Snapshots: Stevens, Koppanen, Seguin
The Los Angeles Kings are apparently only looking at John Stevens currently for their head coaching position, reports both Pierre LeBrun and Darren Dreger of TSN. Stevens, as some may remember, coached the Philadelphia Flyers for parts of four seasons from 2006-2009 where he had a record of 120-110-34 and took the team to the playoffs for two seasons. His resume includes a Calder Cup championship, and he has been part of the Kings organization now for seven years.
It doesn’t mean that Stevens has the job, or that he even will be retained as an assistant, but the new Kings’ GM Rob Blake wants to exhaust internal options before looking outside the organization. Stevens definitely has the qualifications, but it may come down to just needing a new voice in the room. The new management team will likely decide before long, so that whoever it is can be part of the offseason discussions prior to the expansion and entry drafts.
- The Boston Bruins have signed Joona Koppanen to a three-year, entry-level contract. The Finnish forward was rumored to have turned down NCAA offers last week and was set to “turn pro”. Now it’s clear that meant with the Bruins, as the contract will kick in for the 2017-18 season. The 19-year old could now come over and join the AHL Bruins for next season, developing his game further from the excellent season he had in the Finnish junior league. With 54 points in just 38 games, it was clear Koppanen needed a greater challenge next season. A fifth-round pick of the Bruins in 2016, the 6’5″ Koppanen has the size to enter the professional ranks right away.
- At a press conference to introduce Ken Hitchcock this morning, one of the first things the new Dallas Stars’ head coach said was that he expects Tyler Seguin to return to center and play “in all situations”. That will include some penalty kill time as Hitchcock intends to turn Seguin into the dominant center the Bruins had hoped for when they picked him second overall. Already an offensive dynamo, Seguin told Mark Stepneski of NHL.com that the idea of playing all over the ice “makes him giddy”. It should, if it can turn him into a dynamic two-way player. Hitchcock is known for riding his stars hard when they play poorly defensively, even if they are succeeding at the offensive end. Perhaps he’s exactly the coach Seguin needs to turn him into the MVP-type player that he clearly has the talent to be.
Snapshots: Eichel, Panarin, Bruins, Letang
Jack Eichel wasn’t happy at his year-end press conference, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be in Buffalo for a long time. Sabres’ GM Tim Murray told Bill Hoppe of the Times Herald that he hopes to work out an extension this summer for the young superstar. Eichel will be heading into the final year of his entry-level deal in 2017-18, and will be deserving of a huge raise should the Sabres buy out any free agent years. A four year extension would make him an unrestricted free agent at the end of it, and every year after that will cost quite a bit extra.
Should the Sabres choose to go a shorter route they could keep costs down but risk pushing Eichel closer to free agency. Murray also told Hoppe that he’d like to re-sign Brian Gionta, the team captain and long-time NHLer. The 38-year old had another solid season with 15 goals and 35 points, and is a huge part of the leadership group that wants to help Buffalo back to the playoffs. Eichel has mentioned Gionta several times over the years in helping him adapt to life in the NHL
- Stan Bowman wasn’t worried about Artemi Panarin‘s bonuses, he tells Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times. The young forward earned a $1.725MM bonus in the final game by scoring and putting himself into a tie for 10th in points among forwards. That’s in addition to his $850K “Schedule A” bonuses for finishing high in various team categories. The Hawks will have to carry much of those bonuses over to next season, but Bowman says he was assuming all season that Panarin would hit them.
- Amalie Benjamin of NHL.com reports that the Bruins will not bring Torey Krug or Brandon Carlo to Ottawa for game 2, still listing them day-to-day. Colin Miller, who exited last night’s game after just seven minutes of ice time, was seen limping around and is questionable for Saturday’s game. Miller was taken out by a knee from Mark Borowiecki last night, and left the game immediately. It will be interesting to see who the Bruins lean on while their defensemen nurse injuries; Charlie McAvoy played over 24 minutes in his debut.
