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Snapshots: Lucic, Campbell, Rasmussen, Red Wings

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ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that the Kings and forward Milan Lucic have broken off negotiations which means the 28-year-old winger is headed to free agency. LeBrun states that the Kings’ lack of salary cap room, and Lucic’s financial expectations were too far apart. Though he wanted to remain in Los Angeles, Lucic now will become a coveted free agent. PHR listed him as the #3 ranked UFA on our Top 50 Free Agent list. Ian McLaren listed his top three spots where Lucic would likely land with Vancouver topping the list.

In other NHL news:

  • The Chicago Tribune’s Chris Kuc indicates that former Chicago Blackhawk defenseman Brian Campbell is interested in coming back to the Windy City. The longtime Florida Panther is an unrestricted free agent, and has not re-signed with the Panthers. PHR listed him as the 14th best free agent out of the Top 50 UFAs.  Campbell would take a significant pay cut, however, as the Blackhawks still have a number of players to bring back into the fold with Andrew Shaw leading the pack.
  • The Blackhawks re-signed forward Dennis Rasmussen tweets CSN Chicago’s Tracey Myers. The deal is for one-year and approximately $600,000 according to CapFriendly. The 25-year-old forward had 9 points (4-5) for the Blackhawks in 44 regular season games.
  • Pierre LeBrun writes that the Red Wings and Hurricanes have had conversations about Pavel Datsyuk’s contract. Detroit has been looking for a suitor to take the heavy $7.5MM cap hit off its books after Datsyuk bolted for the KHL. LeBrun indicates that the Wings have been reluctant to move the contract because of the high asking price.  LeBrun also states that holding onto the contract doesn’t necessarily eliminate the Wings from going after unrestricted free agent Steven Stamkos should he hit the market. Conversely, he points out that dealing the contract away with high draft picks or prospects without knowing if Stamkos hits the market is very risky. Finally, he adds the Red Wings to a list of teams interested in the services of Lucic.
  • The Grand Rapids Griffins have signed forward Jack Barre to an AHL contract, according to the team site.  The 6’2″ 215 pound winger enjoyed a breakout senior season for the Dartmouth Big Green of the ECAC, tallying 26 points in 29 games – more than he had scored in his first three years combined.  Not thought of as an offensive force, perhaps the Connecticut native has found something to build upon in the coming years.

Las Vegas Officially Awarded NHL Team

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Just hours before the NHL Awards held in Las Vegas, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced that Las Vegas would indeed be the recipient of an NHL team for the start of the 2017-2018 season. Bettman indicated that the Board of Governors unanimously approved the league’s expansion. Bill Foley was named the principal owner of the new franchise. Foley indicated that the team has not settled on a nickname but speculation is that the Black Knights will be the chosen name.

Bettman confirmed many details as well. Namely, all teams will lose one player in the NHL Expansion Draft.  Las Vegas will be a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference and this will give the conference 15 teams while the Eastern Conference boasts 16 teams. Yahoo Sports linked the official press release from the NHL while James Mirtle linked the NHL’s official rules regarding expansion teams.

The other interesting tidbit of information was the board deferring a decision on Quebec City and their chances at acquiring an NHL franchise. Pierre Dion, Quebecor President and CEO, spoke as well regarding the opportunity for future expansion. Dion, during the press conference, indicated that the priority is to bring the Nordiques back to Quebec City, and that the passion remains for hockey.

LeBrun: Canadiens Fielding Calls For Subban

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ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun tweeted that the Canadiens are receiving a number of calls for defenseman P.K. Subban. The reasoning, LeBrun writes, is twofold. First, most teams are desperate for a top defenseman and the high motor Subban fits the bill. Second, Subban has a no-movement clause in his contract that kicks in on July 1. LeBrun also strongly indicated that the Canadiens are not actively shopping Subban at all. The volume of calls they have increased significantly in the last 48 hours.

