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Poll: If Season Ends Now, Who Should Win Calder Trophy?

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The NHL has every intention in trying to finish out the regular season and have a playoffs to cap off the 2019-20 season. However, with the unknown nature of the quickly changing COVID-19 virus, the season already has been suspended and could be pushed back further and further to avoid players contracting the virus. There has been talk of a drop-dead date as the league doesn’t want the 2019-20 to interfere with the 2020-21 season, which could make the regular season expendable if things begin to extend further and further into the summer. If the regular season ended on March 11, who would walk away as the league’s top rookie?

At midseason, it looked like an obvious choice as Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar dominated the first half of the season after coming over from UMass-Amherst last season. The 21-year-old had a dominant 11 goals and 37 points in 41 games before the all-star break. While his numbers dipped slightly, Makar has still been impressive in a much more limited second half. He did miss five games with an upper-body injury in late February where Colorado lost three of those five games, yet he still had a goal and 13 points in 16 games since the break. In total, however, Makar currently has 12 goals and 50 points in 57 games, an impressive feat for a rookie blueliner.

While Makar seemed like the inevitable choice early on, Vancouver Canucks rookie defenseman Quinn Hughes came on late to have his own impressive season. Hughes has been a solid addition to a Canucks defense at the end of last season as he came out of the University of Michigan. While he had solid numbers in the first half, with five goals and 34 points in 48 games before the all-star break, he did explode in February with 15 points in 13 games and tallied eight goals and 53 points in 68 points. While Makar might have had a better points-per-game average, it was Hughes who provided the healthier player on the ice.

There are several other candidates who will receive some consideration, including Chicago Blackhawks forward Dominik Kubalik, who scored 30 goals already in just 68 games in his first season in North America. The 24-year-old had spent his entire career overseas in the Czech League and the NLA, but adjusted to North American skating rinks quickly and was a key piece to the Blackhawks’ squad.

Several goalies dominated this season, but New Jersey Devils goalie MacKenzie Blackwood so far has a 22-14-8 record on a struggling Devils team. While he did post a 2.77 GAA, his save percentage suggests that he has been a dominant netminder for the Devils this season at .915.

So, if the regular season ended today, who would be the Calder Trophy winner?

For Pro Hockey app users, click here to vote.

Alex Newhook Expected To Return To Boston College For Sophomore Year

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In recent years, there have been some ‘one and done’ college players; Kings prospect Alex Turcotte recently went that route after turning pro earlier this month.  However, it doesn’t appear as if Avalanche prospect Alex Newhook is going to be going that route.  The center told Ryan S. Clark of The Athletic (subscription required) that he expects to remain at Boston College to play in his sophomore year next season.

The 16th overall pick back in June had quite the freshman year, collecting 19 goals and 23 assists in 34 games to sit tied for seventh in NCAA scoring.  Among first-year players, he was second overall.  Not surprisingly, he was recently named the Hockey East Rookie of the Year for his efforts.

That’s a very strong start to his college career which had some wondering if it might be time for him to turn pro.  However, Colorado already has strong depth down the middle which wouldn’t bode well from a potential playing time perspective.  While Newhook would be eligible to play in the AHL even though he’s only 19, staying in school for one more year is probably the better route from a development perspective.  Doing so would give him the opportunity to compete for the NCAA title next season, something the Eagles may have had a shot of contending for after being ranked in the top five before the playoffs were cancelled.

Stretch Run Storylines: Colorado Avalanche

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As things stand, the NHL is planning to have games resume at some point over the coming weeks.  Assuming the regular season continues, there will be plenty of things to watch for over the stretch run.  Over the coming weeks, PHR will examine the top stretch run storylines for each team.  We continue our look at the Central Division with Colorado.

After making somewhat of a surprise appearance in the second round last season, the Avalanche have built off of that and have become one of the top threats in the Western Conference.  They’ve managed to do so despite a litany of injuries to key players.  That shouldn’t be an issue when play resumes, making it a top storyline for not only them but the rest of the West as well.

