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“Sizable Gap” In Sam Bennett Contract Negotiations

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Minutes after informing us that Andreas Athanasiou is still considering a move to the KHL, Darren Dreger of TSN reports that Calgary Flames’ forward Sam Bennett could consider a similar move until he can reach a contract with the team. Bennett and the Flames still have a “sizable gap” in terms of his next contract, after an up-and-down first few years in the NHL. Again, this could be an agent—notably Darren Ferris, who also represents Athanasiou—creating leverage for his client, but those reports usually come out earlier in the summer. Now there is just over a week until training camps begin, and the two should be relatively close on contract terms.

Bennett is coming off a season in which he registered only 26 points, and has still yet to breakthrough in the NHL. Though he’s clearly good enough to stay in the checking center role that Calgary has deployed him in, his fourth-overall draft position means the team should expect much more. Many fans were hoping for a breakout this season if given the opportunity, but it could be delayed if he’s not able to reach an agreement.

While starting the year in Europe would technically make him available for the Olympics, it would mean giving up his entire season. Restricted free agents must sign by December 1st in order to be eligible to play for the rest of the season, which is obviously too early for the Olympic team. It seems doubtful that Bennett would miss much time, as Calgary is poised to be a Stanley Cup contender this season and need the center depth that Bennett provides. While there may be a sizable gap now, it’s unlikely negotiations would last deep into the season.

Minor Transactions: 9/2/17

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With the calendar flipping from August to September, there has been a flurry of activity across hockey. Players who have been holding out for more money or better situations are feeling the pressure of an impending season and finally settling for what they can get. Thomas Vanek is one example, while a plethora of PTO’s in recent days provides another. Outside the NHL, lower tier players are facing the same scenario. Here are some minor moves as evidence:

  • Michael Kostka is headed overseas, at least for now. Calgary Flames beat writer Ryan Pike reports that Kostka has agreed to a tryout with Skelleftea AIK of the Swedish Hockey League. This is the first time that Kostka has ventured across the pond, as he has made a career out of being a dependable AHL depth option for several NHL teams. A four-year starter and eventual captain for the UMass Minutemen, Kostka signed a two-year deal with the Florida Panthers out of school in 2008 and and then returned to the Panthers in 2011 after a breakout campaign on an AHL contract in 2010-11. This began a pattern of one-year, two-way contracts for the reliable defenseman. Kostka made his NHL debut in 2012-13, skating in 35 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs, then signed with the Chicago Blackhawks and played in nine games with them in 2013-14 and another 19 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning following a mid-season trade. Kostka then played in seven games with the New York Rangers in 2014-15 and 15 games with the Ottawa Senators in 2015-16. All the while, Kostka has provided consistency on offense and defense in the AHL, as well as veteran leadership. However, only last year with the Senators and later the Flames organizations – following the Curtis Lazar trade – did Kostka have his first season since his NHL debut without a game played at the highest level. Now 31 years old, it appears the yearly demand for Kostka as AHL depth has ended and he will now take his talents to Sweden in hopes of playing a major role once again, this time with Skelleftea. Should he fail to make the team or simply wish to return to North America, the veteran blue liner would undoubtedly be welcomed by a number of AHL teams happy to take him on a minor league deal.
  • The AHL’s Rockford Ice Hogs, affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks, announced that they have signed defenseman Brandon Anselmini to a one-year deal. The former Ferris State University rearguard played for the AHL’s Texas Stars, the affiliate of Chicago’s Central Division foes, the Dallas Stars, last season. However, Anselmini only skated in ten AHL games, spending the bulk of the campaign with the ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads. Although Anselmini performed well in his first pro season at the ECHL level, it’s doubtful that he’s ready for a full-time AHL role. The undersized defender is a good depth option for Rockford, but is likely destined for more time in the ECHL.
  • Yet, at least Anselmini found an AHL contract to begin with. A player he could help to replace with the Ice Hogs, Nolan Valleau, has not been so lucky. Valleau, who signed with the Chicago Blackhawks out of Bowling Green State University two years ago, was not tendered a qualifying offer by the team this off-season and became an unrestricted free agent. After a 2016-17 season where he played entirely in the AHL, but scored just eight points and played to a -19 rating, there hasn’t been much interest in the 24-year-old in the AHL, nevertheless another NHL team. Instead, Valleau has signed with the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears, the team announced. The Solar Bears’ press release indicated that they are very excited to have Valleau, who could take on a leadership role for the “AA” squad. Perhaps the puck-moving defender could find his way back to the AHL next season and beyond if he makes the most of his time in Orlando.
  • Another non-qualified UFA settling for an ECHL deal after being on an NHL contract is Zach Pochiro. Pochiro, a 2013 fourth-round pick of the St. Louis Blues and St. Louis native, has signed with the Allen Americans, the team confirmed. Unlike Valleau though, Pochiro is extensively familiar with the ECHL. The former Prince George Cougars standout has played in 103 ECHL games since signing with the Blues in 2014. In comparison, he has only skated in five AHL games and of course no NHL games in that span. Even after being traded to the Edmonton Oilers in the Nail Yakupov deal last summer, a change of scenery was not enough to change his career trajectory, leading to the Oilers passing on retaining his rights. Perhaps the reality of an ECHL contract will help the once-promising 23-year-old to re-focus.

