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East Notes: Faulk, Canadiens, Hall

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The Carolina Hurricanes kept Justin Faulk off the ice today leading to mass speculation about a potential trade. The 27-year old defenseman has been on the block for some time, with a deal getting extremely close with the Anaheim Ducks recently. Faulk is healthy according to head coach Rod Brind’Amour, who had Jake Gardiner running the powerplay today in his place.

Scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after this season, Faulk is an expendable piece for the Hurricanes after adding Gardiner and other depth pieces to the blueline. The team should be able to boost their prospect system or forward group with a deal, returning some value for the former co-captain. Faulk scored 11 goals and 35 points last season, the sixth consecutive year he has broken the 30-point threshold.

  • Perhaps there would be a fit in Montreal, where the Canadiens are looking to move a forward according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. The scribe points out that Jonathan Drouin played the fewest minutes of any forward in Monday’s home loss to a Toronto Maple Leafs squad made up of almost entirely fringe NHL or AHL players. Several young forwards are pushing for more playing time in Montreal, giving them enough options to make someone expendable in the coming days.
  • Friedman also chimes in on the Taylor Hall extension speculation, noting that he believes they “are trying to make a serious run” at a deal right now. Hall is one of the premiere talents available in next summer’s unrestricted free agent crop and should command a huge dollar figure on any extension with the New Jersey Devils. In recent days the talks have picked up between the two sides, after GM Ray Shero did everything he could to improve the roster for the upcoming season.

Training Camp Cuts: 09/24/19

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Like always, we’ll keep track of all the training camp cuts right here. Keep checking back to see the updated list:

Boston Bruins (per team release)

G Dan Vladar (to Providence, AHL)

Carolina Hurricanes (per team release)

F Jacob Pritchard (to Charlotte, AHL)
F Spencer Smallman (to Charlotte, AHL)
D Fredrik Claesson (to Charlotte, AHL)
D Alex Lintuniemi (to Charlotte, AHL)
F Hunter Shinkaruk (to Charlotte, AHL)
D Cavan Fitzgerald (to Charlotte, AHL)
D Derek Sheppard (to Charlotte, AHL)

Los Angeles Kings (per team release)

F Mikey Anderson (to Ontario, AHL)
F Martin Frk (to Ontario, AHL)
G Cal Petersen (to Ontario, AHL)

Philadelphia Flyers (per Sam Carchidi, Philadelphia Inquirer)

F German Rubtsov (to Lehigh Valley, AHL)
F Mikhail Vorobyov (to Lehigh Valley, AHL)
D Mark Friedman (to Lehigh Valley, AHL)
F Andy Andreoff (placed on waivers before AHL assignment)
F Kurtis Gabriel (placed on waivers before AHL assignment)
F Nicolas Aube-Kubel (placed on waivers before AHL assignment)
D Chris Bigras (placed on waivers before AHL assignment)

Toronto Maple Leafs (per team release)

G Michal Neuvirth (released from PTO)

Training Camp Cuts: 9/21/19

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With the regular season less than two weeks away, there will likely be plenty more training camp cuts today.  We’ll keep track of those moves here.

Arizona Coyotes (per team release)

D Dane Birks (to Tucson, AHL)
D Cam Dineen (to Tucson, AHL)
F Giovanni Fiore (to Tucson, AHL)
F Jeremy Gregoire (to Tucson, AHL)
F Keeghan Howdeshell (to Tucson, AHL)
G Erik Kallgren (to Tucson, AHL)
F Kelly Klima (to Tucson, AHL)
G Merrick Madsen (to Tucson, AHL)
F Jonathon Martin (to Tucson, AHL)
F Nate Schnarr (to Tucson, AHL)
D Jalen Smereck (to Tucson, AHL)

Calgary Flames (per team release)

F Alex Gallant (to Stockton, AHL)
F Jeremy McKenna (to Stockton, AHL)
F Mason Morelli (to Stockton, AHL)
G Nick Schneider (to Stockton, AHL)

Carolina Hurricanes (per team release)

G Callum Booth (to Charlotte, AHL)
G Jeremy Helvig (to Charlotte, AHL)

Chicago Blackhawks (per team release)