Return To Health

Just before the suspension of play, Colorado had just found out that Nathan MacKinnon was going to miss a couple of weeks while Cale Makar had just returned from an upper-body injury issue.  Having them at full strength is nice…and that’s only the tip of the iceberg.

Philipp Grubauer will return from his lower-body issue which will bolster their goaltending tandem.  Mikko Rantanen will be ready to go from his upper-body ailment; both players have been out for roughly a month.  Nazem Kadri plays more than any forward not on their top line and will be back from his lower-body injury.  And while we’re at it, Matt Calvert and Andre Burakovsky will also be ready to go from their lower-body issues.

If you’re keeping track, that’s two top line forwards, a second line center, two middle six wingers, and a starting goalie that will all be back.  Calling that a huge upgrade to their roster would be an understatement and positions the Avs quite nicely for a stretch run or quick start to the postseason.

Goaltending Decision

Let’s go back to Grubauer.  Prior to his injury, he had become more of the clear cut starter.  But when he went down, Pavel Francouz ran off a 2.40 GAA with a .918 SV% in 13 appearances (one being in relief of Grubauer when he was hurt).  He more than capably held down the fort and earned himself a two-year contract extension in the process.  At the same time, his play also suggested that he is worthy of more playing time.

All of a sudden, there isn’t a guaranteed number one option anymore.  When it comes to the regular season, there’s nothing wrong with that and platoon situations can be quite useful during that time.  More teams have gone with that approach and the results have been largely positive.  So for however many regular season games are played (if any), they’re in good shape.

But who’s going to lead them in the postseason?  Teams typically pick one and stick with that goalie throughout though Grubauer himself was one of the exceptions a couple of years ago in Washington.  Six weeks ago, it looked like Grubauer was the favorite to start.  But Francouz’s performance in his absence suggests he may be worthy of the number one job now.  A return to regular season games could help solve this but if the NHL jumps right into the playoffs, Jared Bednar has quite a decision to make.

Quest For 100

Two years ago, MacKinnon came up just shy of the 100-point mark as he had 97 in 74 games.  Last season, he got even closer; while his point per game average went down, he played in all 82 contests and got to 99 points.  This season, he was well on his way to getting there and likely would have hit that mark even though he’d have missed this week due to injury.  He currently sits at 93 points in 69 games with his 1.35 point per game average being the best of his career.

If regular season play resumes, it’s quite possible MacKinnon will get to 100 even if the schedule winds up being truncated by a few games.  If not, he’ll take aim at that plateau next season and will instead have to settle for leading the team in scoring by a country mile.  (He currently sits 43 points ahead of Makar who is second in points with 50.)

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

NHL Rosters To Be Frozen During Suspended Season

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According to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet, the NHL will implement a league-wide roster freeze this evening after announcing a new directive for players earlier today. Johnston points to this freeze as the reason for several roster moves today, moving players between the NHL and AHL. We’ll list those moves below:

  • The New Jersey Devils have moved both Janne Kuokkanen and Matt Tennyson to the AHL. Both players are on two-way contracts, earning less at the minor league level.
  • The Minnesota Wild have moved Matt Bartkowski back to the AHL. He hadn’t played in a single NHL game this season and is on a two-way contract.
  • The Winnipeg Jets have recalled Mark Letestu from his conditioning loan in the AHL. He is on a two-way deal, but would need to clear waivers in order to be sent to the AHL full-time.
  • The Florida Panthers have moved Sam Montembeault back to the AHL. He is on a two-way deal and is still waiver-exempt.
  • The Anaheim Ducks have sent both Jani Hakanpaa and Anthony Stolarz to the AHL. Both players are actually on one-way contracts, meaning they don’t earn any less at the minor league level.
  • The Colorado Avalanche have sent Logan O’Connor to the AHL. The 23-year old is on a two-way contract.
  • The Vegas Golden Knights have sent Keegan Kolesar and Brandon Pirri to the AHL. Pirri is on a one-way contract, while Kolesar is still on his two-way entry-level deal.

