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Bob McKenzie

Lightning, Blackhawks Swap Slater Koekkoek And Jan Rutta

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Young defenseman Slater Koekkoek had one game remaining in his conditioning reassignment and the Tampa Bay Lightning had been searching for a trade partner before its expiration. They have found one, as TSN’s Bob McKenzie was the first to report that Koekkoek is headed to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for veteran defenseman Jan Rutta. Also being exchanged are two late draft picks, as Chicago acquires a 2019 fifth-round pick and Tampa acquires a 2019 seventh-round pick, per the Blackhawks’ announcement.

This is the fourth trade made today alone, as the NHL trade market appears to be heating up. While Koekkoek had long been expected to be moved, Rutta comes as slightly more of a surprise. The 28-year-old cleared waivers and was sent to the AHL last month after recording just six points through 28 games. Rutta came over from his native Czech Republic last season as one of the best defenseman in the top Czech league. He carved out a role for himself with Chicago, registering 20 points in 57 games and showing flashes of brilliance at times. The Blackhawks resigned Rutta to a one-year,  $2.25MM contract that immediately turned on them as he struggled right off the bat this season. Given that he cleared waivers not long ago in the midst of a down season and the Blackhawks have since traded Brandon Manning and released Jason Garrison, Ruuta’s name had not been heard much on the rumor mill.

Yet, despite his struggles and impending free agency, not to mention being both older and having less NHL experience, the details of the trade imply Rutta is considered the better of the two players. Chicago acquired both Koekkoek, who the team may control as an impending restricted free agent, and the better of the two picks in the deal. Rutta is nice depth piece for Tampa Bay in their pursuit of a Stanley Cup, but Koekkoek has the higher ceiling and longevity. The No. 10 pick overall in 2012, the 24-year-old Koekkoek is a hard-working defenseman who possesses the puck well. However, he simply never played consistently well enough to earn a regular role for the Lightning and the risk of losing him for nothing on waivers had begun to hamstring their roster decisions. There is some question as to whether Koekkoek has the high-end skill of a true NHL defenseman, but he will get the opportunity to prove it one way or another for the struggling Blackhawks, who made a completely risk-free trade.

Edmonton Oilers Acquire Alex Petrovic From Florida

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After a rough recent stretch, the Edmonton Oilers added to their defensive corps when they traded for Florida Panthers defenseman Alexander Petrovic in exchange for Chris Wideman and a conditional third-round draft pick, according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie. This may not be the Oilers only move as Edmonton Journal’s Jim Matheson writes that Edmonton may not be finished making trades.

With Edmonton owning two third-round picks in the upcoming 2019 draft, the Panthers will receive the better of the two picks between their own and the New York Islanders’ third-rounder the team received in the Brandon Davidson deal back in February of 2018.

Despite starting 9-2-2 under Ken Hitchcock when he replaced Todd McLellan on Nov. 20, the team has since struggled, losing five straight, all in regulation. Suddenly, the team finds itself in sixth place in the Pacific Division and moving further and further away from a playoff spot. For Edmonton general manager Peter Chiarelli, this is a desperation move in hopes of saving his job as the hope is that the 6-foot-4, 216-pound defenseman will add some size and toughness to the Oilers’ blueline. Petrovic, a stay-at-home defenseman should provide some defensive talent for a team that has been without several key players on the blueline, including Oscar Klefbom and Kris Russell, who are both on injured reserve as well as Andrej Sekera, who has been out all season.

The 26-year-old Petrovic has struggled finding solid footing in Florida recently as he hasn’t been handed significant minutes with the Panthers despite the fact that the francise was incredibly high on him just a couple of years ago. In fact, Florida opted to protect Petrovic over Jon Marchessault, who they instead traded to Vegas in the expansion draft last year. Petrovic was most well known for a hit against Chicago Blackhawks’ Patrick Kane that broke the star forward’s collarbone just before the trade deadline in 2015. That physical play was what led Florida to protect Petrovic. However, Petrovic has averaged just 17:23 ATOI this season, which is an improvement over the 14:39 he averaged last season, but far from the numbers that the Panthers had expected when he arrived in Florida in the 2012-13 season when he was 20 years old. The hope is that with a change of scenery, especially with him returning to his birthplace of Edmonton, Petrovic may fulfill some of those hopes of being a top defensive, physical player.

