Anton Khudobin Hopes To Stay With Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins have some tough decisions to be made on whether or not to bring back several of their pending unrestricted free agents, but while most of the spotlight is on Rick Nash, another player may be even more important. That’s Anton Khudobin, who was an excellent complement to Tuukka Rask this season playing in 31 games for the Bruins.
The 32-year old goaltender registered a .913 save percentage and a 16-6-7 record, and wants to return to Boston where he feels most comfortable. He told Joe McDonald of The Athletic that he doesn’t want to deal with the free agent market, and feels he could play another eight seasons. Khudobin is coming off a two-year contract that saw him earn just $1.2MM per season, a reasonable number for a club that already has Rask under contract for a hefty $7MM cap hit.
There are plenty of backup options scheduled to hit the market this summer, but none immediately stand out as substantial upgrades over Khudobin. Any that do would also likely come with a higher price tag, something the Bruins can’t afford as they prepare for some big extensions over the coming years. If he truly wants to stay, it seems like an easy fit for the two sides on a short-term deal.
Poll: Where Will Rick Nash Play In 2018-19?
The Boston Bruins have been eliminated from Stanley Cup contention, losing in five games at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning. After destroying the Lightning in game 1, the Bruins lost the next four and were eventually done in by a lack of secondary scoring and the depth of the Tampa Bay squad.
One player who seemed to embody the Bruins play all series was Rick Nash, who scored two goals in the first game and then was held to just a single assist in the following four. Nash, who was acquired at the trade deadline for a hefty sum, is now looking at unrestricted free agency later this summer, provided he doesn’t re-sign in Boston.
That price that the Bruins were forced to pay, a first-round pick, Ryan Lindgren and Ryan Spooner, looks even more expensive now that Boston has been knocked out in the second round. Re-signing Nash could dull the sting of losing out on those young assets, especially if it came at a reasonable price. After all, the soon to be 34-year old did record 21 goals this season and is still a positive possession player at both ends of the rink.
The question is will the Bruins even try to bring him back after a disappointing playoff run? Nash seemed open to the idea soon after the trade, but as Ty Anderson of 985 The Sports Hub tweets, it seems more likely that most of Boston’s pending unrestricted free agents will not return. With more young players ready to make an impact, the team could instead try to use some of their remaining cap space on a bigger fish, and fill in the rest of the spots internally.
Still, there is no doubt that Nash will have suitors on the open market. Just as several teams showed interest at the trade deadline, there will be some who point to his solid defensive play and still respectable offensive totals and see a useful player who could be acquired on a reasonable contract. There’s no way the veteran forward will be able to demand the kind of salary he’s been earning in recent years, but a multi-year contract is not out of the question.
Where do you think Nash will end up? Could Boston re-sign him for a smaller salary and try to recoup some of the value they sent to New York at the deadline? Could another team swoop in and make him a multi-year offer to join their playoff hopes? Will he return to one of his old stomping grounds in New York or Columbus to try and find a spark of past glory? Make sure to leave your reasoning in the comments below.
Where will Rick Nash play in 2018-19?
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New York Rangers 21% (366)
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Boston Bruins 15% (267)
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Columbus Blue Jackets 9% (160)
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Toronto Maple Leafs 5% (87)
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New Jersey Devils 3% (58)
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Pittsburgh Penguins 3% (56)
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Buffalo Sabres 3% (51)
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Vegas Golden Knights 3% (51)
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Chicago Blackhawks 3% (50)
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Edmonton Oilers 3% (47)
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Montreal Canadiens 2% (44)
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Philadelphia Flyers 2% (44)
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Los Angeles Kings 2% (40)
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Vancouver Canucks 2% (40)
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Dallas Stars 2% (39)
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New York Islanders 2% (38)
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San Jose Sharks 2% (37)
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St. Louis Blues 2% (35)
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Detroit Red Wings 2% (31)
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Minnesota Wild 2% (27)
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Arizona Coyotes 1% (23)
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Carolina Hurricanes 1% (23)
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Florida Panthers 1% (23)
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Nashville Predators 1% (22)
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Anaheim Ducks 1% (21)
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Calgary Flames 1% (19)
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Washington Capitals 1% (18)
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Winnipeg Jets 1% (15)
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Colorado Avalanche 1% (13)
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Tampa Bay Lightning 1% (12)
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Ottawa Senators 1% (11)
Total votes: 1,768
[Mobile users click here to vote!]
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Injury Notes: Backes, Thornton, Backstrom
While the Boston Bruins fight to try and stay alive in their second round matchup with the Tampa Bay Lightning (the tea m is down 2-1 in Game 5 as of this writing), they’ll have to do it without the help of David Backes. He won’t return to the game today after a collision with Tampa’s J.T. Miller.
