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Contract Slots Could Play Factor As Trade Deadline Approaches

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Every season around the All-Star break, things really start to heat up on the trade market. Teams are starting to decide whether or not they are truly contenders and have had enough time to discuss extensions with their pending free agents. Even those players on one-year deals who can’t sign until the New Year have now had time to discuss the future, meaning clubs can put some of their best offers on the table.

One thing to remember as we close in on this year’s February 24th trade deadline is that a team can only carry 50 NHL contracts at any one time. By now, those entry-level contracts that don’t count against it if they are set to slide are almost all dealt with, meaning the number remaining is usually an accurate representation of the room a team has left to add.

Take the San Jose Sharks, Montreal Canadiens and New York Islanders for instance, who all currently have just a single contract slot open. For the Islanders especially, who sit third in the Metropolitan Division, that means adding any players through trade becomes a little more complicated. They would almost certainly have to send the same number of bodies back in any deal, if not include some extras to open a spot or two. Teams try not to spend much time right at the 50-contract threshold, especially once international and college seasons start to end.

For the Sharks it may not be as big of a hindrance given their place in the standings, but there are several other contenders sitting at 48 contracts. The Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers and Tampa Bay Lightning are all in playoff spots but have just two slots remaining, meaning they too have to be careful what they acquire.

It can certainly be used the opposite way as well however. A team like the New Jersey Devils, who sit with just 45 contracts on the books and at the bottom of the Metro, could help a team out by taking on a deal or two, as long as an asset comes with it.

This also lends even more power to a team like the Colorado Avalanche, who not only have five empty contract slots but also have plenty of cap space. They could potentially take on a bad contract alongside the player they are actually targeting, if it’s going to help them continue their run towards the top of the Central Division.

Contract totals for all teams (via CapFriendly):

Anaheim Ducks: 47/50
Arizona Coyotes: 45/50
Boston Bruins: 47/50
Buffalo Sabres: 45/50
Calgary Flames: 44/50
Carolina Hurricanes: 44/50
Chicago Blackhawks: 45/50
Colorado Avalanche: 45/50
Columbus Blue Jackets: 47/50
Dallas Stars: 48/50
Detroit Red Wings: 47/50
Edmonton Oilers: 48/50
Florida Panthers: 45/50
Los Angeles Kings: 47/50
Minnesota Wild: 47/50
Montreal Canadiens: 49/50
Nashville Predators: 45/50
New Jersey Devils: 45/50
New York Islanders: 49/50
New York Rangers: 46/50
Ottawa Senators: 48/50
Philadelphia Flyers: 48/50
Pittsburgh Penguins: 48/50
San Jose Sharks: 49/50
St. Louis Blues: 46/50
Tampa Bay Lightning: 48/50
Toronto Maple Leafs: 47/50
Vancouver Canucks: 47/50
Vegas Golden Knights: 46/50
Washington Capitals: 45/50
Winnipeg Jets: 45/50

Allowable Roster Moves During The Holiday Freeze

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The annual Holiday Roster Freeze is now in effect although there are several exceptions that allow for roster movement to occur over the next several days leading up to the three-day shutdown beginning on Tuesday.  While there won’t be any trades or regular waiver activity during that time, here are the allowable transactions that can occur during the freeze.

Recalls

While there is a limitation on players being sent to the minors during this time, players can still be recalled at any point (either as a regular or an emergency recall) so if someone gets hurt over the next couple of days, a replacement can be brought up as long as the team has the cap space to add him to the roster.

Demotions For Players On Emergency Recalls

Anyone classified as an emergency recall before December 19th can be sent back to the minors at any point during the freeze as long as they don’t have to pass through waivers to return.  The threshold for a normally waiver-eligible player to require waivers to be sent back down after being brought up on an emergency recall is ten games played.  If they do need waivers, it will have to come after the freeze is lifted.

Demotions For Players On Regular Recalls

Anyone brought up on a regular recall as of December 11th can be sent down through December 23rd at 11:59 PM local time.  There will likely be an influx of demotions on Sunday and Monday once teams have played their final game before the Holiday Break to get those players off the cap for a few days.  With so many teams having tight cap situations, the opportunity to bank a few dollars in cap savings will be quite important.  The exception to this rule is any player that becomes waiver-eligible between the 11th and the 23rd by playing their tenth game or spending their thirtieth day on an NHL roster since last clearing waivers.  Those will have to wait until after the freeze before hitting the wire.