LeBrun isn’t the only one reporting this, either. SportsNet’s Chris Johnston wrote this morning about how rumors are swirling but they don’t affect Subban at all.  In the article, Subban talked about how much he loves playing in Montreal and how his job is not to worry about rumors and instead, “prepare for the season.” Johnston adds that the 27-year-old defenseman posted his third consecutive 50+ point season and is a fan favorite in hockey mad Montreal. However, following a season where the Habs capitulated after losing all-world goalie Carey Price, Johnston cautions that anything is possible. He also adds that it would take a “mammoth offer” to pry Subban out of Montreal.

LeBrun’s ESPN colleague Craig Custance also indicated that the rumor mill has been “churning” with Subban’s name.

While the no-movement clause marries the Canadiens and Subban for another six seasons, it would be a mighty risk to move him to another team. Subban has yet to reach his prime years as a defenseman, and is considered one of the best defensemen in the league. Aside from costing a significant amount from a willing trading partner, it would take a top scoring forward and something else on the blue line to truly pique their interest. Losing Subban would weaken the Habs blue line, and while their lack of scoring would improve, the back end of the ice would take a hit.

Subban is owed $9MM through the 2021-2022 season after a bridge deal of $2.875MM was signed for the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 seasons.

Snapshots: Blues, Trade Targets, Radulov

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St. Louis Blues beat writer Norm Sanders analyzed the situation the Blues find themselves in as the draft and free agency approaches. After signing both Scottie Upshall and Dmitrij Jaskin, the Blues still have a number of decisions facing them. Sanders writes that Jaden Schwartz will be signed first as he’s been dubbed a “priority signing” by general manager Doug Armstrong. He also names defensive Kevin Shattenkirk as a candidate to be traded since he’s approaching the final year of his contract. Sanders also makes note that his name has constantly been floated as being moved to another team. As for captain David Backes, Sanders writes that unless an agreement is had, Backes would be a much sought after free agent.

  • Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury must feel like he’s either back in high school or in a hockey soap opera. Fleury has been the subject of trade rumors ever since the emergence of Matt Murray during the 2016 Stanley Cup playoff run.  Interesting then that his name only comes up as #14 on Frank Seravalli’s TSN Top Trade Bait mentions. Fleury’s name was all over the hockey world as being moved to Calgary until Pittsburgh general manager Jim Rutherford announced that he wasn’t aggresively shopping the former #1 overall pick. Seravalli put the aforementioned Shattenkirk as his #1 target to be dealt while Pavel Datsyuk’s contract sits at #2. The Edmonton Oilers stand as having the most targets likely to be moved with Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Nail Yakupov, Jordan Eberle, and their 4th overall pick in this year’s draft being tagged.
  • NBC Sports Pro Hockey Talk’s Ryan Dadoun scouted free agent Alexander Radulov and what it would take to land him. Dadoun writes that Radulov is purportedly looking for a 2-year/$15MM deal but that might not happen for a player who left the NHL for the KHL and was reported to be a locker room liability. Most teams are comfortable with a 1-year deal to see if Radulov’s KHL successes transfer across the ocean. PHR ranked Radulov as the 11th best free agent on the market and predicted that he would land with Capitals for just over $5MM.

Blues Ink Scottie Upshall To One-Year Deal

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Per a team release, the St. Louis Blues announced that forward Scottie Upshall was re-signed to a one-year deal. Frank Seravalli reports that the deal is for $900,000.

Upshall was a training camp invitee for the Blues last season and made the most of that invite. After an injury plagued campaign with the Florida Panthers, Upshall rebounded in St. Louis, posting 14 points (6-8), and adding a wrinkle to a stingy Blues penalty kill. For $900,000, Upshall is a bargain signing for a team that has a number of names still looking to be signed.

Those names include Steve Ott, captain David Backes, Troy Brouwer and Kyle Brodziak.

Free Agent Focus: Calgary Flames

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The Calgary Flames were a team expected to make strides with young talent bursting at the seams. It was a team coming off optimism from a strong playoff showing. Instead, the Flames muddled through the season, missed the playoffs and fired head coach Bob Hartley. The Flames are constantly mentioned as a hunting for a goalie, and still have some unfinished business as they look to lock up some young players critical to the organization’s future.

Cap Space: $23,232,933 (Via CapFriendly). 