- Kris Letang underwent the scheduled neck surgery successfully, and is on track to return in four to six months. The operation was to correct a herniated disc, and will sideline him for much of training camp if not the beginning of the regular season. The Penguins won their first game of the playoffs last night, but will be hard fought to go all the way without their superstar defenseman.
- Ron Hextall spoke to the media in Philadelphia (including Dave Isaac of the Courier-Post), and revealed that both Dale Weise and Brandon Manning will undergo surgery to correct various ailments. He also said that assistant coach Joe Mullen will not be retained for next season. Mullen has been with the Flyers since 2007, working with several different head coaches.
Morning Notes: Glass, Krejci, Capitals
Jeff Glass has been recalled from the Rockford IceHogs prior to the Blackhawks’ game 1 match-up according to Scott Powers of The Athletic. The goaltender will serve as the emergency third netminder tonight when they take on the Nashville Predators in what will be an excellent series. Though the Blackhawks are the clear favorites, some have picked Nashville as a potential spoiler even from the eighth seed.
The Predators are a fun team to dream on, with their solid defense corps and young forwards, but don’t count out the powerhouse ‘Hawks just yet. They beat Nashville in four of five meetings this season, and are still one of the early cup favorites. Glass will serve only as an emergency backup should something happen to one of Corey Crawford or Scott Darling in the pre-game warm up.
- The Boston Bruins looked fine without him, winning 2-1 over the Ottawa Senators to take a 1-0 series lead, but David Krejci could be back as soon as the weekend. Amalie Benjamin of NHL.com tweeted last night that he is day-to-day and will be re-evaluated before the second game on Saturday.
- The Bruins got contributions from all the regular names, but also welcomed Charlie McAvoy to the bright lights of the NHL playoffs. He skated over 24 minutes for the Bruins as they overcame a 1-0 deficit to win in the third period. His smooth skating and decision making ability were on display all night, and saw over four minutes of powerplay time.
- The Capitals had a very optional morning skate before their first game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and John Carlson wasn’t a part of it. He will take the warm up though and expects to play, according to Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post. The Maple Leafs have their hands full if Carlson does play, as the Capitals defense is one of the deepest in the league.
Injury Notes: Murray, Krejci Down For Game 1
Matt Murray went down with an apparent lower-body injury per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Dave Molinari. Marc-Andre Fleury will replace him in net for Game 1 against Columbus. Further details are not available, but the seriousness of the injury may have a significant impact on Pittsburgh’s Cup hopes. Murray’s stats were substantially better than Fleury’s throughout the season, securing his role as the starter after question marks last summer regarding the latter’s future. Murray’s .923 save percentage was good for 8th in the league among tenders, with 32 wins and 4 shutouts. Fleury, by comparison, only had a .909 save percentage, securing only 18 wins and 1 shutout.
GM Jim Rutherford opted to not move Fleury before the draft, and again held pat before the trade deadline even with the looming expansion draft posing complications to the two-goalie plan. Depending on the severity of the injury to Murray, these decisions may have been strokes of genius for a team that has been plagued by injuries all season long. Whether Fleury will revert to his championship form of 2008 or 2009, or flounder as he did in 2012 or 2013 remains to be seen. The statistics from this past season suggest that against Vezina favorite Sergei Bobrovsky, Marc-Andre Fleury may struggle to stack up.
David Krejci was a late scratch for the Boston Bruins before their game 1 against Ottawa. Although injury information this time of year is often hard to come by, Krejci had been expected to play earlier in the day. The only information we have regarding the nature of the ailment is that it is upper-body. Sean Kuraly took his spot in the lineup. Krejci is easily one of the top offensive threats on the Bruins, so if this ailment is nagging, they will be hard-pressed to replace his production or experience. On a team restocked with promising youngsters, Krejci boasted a total of 77 points in 93 total playoff games. The Bruins’ fortunes in this series would be substantially improved if Krejci can return quickly.
