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Snapshots: Crawford, Toffoli, Myers, Grubauer, Ritchie

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When Stan Bowman addressed the media Friday, the Chicago Blackhawks general manager made it quite clear he wasn’t going to comment on the team’s plans regarding their goaltending situation and in particular, longtime goaltender Corey Crawford.

Crawford, who hits unrestricted free agency at the age of 35, finds himself in a unique position. He could choose to stay or go, but no matter what, he isn’t likely to meet his 2019-20 salary of $6MM. While Bowman didn’t want to comment on what the teams plans are regarding their goaltending, he did remark that some players might be willing to take a home-town discount to stay with the team. Obviously, Chicago hopes that Crawford might be willing to accept that, according to John Dietz of the Daily Herald.

“It’s fair to say that there is a value to a situation where you’ve been around, not just the city, but coaching staff, players, the whole (thing),” Bowman said. “You’ve lived this. You also have time outside that you’re going to have to experience in a new city. Some people may look at moving as an adventure. Others, it’s daunting. I don’t try to figure that out. That’s something players will have to decide on their own.”

The team hopes to make an even bigger mark in the playoffs next year, but really don’t have a starting caliber goaltender under contract for next year unless they can convince Crawford to re-sign with the team. He finished the season with a 2.77 GAA and a solid .917 save percentage in 40 appearances during the regular season. His numbers weren’t as solid in the playoffs as he finished with a 3.31 GAA and a .907 save percentage.

  • The Vancouver Canucks will have to go without one of their top scorers for another game as Sportsnet’s Dan Murphy reports that Tyler Toffoli will be out for Game 1 against the Golden Knights Sunday with a lower-body injury. The 28-year-old has only made one playoff appearance so far this postseason. He did tally six goals and 10 points in 10 games after being acquired by the Canucks. TSN’s Rick Dhaliwal reports that both Toffoli and defenseman Tyler Myers (also out Sunday) are both getting closer to being ready. However, TSN’s Matthew Sekeres reports that Myers will likely need at least a week before being able to return with a Game 3 or 4 return potentially possible.
  • The Colorado Avalanche will be without a few players for Game 2 of the conference semifinals, according to head coach Jared Bednar. The Denver Post’s Mike Chambers reports that the team will be without goaltender Philipp Grubauer for Game 2 as Pavel Francouz will take over as the starter with Michael Hutchinson as his backup. The team is trying to bring in Hunter Miska into the bubble in Edmonton to serve as the team’s third goalie. Bednar also noted that defenseman Erik Johnson is probably out, while Matt Calvert is questionable to play.
  • With the Tampa Bay Lightning having more size and strength on its side, NBC Sports’ Joe Haggerty reports that the Boston Bruins intend to start forward Nick Ritchie to their lineup to add some size of its own. He will likely fill in on the third line, dropping Sean Kuraly to the fourth line. Par Lindholm is expected to drop out of the lineup. The 24-year-old Ritchie does provide some size as he is 6-foot-2, 230 pounds and should make a physical difference against the Lightning. However, he hasn’t found the scoreboard yet with no points in four playoff games this year.

Snapshots: Predators, Lauko, Lipon

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The Nashville Predators have made a couple of changes to their coaching staff for the 2020-21 season, announcing today that they will not renew the contract of assistant Dan Muse. Rob Scuderi, who had been serving as an assistant on an interim basis, will be returning to his role as defense development coach.

Muse had been with the Predators for three seasons following a stint as the head coach of the Chicago Steel (USHL). Nashville will begin the search for new assistants immediately, giving John Hynes a chance to bring in his own team as he prepares for his first full season behind the Predators bench.

  • Jakob Lauko will start the 2020-21 season with HC Karlovy Vary of the Czech league but is expected back with the Boston Bruins when NHL training camp opens. The 20-year-old forward spent this season with the Providence Bruins, scoring just nine points in 22 games. The limited action was due to a knee injury Lauko suffered at the very start of the World Junior tournament, meaning any games he can play in the Czech Republic will be beneficial to his development.
  • J.C. Lipon’s contract with the Winnipeg Jets is up and the 27-year-old forward will take his talents to the KHL. Dinamo Riga has signed Lipon to a contract for the 2020-21 season after he failed to make it to the NHL once again this year. A third-round pick back in 2013, Lipon made his NHL debut in the 2015-16 season but hasn’t been back to the NHL since. Instead, he played 61 games for the Manitoba Moose this year, scoring 31 points.