Though the series is certainly important, Backes’ long-term health is a bigger concern. The veteran forward went down holding his head, and immediately left the ice with help from players and the training staff. As Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet points out, Backes has already had two publicly known concussions in his career, including one last season while with the Bruins. The 34-year old forward has three years remaining on his current contract with the Bruins, and registered 33 points this season.
- Though there was hope that Joe Thornton could return to the San Jose Sharks lineup tonight, Kevin Kurz of The Athletic reports that won’t be happening. Head coach Peter DeBoer has already ruled Thornton out, meaning the Sharks will need to stave of elimination without the help of one of their top forwards. The veteran center played in just 47 games for the Sharks this season and is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent again this summer. He could have played his last game with San Jose should they be unable to win against the Vegas Golden Knights tonight in Game 6 of their series.
- The Washington Capitals don’t expect to be in the same situation, as head coach Barry Trotz explained today. Despite suffering an upper-body injury, the team expects Nicklas Backstrom to play in Game 6 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Andre Burakovsky still isn’t travelling with the team, but having Backstrom in the lineup gives the Capitals their best chance at finally eliminating the Penguins and moving on to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Boston’s Torey Krug Ruled Out For Series
5:39 p.m. — The Boston Bruins released an update that Krug will miss the rest of the series with the Tampa Bay Lightning. According to team physician Dr. Peter Asnis, Krug suffered an ankle injury and will require more testing to determine the severity of the injury.
3:53 p.m. — The news doesn’t look good for the Boston Bruins. Already down to their last game as they trail the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1, the Boston Bruins learned today that they will be without star defenseman Torey Krug for Game 5, according to The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa.
The blueliner went down with a lower-leg injury when he crashed into the boards Friday in Game 4 and was forced to leave the game, although he was able to walk off on his own. However, the injury could also be enough to rule him out for the season as well.
“He’s out [for Game 5],” said Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy (via the Bruins). “He’s still getting evaluated, but doesn’t look good that it will be short term.”
A loss of Krug will be devastating as the team has used him to play big minutes all season, especially for the playoffs. He even played 25:16 in Game 3 against the Maple Leafs. Krug, who was one of the team’s healthiest defensemen this season, finished the season with 14 goals and 45 assists in 76 games. He has been an even greater offensive spark for his team with three goals and 12 points in 11 games. With a team that has already lost Brandon Carlo for the season with a fractured ankle, the team will have to step up if they have any hopes of winning three in a row. The team will move veteran Nick Holden into the lineup to play alongside Adam McQuaid.
NHL Warns Marchand, Bruins About Licking Players
The NHL’s vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell spoke to both the Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney and Brad Marchand today, warning the veteran forward that his actions of licking players is unacceptable and another incident like that will result in supplementary discipline, according to the NHL.
Marchand, who has been accused for licking a player for the second time in the Stanley Cup playoffs this year, was seen checking Tampa Bay’s Ryan Callahan into the boards and when Callahan shoved back, Marchand responded by licking him. He was accused of the same thing in the first round of the playoffs during Game 1 by the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Leo Komarov. Marchand was not penalized for either incident, but the league is stepping in now.
According to Rule 75.4 (iii), “Any player who persists in any course of conduct designed to incite an opponent into incurring a penalty,” which means the league could start handing out 10-minute misconduct penalties immediately for any similar actions, according to TSN’s Frank Seravalli.
“There’s absolutely no place in this game for that,” Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper said (via Joe Smith). “I don’t understand it.”
Even Boston coach Bruce Cassidy said Marchand needs to stop.
“Brad has to stop licking. That’s the end of the story,” said Cassidy (via Chris Johnston).
Brian Gionta's Addition To Game Four Makes Him Eligible For Bonus
- Brian Gionta’s inclusion in Game Four for Boston against the Lightning could have some implications beyond this season. CapFriendly notes (Twitter link) that because he played in one game this round, he’s eligible for a $50K performance bonus if the Bruins win the series. They finished with just over $100K in cap space at the end of the season per CapFriendly and that amount is before any performance bonuses get added in. If Boston does indeed go over the Upper Limit due to bonuses, any overage would be deducted from their cap room for 2018-19.
Morning Notes: Evans, Bruins, Hamilton
Jake Evans was a seventh round pick by the Montreal Canadiens in 2014, but after four outstanding seasons at Notre Dame he’ll head into 2018-19 with some high hopes. Unfortunately, he’ll have to deal with a lengthy rehab before he gets to next season, after undergoing sports hernia surgery on Wednesday.
Evans faces a 12-week recovery period, but hernia surgery is notorious for having lasting effects for several months. Though he’ll likely be cleared in time to participate in the Canadiens’ training camp, they’ll have to closely monitor his effectiveness before making a decision on where he’ll start the season. Some believe the 21-year old could make an impact at the NHL level right away, but it seems more likely that he’ll start with the Laval Rocket and try to prove his worth on the professional circuit.
