Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Scooter Vaughan Garners PTO With St. Louis

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The St. Louis Blues extended a training camp invitation to defenseman Scooter Vaughan. The undrafted American last played for the Blues’ AHL affiliate Chicago Wolves, netting 3G, 11A, and 56PIM in 68 games. In his AHL career he’s put up 21G and 25A in 190 games between the Chicago Wolves and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

This is St. Louis’s sixth PTO so far this offsesason, following T.J. Galiardi, Eric Nystrom, Chris Porter, Yan Stastny, and Mike Weber. St. Louis is known for its numerous invites—last year they had nine players on PTOs and signed three of them: Scott Gomez, Scottie Upshall, and Martin Havlat. Vaughan is not expected to earn an NHL contract, but a decent performance could garner a spot back with the Chicago Wolves.

The hard-nosed defenseman is known more for his gritty play than his scoring touch, and his veteran presence will provide guidance for the Blues’ young prospects. According to Hockeyfights.com, Vaughan participated in four fights last year, and eleven the year before. Even if Vaughan does not earn a contract, the exposure amongst NHL talent goes a long way to obtaining professional employment elsewhere in the AHL. If he does earn an NHL contract, it will be his first NHL opportunity.

 

 

Snapshots: Lehner, Babcock, Zetterberg

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

News and notes from around the NHL this evening:

  • Robin Lehner is coming to Buffalo Sabres’ camp 40lbs lighter than last season, according to Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald. The Swedish goaltender suffered a high ankle in the team’s opening night game last season and picked up bad habits that contributed to him weighing-in at 240lbs when he returned. Lehner was poised to be the Sabres starter last year before the injury. The Sabres paid a stiff price for him and David Legwand, sending the Ottawa Senators the 21st overall pick in the 2015 Entry Draft (Colin White) in return. Lehner underwent season-ending surgery in March last year to fix the lingering ankle injury, but feels 100% going into camp. He seems to be the clear #1 this year after Chad Johnson signed with Calgary. The Sabres acquired RFA Anders Nilsson from the Blues for a 5th round draft this offseason before re-signing him to a one-year, $1MM deal, but he is not expected to compete for the starting job.
  • The Toronto Sun’s Steve Simmons offhandedly revealed that Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg had issues with head coach Mike Babcock while all three were with the Detroit Red Wings. Simmons stated that both players said in their end-of-season exit interviews that they would not re-sign if Mike Babcock remained.  The tidbit’s veracity, however, is in question. Zetterberg signed his last contract in 2009, after the Red Wings lost in the Finals and one year removed from their own Stanley Cup victory, and that contract doesn’t expire until 2021. Datsyuk re-signed his contract at the end of the 2013 season—a contract that expires at the end of this year. It seems improbable that Zetterberg would opine about something far off in the future, or that Datsyuk would complain but re-sign anyways.
  • Speaking of Henrik Zetterberg, the Detroit forward and Swedish veteran spoke to the Windsor Star’s Bob Duff about leaving the Swedish World Cup team this fall. Zetterberg suffered a knee injury and pulled out of the tournament earlier this month. He told Duff that he made the right decision because he could not expect to play through the injury and then arrive at Detroit’s camp in good health. Zetterberg is just one of many players this fall to pull out of the World Cup of Hockey as to not aggravate injuries and risk missing games in the NHL.

New Goalie Equipment Rules For 2016-17 Season

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The NHL will have at least one new goaltending equipment restriction this season: slimmer hockey pants. 2016-17 was supposed to usher in a new era of streamlined goaltending equipment, but manufacturer delays pushed those changes back until further notice. NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly stated on SiriusXM Radio, however, that the new pants regulation may be implemented as early as Opening Night.

For years smaller or slimmer goalies got away with wearing bigger pants because the NHL set a maximum size that accommodated its biggest goalies. That meant that smaller goalies could wear bigger pants than necessary to cover more space. It was not uncommon for the upper part of the pant to extend half a foot above normal height, or the lower portion to sag and block off part of the five hole. Because today’s goaltending butterfly style depends on covering as much of the net as possible, goalies looking for any edge turned to oversized equipment.

Now, the pants are streamlined to be smaller and tighter. The point is to maximize protection as efficiently as possible without adding unnecessary net-hiding bulk. The NHL walks a fine line between protecting goalies in a league where technology allows players to shoot harder than ever, and increasing scoring without changing the game. The league does not want to put its goalies in any danger, but at the same time wants to reduce any unnecessary equipment that gives goalies a slight edge.

This may only be the first of a few changes this season. Daly stated that the process is ongoing, and the NHL hopes to implement further changes as soon as possible. Those changes could include slimmer chest protectors and smaller pads. Whether these new changes find their way into the league will depend on how cooperative the goalies and manufacturers are with the league.

Important Dates In 2016-17 NHL Season

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Our own Nate Brown has collected all the key dates you need to be aware of for the upcoming NHL season. Be sure to circle these on your calendar.