 

 

More to come throughout the day

 

Flames GM Treliving On Free Agency, Bennett’s Contract Discussions

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Although the Flames have been speculatively linked to some veteran free agents over the past few weeks (including Jaromir Jagr recently and former Flame Jarome Iginla), GM Brad Treliving told Postmedia’s Eric Francis that he’s not sure where that talk has come from and wouldn’t acknowledge if any talks have occurred:

“You can’t help but respect them. But, this notion we’ve been in contract talks with them is rumour and I’m not going to comment on them.  Are we going to go to camp with the group we have? Good chance. Are we poking around at a few things and could there be additions before camp? Yes. Is that a guarantee? No. I wouldn’t say there’s anything significant on the horizon, but we look at everything every day.”

Calgary is thin on the right side with Micheal Ferland, Michael Frolik, and Troy Brouwer currently comprising their top options.  That’s likely part of the reason why Jagr has been suggested as a potential fit for them as he’d represent an upgrade on that group and would slide into a top-six role for the Flames.

[Related: Calgary’s Depth Chart]

As for Iginla, the talk of him rejoining the team seems more nostalgic than anything else.  He struggled considerably last season with Colorado and while he played better after his trade to the Kings, he’s not a top-six forward anymore and isn’t a great fit for a bottom-six role either.

Calgary currently has some room to make another addition or two as they currently sit with a little more than $7MM in cap space, per CapFriendly.  However, they still have center Sam Bennett to re-sign who will cut into that amount.  While talks don’t appear to have progressed too much, Treliving is confident they’ll get a deal done with the former fourth overall selection:

“We’re going to get Sam signed.  Every contract is unique and takes its own course. We’re working away at it and we think Sam is going to be a good player in this organization for a long time. He’s growing and I know he’s had a good summer. We’ll keep banging away at it.”

Earlier this summer, Treliving acknowledged that contracts for players like Bennett tend to take longer than some others.  This case is particularly interesting with the 21-year-old’s production taking a dip last year down from 36 points to 26.  That all but certifies that he will receive a bridge deal so now, it’s all about finding the right structure, particularly when it comes to how much to backload the contract as his ending salary would represent his qualifying offer at the completion of the deal.

Calgary Flames Bring In Tanner Glass On PTO

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In a move that feels like it came right from Brian Burke’s mouth, Tanner Glass has been signed to a professional tryout by the Calgary Flames according to Rick Dhaliwal of News 1130. Dhaliwal confirms that the Vancouver Canucks, a team Glass spent two years with, had no interest in bringing him into camp.

Glass, 33, has spent the last three seasons with the New York Rangers organization, playing 134 games while bouncing up and down from the minor leagues. Known almost exclusively as a “tough guy”, Glass actually was a playoff story for the Rangers this year scoring four points in seven games—more than either of J.T. Miller or Kevin Hayes.

The Flames have been known for mixing toughness with skill, and Glass definitely will bring some of the former. If he can secure a job with the team, he’ll likely play the role of the 13th (or 14th) forward and only be inserted into the lineup on certain nights.

Calgary Flames Sign Brett Kulak

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The Calgary Flames have signed defenseman Brett Kulak to a one-year, two-way deal worth $650K at the NHL level, reports Sportsnet’s Pat Steinberg. Kulak was a restricted free agent coming off his three-year entry-level contract this offseason.

Kulak—drafted in the fourth round of the 2012 NHL draft by the Flames—has bounced between the Flames and its AHL affiliate Stockton Heat. Last season Kulak played 21 NHL games and earned 3 assists. In 22 AHL games he scored 2 goals and 8 assists.

Kulak will compete for one of the last defensive spots open on the Flames’ blueline. Right now the team has five defensemen signed for at least three more seasons, and a sixth in Matt Bartkowski on an expiring deal. If Kulak wants to earn a raise next season, he’ll have to fight his way into the lineup.

The signing leaves the Flames with two RFAs left to sign—forward Sam Bennett and defenseman Tyler Wotherspoon. The team has approximately $7MM in cap space to fit in those two players before the season starts.

 

Brett Kulak Close To Signing With Calgary Flames

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The Calgary Flames have three of the remaining fourteen restricted free agents yet to sign, but one may be locked up soon. Rick Dhaliwal of News 1130 in Vancouver is reporting that Brett Kulak is close to a with the team. Kulak is coming off his entry-level contract and played 21 games for the Flames last season.

A fourth-round pick of the Flames in 2012, the 23-year old Kulak has yet to establish himself as an NHL presence, but could be in line for his first full season. Calgary has one of the best top-4 in the league, but there is an opening on the third pairing that will likely go to one of Kulak, Matt Bartkowski or Tyler Wotherspoon (also an RFA).