D Nicolas Beaudin (to Rockford, AHL)
D Lucas Carlsson (to Rockford, AHL)
F MacKenzie Entwistle (to Rockford, AHL)
F Alexandre Fortin (to Rockford, AHL)
F Brandon Hagel (to Rockford, AHL)
F Mikhael Hakkarainen (to Rockford, AHL)
F Matthew Highmore (to Rockford, AHL)
F Reese Johnson (to Rockford, AHL)
F Philipp Kurashev (to Rockford, AHL)
F Dylan Sikura (to Rockford, AHL)
G Matt Tomkins (to Rockford, AHL)
D Joni Tuulola (to Rockford, AHL)

Columbus Blue Jackets (per team release)

F Derek Barach (released from PTO)
D Gabriel Carlsson (to Cleveland, AHL)
D Ryan Collins (to Cleveland, AHL)
F Trey Fix-Wolansky (to Cleveland, AHL)
F Maxime Fortier (to Cleveland, AHL)
F Brett Gallant (released from PTO)
D Anton Karlsson (released from PTO)
F Nikita Korostelev (released from PTO)
F Stefan Matteau (released from PTO)
F Bryan Moore (released from PTO)
D Michael Prapavessis (to Cleveland, AHL)
F Eric Robinson (to Cleveland, AHL)
F Kole Sherwood (to Cleveland, AHL)
F Kevin Stenlund (to Cleveland, AHL)
F Calvin Thurkauf (to Cleveland, AHL)
F Sam Vigneault (released from PTO)

Dallas Stars (per team release)

F Michael Mersch (to Texas, AHL)
D Reece Scarlett (to Texas, AHL)

Florida Panthers (per team release)

F Rodrigo Abols (to Springfield, AHL)
F Jonathan Ang (to Springfield, AHL)
G Ryan Bednard (to Springfield, AHL)
D Tommy Cross (to Springfield, AHL)
F Joel Lowry (to Springfield, AHL)
D Jake Massie (to Springfield, AHL)
F Serron Noel (to Oshawa, OHL)
F Kevin Roy (to Springfield, AHL)
F Paul Thompson (to Springfield, AHL)

Los Angeles Kings (per team Twitter)

F Samuel Fagemo (to Frolunda, SHL)
F Akil Thomas (to Niagara, OHL)

Montreal Canadiens (per team release)

F Morgan Adams-Moisan (to Laval, AHL)
F Alexandre Alain (to Laval, AHL)
F Joe Cox (to Laval, AHL)
D Ryan Culkin (to Laval, AHL)
F Nikita Jevpalovs (to Laval, AHL)
G Connor LaCouvee (to Laval, AHL)
D Maxim Lamarche (to Laval, AHL)
G Michael McNiven (to Laval, AHL)
F William Pelletier (to Laval, AHL)
F Michael Pezzetta (to Laval, AHL)
D David Sklenicka (to Laval, AHL)
F Lukas Vejdemo (to Laval, AHL)
F Hayden Verbeek (to Laval, AHL)
F Antoine Waked (to Laval, AHL)

New York Rangers (per team release)

F Gabriel Fontaine (to Hartford, AHL)
D Mason Geertsen (to Hartford, AHL)
D Joey Keane (to Hartford, AHL)
F Patrick Newell (to Hartford, AHL)

St. Louis Blues (per team release)

D Jake Dotchin (to San Antonio, AHL)
D Joey LaLeggia (to San Antonio, AHL)
F Nick Lappin (to San Antonio, AHL)

Tampa Bay Lightning (per team release)

F Peter Abbandonato (released from PTO)
G Louis Domingue (to Syracuse, AHL, per Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic)
F Jimmy Huntington (to Syracuse, AHL)
F Boris Katchouk (to Syracuse, AHL)
F Alexey Lipanov (to Syracuse, AHL)
F Ryan Lohin (to Syracuse, AHL)
F Kevin Lynch (released from PTO)
F Taylor Raddysh (to Syracuse, AHL)
F Mikhail Shalagin (released from PTO)
D Luc Snuggerud (released from PTO)
D Oleg Sosunov (to Syracuse, AHL)
D Matthew Spencer (to Syracuse, AHL)
D Nolan Valleau (released from PTO)
G Clint Windsor (released from PTO)
F Dennis Yan (to Syracuse, AHL)

Toronto Maple Leafs (per team Twitter)

G Brandon Halverson (to Toronto, AHL)