Key RFA: Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. Both are under 23 years of age. Both finished one and two respectively in goals and points during the regular season. And both are restricted free agents. Monahan is expected to cash in, with some reports indicating he could get as high as $7MM annually, while seeking out a long term deal. For a player considered a captain in waiting, at 21, it would behoove both sides to get a reasonable long term deal finished. Meanwhile, Gaudreau’s stock continues to rise. In March, it was reported that he was working on the biggest contract in Flames history. In another, it was written that he and Monahan both wanted to be in Calgary for years to come.   Any long term success of a franchise has included a dynamic one-two punch in terms of scoring forwards. Malkin and Crosby. Toews and Kane. Gaudreau and Monahan should be the next in line.

Other RFAs: G Joni Ortio, F Joe Colborne, F Josh Jooris, F Drew Shore.

Key UFA: G Karri Ramo. The goaltender, who was looked at to lead the Flames to another playoff appearance, struggled and then tore his ACL in February, casting doubt on his return to the Flames. Such a significant injury will hurt his stock in free agency, but a cheap deal in Calgary shouldn’t be thrown out. But with the Flames being constantly named as a team looking for goaltending, Ramo may be looking for a job elsewhere.

Other UFAs: D Jakub Nakladal

Outlook: If the Flames can add a premier, battle tested goalie, they can be a team that causes havoc in the Western Conference. They still have plenty of cap room to work with, even after signing cornerstones Gaudreau and Monahan to expensive deals that will keep them in Calgary for years to come.

 

Ducks Re-Sign Sami Vatanen

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Sunday 9:02 AM CST: According to Cap Friendly, Vatanen’s deal comes with a modified-NTC in years three and four.  The Ducks’ blueliner will submit a 12-team list which he can be traded to. For more information on how no-trade and no-movement clauses work, check out Pro Hockey Rumors’ handy primer.

Saturday 11:35 AM CST: According to the Anaheim Ducks website, the team has re-signed defenseman Sami Vatanen to a four-year deal. The 25-year-old defenseman previously made $1.275MM and was due for a hefty raise. Though the team didn’t release financial details, Eric Stephens reports that it is a 4-year, $19.5MM deal.

The contract is broken down as owing Vatanen $5MM through the 2018-2019 season. In the final year of the deal, Vatanen will earn $4.5MM. CapFriendly indicates that the cap hit will be $4.875MM. With the signing, the Ducks estimated cap room drops to $13,232,500.

Vatanen has been a key component on the Ducks blueline. He notched 38 points in 2015-2016, having 38 points (9-29), while having 4 points (1-3) in 7 playoff games.The deal make Vatanen the highest paid d-man on the team, and also inks another young blueliner to an already strong core. General manager Bob Murray is far from done, with a host of RFA’s, namely Brandon Pirri, Hampus Lindholm and Frederik Andersen, still awaiting contracts.

Datsyuk Announces Retirement From NHL

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As expected from yesterday’s news, Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk officially announced his retirement from the NHL today at a press conference in suburban Detroit. During the brief press conference, Pierre LeBrun tweeted that Datsyuk made the decision because of his family. Yahoo’s Nick Cotsonika tweets that Datsyuk will play in the KHL next season. Red Wings beat writer Ansar Khan tweets that the Wings will be making a statement at 2pm EST at the Joe Louis Arena.

The 38-year-old has been rumored for some time to walk away from the NHL. In April, an interview with Detroit Free Press writer Mitch Albom shed light on Datsyuk wanting to spend more time with his daughter in Russia. As written about at length by many analysts, the $7.5MM cap hit remains for the Red Wings due to Datsyuk extending his contract at the age of 35. Though the AAV was $7.5MM, Datsyuk benefitted from a front loaded contract where he made $10.5MM in 2014-2015, $7MM in 2015-2016, and was slated to make $5.5MM in 2016-2017. Datsyuk’s agent Dan Milstein pointed out, however, that Datsyuk only made $15MM in the first two years of his contract because he declined a $2MM bonus this past February. Milstein also indicated that the Red Wings would have no problem trading the contract away.