Activating Someone Off Of LTIR

Section 16.5(d)(i) of the CBA grants teams the ability to make any transactions necessary in order to get back into salary cap compliance after activating a player off long-term injured reserve.  Teams using that provision are allowed to exceed the cap during that time but must get back under it before they can bring the injured player back onto the active roster.

Signing Players To NHL Contracts

While uncommon at this time of the season, teams can sign players to an NHL contract as long as they have an open spot on their active roster.  It’s something to keep in mind when it comes to Ilya Kovalchuk who remains unsigned; he could conceivably sign during the freeze although teams may want to wait in order to save a little bit of cap room.

With all of this in mind, there will still likely be a fair amount of transactions over the next couple of days before the league shuts down for three days beginning on the 24th.  Teams will be permitted to resume making trades, regular demotions or placing players on waivers on December 28th at 12:01 AM local time.

Overseas Notes: Olympics, Rattie, Brickley

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As collective bargaining continues to progress between the NHL and NHLPA, one of the major issues still in discussions is the league’s participation in the Olympics. The NHL notably sat out the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, as the owners’ complaints included the extended break in the league season, the injury risk to star players, and the lack of value in the locale. With the first two arguments unchanging and the next two Games being held in Beijing, China and Milan, Italy, it is unlikely that the NHL Board has changed their stance on Olympic participation. However, there is a reason why “bargaining” is a key word in the CBA. If Olympic participation is a sticking point for the players, the NHL could use it as leverage in another area of negotiations. Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston reports that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr, and IIHF President Rene Fasel plan to meet in Sweden in two weeks during the NHL Global Series between the Buffalo Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning in Stockholm. The trio of leaders will discuss the issues and options regarding the league’s Olympic participation, but there is unlikely to be a resolution from just the one meeting. Johnston calls the Olympic issue a “major hurdle” in CBA talks, so it could be that the upcoming summit is just the beginning of working toward an answer.

  • One of the more notable NHL players to sign in Europe this off-season is already out of a job. The KHL announced that Lokomotiv Yaroslavl has terminated the contract of forward Ty Rattie. It’s unclear if this was a mutual termination or if Rattie was cut from the team, but either way the 26-year-old winger will be looking for a new place to play. The news comes as a surprise, as Rattie has recorded nine points in 16 games for Lokomotiv and was part of a strong core group of former NHLers alongside Stephane Da Costa, Anton Lander, and Jakub Nakladal. The KHL is no stranger to payroll problems, which may have led to Rattie’s release, but one would think that the team could have traded him instead. Thus, it is more likely that Rattie requested his contract be terminated to go play elsewhere. After a career-high 50 NHL games with the Edmonton Oilers last season, it very well could be that Rattie feels he belongs in North America and has been waiting for an opportunity. Stay tuned to this story to see what comes next for the former second-round pick.
  • Going the other way is big, two-way forward Connor Brickley. Brickley had a difficult summer, failing to find an NHL contract despite a full season with the Florida Panthers in 2017-18 and a nice stretch run with the New York Rangers last year. On top of that, he failed to turn PTO’s with both the Rangers and their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, into a contract. As a result, Brickley has decided to take his talents to Germany. EC Salzburg of the Austrian-based EBEL has announced a one-year contract with Brickley. A high-scoring AHLer and a veteran of 81 NHL games, Brickley immediately becomes the most decorated player on the Red Bulls’ roster and should provide a major boost to the team this year. Brickley likely hopes that a dominant performance in the EBEL will be enough to garner more attention in North America next off-season.

