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Blue Jackets’ Ian Cole Fined For Dangerous Trip

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The Department of Player Safety announced they have fined Columbus Blue Jackets’ defenseman Ian Cole $5,000, the maximum allowed by the CBA, for a dangerous trip on Vancouver’s Brandon Sutter on Saturday between the two teams.

The 29-year-old blueliner was given a two-minute minor for the incident. Cole was suspended for three games back in 2012 for an illegal hit to the head.

Cole was acquired at the trade deadline from the Ottawa Senators after they picked him up from the Pittsburgh Penguins days before. He has fit in nicely to the team’s lineup, but while there are rumors that Columbus has been discussing an extension, there is concern that the Blue Jackets might not be able to afford his pricetag as he will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. He has five goals and 15 assists this season.

 

Columbus Has Key Defensive Decisions To Make This Offseason

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The Columbus Blue Jackets are enjoying some of their best defensive depth in team history as they currently have 10 blueliners on their current roster. Not even including the impressive play of their top line of Seth Jones and Zach Werenski, the team has a quality top-six with trade deadline acquisition Ian Cole to pair with David Savard on the second line. The recently extended Markus Nutivaara also makes a quality third pairing with Ryan Murray. Their depth is so great that veteran Jack Johnson finds himself as a healthy scratch lately and can’t seem to break into Columbus lineup on most days.

However, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic (subscription required) writes that the Blue Jackets’ blueline should look quite different next season and much of those changes will revolve around what the team does with three players in particular, including Johnson, Cole and Murray.

Johnson has had a tough year and is wrapping up a seven-year, $30.5MM contract. The 31-year-old asked for a  trade midway through the season as his playing time had dropped this year, but the Blue Jackets found no takers and seems unlikely to return to Columbus considering how little he has been playing of late and now has been a healthy scratch for four straight games.

Cole, who many believed Columbus added as only a trade rental, has made quite a mark on the team’s defense and seems to be a good fit next to the physical Savard and the team is considering bringing him back next season. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen had a hand in drafting him back in 2007 when he was with the St. Louis Blues. According to Portzline, there have been rumors the team has already discussed a contract extension with Cole, but there are questions whether the team can afford him.

As for Murray, the team must make a decision on whether they want to retain the restricted free agent. Murray, who is currently making $2.825MM this year, is an excellent skater and puck mover, but has struggled his entire career with injuries. He’s only played out a full 82-game season once and has never come close after that as 66 games is his next highest. He’s played in just 41 games this year.

If the team signs two of those three players, Columbus should continue to have a strong defensive core in the future.

Markus Nutivaara Signs Four-Year Extension

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed Markus Nutivaara to a four-year extension, worth an average annual value of $2.7MM. Nutivaara was scheduled to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season. The salary breakdown is as follows:

  • 2018-19: $2.5MM
  • 2019-20: $2.5MM
  • 2020-21: $2.5MM
  • 2021-22: $3.3MM

Nutivaara, 23, was selected in the seventh round three years ago and has burst onto the scene as a full-time player for the Blue Jackets. Through 59 games this season, he’s recorded 22 points and could see even more ice time in the coming years. With Jack Johnson and Ian Cole likely leaving through free agency, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Nutivaara given more responsibility. With Ryan Murray still scheduled to become an RFA and rumored to be included in trade talks in the past, getting Nutivaara under contract was important.

It’s a very nice raise for the left-handed defenseman, but it does buy out one of his unrestricted free agent years. That obviously bumped up the cap hit a bit, but it is still low enough to be an inexpensive deal for the Blue Jackets if Nutivaara continues to develop. He’ll be just 28 when it expires, and could demand another solid contract on the open market.

The Blue Jackets are heading to the playoffs again if they can hold off the last few challengers, and you can bet that Nutivaara will play a larger role this time around. Last season, he played just two games in the postseason and averaged fewer than 12 minutes. Where he’ll slot in this time around isn’t set in stone, but with the way he has been playing lately there’s no way he should see the press box very often.

Eric Robinson Signs With Columbus Blue Jackets

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have wasted no time jumping into the college free agent market, signing Princeton University captain Eric Robinson to a two-year entry-level contract. Princeton was eliminated from the NCAA tournament this weekend, meaning the senior captain could turn pro. Robinson will join the Blue Jackets right away, meeting them in Edmonton on Tuesday. The deal is worth an average annual value of $925K, with maximum bonuses according to Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press.

Robinson, 22, couldn’t get his club past Ohio State on Saturday, but completed his senior season with a solid 31 points in 36 games. Though he wasn’t used as the primary offensive weapon on his club, there are some who believe that he can grow into a bigger scoring role in the future. Instead, Robinson was tasked with a two-way role that has prepared him for life at the professional level. His heavy game fits nicely with what the Blue Jackets have built over the last few years, and he could get right into the lineup for them now that Nick Foligno is out for the next few weeks.

Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen had this to say about the young forward:

Eric is a power forward with excellent speed who plays a very reliable two-way game and brings the type of character and leadership we value as an organization. He will join our team for the rest of the regular season and we are excited about his future with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Blue Jackets are likely heading to the playoffs again this season, and Robinson could give them some extra depth during a run towards what will be a brutal Eastern Conference bracket. Right now, the team is scheduled to face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round though that could easily change in the next few days.

Minor Transactions: 03/26/18

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As teams around the league continue to snap up their college recruits and add them to the NHL roster, others are just playing out the string hoping for better odds at the draft lottery. Still, the league will continue to make minor transactions right up until the end of the season and we’ll keep track of them all right here. Check back throughout the day to stay up to date.

  • After announcing that Nick Foligno will be out for two to four weeks, the Columbus Blue Jackets have recalled Alex Broadhurst from the minor leagues. Broadhurst has yet to make his NHL debut, but leads the Cleveland Monsters in scoring this season with 41 points in 66 games. Foligno will try to get back in time for the playoffs, but in the meantime the Blue Jackets will need to sort out their center position without his help.
  • Pheonix Copley is on his way back to the minor leagues, now that Braden Holtby has overcome the minor injury he was dealing with. Copley didn’t get into a game in his short stint, and is still waiting to make his Washington Capitals debut. The 26-year old goaltender could get a chance next season, if the Capitals decide that a new contract for Philipp Grubauer—who is scheduled to be a restricted free agent once again—is too expensive.
  • The Calgary Flames have swapped goaltenders, sending David Rittich to the minor leagues while recalling Jon Gillies. The Flames are all but eliminated from postseason contention after losing five in a row, and will have a tough offseason to deal with after trading several future draft picks to try and contend for the Stanley Cup this season.
  • Roberto Luongo is healthy for the Florida Panthers, as they have assigned Harri Sateri back to the minor leagues. The Panthers are in action tonight against the New York Islanders, with James Reimer starting in goal.

Minor Transactions: 3/17/18

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All eyes will be on Tampa tonight as the Lightning host the Bruins in a match-up with major playoff implications. Boston trails Tampa Bay by four points for the lead in the Atlantic Division and top seed in the Eastern Conference, but also holds a game in hand. A win for the Bolts would give them considerably more wiggle room, while a win for the B’s would put them in striking distance of the coveted top spot when they square off with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday. Outside of this clash of titans though, there are nine other game on the docket on a busy Saturday, yet they might all be caught up in Bruins-Lightning, as it’s been all quiet on the transactions front:

  • The Dallas Stars are back to just two goalies, having reassigned Mike McKenna to AHL Texas. McKenna was briefly called up as a precaution, but did not see any action with Dallas. The veteran journeyman has made 29 AHL appearance this season though, posting a 2.64 GAA and .908 save percentage. Despite those pedestrian numbers, he will remain the next man up for the Stars should injury befall Ben Bishop or Kari Lehtonen down the stretch or (potentially) in the postseason.
  • The Columbus Blue Jackets will have recently-extended defenseman Dean Kukan back in the lineup, as the team announced that they have activated him from injured reserve. Kukan had missed the past 12 games with an upper-body injury that landed him on IR back in mid-February. It remains to be seen if Kukan will stay in Columbus or instead see some guaranteed game action with the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters, where he has 15 points in 32 games this year.
  • The Tampa Bay Lightning announced they have recalled goaltender Louis Domingue from the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL. After stopping 26 of 28 saves for the Crunch Friday, the belief is that Domingue will share backup goaltending duties with veteran Peter Budaj, who only recently came back from injury. The belief was that Domingue, who has played eight games for the Lightning, has been stronger in goal than Budaj has been. Domingue has a 5-2-0 record with a 3.07 GAA and a .907 save percentage, while Budaj has a 3-3-1 record with a  3.76 GAA and a .876 save percentage in eight games. The transaction leaves Tampa Bay with just one final recall remaining for the rest of the season as this is the team’s third of four.

Kevin Stenlund To Join Cleveland Monsters

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Now that the SHL season is over for many teams, Swedish players and prospects will begin to make the journey to North American professional hockey. One of those players, Kevin Stenlund, has been assigned to the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL. The Columbus Blue Jackets’ prospect is coming off another good season with HV71, and already signed his entry-level contract last spring.

Stenlund, 21, was selected 58th-overall in 2015 and is another intriguing forward prospect for the Blue Jackets. He really showed off in the playoffs last year for HV71, where he had 10 points in 16 games en route to a championship. This year he came back with 22 points in 43 games, and continued to play his solid two-way game.

The 6’4″ 210-lbs Stenlund is a responsible defensive presence that has been credited for his high hockey IQ since draft day. Though he may not be a huge offensive producer at the next level, he’s on a fast track for the NHL if he can continue to hold his own at the center position. He’ll be challenged at the AHL level down the stretch, but could compete for a job with the Blue Jackets within the next calendar year.