- The Boston Bruins will insert Ryan Donato into the lineup tonight, but it could come at a heavy cost. Both Brad Marchand and Jake Debrusk are game-time decisions, and either would be a huge loss if they can’t got. Marchand has been his usual infuriating-and-outstanding self during the playoffs, riling up opponents while registering 15 points in 10 games. DeBrusk on the other hand is having a coming out party in his first postseason, scoring six goals in 10 games and dominating the Toronto Maple Leafs in the opening round.
- Dougie Hamilton was mentioned by Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet as a potential trade target on the latest 31 Thoughts podcast, noting that there are plenty of teams with interest in the Calgary Flames defenseman. Hamilton has three years left on his current contract, and had another big offensive season for the Flames in 2017-18. If the Flames decide something has to change on the back end after a disappointing season, there would be a huge market for the right-handed Hamilton, but it still seems unlikely.
Boston Bruins Sign Connor Clifton To Two-Year Contract
The Boston Bruins have inked minor league defenseman Connor Clifton to a two-year entry-level contract, which will carry an average annual value of $725K. Clifton played this season with the Providence Bruins on an AHL contract, after leaving Quinnipiac University as a free agent in the spring of 2017.
From all accounts, Clifton took several large steps forward in his development this year and is now showing that there might be a higher ceiling than originally believed. First selected in the fifth round by the Arizona (then Phoenix) Coyotes in 2013, Clifton didn’t sign with the team despite showing relatively well in his four years in the NCAA.
There was interest in him immediately, as he signed with the Providence Bruins quickly after becoming a free agent in August. The knock on him was that there was a limit to his potential, and that his physical style might break down his somewhat undersized frame. This season in the AHL he recorded 13 points in 54 games, which actually ranked him third on the Providence defense corps.
If he’s ever to make the NHL, he’ll have to keep developing an all-around game that doesn’t rely on big hits to make an impact. Puck movement, defensive zone coverage and a relentless work ethic will have to be Clifton’s calling cards to crack the Boston lineup. At 23, he’ll have to take those steps quickly or be labelled as a minor league player before long.
NHL Announces 2018 China Games
The NHL announced today the schedule for two games to be played in Shenzhen and Beijing, China between the Boston Bruins and Calgary Flames. The two teams will take part in a pair of preseason matchups September 15th and 19th.
Last preseason the Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings played two games in China, as part of the NHL’s attempt to bring the game to non-traditional hockey markets around the world. The games were a huge success, and gave players a chance to experience a different culture. For the Bruins, this is just the latest event in a years-long relationship with Chinese company ORG Packaging and its chairman Zhou Yunjie. Players including David Pastrnak have made several visits to China over the past few seasons to host clinics and speak with youth hockey teams.
Though the NHL avoided the most recent Olympics, one has to wonder whether they will consider returning for the 2022 Beijing Winter Games. After using these preseason matches to spark the ever-growing interest in hockey overseas, the Olympics would be a perfect place to show China the best-on-best once again. Still, those decisions will likely come down to the next collective bargaining agreement, which still needs to be negotiated in the coming years.
Front Office Updates: O’Hearn, Minnesota GM Search, Nill
The Arizona Coyotes are moving on from a top executive. The team announced today that they would not renew the contract for Assistant GM Chris O’Hearn. O’Hearn had been with the Coyotes for eleven years and was in his third year as AGM. O’Hearn handled much of the legal and administrative operations for Arizona, such as contract negotiations, salary arbitration, and cap management. GM John Chayka will now have to find a replacement or delegate those duties to others in the front office.
- Perhaps O’Hearn can throw his hat in the ring for the Minnesota Wild GM job. Owner Craig Leipold is certainly expanding his search, adding two new names to the mix alongside Nashville Predators’ AGM Paul Fenton and Columbus Blue Jackets’ AGM Bill Zito. The Athletic’s Michael Russo reports that Boston Bruins’ AGM John Ferguson Jr. interviewed for the position today, while New Jersey Devils’ AGM Tom Fitzgerald will make his case tomorrow. Ferguson Jr. was previously the GM and Vice President of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the mid-2000’s and has entered the potential-GM market in a big way this week, now connected with both Minnesota and the Carolina Hurricanes’ vacancy. Fitzgerald had already dropped out of the Hurricanes’ hunt, citing “bad timing”, but the timing appears to be right for a potential move to Minneapolis. The Wild now have four legitimate candidates for Leipold to choose from and he may not be done yet.
- Another job search is ongoing in Dallas, as GM Jim Nill has his hands full finding a new head coach. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that Nill is considering at least ten different candidates to take over for Ken Hitchcock as the Stars’ new bench boss. That was in response to TSN’s Frank Servalli’s note that University of Denver head coach Jim Montgomery is the newest addition to the list. Montgomery has been dominating college hockey over the last five years, leading the Pioneers to a NCAA Tournament berth each year and winning the National Championship last season. Montgomery has been a popular candidate the last couple of years and would be an excellent choice for Dallas.