Wideman, who was just recently brought aboard in Edmonton via Ottawa, moves onto his third team this season. Wideman was acquired on Nov. 22 from the Senators in exchange for a 2020 conditional sixth-round pick, a relatively low price for a defensive defenseman. However, despite being a defensive-minded coach, Hitchcock didn’t trust Wideman, evident by him averaging just 11:26 of ATOI in the five games he appeared in.

Both players will be unrestricted free agents next season as Petrovic is finishing out a one-year deal he signed this summer for $1.95MM and was likely not returning to the team next year anyway considering the lack of playing time the blueliner has been receiving the last two years. Wideman is on a one-year, $1MM deal and must prove that he belongs if he wants to hold a NHL roster spot in the future.

Snapshots: Blues, Formenton, Predators

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When things aren’t going well for an NHL franchise with big expectations, you can almost see the vultures—that is, other general managers—circling. That’s what appears to be happening in St. Louis, where the Blues find themselves constantly in the rumor mill these days. After another mention yesterday of the potential availability of Alex Pietrangelo (who underwent hand surgery today but didn’t see his recovery timeline change) the latest news comes as a little reprieve for Blues fans who don’t want to see their team blown up.

On NBCSN, hockey insider Darren Dreger explained that he doesn’t believe the Blues will move a big chunk of their young core though will listen on “just about anything else.” Dreger only mentions Jaden Schwartz as part of that core, and doesn’t address directly the rumors around Pietrangelo and Vladimir Tarasenko. There’s still plenty to like about the St. Louis depth chart, especially given the young group of forwards including Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, Ivan Barbashev, Klim Kostin and Sammy Blais who all look like they will contribute in the NHL for a long time. If a big move does come, it won’t necessarily set the Blues back very far.

  • Alex Formenton suffered an injury in yesterday’s exhibition game at the World Junior selection camp, and today was seen by TSN’s Bob McKenzie on crutches and wearing a knee brace. The team told McKenzie that it was just precautionary, but Formenton’s inclusion on the tournament roster is obviously in jeopardy. The Ottawa Senators prospect was expected to play a huge role and use his speed and experience to give Canada an edge against an excellent international field, but will have to show he’s healthy enough to compete before the team sends home his potential replacements.
  • While Kyle Turris is expected to return for the Nashville Predators tonight, news isn’t nearly as good on his fellow injured forwards. GM David Poile told ESPN radio that Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson will still be out for another three weeks. Nashville lost their top seed in the Western Conference last night after the Calgary Flames came from behind to win against the Philadelphia Flyers, and are in a dog fight with the Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche for the Central Division lead. Getting two of their top forwards back would be a huge boost for the club as they search for a little more consistency during the winter months.

Toronto Maple Leafs Lock Up William Nylander For Six Years

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The long-awaited saga between William Nylander and the Toronto Maple Leafs is finally at an end. The Toronto Maple Leafs announced they have signed the holdout restricted free agent to a six-year, $45MM deal, according to CapFriendly. Nylander is expected to be on a plane from Stockholm to Toronto within 10 hours.

“We always tried to stay optimistic,” said general manager Kyle Dubas (via TSN’s Kristin Shilton). “We had our process and we have a great staff…it wasn’t really an emotional experience. It’s my duty to the organization to put the organization in the best possible spot with all our economics. We hope to always avoid [a standoff], but it’s a realistic situation.”

The deal has a complicated structure, especially for the first year. According to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, Nylander’s first-year salary is pro-rated at 10MM (6.67MM), plus a $2MM signing bonus, which comes out to net $8.67MM and a $10.2MM AAV. In the remaining years of the deal, Nylander’s AAV is $6.996MM.