September 17th, 2016 – World Cup of Hockey Starts
October 12th, 2016 – NHL Season Opens
October 23rd, 2016 – Heritage Classic: Edmonton Oilers vs. Winnipeg Jets
December 19th, 2016 – Start of Holiday Trade Freeze
January 1st, 2017 – Centennial Classic: Detroit Red Wings vs. Toronto Maple Leafs 
January 2nd, 2017 – Winter Classic: Chicago Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues
January 29th, 2017 – All-star Game: Staples Center in Los Angeles
February 27th, 2017 – Trade Deadline Day
April 9th, 2017 – Last Day of Regular Season
Mid-April to Mid-June (at the latest) – Stanley Cup Playoffs
June 21st, 2017 – Las Vegas NHL Expansion Draft
June 23rd, 2017 – NHL Entry Draft
June 24th, 2017 – Free Agent Interview Period Opens
July 1st, 2017 – Start of Free Agency

Three PTOs With Best Chances Of Signing

at CDT | by 2 Comments

Like the tide, every preseason brings in a wash of unsigned free agents, players making NHL comebacks, and veterans fighting for one last contract. And like the tide, when training camp ends few PTOs remain on the proverbial beach. This year at least 25 players have agreed to attend NHL training camps on a professional tryout basis, but only a few will secure an NHL contract. Last year over 90 players tried out for NHL teams and only 14 players ended up signing contracts.

Last season the Boston Bruins invited Lee Stempniak to training camp and he played well enough to garner a $850K contract. He drastically exceeded expectations, and now boasts a two-year, $5MM contract with the Hurricanes. Who are this year’s potential Stempniaks? We look at three players who are front-runners for contracts this season.

Kris Versteeg

Kris Versteeg is an interesting case. Earlier this summer the flashy Canadian winger eschewed NHL offers for more money in Switzerland. Yet, days before training camp started overseas, Versteeg and SC Bern parted ways over lingering hip issues which prevented Versteeg from passing physicals and obtaining medical insurance. Within days, however, Versteeg secured a PTO with the Edmonton Oilers in his home province of Alberta.

Versteeg has the most potential out of all the PTOs this year, scoring 15G and 23A in 77 games last season with both the Carolina Hurricanes and the Los Angeles Kings. He flourished with the Chicago Blackhawks in their 2010 Stanley Cup run, but hip issues have sidelined Versteeg throughout the remainder of his career. And therein lines the biggest variable: is Versteeg healthy enough to help an NHL team? It’s his health rather than his skill that leaves NHL teams wanting, and any contract is going to hinge on Versteeg passing physicals.

Brandon Prust

Superficially, Brandon Prust looks like a gritty veteran on the decline—someone who lost a step in the last few years. His numbers seem to indicate the same as he scored only 1G and 6A in 35 games with the Vancouver Canucks. But what Prust lacks in production he makes up for in hard-nosed play. That is what garnered his previous four-year, $10MM contract with Montreal, and while that may have been an overpayment for what Prust brings, Toronto thinks he still has those talents.

A contract for Prust will hinge on his work ethic and gritty play. GM Lou Lamoriello is an old-school manager, and most old-school managers like to have veterans to mentor younger players in their development. Toronto is chock full of younger players, with 1st overall pick Auston Matthews set to make his debut alongside Mitch Marner and William Nylander. Toronto already signed Matt Martin, and if the team feels that they need a similar player, Prust will get his contract.

Tom McCollum

Tom McCollum is an odd choice here because perennial AHL goalies do not usually receive NHL contracts. McCollum, however, isn’t just any AHL goalie, and the Los Angeles Kings aren’t any NHL team. McCollum, a Detroit Red Wings prospect, flourished in the AHL, posting a 2.42GAA and a .923SV%. He has been the model of consistency for the Grand Rapids Griffins over the past few years. His lack of NHL opportunity comes as no fault of his own, but rather the logjam of goalies in Detroit with Petr Mrazek and Jimmy Howard.

The L.A. Kings, on the other hand, suffer from a dearth of goaltending. Known for years as a goalie hotbed, little remains behind starter Jonathan Quick this season. The Kings signed Jeff Zatkoff this summer, but Zatkoff did not perform well in Pittsburgh when given the chance. Outside of Zatkoff, the Kings’ cupboard is bare. Jack Campbell and Peter Budaj remain, but neither have shown promise. If McCollum performs well this pre-season, expect the Kings to sign him to an AHL contract as an insurance policy for Jeff Zatkoff.

Snapshots: Team North America, Kaleta

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Dylan Larkin

News and notes from around the NHL this morning:

  • Team North America announced the lineup for its second World Cup of Hockey exhibition matchup against Team Europe today. According to Sportsnet’s Mark Spector, Todd McLellan decided to sit Jacob Trouba, J.T. Miller, and Matt Murray. Murray sitting means that John Gibson is set to play the full game. Healthy scratches in this format do not imply injuries—ESPN’s Craig Custance says JT Miller is completely healthy—but rather chances for coaches to see other fringe players in action. Last night Canada held out Sidney Crosby in its matchup with Team USA simply because the coaching staff knew what he could do, and wanted to see other players in action. For Team North America, this means both Dylan Larkin and Colton Parayko will get an opportunity to showcase their skills.
  • Patrick Kaleta spoke to the Buffalo News this week about his attempt to make an NHL comeback. Kaleta does not have a contract this season, but is working out in Buffalo with former teammates in an effort to reattain his former level of play. Kaleta is hoping to receive a PTO from a team this year, but expressed that he does not want to toil in the AHL again this season. Last year Kaleta tried out for the Buffalo Sabres in training camp before a groin injury cut his attempts short. He played only 26 games for the Rochester Americans—Buffalo’s AHL affiliate—due to injury and limited playing opportunities. The Buffalo native embodied the enforcer role during his NHL stint with the Sabres over nine years, never scoring more than 15 points in a season. In his last season with the big club he netter only 3A in 42 games. Look for Kaleta to garner a PTO from the Buffalo Sabres, if only because of his previous service to the club.

Bryzgalov Would Retire Rather Than Join KHL

at CDT | by 1 Comment

Enigmatic goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov told Russia’s Championat.com (link in Russian) that he would rather retire than play in the KHL if he cannot find a job in the NHL this season. Bryzgalov made waves earlier this summer when he announced he wanted to return to the NHL in some role. Bryzgalov cites family as the main motivation for eschewing Russia and the KHL.

Bryzgalov last played for Anaheim in 2014-15, going 1-4 in six games with a 4.19GAA and an .847SV%. He had more respectable numbers the year prior, posting a 2.68GAA and a .909SV% with both Minnesota and Edmonton. The Russian goalie signed a rich nine-year, $51MM contract with Philadelphia in 2011-12 after a stellar year with the then-Phoenix Coyotes, but the Flyers bought his contract one year in after a less-than-stellar performance.

Bryzgalov is now 36 and it seems unlikely that teams will bite as most teams do not need goaltending at this point. He may, however, receive a PTO invite from a team like the Washington Capitals who are losing both starting goalies to the World Cup of Hockey this fall. Bryzgalov should not lose faith, however, as even a 42 year-old Martin Brodeur found an interested party in St. Louis two years ago midseason.

 

George Parros Joins NHL Department of Player Safety

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The NHL announced yesterday that former NHL heavyweight George Parros has joined the NHL front office as a Director in the Department of Player Safety. The Princeton-educated player will handle NHL player disciplinary issues, as well as educate players on current and future rules. He joins fellow former NHL players Stephane Quintal and Chris Pronger by making the jump to the NHL’s disciplinary arm.

Parros last played in the NHL with the Montreal Canadians in 2013-14, scoring 0G and 1A in 22 games, but racking up 85 penalty minutes. Parros played primarily as a classic enforcer, acquiring 812 penalty minutes in 356 NHL games—most of which took place in Anaheim where he played for six seasons. He suffered two concussions while playing for Montreal, however, and decided to retire at the season’s end.

Parros’s hiring will help the league with it’s fine balancing act between the sport’s physicality and protecting its players. Part of the enforcer art is playing physical but within the rules. Rated one of the smartest athletes by The Sporting News, Parros should be well-qualified to handle the increasingly subtle disciplinary issues that are arising as a result of a faster game pace.

Connor McDavid Named Team North America Captain

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

McDavid19 year-old Edmonton Oiler forward Connor McDavid was named Captain of Team North America in the World Cup of Hockey. Philadelphia Flyers’ Sean Couturier and Florida Panthers’ Aaron Ekblad were named Alternates.

McDavid leapfrogs older players on the roster such as Ryan Murray, Morgan Rielly, and Mark Scheifele, which speaks volumes about the faith GM Peter Chiarelli has with the young phenom. It is worth nothing that McDavid plays for Chiarelli’s Oilers in the NHL, and the Oilers are currently captain-less. If McDavid handles the captaincy well, there should be no doubt that he’ll be handed the ’C’ when he returns to Edmonton.

Team North America features the best American and Canadian players under 24 on the same team in the World Cup of Hockey. Alongside McDavid is 2016 1st overall pick Auston Matthews, as well as still-unsigned RFAs Jacob Trouba and Johnny Gaudreau.

Kris Versteeg’s Complicated Swiss Exit

at CDT | by 1 Comment

Earlier this week it was reported that Kris Versteeg—who split last season between Carolina and Los Angeles—was terminating his contract with Swiss Team SC Bern because he could not obtain proper medical insurance. The reports insinuated that Versteeg faced difficulty in obtaining insurance because of a history of hip injuries.

Now a report from a Swiss newspaper (link in German) reports that it was SC Bern who withdrew from the contract after Versteeg failed medical tests. The team earlier announced that they did not know of any lingering medical issue (link in German).

This could be seen as two sides of the same coin. Versteeg may have had trouble obtaining insurance—but because he was not medically fit to play. The failed venture, however, may not dampen Versteeg’s NHL opportunities. Vancouver’s News 1130 Sports reports that the flashy forward has received at least one PTO offer, and after scoring 15G and 23A last season, he’d be a welcome addition on many teams. Teams might be wary of Versteeg’s medical issues, however, and hold out for a PTO to evaluate his fitness.

AJAX Loader
Load More Posts

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

scroll to top