Prospect Notes: Bjork, Reddekopp, Anderson-Dolan
As the Boston Bruins welcome one NCAA signing to the NHL today—Charlie McAvoy will pair up with Zdeno Chara for the Bruins’ playoff opener tomorrow night—they’re still working on getting another into the fold at all. Joe Haggerty of CSNNE reports that the team is negotiating with Anders Bjork, the top player from the University of Notre Dame, to try and convince him to turn pro.
While it has long been rumored that Bjork would leave school following this season, Haggerty points out that he has strong ties to the school through his family and there is still a chance he could return for his senior year, especially after the dream run the team went on in the NCAA tournament. The fifth-round pick had 52 points in 32 games and would be a contender for the Hobey Baker should he return next season.
- Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider reports that Chaz Reddekopp will join the Ontario Reign on an amateur tryout. The WHL defender just completed his fourth season with the Victoria Royals where he scored 43 points in 51 games. We recently included Reddekopp on the list of unsigned draft picks set to become free agents should they not be signed by June 1st, meaning this is likely a tryout to see if the Kings want to sign him to an entry-level contract. Drafted in the seventh round, Reddekopp was outstanding for the Royals this year and has the size to be a solid player in the professional ranks.
- Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News profiles several young players in his latest column, including Jaret Anderson-Dolan of the Spokane Chiefs. The 17-year old Anderson-Dolan was just ranked at #21 among North American skaters on the NHL Central Scouting final draft rankings, a huge leap from his spot at #40 at mid-season. Kennedy is especially high on him, as he writes that Anderson-Dolan is a “smart, 200-foot player who works hard and has more offense to unlock.” The center had 76 points in 72 games this season, playing mostly with fellow top draft prospect Kailer Yamamoto. As Kennedy points out, the pair will likely both be back next season for the Chiefs, and will look to put up even better numbers.
Playoff Injury Notes: Senators, Bruins, Canadiens
With the long regular season finally over, a new challenge has appeared for sixteen teams. The Stanley Cup playoffs represent one of the toughest grinds in all of professional sports, where intensity and physical play is increased and players are expected to skate through injuries. That said, some of the teams will start the postseason nursing injuries to some of their biggest stars, while others will welcome them back into the fold after a short rest. Here are some injury updates from around the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
- The Ottawa Senators will welcome back Erik Karlsson and Zack Smith for game one of their series against the Boston Bruins, GM Pierre Dorion confirmed today. The team may also get Marc Methot back into the lineup, less than three weeks since his finger was “shattered” by a Sidney Crosby slash. Inserting those three into the lineup will give the Senators a huge boost at both ends of the ice, as they continue to try and play their shutdown style.
- The Bruins on the other hand will be without Torey Krug for the entire first round, and miss Brandon Carlo for at least game one. The team signed and activated Charlie McAvoy earlier today to replace them, though losing Krug for the whole round is a devastating blow. Whether McAvoy makes an immediate impact or not, Krug has been the Bruins’ best puck-moving defenseman this year and will be sorely missed. Carlo on the other hand has looked like a veteran this year while paired with Zdeno Chara, making up for some of the captain’s decline in effectiveness. The team will also be without Noel Acciari for game one according to Amalie Benjamin of NHL.com.
- Montreal welcomed back an important face to practice today, as Shea Weber rejoined the team in a regular jersey and is expected to play in the first game of their series against the New York Rangers. Weber hasn’t played since March 1st, but will be a huge part of a Canadiens blue line trying to slow down the high-powered Rangers. While technically Montreal is the much higher seed, the Rangers finished with just one fewer point than them in the standings and should be considered at least even odds going into the series. Montreal needs all hands on deck to brush off what has been a roller coaster season and find some success in the playoffs this year.
Charlie McAvoy Signs Three-Year ELC, Will Play In First Round
After the Boston Bruins lost both Torey Krug and Brandon Carlo in the last few games of the regular season, they’ve now been forced into something they hoped to avoid. Charlie McAvoy is at Bruins practice, and has signed a three-year, entry-level deal that will start this season.