Regardless, Datsyuk’s decision puts the Red Wings in a lurch heading into the 2016-2017 season. Even if the Red Wings successfully move the contract, it will most likely include a high draft pick or prospects. Forwards Tomas Jurco and Teemu Pulkkinen were two names floated as potential trade bait. Should the Red Wings opt to take the hit, it will most certainly restrict them from trying to land any potential free agents. The Wings have been linked with Alexander Radulov, and more recently, Steven Stamkos, should he hit the market.

 

Free Agent Focus: Detroit Red Wings

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The 2015-2016 Detroit Red Wings were a team in transition. Jeff Blashill took over a team that on paper, looked ready to build on their performance from 2014-2015 where they nearly upset eventual Eastern Conference Champion Tampa Bay. Instead, the Red Wings were an inconsistent bunch, struggling mightily on the power play, especially in the playoffs, and searching for an identity between their storied past, and their dynamic future, which includes budding superstar Dylan Larkin. The Red Wings were bounced in five games by the Lightning in the first round, and general manager Ken Holland found himself facing a restless fanbase and crucial offseason.

Cap Space: $11,073,789 according to CapFriendly. This number will change if Pavel Datsyuk’s contract is moved to another team. Additionally, the Red Wings are looking at a number of trades to free up room. 

Key UFAs: Darren Helm. The 29-year-old center has been with the Red Wings for his entire career, first making an impact during the Wings 2008 Stanley Cup run. Helm has blazing speed and is a huge factor on the penalty kill. After having a career year in 2014-2015,  Helm posted numbers a bit below with 26 points. (13-13). The Red Wings expected Helm to show a consistency in scoring, but the lack of a scoring touch has been missing from Helm’s game, especially on breakaways. Helm has already been offered a contract, but with the emergence of speedster Andreas Athanasiou and Larkin, Helm’s loss wouldn’t be devastating should they not come to terms.

Other UFAs Forwards Brad Richards, Drew Miller, and Joakim Andersson. Defenseman Kyle Quincey.

Key RFAs: D Danny DeKeyser, and G Petr Mrazek.  DeKeyser was expected to be a top 4 defenseman in Detroit and might be paid as such. With Niklas Kronwall aging, and the core of Detroit’s defense disappointing, DeKeyser is seen as a steady presence who can log more minutes. Mrazek is a completely different case. With over $5.2MM invested in Jimmy Howard, Mrazek is widely seen as the #1 goalie in Detroit and will be compensated as such. The Red Wings have already started shopping Howard to free up money for Mrazek. The 23-year-old Czech was stellar between the pipes, and is seen as the caliber of a goalie who can steal games. In the regular season, Mrazek won 27 games and had a .921 save percentage.

Other RFAs: F Teemu Pulkkinen, D Alexey Marchenko.

For several seasons now, Ken Holland has swung and missed with trades and free agency. The Red Wings are no longer the dominant team they once were, and are clearly in transition with young players like Athanasiou, Larkin, and Anthony Mantha looking to take over. Holland vowed to make changes. His first order of business will be determining what to do with Datsyuk’s contract.  After that, the pressure is on Holland to reshape the roster into one that will bring the Red Wings back to dominance.

Flyers Buy Out R.J. Umberger

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2:37 PM: The Flyers have officially announced that they have bought out the final year of Umberger’s contract.  Because Umberger had a no-movement clause in his contract, he was eligible to elect to bypass the waiver process and immediately be bought out which he did.

11:12 AM: TSN’s Frank Seravalli tweets that the Flyers are likely to buy out the contract of forward R.J. Umberger. The year remaining comes with a cap hit of $4.6MM. CSN Philly’s Tim Panaccio tweeted later that general manager Ron Hextall confirmed that the club was in the process of the buyout.

According to CapFriendly, the buyout will keep $1.6MM on the books for the 2016-2017 season and $1.5MM for the 2017-2018 season. The deal saves them $3MM.

The 34-year-old struggled to live up to the expectations of his contract. Signed by the Blue Jackets in 2012, Umberger was shipped to the Flyers with a draft pick for Scott Hartnell in 2014. Umberger never come close to scoring 20 goals as he did earlier in his career. As his production waned, a buyout became more likely.

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