Here is a breakdown of the deal (via CapFriendly):

  • 2018-19: $10MM salary + $2MM signing bonus = $10.2 AAV
  • 2019-20: $700K salary + $8.3MM signing bonus = $6.97 AAV
  • 2020-21: $2.5MM salary + $3.5MM signing bonus = $6.97 AAV
  • 2021-22: $2.5MM salary + $3.5MM signing bonus = $6.97 AAV
  • 2022-23: $2.5MM salary + $3.5MM signing bonus = $6.97 AAV
  • 2023-24: $2.5MM salary + $3.5MM signing bonus = $6.97 AAV

For Nylander, it ends a long holdout as Nylander missed out on 59 days of the season, officially signing five minutes before the NHL deadline for him to sign an NHL contract this year. With rumors that Nylander had been holding out for $8MM and trying to force Dubas’ hand in the rookie GM’s first holdout negotiations, Nylander was forced to settle for under $7MM, which is a win for Dubas.

“I think all offers varied. I’m not going to get into where our offers started and where theirs started,” Dubas said. “I’m happy for our team and I’m happy for William. I wish we had been able to get this done before training camp…happy to add William.”

McKenzie also notes that Nylander received a 10-team modified no-trade clause in the final year of the deal as he is not eligible for a no-trade clause for another five years.

The 22-year-old center was considered to be a key piece of Toronto’s young core, but with the team’s salary cap having tightened up over the past two years with signings to major free agents Patrick Marleau and more recently to John Tavares, the team needed to prove that they could extend some of their younger players for discounts or be forced to break apart some of the team. Nylander is only the first of many of their future contract negotiations as Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner will both be restricted free agents this coming offseason and are expected to get paid even higher than Nylander. The team also have several other key contracts, including Nylander’s on-ice replacement this year in Kasperi Kapanen, who has played well enough to earn himself quite a raise in restricted free agency next season. Andreas Johnsson’s play should also get a boost in pay as a restricted free agent as well. The team also will have to factor in the contract of defenseman Jake Gardiner who will hit unrestricted free agency next season and needs to be locked up.

“I knew people were ready to jam that one down my throat,” Dubas said. “We hope all these guys will be career Leafs. That’s our goal, is to keep it together…We’ve had discussions with [Matthews and Marner’s agents]. We want to avoid a situation where all our players aren’t in training camp. Not [making history] in the way we’d like to [with Nylander deal].”

Despite the long holdout and his $8MM asking price, Nylander fared pretty well. The Maple Leafs had made it clear early in negotiations this summer that they weren’t willing to go past six years at $6MM, so to get an extra $1MM per year is impressive, considering the team’s budget.

TSN’s Darren Dreger  was the first to report the deal.

Snapshots: Team Canada, Fletcher, Kovar

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Held in the middle of the NHL season, the Spengler Cup in Switzerland is often an afterthought among international events. Yet, Team Canada has put together quite the formidable group to lead their entry into the late December tournament, in pursuit of a fourth consecutive title. Hockey Canada has announced that Sean Burke and Ron Francis will put the Spengler Cup team together as co-GM’s, while Kevin Dineen will lead the selections as the head coach. Not only does that trio have extensive NHL playing careers on their resumes, but each have had success in their off-ice roles as well. Dineen has spent 14 seasons behind an NHL bench, including three as the head coach of the Florida Panthers, and has international coaching experience as well. His assistants, Gordie Dwyer and Mike Kitchen, are no strangers to the job either. Burke, currently a scout for the Montreal Canadiens, is familiar with Team Canada, having served as GM for the 2018 Olympic team, part of the management group for past four IIHF World Championship entries, as well as the GM of the past two Spengler Cup teams. However, it is Francis that sticks out the most. The former Carolina Hurricanes GM is currently considered a candidate for the Philadelphia Flyers’ new vacancy and, should the position remain open through the end of the calendar year, Francis’ efforts to put together a winning Spengler Cup team could be seen as part of his case for the job.