Kulak has all the things that go into a solid NHL defender, with a steady defensive presence, size and some offensive upside. Though he’s not a punishing physical player, he can eliminate rush attempts with solid body positioning and work the puck out of the corners most of the time. His ability to fire stretch passes can lead to counter-punching offense, and it could be a very solid pairing with Stone facing weaker opponents.

The Flames currently project to have around $7MM in cap space, though Sam Bennett should eat up a substantial portion of that with his upcoming deal. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Kulak either on a two-way deal or with a very low NHL salary.

West Notes: Flames, Doughty, Sharks

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Marek Hrivik spent six years in the Rangers organization but only made 21 appearances with the NHL club, compiling no goals and three assists. However, he was much more productive in the AHL, where he played in 270 games and scored 53 goals for the Hartford Wolf Pack. Predictably, the 2012 undrafted free agent wanted an opportunity to play on the biggest stage, and he said that was a big reason why he signed with the Flames this offseason.

“It’s never been a dream of mine to play only in the AHL,” Hrivik told NHL.com’s George Johnson. “So I’ve been looking for a different opportunity. I’ve been with New York for five years and it just wasn’t going to work there. I had a bunch of teams interested but I thought I had the best chance in Calgary and that’s why I signed there. Obviously the interest I felt from the organization was also important. That was probably the No. 1 thing. You always want to feel wanted.”

The 25-year-old left the Rangers organization earlier this offseason and quickly signed a one-year, two-way deal with Calgary. Of course, he understands that it’s still an uphill battle to make the team’s final roster.

“There are bunch of guys in a similar position as I am, I’d say, for a fourth-line spot,” Hrivik said. “Money-wise, age-wise. So I think it’s going to be a decent battle.”

Let’s check out some more notes from around the Western Conference…

  • While former Norris Trophy winner Drew Doughty has been a mainstay for the Kings for nearly a decade, James O’Brien of Pro Hockey Talk believes the team should consider trading the 27-year-old. The writer notes that the organization would receive immediate salary relief, and he believes the Kings could convince another team to inherit a bad contract (like Dustin Brown and Marian Gaborik) in any trade for Doughty. A trade would also give the team a chance to get a head start on their rebuild, as they’d surely receive young players and/or draft picks.
  • Veteran Patrick Marleau signed a three-year contract with the Maple Leafs earlier this offseason, and some of his former Sharks teammates were surprised that he left San Jose. “That was crazy,” former Sharks (and current Panthers) defenseman Jason Demers told NHL.com’s Dave McCarthy. “For him to make that decision, I know him well personally and I know that was probably the biggest decision of his career. I don’t think anybody understands on the outside how big of a decision that was for him. … In my head, after talking to him a little bit, I thought he was going to stay, but I think him and his family discussed it and I think it’s going to be a great thing for him.” Marleau, who had spent 19 seasons with the Sharks, compiled 27 goals and 19 assists in 82 games last season.
  • Earlier today, Jaromir Jagr’s agent gave a “no comment” when asked about the rumors regarding the Flames.

“No Comment” On Jagr-To-Calgary Rumors

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The last few days, there have been some unverified rumors of Jaromir Jagr potentially heading to the Calgary Flames. While these could be true, our job here at Pro Hockey Rumors is to wade through all those reports, and only give you the most reliable information. Still, as they’ve persisted Rick Dhaliwal of News 1130 reached out to Jagr’s agent Petr Svoboda, who declined to comment on the specific rumor. Instead, he told Dhaliwal that he is “working around the clock and will get something done” without mentioning any specific teams.

Jagr remains one of the most interesting players on the open market, as even at 45 he’s shown himself to be an effective possession player and able to contribute offensively. Though he doesn’t skate like used to, and can clog up the center ice area he’s still deadly in the offensive zone and can help a powerplay if given the chance. He scored 46 points last season even with a career-low shooting percentage, and was one of only three players on the Florida Panthers with a positive +/- rating.

It’s not clear where he’ll end up, but there are plenty of teams who could use Jagr to add some experience to their forward group. As the second-highest scorer in league history, he’s just 86 points shy of 2,000 for his career and has seen just about everything there is to see in his long career.

Calgary Flames Had Interest In Jaromir Jagr

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Jaromir Jagr remains unsigned now deep into August, and though the second all-time leading NHL scorer wants to play again this year there hasn’t been a ton of interest just yet. Elliotte Friedman joined NHL Network yesterday and said that a few teams have reached out, including the Calgary Flames. The Flames are led by a former Jagr coach in Glen Gulutzan, but nothing sounds imminent with any team so far.

Micheal Ferland Could Open Season On Top Line

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  • Despite the fact that Flames winger Micheal Ferland averaged less than 12 minutes per game last season, head coach Glen Gulutzan envisions Ferland as Calgary’s top-line right winger heading into training camp, notes Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Sun. [Related: Calgary’s Depth Chart]  The 25-year-old is coming off a career season offensively with 15 goals and 25 points and avoided arbitration with the team last month, agreeing to a two-year, $3.5MM contract.

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