Snapshots: Capitals, World Juniors, CBA Talks

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Two of the biggest names among impending unrestricted free agents belong to the Washington Capitals. Long-time cornerstone Caps and Stanley Cup winners Nicklas Backstrom and Braden Holtby will both see their current contracts expire this summer, barring an extension before then. Yet, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that there has been little in the way of contract talks between Washington and either Backstrom or Holtby. LeBrun states that the team has decided to be patient with the decisions, letting the season play out as a way to better gauge their needs moving forward. He adds that the team is on the same page with both camps in this regard as well. It could be that the team waits through the whole season before making a call on Backstrom and Holtby, taking both individual and team performances into account. Thus far, Holtby, 30, has struggled in net – for the second year in a row at that – posting an .884 save percentage and 3.60 GAA in eight games for the Capitals, losing three starts to 22-year-old Ilya Samsonov. Continued poor performance, especially in light of Samsonov’s strong play, could convince Washington GM Brian MacLellan that he does not need to pay the premium price required to retain the 30-year-old Holtby. Meanwhile, Backstrom is still playing at the same elite level, recording nine points in eleven games so far and leading all Capitals forwards in even strength ice time. The 32-year-old has been the epitome of consistency throughout his whole career, recording 882 points in 906 career games while skating in less than 90% of Washington’s games in a given season just once. It’s hard to say that Backstrom has ever had a bad season and it may be difficult for MacLellan and company to say goodbye to a player who has never given any indication that his days and an impact player are anywhere close to being over, unless they determine that the Capitals days as true contenders are over and the team is in need of transition. The salary cap will of course play a major role in these decisions as well. Washington has $63.5MM tied up in just 14 players next season, and likely lack the space needed to re-sign both Holtby and Backstrom while filling out the rest of the roster. Which way they go, re-signing on or the other or perhaps neither, will be a tough call and the Capitals are smart to use all of the information available, including this season’s results, to make that decision.

  • TSN colleague Bob McKenzie also notes today that Hockey Canada is in the beginning stages of forming their official roster for the 2020 World Junior Championships later this winter and are hoping that they can count on the three players currently in the NHL who also qualify for inclusion on the U-20 roster: the Coyotes’ Barrett Hayton, the Blackhawks’ Kirby Dach, and the Islanders’ Noah Dobson. The pair of centers and dynamic defensemen are each of their respective team’s top prospects, but their usage so far this season has been minimal. All three of Hayton, Dach, and Dobson have played in just two NHL games so far this year and are still eight games away from burning a year on their entry-level contracts. However, for Hayton and Dobson, McKenzie does not believe that the ten-game limit is a concern, as he doesn’t feel Arizona nor New York plan on sending their promising prospect back to the junior level. That doesn’t mean that they can’t still be loaned to Team Canada for the WJC though; it is not an uncommon practice for young pros in need of experience playing at different levels of competition instead of solely in the NHL to briefly leave their clubs for the international exhibition. With that said, both the ‘Yotes and the Isles hope to be playoff teams and may be unwilling to give up top young players mid-season, especially if they have become regular contributors. As for Dach, it is still unclear what Chicago’s intentions are this season. The youngest of the group, the No. 3 overall pick in June, Dach has spent some time in the AHL this season and has seen limited ice time in his two games with the Blackhawks. The team could still decide he would be better off with another year in the WHL, although McKenzie believes they are not yet ready to make that decision. Either way, Dach stands the best chance of participating in the WJC, given his current role in Chicago and the expectations of the team this season.
  • LeBrun also reports that, while there haven’t been any in-person meetings this month, collective bargaining continues between the NHL and NHLPA. Back in September, both the league and the players’ association declined to use their opt-out clause in the CBA, which would have prematurely ended the current agreement after this season. The decisions extended the CBA through the 2021-22 season, giving the parties plenty of time to work through their issues. However, both sides felt comfortable in declining their opt-outs as a result of positive ongoing talks and all stakeholders of hockey wanted to see that progress continue. LeBrun writes that those talks have not stalled, but are simply now ongoing in a more behind-the-scenes fashion. The hope is that the NHL and NHLPA can sort out a new collective bargaining agreement long before the September 2022 expiration date of the current deal and put to rest any thoughts of another work stoppage. Continued talks are a good sign that labor peace will come easier this time than in years past.

Snapshots: Trade Targets, Ritchie, Gropp

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Trade talk is already heating up around the NHL as teams find out just what they have on the roster, and Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic (subscription required) examines several situations where a player may be available at the 2020 trade deadline.

While Taylor Hall finds himself involved in this speculation once again, another situation LeBrun suggests is worth monitoring is Ilya Kovalchuk with the Los Angeles Kings. The veteran forward is due the rest of his signing bonus on December 15th, at which point he would be owed just the prorated $700K base salary through the end of the season. Kovalchuk does come with one more year on his deal worth $4.25MM and carries a $6.25MM cap hit, but should his early season success continue it wouldn’t be surprising to see him waive his no-trade clause to go to a contender.