Boston Bruins Sign Matt FIlipe

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The Boston Bruins made some news last night with a prospect signing, inking Matt Filipe to a two-year entry-level contract. Filipe was a third-round pick of the Carolina Hurricanes whose draft rights had expired on Saturday evening after failing to reach an agreement. He has spent the last four seasons at Northeastern University, serving as an alternate captain this year.

The deal for Filipe will start in 2020-21, but it represents a lottery ticket for the Bruins that could provide some additional depth. The 22-year old forward never really developed into that dominant presence at the college ranks but did record nine goals and 22 points during his senior year.

At the very worst, Filipe should feel comfortable signing with the Bruins organization. He’s from Lynnfield, just north of Boston, and played his high school hockey at Malden Catholic. It’s not often that third-round picks become unrestricted free agents, but the Bruins will hope this one can live up to some of that potential the Hurricanes saw in him four years ago.

Peter Cehlarik Signs In Sweden

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Even in May it was obvious that Peter Cehlarik’s tenure with the Boston Bruins organization was over after the young forward voiced his displeasure with head coach Bruce Cassidy. Cehlarik was in talks with teams in several different leagues but has settled on Leksands IF of the Swedish Hockey League, signing a two-year contract with the club.

Cehlarik, 25, will be a restricted free agent that the Bruins can retain exclusive rights with temporarily by issuing a qualifying offer, but it is hard to think he ever really makes an impact for the organization again. One of the most consistent scorers for the Providence Bruins during his time in North America, he received only 40 games at the NHL level and recorded just 11 points.

A third-round pick in 2013, Cehlarik has plenty of offensive talent and could potentially turn up in a few years as a European free agent drawing interest in the NHL. It won’t be until 2022 at the earliest.

Snapshots: Lindblom, Pastrnak, Myers, Merzlikins, Predators

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There was quite the reaction when the Philadelphia Flyers opted to bring forward Oskar Lindblom with them into the bubble. The Flyers’ forward was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma on Dec. 13, but has been treated and is training with the team. Despite it being unlikely that Lindblom was going to take the ice during the playoffs, that could conceivably change, according to Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault. Lindblom skated with the team Sunday and he intends to return for the playoffs, according to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston.

Vigneault was unclear when Lindblom might return. “A couple of practices? A couple of weeks?”

Lindblom hasn’t played in a game since Dec. 7, but the 24-year-old was looking to have a career-best season with 11 goals and 18 points in 30 games. Of course, getting back into playoff-level shape could take him some time. The Flyers are currently tied at 1-1 with the Montreal Canadiens in the first-round of the playoffs, so it makes sense that the Flyers will need to at least advance one round if they hope to get Lindblom back into their lineup.

  • The Boston Bruins got some good news at an optional skate Sunday when winger David Pastrnak was on the ice with his team. The 24-year-old has only appeared in four playoff games thus far with as he has been termed “unfit to play.” Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy said there is a chance that Pastrnak could play in Game 4 on Monday. “I’d say 50/50 I guess at best right now. Of course that could change over 24 hours,” said Cassidy (via Boston Globe’s Matt Porter).
  • TSN’s Matthew Sekeres reports that Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers will miss Game 3 on Sunday with a shoulder injury, not a concussion like many thought. Whether he can return for Game 4, which immediately on Monday again, is unknown. Myers took an awkward hit from St. Louis’ Brayden Schenn in Game 2. There is talk that Jordie Benn could step in for Myers in the lineup, but since he missed some time for the birth of his child, he may not be ready to play. Other candidates are Olli Juolevi or Jack Rathbone.
  • The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline (subscription required) writes that Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, who was “unfit to play” ever since the Game 4 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, tweaked a groin muscle during the game, the same game in which he allowed three Maple Leafs’ goals in less than four minutes (plus the OT goal). Merzlikins will be out of the lineup indefinitely.
  • NHL.com’s Brooks Bratten reports that Nashville Predators general manager David Poile said he isn’t sure what will happen with their top two unrestricted free-agent forwards in Craig Smith and Mikael Granlund. The GM said he expects to communicate with their respective agents in the next couple of weeks to discuss potential contracts. However, with their cap situation looking dire next season, it’s unlikely the team will bring back both UFAs. Smith finished with 18 goals and 31 points, while Granlund finished with 17 goals and 30 points.