  • Another candidate for the Flyers’ GM vacancy – and perhaps the favorite – is former Minnesota Wild GM Chuck Fletcher. Fletcher was let go by the Wild this off-season and joined the New Jersey Devils as an executive, but is still held in high esteem by most in the game. Many pundits have suggested that he is the front runner for the job and now TSN’s Bob McKenzie reports that the wheels appear to be in motion. The Devils have given the Flyers permission to speak with Fletcher, McKenzie says, and reiterates the sentiment that he would be the preferred hire. Although Minnesota was unable to reach the ultimate goal, Fletcher had the team on a six-season postseason streak when he was dismissed and the Wild, currently with the third-best record in the Western Conference, have a core of veteran and young contributors that was by and large put together by Fletcher. The experienced executive would be a more than capable GM for Philadelphia.
  • The Boston Bruins front office may soon be facing a decision, albeit to a much smaller extent. After he appeared to be weighing a return to Europe, Jan Kovar instead finds himself one step closer to his desired destination – another shot at the NHL. The Bruins announced this morning that Kovar, who has been playing with their AHL affiliate in Providence, was up practicing in Boston today. The question remains whether or not Kovar earns a contract with the Bruins, something that Lee Stempniak was unable to do despite ample practice time with the team. Boston is without Patrice Bergeron, but still has David Krejci and has been getting admirable efforts from rookie Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson and veteran Joakim Nordstrom in his unnatural position. Yet, the team scratched Sean Kuraly in their last game and is still struggling to get secondary scoring. It may be the exact scenario that Kovar needed to get a second chance after quickly flaming out with the New York Islanders earlier this season.

Poll: How Will The William Nylander Saga End?

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Toronto Maple Leafs fans were abuzz this morning as reports seemingly came out of every corner of the hockey world concerning William Nylander’s imminent signing. There were those who had apparently spoken directly to Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas, and others who just put out unconfirmed rumors that they’d heard. Venerable insider Bob McKenzie of TSN quickly threw some cold water—perhaps a whole ocean’s worth—on those rumors, explaining that nothing in fact was imminent though negotiations continue between the two sides.

So now just one week remains before a December 1st deadline which would make Nylander ineligible to play anywhere in the NHL this season. The Maple Leafs do still have time to get a deal done with their young restricted free agent, and head coach Mike Babcock certainly seemed optimistic when asked today by reporters including Chris Johnston of Sportsnet:

I’m confident, hopeful. I mean Willy loves hockey. I know Willy good—he’s a great teammate and good person—and he loves hockey. He wants to play that.

But if there is still work to be done on a long-term contract, time is running out quickly. McKenzie suggests that there are two prevailing options, either signing a three-year bridge deal near $5MM per season, or a six-year deal near $7MM. Those are the kinds of numbers that have been speculated on over and over for the past few months, with no real information leaking out of either side. It seems no one really knows where the Maple Leafs and Nylander stand in negotiations, and in fact there are two (or even three) other options that the team could decide to use.

One is to trade Nylander in the next few days, though as it gets closer to the deadline that seems even more unlikely. The acquiring team would need to hammer out a contract of their own with the RFA, and as CapFriendly has explained it would likely come with an increased cap hit this season. That’s a tough thing for most teams to fit in right now, and they would be under a time crunch of their own. Still, if the Maple Leafs want to cash in on their asset for this season that might be the best way to do it if they can’t get a deal done.

The other option would be to stand their ground and just let the December 1st deadline to come and go. Nylander would be ineligible to play this season but he would gain little leverage in any negotiation for the future, and the Maple Leafs could potentially flip him at a later date. A non-playoff team might want to get him into their system even if he can’t play this season, and work under no deadlines to get him under contract.

It’s still not clear at all what will happen in Toronto, but as the Maple Leafs prepare to face the Columbus Blue Jackets this evening we ask you what you think. How will the Nylander saga end, or at least what will be the status of the young forward next weekend?

[Mobile users click here to vote.]