Vancouver Canucks (per team release)

F Justin Bailey (to Utica, AHL)
F Landon Ferraro (released from PTO)
F Lukas Jasek (to Utica, AHL)
D Olli Juolevi (to Utica, AHL)
F Kole Lind (to Utica, AHL)
D Brogan Rafferty (to Utica, AHL)
D Josh Teves (to Utica, AHL)

Vegas Golden Knights (per team Twitter)

F Tyrell Goulbourne (to Chicago, AHL)
D Brett Lernout (to Chicago, AHL)
D Jaycob Megna (to Chicago, AHL)

Metropolitan Notes: St. Louis, Mattheos, Patrick, Capitals

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It looks like the coaching career of former NHL star Martin St. Louis will be put on hold. The Hall of Famer, who had spent half of last season in an advisory role with the Columbus Blue Jackets last season, said that he won’t be back with Columbus in 2019-20, according to The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline (subscription required).

Blue Jackets’ head coach John Tortorella said that St. Louis’ situation will just be put on pause as he tends to family matters.

“I really enjoyed working with the team last year and want to thank Jarmo (Kekalainen, the general manager), (coach John Tortorella) and everyone at the Blue Jackets for the opportunity,” St. Louis said in a statement released via the team. “While I would have loved to do it again, my priority continues to be my family and those commitments would make it too difficult this year. They have a really good, young team and I wish them the best of luck.”

  • The Carolina Hurricanes got some good news today as prospect Stelio Mattheos returned to the ice today after the team announced last month that the 20-year-old would miss training camp after being diagnosed with testicular cancer and would need time to undergo treatment. Those treatments have now been completed and he’s ready to return to hockey, according to NHL.com’s Michael Smith. Mattheos, a third-round pick in 2017, had just completed two impressive years with the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings, where he combined for 87 goals and 186 points. He then joined the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL in their Calder Cup Championship run in which he scored three goals in 14 games and had hoped to challenge for a spot on the Hurricanes roster this summer. While he’s almost guaranteed to be spending much of the year with Charlotte, although he is now cancer free, which is great news.
  • Philadelphia Flyers center Nolan Patrick has been dealing with injuries on and off for years, but was listed was listed as week-to-week several days ago. Now, Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault told Philly.com’s Sam Carchidi that he doesn’t know if Patrick will be ready for the season opener. In fact, it looks unlikely that the 20-year-old will be ready for the start of the season. Patrick, the team’s second overall pick back in 2016, has struggled in his development over two years although injuries didn’t help that. However, the team finally went out and traded for the rights to center Kevin Hayes and then eventually signed him to be their second-line center, which would allow Patrick more time to develop as a third-line option instead. However, now an upper-body injury has held him back throughout training camp even though he has skated on his own since then, suggesting it could be another concussion-related injury, although nothing is confirmed on that. The team hopes Patrick will be back as quickly as possible.
  • Washington Post’s Isabelle Khurshudyan reports that two Washington Capitals skaters, including Lars Eller and Michal Kempny were skating Saturday. Eller has been out with a upper body injury, while Kempny has been dealing with a hamstring injury. No word on what their status will be for the start of the regular season.

 

 

Ryan Suzuki Signs Entry-Level Contract

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The Carolina Hurricanes as still hard at work as the season begins, signing another young player for the future. The team has announced a three-year entry-level contract for Ryan Suzuki, who was selected in this year’s first round. GM Don Waddell released a short statement on his newest prospect:

Ryan is a skilled center with strong playmaking ability. He’s an exciting young player, and we believe he has a bright future in the NHL.

Suzuki was the 28th overall pick in June, just two years after his brother was also a first round selection by the Vegas Golden Knights. The younger Suzuki is expected to play with the Barrie Colts again this year, but will climb up the prospect ladder quickly if he continues to find the kind of success he had last season. In 65 games with the Colts, Suzuki recorded 25 goals and 50 assists, totaling 25 more points than the next highest forward on the team. If given a stronger cast this year he very well may challenge for the OHL scoring lead, and perhaps even his brother’s OHL high of 100 points.

The Hurricanes have built quite the prospect pipeline over the last several years, but now as they transition into a contender in the Eastern Conference they will need to keep hitting on late first-round picks like Suzuki. If they can keep supporting their young core with more talent through the draft, the team looks poised for a large competitive window.