  • The NHL’s Department of Player Safety has issued a $4,121.86 fine to Nick Ritchie of the Anaheim Ducks for the roughing incident last night. Ritchie attacked Vladimir Sobotka after a whistle and ended up dragging him to the ground (where Buffalo goaltender Linus Ullmark proceeded to give Ritchie a few punches). This was the maximum allowable fine under the CBA for the incident.
  • Larry Brooks of the New York Post reports that minor league forward Ryan Gropp has been suspended by the Hartford Wolf Pack for failing to report to the Maine Mariners of the ECHL. Gropp, 23, was a second round pick of the Rangers in 2015 and has spent the last two seasons in the minor leagues. He is on the final year of his entry-level contract and scheduled to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season.

Evening Notes: CBA Talks, Kempny, Smith, Miller

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The good news for the NHL and the NHLPA is that both sides continue to have bargaining talks to work towards a new CBA contract. While many thought talks might cool down between the two sides after the players opted out of its option to terminate the current agreement, that has not happened. However, Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston writes that there are other issues that could make it an interesting negotiations.

One of the biggest roadblocks is Olympic participation as the league isn’t that interested in allowing players to play.

“I’ll say, because I think I need to say, from the NHL owners’ perspective, Olympic participation is not seen as something that’s either essential or even useful to our business,” said deputy commissioner Bill Daly. “It’s highly disruptive to our season, puts our players in jeopardy of injury with no financial benefit to the NHL or the clubs.”

If the NHL wants to bend on this aspect of negotiations, they would have to not only change their stance, but then begin negotiations with the IOC in regards to travel, insurance and hospitality arrangements, which had been the issues that the NHL had with the IOC in the past.

  • The Washington Capitals are already getting forward Evgeny Kuznetsov back from suspension, but they might just be closer to getting back defenseman Michal Kempny, who has been out with a hamstring injury, according to The Athletic’s Tarik El-Bashir (subscription required). Head coach Todd Reirden said that until Kempny competes in 5-on-5 practice and can prove he’s healthy, Reirden won’t even consider playing him. The next opportunity to prove himself will be Monday.
  • Newsday’s Colin Stephenson writes that New York Rangers defenseman Brendan Smith, who was used as a fourth-line forward Saturday, but also used as a defenseman in short-handed situations, could find himself in a similar role for a while. Head coach David Quinn said that he likes using Smith in that role. “I think he had a really good (training) camp, and he had a great stretch last year when he played forward and no problem playing it for an extended period of time,’’ Quinn said of Smith, who scored an empty net goal in the season opener Thursday against Winnipeg, when he was on the ice as a defenseman in a six-on-four situation.
  • Sticking with the Rangers, The Athletic’s Rick Carpiniello (subscription required) writes that after hearing that New York prospect K’Andre Miller was suspended at the University of Wisconsin, he immediately called Wisconsin head coach Tony Granato, who acknowledged that the infraction that got him suspended wasn’t serious. “Nope. Nothing major,” said Granato. “I have done the same with probably seven or eight guys already. … It is exactly what it is. He broke a team rule and is suspended for (Sunday’s) inter-squad game. Nothing more.”

AHL, PHPA Ratify New Five-Year CBA

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Labor peace, labor peace everywhere. The AHL announced today that they have ratified a new five-year CBA with the Professional Hockey Players’ Association, the union that represents minor league players. David Andrews, AHL President and CEO released a statement:

The American Hockey League remains fortunate to have an extremely positive and open relationship with our players and with the PHPA. This new Collective Bargaining Agreement is the product of a sustained positive and open dialogue between the players and ourselves over the past several months, and continues a longstanding spirit of respect for each other that has allowed the American Hockey League and its players to grow and prosper.

The new deal was ratified unanimously by all parties, and will keep the two sides at peace through August 31st, 2024. Though this doesn’t have a direct impact on the NHL, it does guarantee the health of the primary development league and its teams. Just recently, the AHL announced that Palm Springs would be the home of the league’s 32nd franchise and will serve as the primary affiliate for the Seattle NHL expansion team right from inception.

Evening Notes: Officials, OHL, Capitals

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The focus of late has been on peaceful collective bargaining talks between the NHL and NHLPA. The players’ association formally declined their opt-out on Monday, extending the current CBA through the 2021-22 season, while the two sides continue to work toward a new agreement. Meanwhile though, the league has been embroiled in another labor negotiation. The NHL Officials’ Association watched their deal with the NHL expire at the end of August and the two groups have been working hard to come to a resolution before the puck drops on a new season. Fortunately, a deal has been made with time to spare. Sports Illustrated’s Michael Farber was the first to report that the terms of a new agreement have been agreed for the NHL’s referees and the deal needs only to be ratified by the Officials’ Association. While neither side has confirmed the new agreement, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun also hears that a resolution has been reached, adding that it is a four-year term. Luckily, the NHL won’t have to deal with replacement referee any time soon, a debacle that played out poorly for the NFL in 2012.