Snapshots: Outdoor Game, Penguins, Patrick

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The 2019 NHL Winter Classic is still more than a month away and the 2019 NHL Stadium Series game even further, but that hasn’t stopped discussions about where the league could turn next for an outdoor game. Today, BSN Denver’s Adrian Dater reports that the Colorado Avalanche are likely to be an outdoor game host “sooner rather than later.” In talking with deputy commissioner Bill Daly, Dater learned that the league is very interested in placing a game at the nearby Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, where Falcon Stadium normally plays host to the Air Force football team and a capacity crowd of close to 47,000. Given the success of the NHL’s last foray into an outdoor game in Colorado – the 2016 showdown at Coors Field in Denver – and their special interest in games played at American military institutions, such as last year’s game at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, not to mention the successful Division I hockey program at Air Force, the school seems like a great fit to host a gme.  For now though, the league remains focused on their next contest at a college football venue, when the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks square off at Notre Dame on New Year’s Day.

  • The Pittsburgh Penguins hope that their team is in much better shape when they take part in their outdoor game later this season, a match-up with the rival Flyers at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on February 23rd. The team continues to struggle and, even after his acquisition of forward Tanner Pearson, GM Jim Rutherford remains open for business per numerous sources. However, the next move might not be just a simple one-for-one to land a role player. TSN’s Bob McKenzie raised the stakes on the latest “Insider Trading” segment, stating that “anything and everything is on the table” in Pittsburgh. McKenzie says that the Penguins’ list of untouchables is rather short – just Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. McKenzie believes that anyone else could be move, perhaps adding fuel to the fire of recent rumors that Phil Kessel, Derick Brassard, Olli Maatta, and Matt Murray are among the names that could be on the move if things don’t improve.
  • The Penguins did make a noteworthy move today, announcing that legendary executive Craig Patrick has re-joined the team as a pro scout. The 72-year-old Hall of Famer served as Pittsburgh’s GM for 17 years, from 1989 to 2006. Patrick was the architect of the 1991 and 1992 Stanley Cup-winning Penguins teams and much of the 2009 championship team and beyond were the products of Patrick’s regime, including Crosby and Malkin. Many will also recognize Patrick as an assistant coach to Herb Brooks on the famed “Miracle” 1980 U.S. Olympic team, while he also served as both coach and GM for the New York Rangers over a nine-year span in the 80’s. The extent of Patrick’s role is unclear, but particularly in the midst of a difficult season, this is a great hire by the Penguins if only for the wisdom and guidance of an experienced hockey guru.

Oilers, Rangers Swap Ryan Strome And Ryan Spooner

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The New York Rangers and Edmonton Oilers have decided to shake things up by exchanging centers. The Rangers were the first to announce the deal, which sees them send Ryan Spooner to the Oilers for Ryan Strome. This is is a one-for-one swap, although TSN’s Bob McKenzie reports that the Rangers have retained $900K of Spooner’s contract to make it an even salary exchange.

This trade is simple case of two players who didn’t work out in new locations and needed a change of scenery. If Spooner’s and Strome’s names look familiar in a trade context, it is because both were just shipped off last season. In the 2017 off-season, the Oilers sent Jordan Eberle to the New York Islanders straight up for Strome. The move was panned initially, then Strome gained some support over the course of the season, but after recording just two points through 18 games to begin the new campaign, he was again drawing the ire of executives and fans alike. Spooner was included in the package that the Boston Bruins sent to the New York Rangers in exchange for Rick Nash at last season’s trade deadline, but hardly seemed like the centerpiece in a deal that also featured a first-round pick and defensive prospect Ryan Lindgren. Although Spooner played very well for the Rangers down the stretch, he too has just two points to show for his efforts this season, a disappointment to those who felt he could play a top-six role for the team moving forward.

It will be difficult to determine a winner in this trade for some time. Both players carry a cap hit of $3.1MM through the 2019-20 season. Spooner, 26, and Strome, 25, are almost dead even in career points, although Spooner has 160 points in 289 games whereas Strome has 162 points in 358 games, close to a season more. Both are power play assets who can be too passive offensively at even strength and are known for streaky play. The only main difference between the pair is in style; Spooner is an elite passer and a quicker player with very little patience for the defensive aspects of the game, while Strome is two-way forward with penalty-killing prowess, superior possession numbers and more goal-driven production.