Minor Transactions: 03/12/20

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Nothing could be more “minor” today than daily recalls and reassignments when the entire NHL and its minor league affiliates have closed their doors for the foreseeable future. However, for the sake of keeping things as hockey focused as possible during these trying times, here are the roster moves made today prior to or in light of the official shutdown announcement:

  • Dealing with injuries up front, the Vegas Golden Knights recalled a trio of forwards late last night: Keegan Kolesar, Brandon Pirri, and Nicolas Roy. The group are among the best per-games scorers on the AHL’s Chicago Wolves this year. However, given the NHL’s break, the team may get healthy enough to avoid using any of them once play returns.
  • CapFriendly reports that the Carolina Hurricanes have sent Morgan Geekie, the team’s sudden rookie standout, and goaltender Anton Forsberg back to the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers. Geekie recorded three goals in his first two NHL games this week and looks like another bright young prospect for the ‘Canes to build around.
  • After being called up yesterday, Colorado’s Martin Kaut, Dallas’ Joel Kiviranta, and the Rangers’ Steven Fogarty have all been reassigned today, per CapFriendly. This likely comes as a response to the shutdown. Kiviranta, signed out of Finland this summer, has played in eleven games with Dallas thus far, but has found more offense in the minors. The team would love to see signs that his scoring ability can translate to the top level before the postseason begins – whenever that is – as depth is crucial in the playoffs. Kaut is in a similar boat with the Avalanche, although the 2018 first-round pick is not as pro-tested and has not produced as well in the AHL this year. Fogarty, the veteran of this group, is in his fourth year with the Rangers’ organization out of Notre Dame and is no stranger to the up-and-down nature of his AHL depth role and is always ready to step in when needed.

Brendan Lemieux To Have Hearing With Department Of Player Safety

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While the NHL decides whether the season will even continue, life goes on at the Department of Player Safety. They have announced that New York Rangers forward Brendan Lemieux will have a hearing tomorrow to determine supplementary discipline for his hit on Colorado Avalanche forward Joonas Donskoi. Lemieux collided with Donskoi after the Avalanche player took a shot on net, appearing to impact his head in the process.

Obviously it’s not clear how a suspension would play out given the uncertainty around the rest of the season, but if handed out Lemieux would have to serve it at some point. Even with their loss last night the Rangers are still within striking distance of a playoff spot, should more regular season games be played.

Lemieux was given a minor penalty for interference on the play and has been suspended for an illegal check to the head in the past.

Nathan MacKinnon To Miss 1-2 Weeks With Lower-Body Injury

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While it obviously isn’t the worst news they could have received, the Colorado Avalanche will still be shaking their fists in frustration today. Head coach Jared Bednar told reporters including Ryan S. Clark of The Athletic that Nathan MacKinnon will be out for one to two weeks with a lower-body injury.

The team is already without several other forwards including Mikko Rantanen and Nazem Kadri, weakening their depth up front considerably. One positive is that Cale Makar is expected to return for the Avalanche tonight, though MacKinnon’s absence will still obviously be felt.

Not only does it hurt Colorado’s chances of catching the St. Louis Blues for first place in the Central Division, but this also may rob MacKinnon of his first 100-point season. The explosive forward has recorded 97 and 99 points the last two years and sits at 93 in just 69 games so far this year. Two weeks could mean missing eight of the team’s final 13 games though, making it tough to crack the elusive threshold.

It could also potentially impact any Hart Trophy votes that may have been coming MacKinnon’s way, though Leon Draisaitl’s 110 points may have already done irreparable damage to that campaign.

Minor Transactions: 03/11/20

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The party ended for the Philadelphia Flyers last night, unable to extend their winning streak to ten games after being defeated 2-0 by the Boston Bruins. They’ll be able to get right back on the horse tomorrow night, but first the NHL will hold five games this evening. Today’s schedule is heavily represented by Western Conference teams, with a battle between the Winnipeg Jets and Edmonton Oilers perhaps the most interesting in terms of playoff implications. As they prepare, we’ll keep track of all the minor moves throughout the day.