  • The Ontario Hockey League began their regular season today and the league announced Opening Night rosters for each of its 20 teams. While many of the biggest names in the OHL are still competing in NHL training camps, many have already been returned to their clubs to start the junior season on time. Ontario will also be home to three of the biggest names in the 2020 NHL Draft class: forwards Quinton Byfield (Sudbury Wolves) and Cole Perfetti (Saginaw Spirit) and defenseman Jamie Drysdale (Erie Otters). After a down year for the OHL – and Canada as a whole – in last year’s draft, this promises to be a bounce-back year with plenty of draft-eligible talent to watch.
  • Drysdale’s team, the Erie Otters, also started off the season with an exciting announcement. The team revealed a new ten-year lease agreement with the Erie Insurance Arena, keeping the team in the Pennsylvania city through the 2028-29 season. The decision was likely a no-brainer for the city of Erie. The Otters have been one of the top junior teams in all of the CHL over the last decade, winning the 2016-17 OHL Championship and producing the likes of Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Strome, Anthony Cirelli, and, of course, Connor McDavid. The “McDavid Era” vaulted the popularity of the Otters and has created a nice fan base in Erie.
  • The Washington Capitals have cut two junior players from training camp, but won’t return them to their clubs just yet (if at all). Both Kody Clark and Riley Sutter, a second- and third-round pick respectively in 2018 and both part of famous hockey families, are no longer competing for an NHL roster spot. However, the team announced that they have been assigned to minor league camp with the Hershey Bears for now. Why? Both players are dealing with injuries and will continue to rehab under the supervision of the Washington medical staff before likely heading back to junior. Clark and Sutter are both currently battling upper-body injuries, but should be back competing in the CHL soon, with a possibility they stick in Hershey.

NHLPA Formally Declines CBA Opt-Out Clause

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Just like the NHL did a few weeks ago, the NHLPA has now formally declined their option to reopen the CBA following the 2019-20 season. That means the current agreement will remain in effect until September of 2022, avoiding any work stoppages during that time. The NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr released this statement:

While players have concerns with the current CBA, we agree with the league that working together to address those concerns is the preferred course of action instead of terminating the agreement following this season. We have been having discussions with the league about an extension of the CBA and expect those talks will continue. 

When combined with the league’s decision, this is a very positive step that guarantees labor peace for at least three more years. The two sides will have a much longer runway to approach any CBA extension discussions, though by no means are those talks settled. The players and league both indicated in their announcements that they are not fully satisfied with the way the agreement is currently structured, meaning there will surely be some tense negotiations in the future. Topics like rising escrow levels, contract structuring and international competitions are some of the hot-button topics, though there are sure to be more brought up in the next few years.

Still, this can be celebrated by hockey fans that were dreading another work stoppage at the end of this season. The league has frustratingly gone through several over the last few decades, including the most recent one during the first half of the 2012-13 season. With this announcement, the hockey world can enjoy this season without the feeling of impending doom that has so often accompanied the sport.

NHLPA’s Decision To Re-Open CBA Will Be Announced Monday

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After the NHL announced that they have formally declined using their opt-out clause to re-0pen the current CBA early, the NHLPA has until Sept. 15th to make their decision on whether they want to opt-out of the current agreement after the 2019-20 season. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that while the deadline is Sunday, there is a provision in which the decision can be moved to the next business day, which means that the two sides have an extra day to negotiate before the NHLPA will decide whether to reopen the CBA or whether to keep it intact until Sept. of 2022.

The two sides have been negotiating for a full week now and will now get to continue one extra day as no decision now has to be made until the end of the day on Monday. The NHL has made it clear they want to keep things as they are.

“Our hope that a continued, sustained period of labor peace will enable us to further grow the game and benefit all constituent groups: NHL Players, Clubs, our business partners and, most important, our fans,” said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.

Current rumors, according to The Athletic’s Katie Strang (subscription required), is that negotiations have been less challenging than the ones during the last labor dispute that cost the league 113 days of lockout during the 2012-13 season.

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