearly Gibson’s to lose.

 

Confirmed: Orlov Signs One-Year Deal With Capitals

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Washington Capitals and Dmitry Orlov agreed to a one-year deal worth $2.57MM. Orlov was a restricted free agent this summer, and while his contract will keep him as an RFA next summer, he is arbitration-eligible. The signing wraps up the Capitals’ obligations right before training camp opens.

Orlov is currently playing on Team Russia’s blueline in the World Cup of Hockey and averaging around 20 minutes a game. Last season he scored 8G and 21A in 82 games for the Capitals, but remains a bottom-pairing defenseman because of a stacked Capitals’ blueline.

The signing leaves Washington with approximately $880K in salary cap space to start the season. The Caps have little wiggle room to add, however, and will have to manipulate the cap creatively in order to make space at the trade deadline. The deal itself seems team friendly, but if Orlov continues to progress he is in line for a healthy raise next year.

Snapshots: Islanders, Las Vegas, Ekblad

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

News and notes around the NHL tonight:

  • The New York Islanders hired former player Claude Loiselle as Hockey Operations Consultant today. Loiselle held the same position with the Arizona Coyotes last year. As a player, Loiselle netted 92G and 117A in 616 games for the Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, Quebec Nordiques, and New York Islanders. He has also held numerous management positions around the NHL after retiring, including Assistant GM positions with the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Loiselle faced criticism during his Toronto stint, however, stemming from claims of cap mismanagement and responsibility for the much-maligned David Clarkson contract.
  • The Las Vegas NHL Expansion Team hired Vince Williams as a professional scout today. Normally scout hirings are not news, but the new Las Vegas team will have the almost-Herculean task of assembling a farm system from scratch. Williams previously coached the ECHL Orlando Bears before being let go in 2015.
  • Team North America GM Peter Chiarelli confirmed this evening that Aaron Ekblad suffered a concussion against Finland and will not play for the remainder of the tournament. Ekblad was pulled hours before Team North America’s games last night against Team Russia with an undisclosed upper body injury. It is believed that the young defenseman suffered the concussion after being hit by Leo Komarov.

Anaheim Ducks Invite Four More Players To Training Camp

at CDT | by 1 Comment

The Anaheim Ducks released their training camp roster today, and four more unsigned players received invitations. Antoine Laganiere, Kyle MacKinnon, Scott Sabourin and Nick Tarnasky all received PTOs. The Ducks open camp on Friday September 23rd. The players will join already confirmed David Booth, Yann Danis, and Sean Bergenheim.

Antoine Laganiere is an undrafted forward who played four years for Yale University before spending the next three years with the Norfolk Admirals and San Diego Gulls of the AHL. Last season Laganiere scored 16G and 16A in 57 games for the Gulls, and could crack a roster spot at some point this year with the Ducks.

Kyle MacKinnon is an undrafted American centerman who played four years for Providence College—including captaining the team in 2010-11—before signing with the St. John IceCaps of the AHL. Last year MacKinnon netted 3G and 3A in 11 games for the San Diego Gulls.

Scott Sabourin is an undrafted right winger who scored 30G and 20A in 65 games for the Oshawa Generals of the OHL in 2012-13. Last year he bounced from the Ontario Reign to the Iowa Wild of the AHL with a stop in the ECHL with the Manchester Monarch.

Nick Tarnasky was drafted 287th overall in 2003 by the Tampa Bay Lightning, and has made NHL appearances with the Lightning, Nashville Predators, and Florida Panthers. The Canadian forward last played in the NHL in 2009-10, scoring 1G and 2A in 31 games for the Panthers. Tarnasky has spent the rest of his career in the AHL—and a year in the KHL with Vityaz Chekhov—and is looking for one last shot at the NHL. The 31 year-old netted 15G and 5A in 59 games for the AHL Hartford Wolfpack last season.

Keep track of all the training camp invites with our Training Camp Invite Tracker.

Aaron Ekblad Out With Injury

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Team North America—and Florida Panthers—defenseman Aaron Ekblad will not play in tonight’s World Cup game against Team Russia because of an upper body injury. Ekblad led all players in ice time with over 23 minutes played in the team’s 4-1 win over Finland on Sunday. George Richards of the Miami Herald reports Ekblad has suffered a mild concussion.

The young defenseman will be replaced by unsigned RFA Jacob Trouba. Trouba has yet to come to terms with the Winnipeg Jets, and a strong performance replacing Ekblad could go a long way in his contract negotiations. Trouba had a bit of a production setback last season, scoring 6G and 15A  in 81 games, but he remains a top-flight defensive prospect for the Jets.

Ekblad just signed a eight-year extension worth $7.5MM a year, so the Panthers have the right to be concerned about his health.  Panthers GM Tom Rowe told Richards that he doesn’t expect the defenseman to play again in the tournament.  Ekblad scored 15g and 21A in 78 games last season and is looking to build off that success as he progresses in his development. This injury highlights why NHL GMs worry about international competitions as they impose risk upon the league’s top players outside of scheduled NHL games.

Snapshots: Nichushkin, Strome, Sabres

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

News and notes around the NHL this evening:

  • Dallas Stars GM Jim Nill said that losing Valeri Nichushkin to the KHL is “not the end of the world.” The unsigned RFA is rumored to be close to signing a two-year deal with CSKA Moscow instead of remaining with the Dallas Stars. Nill reasons that Nichushkin is still young and will continue to develop in the KHL—and return to the organization a better player. Nishushkin scored 9G and 20A in 79 games for the Stars, and was considered a promising prospect on the backend.
  • Unsigned RFA Ryan Strome approaches the New York Islanders self-imposed deadline to sign a contract before the season starts. As Larry Brooks reports, the Isles have maintained the previous ownership’s policy of not negotiating during training camp. The Canadian forward scored 8G and 20A in 71 games for the Isles last season, and an additional 1G and 3A in 8 playoff games. The Isles have just over $3.6MM in cap space—more than enough to sign a player of Strome’s calibre to a short-term bridge deal.
  • The Buffalo Sabres officially announced that they have changed their arena name from the First Niagara Center to the KeyBank Center. KeyBank’s parent company KeyCorp recently bought First Niagara, and with it came the arena’s naming rights. Both are mid-size banks with a concentrated upstate New York presence. The name change will take effect this season. The name change is also the team’s fourth in twenty years, after being called the Marine Midland Arena, HSBC Arena, and most recently the First Niagara Center.

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

scroll to top