McAvoy and the Bruins had been negotiating back and forth on whether to sign his deal for this season (2016-17) or start it next year (2017-18). He’s been playing on an amateur tryout with the Providence Bruins, where the team could make sure he was ready for the next step. Now, with the injuries that have befallen them in the last few days they have no choice but to get him under contract and insert him into the lineup.
The Bruins open their series on the road against the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night, meaning McAvoy needed to be officially signed and activated by then. Krug was injured last week and seen with crutches, while Carlo suffered an upper-body injury after being run into the corner by Alex Ovechkin on Saturday night. Those two have likely been the Bruins best defenders this year, despite Carlo’s young age and relative inexperience. While it is not guaranteed that they won’t be able to go for Game 1, it does not look likely.
McAvoy was the Bruins first-round pick this past summer, going 14th overall before heading back to Boston University for his sophomore season. He put up another solid offensive year, while again showing that he can handle himself in the defensive end. One of the young defender’s best talents is his cool demeanor under pressure, easily collecting loose pucks and moving them out of the zone. While debuting in the playoffs would be a tough ask of anyone, McAvoy seems primed and ready for NHL action and should be able to impact the game positively.
Bob McKenzie of TSN was first to report that the team would sign him and activate him Monday, while Aaron Ward of TSN reported that he was at Bruins practice.
Brandon Carlo Leaves Game; Will Not Return
Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo has left this afternoon’s game with an upper-body injury, and will not return.
Carlo took a big hit from Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin in the corner. After being attended to by medical personnel, he left the game. There has been some debate over the legality of the play, as Ovechkin appeared to hit Carlo in the numbers as the young defenseman lost his balance (GIF of hit). There was no penalty on the play.
If Carlo is out of the lineup for any extended period of time, it would be a big loss for the Bruins. His 16 points in 81 games are good for third among Bruins defensemen, behind only Torey Krug (who is currently injured) and Zdeno Chara. Carlo has been a steadying presence as a rookie, averaging 21 minutes of ice-time per game. He was the Bruins’ second-round pick in 2015.
The Bruins have already clinched a playoff spot with 95 points in 81 games. The two possible matchups are the Ottawa Senators or the Capitals. In either series, Carlo would be counted on to contribute defensively against stars like Erik Karlsson and Ovechkin.
At the time this article is being written, the Bruins and Capitals are tied 1-1 in the second period. Should the Bruins win, they would clinch third in the Atlantic Division and a first round matchup with the Ottawa Senators. A loss would give the Maple Leafs the opportunity to pass them (Toronto would have to sweep Pittsburgh and Columbus this weekend). In that case, the Bruins would face the Capitals, who they’re playing right now. If today’s game is any indication, it would be a hard-fought series.
Saturday Snapshots: Final Saturday Of The Regular Season
8:48pm: The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3, clinching a playoff spot for the first time since 2013. Despite losing goaltender Frederik Andersen, the Leafs rallied for three goals in the third to punch their ticket to the playoffs. TSN’s Bob McKenzie sums up the seedings with tomorrow’s results. If Toronto gets one point tomorrow, they will take on Ottawa in the first round while Boston faces off against Washington. Should they lose, they draw Washington and the Bruins get Ottawa.
2:54 pm: Today is the second last day of the regular season, and as such, there’s a lot going on around the National Hockey League. The entire playoff bracket can be finalized this evening, stars will be healthy scratched, and milestones hit.
Playoff Matchups:
- Two Eastern Conference matchups have already been set: Canadiens vs Rangers and Penguins vs Blue Jackets. Another could be set tonight, if Toronto, Ottawa, and Boston all win. That would mean Capitals vs Maple Leafs. Should the Maple Leafs lose while the other two win, then that would guarantee Senators vs Bruins.
- Wild vs Blues is clinched by a St. Louis win or a Nashville loss.
- Oilers vs Sharks would be clinched by:
- An Oilers extra-time loss vs the Canucks tonight, OR
- An Oilers regulation loss and a Sharks loss in any fashion.
- Blackhawks vs Predators happens if:
- The Predators lose in regulation, OR
- The Flames win and the Blues get a single point, OR
- The Flames and Predators both lose in OT.