Tuukka Rask Opts Out Of The Remainder Of The Postseason

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The Bruins are now without their starting goaltender as the team announced (Twitter link) that Tuukka Rask has opted out of the rest of the playoffs.  His statement is as follows:

I want to be with my teammates competing, but at this moment there are things more important than hockey in my life, and that is being with my family.

I want to thank the Bruins and my teammates for their support and wish them success.

The decision comes just days after Rask commented about the atmosphere in the bubble following Game Two against Carolina when he told reporters, including Joe Haggerty of NBC Sports Boston, that it doesn’t feel like playoff hockey and with there being no fans, he equated the situation to that of an exhibition atmosphere.  On a Zoom call with the media, including Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston, before today’s game, GM Don Sweeney suggested that these comments weren’t a factor in his decision to leave.  Instead, he indicated that Rask has a newborn child and two other young children at home and that being away from them proved to be too much of a mental strain on him though he also noted that Rask’s family is safe and healthy.  Sweeney also stated that the organization is fully supportive of this decision.

Rask made both starts in the series against the Hurricanes as well as two appearances in the Round Robin and wasn’t at his sharpest, posting just a .904 SV% in those four contests.  However, he was coming off one of the best regular seasons of his career, one that saw him with a .929 SV% and a 2.12 GAA in 41 games in the shortened campaign.  Rask was also a key part of Boston’s run to the Stanley Cup Final last year as he won all 15 of their games while compiling a 2.02 GAA with a .934 SV%.

With Rask gone, Jaroslav Halak becomes Boston’s undisputed starter for the rest of their postseason run.  He’s certainly a strong backup option to have and has been a big part of their regular season success over the past couple of seasons where he appeared in over 45% of their games.  Accordingly, it wasn’t unreasonable to think that he’d be making an appearance or two in the playoffs even if Rask remained with the team.

Halak is no stranger to the playoffs as he has appeared in five different postseasons before this year.  His best showing came back in 2010 when he helped lead Montreal to two significant upsets before they bowed out.  It was his performance there that helped get him an opportunity as a starting goalie, a role he has held for several seasons over his career so he shouldn’t have too much of an issue adjusting to the higher workload.  Including his round robin appearance which counts in playoff stats this season, Halak has a .922 SV% with a 2.45 GAA in 31 games.

Boston’s goaltending depth has certainly taken a hit as the other two goalies they have in the bubble with them have limited experience.  Maxime Lagace made a name for himself in Vegas during their inaugural season by getting the starting role by default for a while due to injuries but since then, he has almost played exclusively in the minors.  Meanwhile, the other goalie on their roster is Dan Vladar, a 22-year-old who posted a stellar 1.79 GAA and a .936 SV% in 25 games with AHL Providence this season but does not have any NHL experience under his belt.

This will be Halak’s net for the rest of the way and he’ll be thrown into the fire quickly with the third game of their series against the Hurricanes less than two hours away.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Injury Notes: Pastrnak, Backstrom, Vehvilainen

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The Boston Bruins dropped a game time bomb on Thursday night, announcing that star forward David Pastrnak had been deemed “unfit to participate” and would miss Game Two. There is no official word on Pastrnak’s condition and whether he will miss any future games with this current ailment. It could be that the Rocket Richard winner simply could not bounce back from a minor injury sustained on Wednesday in just over 24 hours’ time. Pastrnak did appear to be in discomfort following his assist on the game-winning goal in double overtime of Game Two. However, others have noted that Pastrnak also missed practice on Monday and could be nursing a lingering issue. The Bruins certainly do not want their elite scorer to be out of the lineup for too long, so any further clarification on Pastrnak’s injury will be key to Boston’s Stanley Cup hopes this postseason. In the meantime, Anders Bjork has replaced Pastrnak on the team’s top line while Karson Kuhlman has been inserted into the lineup.

  • The Washington Capitals will also be missing one of their stars for Game Two on Friday. First line center Nicklas Backstrom has entered the league’s concussion protocol, reportscom’s Tom Gulitti, and will not be able to return to the lineup just yet. Backstrom was the recipient of high hit from the New York Islanders’ Anders Lee, which cost him two penalty minutes, early in the first period of the Capitals’ Game One loss on Tuesday. Backstrom played through the period but did not return after the break. There is no word on how long Backstrom may be out of the lineup. While Backstrom is certainly a major loss, his absence fortunately lines up with a return for fellow center Lars Eller, who had left the Toronto bubble due to the birth of his son and missed Game One.
  • Veini Vehvilainen has arrived in Toronto to join the Columbus Blue Jackets as their No. 3 goalie, with Elvis Merzlikins still nursing an injury. The Columbus Dispatch’s Brian Hedger notes that Vehvilainen has already officially joined the roster after landing Wednesday, while adding that he will not count against the 31-man maximum bubble roster limit as goalie injuries allow for an exception to be made. In the unlikely event that Vehvilainen has to make an appearance for Columbus, it would be his NHL debut. The well-regarded Finnish product finally made the jump to North America this season, but played exclusively in the AHL.