Carolina Hurricanes Sign Fredrik Claesson

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Apparently Fredrik Claesson has done enough to prove he can still play. The Carolina Hurricanes have signed the 26-year old defenseman to a one-year, two-way contract that carries a $700K salary at the NHL level after previously being in training camp on a professional tryout.

Claesson spent last season with the New York Rangers where he suited up 37 times and registered six points, but was left without a qualifying offer for the second consecutive summer. The 2011 fifth-round pick had previously spent the first six years of his North American professional career with the Ottawa Senators, and has a total of 164 NHL games under his belt.

It’s unlikely that Claesson will make a big impact for Carolina out of the gate given their impressive defensive depth, but he can serve as a veteran option to fill in for short periods of time. He also gives the team a good option to carry as the extra defenseman on the roster while giving Jake Bean more time in the minor leagues, if the youngster fails to make to opening night lineup. With Trevor van Riemsdyk on the shelf to begin the season and Justin Faulk’s future with the team still uncertain, adding even more depth on the blueline was important.

Though he will need waivers to clear and be assigned to the minor leagues, Claesson could also represent another strong option for the Charlotte Checkers as they look to defend their Calder Cup title in the AHL.

Pacific Notes: Kase, McDavid, Virtanen, Juolevi, Simek

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While the rumors that the potential deal between the Carolina Hurricanes and Anaheim Ducks involving Justin Faulk and Ondrej Kase was unlikely to happen came in earlier today, Anaheim general manager Bob Murray declined comment, but did express displeasure in Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon (without mentioning his name), according to Elliott Teaford of the Orange County Register. Murray blames the Hurricanes’ owner for leaking out Kase’s name in the trade negotiations.

“When things are out there and haven’t happened and some owner decides he’s going to garner some friendship with the media, and he’s going to get close to the media, and he puts things out there, some of these people, I wish they were players at some point in their lives,” Murray said. “Obviously, they weren’t.”

Kase doesn’t seem affected by the trade talk as the 23-year-old winger is trying to recover from surgery to repair a torn labrum that allowed him to appear in just 30 games last season. The winger said he hopes to play in one exhibition game and expects to be ready for the start of the season.

  • Edmonton Oilers fans who attended practice Saturday held their breath when star center Connor McDavid went down during a back-checking drill when he collided with linemate Zack Kassian. McDavid picked himself back up, but was shaking his leg as he headed back to the bench, worrying many around the rink. The good news is that he’s fine, according to Edmonton Sun’s Jim Matheson. “Kass is doing everything he can to stay on that line (McDavid and Leon Draisaitl) and he hits his centreman. That’s not going to keep Kass on that line,” kidded Oilers’ coach Dave Tippett. “Nah, he’s (McDavid) fine. They (McDavid and Kassian) were laughing about it.” McDavid, who was injured in the Oilers’ final regular season game last season, is being brought along slowly in training camp. While the injury didn’t require surgery, there is talk that McDavid likely will see either one or possibly be held out of all preseason games to keep him as healthy as possible.
  • Postmedia’s Ben Kuzma reports that it’s been an interesting training camp already for Vancouver Canucks winger Jake Virtanen. The 23-year-old failed his physical and was immediately demoted to the training camp’s third group on Friday, finding himself in head coach Travis Green’s doghouse due to his lack of conditioning. He was then elevated on Saturday and had a dominant performance in camp. “You want young players to take responsibility and part of developing players is hoping they learn from lessons. Sometimes tough ones sink in the most,” said Green.
  • Patrick Johnston of The Province writes that Canucks defenseman Olli Juolevi struggled in practice Friday, especially after the training camp ritual: the full-out, full-burn bag skate, a hated skating drill that players laugh about later. However, Juolevi, who is still recovering from a knee injury he suffered in November, struggled with the drill and was in obvious discomfort after the drill. Kuzma added that Juolevi looked a little better, but was put into the third group to allow him time to recover. “A bit of a load-management day,” said Green. “He had a tough day yesterday and he’s feeling better today and we just want to make sure that we bring him along well. We’ll see how he feels today after skating (third group).”
  • Mercury News’ Curtis Pashelka writes that San Jose Sharks head coach Pete DeBoer said that defenseman Radim Simek continues to skate, but the team is being cautious and is “taking it slow. There is no rush right now. But he skating and he looks good,” said Simek. The 26-year-old has been out of the Sharks’ lineup since March after having his leg crushed in a collision with Winnipeg’s Andrew Copp and was forced to have surgery to repair his ACL, MCL and his meniscus.