- The Flames would take on the Ducks if:
- The Oilers lose, the Blues get a point, and the Flames win, OR
- The Oilers lose, and both the Flames and Predators lose in OT, OR
- The Oilers lose, and the Predators lose in regulation.
- The Flames would take on the Blackhawks if Calgary loses and the Predators win.
- The Ducks would take on the Predators if:
- Both Edmonton and Calgary lose, and the Predators win, OR
- Nashville gets a point, while Edmonton loses and Calgary loses in regulation.
Other clinching scenarios:
- The Oilers clinch home-ice with a single point. They visit Vancouver tonight, and host them tomorrow.
- The Ducks clinch the Pacific Division with an Oilers loss of any kind.
- To pass Anaheim and win the Pacific, the Oilers would need to sweep the Canucks this weekend and have Anaheim lose to Los Angeles tomorrow.
- Should the Toronto Maple Leafs win tonight against the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto will clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2013. That would eliminate the New York Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning.
- The Islanders could also be eliminated with a regulation loss or any kind of loss if the Maple Leafs get a single point.
- UPDATE: Ottawa clinched home ice by defeating the Rangers, 3-1.
- They defeat the Rangers today, OR
- Boston and Toronto lose in regulation, OR
- The Bruins and Senators each get a single point combined with a Maple Leafs OT loss.
Scratches:
- The Penguins are resting a handful of players, but not their captain. Regulars Nick Bonino, Brian Dumoulin, Patric Hornqvist, Matt Murray, and Bryan Rust will all be healthy scratches, however Sidney Crosby will dress. Forward Kevin Porter and goaltender Tristan Jarry have been called up to fill out the lineup; Jarry will back up Marc-Andre Fleury. The Penguins coach, Mike Sullivan, told TSN that he’s aware of what’s on the line for the Maple Leafs, but re-iterated that his priority is to do what’s best for the team “in the short-term and the long-term. Having said that the lineup we put in will be competitive.”
- The Canucks will be without the services of Sven Baertschi for this weekend’s home-and-home with the Oilers. Postmedia’s Ben Kuzma reports that Baertschi may have hurt his shoulder or neck on Thursday vs the Coyotes.
- The Senators will be resting several players. Their lineup isn’t known yet, but Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch suggested Craig Anderson, Mike Hoffman, Dion Phaneuf, Kyle Turris, and Viktor Stalberg as possibilities.
Milestones:
- Oilers captain Connor McDavid could become just the fifth player to score 100 points since 2010. He’s sitting at 97 points in 80 games, the seventh-most points in a season during in that time frame. Only Evgeni Malkin, Daniel Sedin, Crosby, and Patrick Kane have cracked the century-mark this decade. McDavid is nine points ahead of Crosby and Kane for the NHL scoring lead, and looks poised to take home the Art Ross in his first full season at age 20.
- With one more goal this season, Auston Matthews can become the fifteenth rookie in NHL history to score 40 goals. Currently, he’s tied with Crosby, Steve Yzerman, and Peter and Anton Stastny at 39. Kings’ coach Darryl Sutter, Sylvain Turgeon, and Warren Young all scored 40 goals in their rookie seasons.
NCAA All-American Teams Named
Prior to the reveal of University of Denver defenseman Will Butcher as the 2017 Hobey Baker Award-winner and ahead of the NCAA championship game tomorrow night, the American Hockey Coaches Association released the rosters of this year’s collegiate All-American Teams. The teams, first and second squads from either side of the country, are listed below with their NCAA teams as well as NHL-drafted or signed organization, if applicable:
East All-Americans
First Team:
RW Zach Aston-Reese, Northeastern (Pittsburgh Penguins)
RW Spencer Foo, Union
C Mike Vecchione, Union (Philadelphia Flyers)
D Adam Fox, Harvard (Calgary Flames)
D Charlie McAvoy, Boston University (Boston Bruins)
G Charles Williams, Canisius