Boston Bruins-Carolina Hurricanes Game One Postponed

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The Tampa Bay Lightning and Columbus Blue Jackets were locked in a duel for the ages on Tuesday night, playing into a fifth overtime in a game that began at 3:00pm ET – the fourth-longest game of all time. As a result of this historic game and the unprecedented circumstances of the bubble postseason, Game One of the Boston Bruins-Carolina Hurricanes series that was supposed to begin at 8:00pm ET has now been postponed. The league has announced that the two teams will square off at 11:00am ET on Wednesday, which should allow for the Washington Capitals-New York Islanders game to proceed as scheduled at 3:00pm ET.

With Game Two of the Bruins-Hurricanes still scheduled for Thursday night, the teams will open their first round series with back-to-back games. As with every series this year, there is already a back-to-back scheduled, for Games Five and Six on Wednesday and Thursday of next week. As a result, Boston and Carolina could end up playing six games in nine days in this series. Backup goaltenders Jaroslav Halak and James Reimer could very well see a start or two in this series.

Additionally, the Hurricanes long wait has been extended even further. Carolina was the only team to sweep their qualifying round series, knocking out the New York Rangers last Tuesday, August 4. The team had already waited a week, but now will have gone eight days between action. The Bruins meanwhile played their final round robin game on Sunday.

Bruins Loan Robert Lantosi To HK Nitra

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  • Recently-signed Bruins winger Robert Lantosi has joined HK Nitra in the Slovak Extraliga, per a team release. The 24-year-old had a good first season in North America, posting 11 goals and 20 assists in 50 games with AHL Providence which helped him get converted to an NHL deal for the upcoming season.  Lantosi is no stranger to Nitra, having played there in 2018-19 where he led the team in points while finishing fifth overall in league scoring.

Minor Transactions: 08/07/20

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While all eyes today have been and will continue to be on the six elimination games on the postseason schedule and the impending departure of Florida GM Dale Tallon and flurry of European loans have dominated all other headlines, there have been a few small moves worth noting. Here are some minor transactions from the day:

  • After a long career in North America, journeyman Carter Camper is finally headed overseas. Leksands IF of the SHL has announced a two-year deal with Camper, who brings over 550 AHL games of experience to Sweden. Camper, an NCAA standout at Miami University, was initially signed as an undrafted free agent by the Boston Bruins in 2011 and spent three seasons with Boston, followed by one-year stops with Ottawa, Washington, and New Jersey. He last played on an NHL contract in 2016-17 but has continued to be an elite AHL producer on minor league deals with several clubs. However, as the 32-year-old continues to score at a high level without getting another shot at the NHL, it is no surprise that he has finally chased a pay day to Europe.
  • The AHL’s Providence Bruins poached a physical defenseman from the Charlotte Checkers last off-season in Josiah Didier and he ended up leading the team in games played and plus/minus. As a result, they will try again, as insider Mark Divver reports that the team has signed Derek Sheppard to a one-year deal. While Sheppard is not the caliber of player as Didier, he is a daunting physical presence, recording 67 PIM in just 26 games with Charlotte this year. Sheppard will likely not be an everyday player for Providence, but can be a injection of aggression when the team needs it.
  • Brendan van Riemsdyk deviated from the path of his older brothers when he didn’t jump right from the University of New Hampshire to the pros but instead transferred to Northeastern University last year. Unfortunately, his time with the Huskies did not help him earn an NHL contract like his brothers either. Fortunately, he has at least found a place to play next season. The ECHL’s Reading Royals have announced a one-year deal with van Riemsdyk. The Royals are the ECHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, who of course own James van Riemsdyk, which could increase Brendan’s chance of graduating to the AHL sooner rather than later. This signing also means that if impending free agent Trevor van Riemsdyk signs in Philly, all three brothers would belong to the same organization.

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