  • Ahead of their road trip that starts tonight in Chicago, the San Jose Sharks have recalled Nick DeSimone. San Jose will face the Blackhawks, Blues, Stars and Avalanche before heading home later this month.
  • The Montreal Canadiens have sent Lukas Vejdemo back to the minor leagues after playing in three games during this latest recall. The 24-year old forward scored his first NHL goal last night but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Nashville Predators.
  • Once again, Martin Kaut has been recalled by the Colorado Avalanche, the third such occasion over the last few weeks. The young forward has looked ready to make the jump to the NHL and will give Colorado another body as Nathan MacKinnon deals with a lower-body injury.
  • The New York Rangers have recalled Steven Fogarty under emergency conditions, likely meaning that Filip Chytil will not be ready to go tonight against the Avalanche. Chytil has been listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Fogarty, 26, has played in six games this season and 17 in his career, but is still looking for his first NHL point.

Minor Transactions: 03/10/20

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If you are a fan of an Eastern Conference team fighting for a playoff spot tonight will certainly be of interest, as the Boston Bruins take on the Philadelphia Flyers while the Tampa Bay Lightning battle the Toronto Maple Leafs. Both games could have massive ramifications on seeding, while six other games have meaningful impact as well. As teams prepare for tonight’s action, we’ll keep track of all the minor moves right here.

  • The New Jersey Devils have recalled Matt Tennyson, who will play tonight in place of Fredrik Claesson. Tennyson, 29, has played in 19 games this season for the Devils, recording three points.
  • Like most days that end in Y, Nicolas Roy has been involved in another transaction. The Vegas Golden Knights forward is back on the AHL roster along with Brandon Pirri after his latest recalled. Roy has now been brought up or down more than 30 times on the season.
  • The Minnesota Wild have returned Gerald Mayhew to the minor leagues after going scoreless in six consecutive games. The 27-year old Mayhew has dominated the AHL this season scoring 39 goals in 48 games, but hasn’t been quite able to carry that production over to the NHL level.
  • Sheldon Dries and Martin Kaut have both been returned to the Colorado Eagles, which bodes well for the health of Nathan MacKinnon. The Avalanche star suffered a lower-body injury but it is not clear how serious it is at this point.
  • Perhaps most notable today among the minor moves is the recall of Nicolas Beaudin by the Chicago Blackhawks. The 20-year old defenseman is in his first year of professional hockey after being selected 27th overall in 2018. Through 59 games with the Rockford IceHogs, Beaudin has collected three goals and 15 points.

Minor Transactions: 03/09/20

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Another exciting weekend has come and gone on the NHL schedule without a Philadelphia Flyers loss. The team is now tied with the Washington Capitals for first place in the Metropolitan Division after winning nine straight, while their cross-state rivals in Pittsburgh continue to fall behind. Tonight many hockey fans will have their sights trained on a game between the Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers, two teams that could very well face each other at some point in the playoffs. As they and the rest of the league prepare, we’ll keep track of all the minor moves.

  • The New York Islanders have recalled Thomas Hickey once again as they continue to deal with injuries on the back end, and his stay could be a little longer this time. The team leaves for a four-game road trip that starts in Vancouver tomorrow, before returning home next week.
  • Janne Kuokkanen has been recalled for the first time by the New Jersey Devils after coming to the organization at the trade deadline. The Carolina Hurricanes still haven’t seen Sami Vatanen in action, but New Jersey will get a closer look at one of their new prospects.
  • Speaking of the Hurricanes, the team sent Alex Nedeljkovic back to the minor leagues today as Petr Mrazek prepares for his return. Mrazek may start tomorrow for the Hurricanes according to team reporter Michael Smith, though it has not yet been confirmed.
  • Martin Kaut has been recalled by the Colorado Avalanche, a notable occurrence for more than just the prospect’s pocketbook. If Kaut plays in two more games this season he would burn the first year of his entry-level contract, something that was cited as the reason for his recent demotion.
  • The Chicago Blackhawks have recalled Brandon Hagel under emergency conditions, giving him another chance at the NHL level. The 21-year old forward still hasn’t played a game for the Blackhawks, though this will be the fifth recall of his career.

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