Back with the man who drafted him in Boston, GM Peter Chiarelli, Spooner likely stands the best chance of a rebound. The Oilers have been looking to improve their team speed and Spooner certainly brings that element to his game. Edmonton’s usage of Spooner will bear watching, as the team could use a high-end play-maker on the wing more than they really need a third-line center, but historically Spooner has fit better down the middle and the loss of Strome does vacate a spot. Meanwhile, Strome joins a center-heavy lineup in New York and will likely have to earn a spot down the middle. The Rangers could use his scoring touch, if he can find it, but also need more two-way accountability, which Strome can bring.The Rangers’ brass watched Strome play with the Islanders for years and know what they’re getting in this deal. Both players have struggled to fit in in previous NHL situations; the Oilers and Rangers hope this time they can get it right.

Dennis Everberg, Michael Lindqvist On Unconditional Waivers

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Wednesday: Both players have cleared waivers and will now see their contracts terminated.

Tuesday: The season of contract termination continues, as the Winnipeg Jets are the latest to place a player on unconditional waivers. Dennis Everberg finds himself there today, for the purpose of mutually terminating his contract after just 11 games in the minor leagues. Bob McKenzie of TSN adds that the New York Rangers have placed Michael Lindqvist on unconditional waivers for the same purpose.

It seems as though the majority of undrafted European free agents have decided to terminate their deals in North America this year, with Everberg and Lindqvist only adding to the total. The former, who signed a one-year two-way contract on July 1st, was actually returning to this side of the ocean after previously playing two seasons in the Colorado Avalanche organization between 2014-16. The Swedish forward struggled last year in the KHL and didn’t find much more success in the AHL this time around. With just a single point in 11 games with the Manitoba Moose, Everberg will likely now return to the SHL to continue his playing career.

Lindqvist though is an even more interesting story, given that the Rangers did include a European Assignment Clause in his contract. Signed in May to a one-year entry-level contract, the team could have potentially allowed him to return to Sweden this season and still retain his rights as a restricted free agent next summer. After the 24-year old scored seven points in 16 games for the Hartford Wolf Pack one would think the Rangers were interested in keeping him in the system, but they’ve decided to terminate his deal instead. That will make Lindqvist an unrestricted free agent once again, though it seems unlikely that he’ll be back in an NHL organization anytime soon.

The Rangers likely made this decision thanks to the fact that Lindqvist would be arbitration eligible after the season, a process they would want to avoid. Everberg meanwhile would have been an unrestricted free agent anyway, and hadn’t found a real role in the Winnipeg organization.

Adam Clendening Placed On Waivers

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Wednesday: Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch reports that Clendening has cleared waivers and will likely be assigned to the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL.

Tuesday: In addition to the Winnipeg Jets and New York Rangers using unconditional waivers to terminate contracts, the Columbus Blue Jackets have placed Adam Clendening on regular waivers today according to Bob McKenzie of TSN. Clendening hasn’t played for the Blue Jackets in a month, and will now likely get a chance to suit up in the minor leagues if he clears.

Clendening is one of the most well-traveled 26-year old players in the NHL. Originally selected 36th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2011, the Blue Jackets are already his seventh organization—not even counting the second stint with Chicago last season. Suiting up for 90 total games split between the Blackhawks, Canucks, Penguins, Oilers, Rangers, Coyotes and now Blue Jackets, Clendening can’t seem to stick anywhere around the league. Despite being an excellent offensive presence in the minor leagues, the most NHL games he’s played in a single season was 31. That’s not to say there isn’t interest, as he continually is acquired through trade or signed to short-term contracts in free agency.

What he can’t seem to secure is a qualifying offer, as he’s been denied one in each of the last three offseasons and is at risk once again of not being retained by the Blue Jackets. Amazingly, the team still does own his rights as a restricted free agent through next season, something that they are risking by exposing him to waivers at this time. Still, Columbus has been carrying two extra defensemen for much of the season and had gotten Clendening into just four games. If he’s not going to play for you, losing him on waivers isn’t much of a risk.

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