Training Camp Cuts: 9/14/19

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While preseason games have yet to begin, there have already been cuts by several teams and that is expected to continue today.  We’ll keep tabs on the roster trimming here.

Carolina Hurricanes (per team release)

F Luke Henman (Blainville-Boisbriand, QMJHL)
F Blake Murray (Sudbury, OHL)
F Jamieson Rees (Sarnia, OHL)

San Jose Sharks (per team release)

D Mitchell Brewer (Oshawa, OHL)
G Zachary Emond (Rouyn-Noranda, QMJHL)
F Zach Gallant (Peterborough, OHL)
F Jake Gricius (Portland, WHL)
D Jake Lee (Kelowna, WHL)
D Hudson Wilson (Ottawa, OHL)

Metropolitan Notes: Konecny, Kuznetsov, Rust, Van Riemsdyk

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There was some hope that after Ivan Provorov signed, the Philadelphia Flyers would put all their attention to their other unsigned restricted free agent, Travis Konecny with the hopes of getting him to training camp as quickly as possible. Instead, that hasn’t happened yet with Philly.com’s Sam Carchidi reporting today that no progress was made between the two sides on Saturday.

Philadelphia Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault expressed his disappointment that Konecny isn’t in camp yet as he will be missing valuable time learning the new coach’s system.

“I’m very disappointed that T.K. is not here,” Vigneault said after his first practice leading the Flyers (via NBC Sports’ Jordan Hall). “It’s the start of a new era, a new group, I felt that it was very important for everybody to be here.  With my time in the NHL, my experience, anybody that falls behind — whether it’s injury or in T.K.’s situation not coming to camp — usually it takes them a little bit of time to get back at it, especially at this time with a new coaching staff and new way of doing things. It’s unfortunate, but I’m going to work with the players that are here and going to work extremely hard with those players.”

Konecny could also find himself sliding down the lineup if he can’t get back to camp quickly. On day two of training camp, Vigneault used rookie Joel Farabee (in place of Konecny) with first-liners Sean Couturier and Claude Giroux, with the rookie faring quite well and getting praise from Vigneault.

“He showed that he belonged there,” said Vigneault.

  • With a three-game suspension hanging over Evgeny Kuznetsov to start the season for inappropriate behavior, Washington Capitals head coach Todd Reirden suggested that Kuznetsov is likely to get a lot of exhibition action during the preseason to make up for the three suspended games, according to Washington Post’s Isabelle Khurshudyan. NHL.com’s Tom Gulliti adds that Kuznetsov’s $7.8MM AAV will not against the Washington Capitals salary cap during the suspension, which could be a benefit to the team, which is currently over the cap.
  • The Athletic’s Josh Yohe (subscription required) writes in his most recent mailbag column that the Pittsburgh Penguins most valuable and likely trade chip is forward Bryan Rust. The 27-year-old scored 18 goals and 35 points last season and is a key depth option, but at $3.5MM per season, Rust is the perfect candidate to solve some of the team’s cap issues, although the Penguins’ preference is to find a team that would be willing to take on Jack Johnson and his four years at $3.25MM AAV contract.
  • The Carolina Hurricanes revealed that they don’t expect defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk to be ready for the start of the season, according to NHL.com’s Michael Smith. The 28-year-old van Riemsdyk underwent surgery on his left shoulder in May and has been cleared to begin skating without contact after team practices. “I don’t expect him to be ready for the start of the season,” Hurricanes President and General Manager Don Waddell said. “It just depends on how things go for him. There’s no reason to rush him back in game one or game two. It’s a long season. If we’re going to go deep, we’re going to need him. We’ll be very patient.”

 

Chase Priskie Out Week-To-Week

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  • Hurricanes defenseman Chase Priskie has been listed as week-to-week following an injury sustained on Friday, notes Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer (Twitter link). The youngster signed with Carolina after being an unrestricted free agent back in mid-August.  At the time, he was told that he’d be given a long look at earning a roster spot with the big club but missing even a couple of weeks could make that a much tougher task.

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