Columbus Blue Jackets Sign Nathan Gerbe To Two-Year Extension

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have seen enough from Nathan Gerbe to determine that they want to keep him around. The veteran forward has signed a two-year, two-way contract extension that will take him through 2019-20. The deal pays Gerbe an average annual value of $675K in the NHL, and breaks down as follows:

  • 2018-19: $650K NHL/$250K AHL, $400K guarantee
  • 2019-20: $700K NHL/$250K AHL, $400K guarantee

Gerbe will take home no less than $400K for each season, not a bad deal for a player who was close to being out of North American hockey altogether at one point. In 18 games with the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL, Gerbe has 12 points. In his two NHL contests, he’s been held scoreless.

The 5’5″ forward has found quite a bit of success at the highest level of hockey, going back to his days as an offensive powerhouse for Boston College. Though the professional ranks haven’t brought the same level of offensive success, Gerbe does have two 16-goal, 31-point seasons in the NHL and has always produced at the AHL level. After a brief sojourn in Switzerland, Gerbe is back on North American soil and will have to accept his role as a fringe NHLer.

Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic provided the financial details of the contract.

Dean Kukan Signs Two-Year Extension With Columbus

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have locked up one of their young defenders, inking Dean Kukan to a two-year extension. Kukan was set to become a restricted free agent this summer, but will now be under contract through the 2019-20 season. The deal will be one-way, and pay Kukan an average annual value of $725K.

This will be the first one-way deal of Kukan’s career, a nice reward for the development he’s shown over the last few years. Originally signed out of the SHL in 2015, Kukan was a relative unknown that had gone undrafted but had impressed at two World Championships with Switzerland. He made his NHL debut that season, but spent all of last year with the Cleveland Monsters in the AHL.

Playing in 10 NHL games this season, Kukan seems destined to replace one of the Blue Jackets’ pending free agents in the lineup on a more regular basis next year. Ian Cole, Jack Johnson and Taylor Chorney are all scheduled to become unrestricted free agents, while Ryan Murray and Markus Nutivaara are also RFAs.

Kukan is a solid defender that can be relied upon in the defensive zone and get the puck up quickly to his teammates, though perhaps lacks a bit of creativity and aggressiveness on the offensive side. With players like Zach Werenski and Seth Jones giving the Blue Jackets more than enough offense from the back end, Kukan can focus on the defensive side and carve out a role for himself.

The Blue Jackets have quite a bit of cap space heading into the summer, and getting players like Kukan locked in on relatively inexpensive deals will help them maximize that financial asset. He’ll cost just a touch more than the minimum salary for next season, just like Scott Harrington who is signed for just $650K.

Snapshots: General Manager Hot Seat, Cholowski, Cullen

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With many teams starting to see the writing on the wall that their season is coming to a close sooner than they had intended, the next question that comes about is whether the team has any intentions of making changes to their staff. After a look at possible changes to the coaching ranks, the next question would likely turn to which general managers are on the hot seat. The Athletic’s James Mirtle (subscription required) takes a look at 10 candidates who could find themselves without a job this offseason.

Mirtle quickly addresses the obvious ones, including Detroit’s Ken Holland and Toronto’s Lou Lamoriello, both who have been rumored to either be on their way out or moved to a different role within the organization. However, Mirtle also admits that both could easily stay in their present roles too.

The next stage of general managers that are most likely on the hot seat include Peter Chiarelli of Edmonton, the New York Islanders Garth Snow and Montreal’s Marc Bergevin, while other general managers might be given more time to prove to the organization that their plan works. Colorado’s Joe Sakic, Arizona’s John Chayka, Minnesota’s Chuck Fletcher and Columbus’ Jarmo Kekalainen are all likely to be on short leashes due to their inability of taking their teams to a new level.

  • Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press writes that while 2017 first-round pick Michael Rasmussen might make the Detroit Red Wings team next season, the real prospect to keep an eye on will be 2016 first-round pick Dennis Cholowski, whose having a stellar year with both the Prince George Cougars and the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL. The 20-year-old blueliner is in his final year of junior and has 14 goals and 50 assists this year. St. James writes that while Rasmussen must make the Red Wings roster out of training camp to stick, Cholowski could play with the Grand Rapids Griffins in the AHL and get a midseason callup if he can’t break into the Red Wings lineup.
  • StarTribune’s Sarah McLellan writes that the NHL Players Association released a players poll this week and for the question of which player would make great coach after they retire. Minnesota’s Matt Cullen won the poll. He received 4.5 percent of the votes, yet Cullen hasn’t decided if that’s the avenue he plans to go down. “I’ve never really put a lot of thought into it, to be honest,” Cullen said. “I guess I’ve had a lot of experience, and I’ve been through a lot through a long career, I guess. Truthfully, I’ve never thought a lot about it. I don’t know. I’m not sure what I’ll do when I’m done playing.”

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