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East Notes: Schroeder, Paquette, Kronwall

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Columbus Blue Jackets’ forward Jordan Schroeder has been activated from injured reserve and sent to the AHL on a conditioning stint, as he continues to work his way back from an upper-body injury. Schroeder was acquired this summer from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Dante Salituro, but has yet to get into a game with the Blue Jackets this season.

A first-round pick in 2009, Schroeder never did quite fulfill his potential and has just 40 points in 144 career games. Once recovered, his presence will further complicate things in the bottom-six for Columbus, who are already carrying 13 forwards and are due back Boone Jenner at some point.

  • Cedric Paquette will be held out of the Tampa Bay Lightning lineup tonight with an undisclosed injury, though head coach Jon Cooper doesn’t believe it is a long-term problem. Paquette has been a fixture in Tampa Bay for several years, and had previously served as a primary penalty killer. This year however that job has at least partially gone to newcomer Chris Kunitz and young Brayden Point, making this injury a little easier to handle. Paquette is seeing the fewest minutes of his career, but could still be a useful depth option when he eventually returns.
  • Detroit Red Wings editor Dana Wakiji fills us in from practice today with one important note: Niklas Kronwall is skating with the main group and looks ready to make his season debut. Kronwall, a Red Wings legend, was skating with Mike Green and could debut tonight against the Arizona Coyotes. While the Red Wings start to move away from their previous core, Kronwall remains as one of the last members of the 2008 Stanley Cup team. He’ll try to find some of that magic again this season at age-36, in the sixth year of his seven-year extension.

Anderson Recalled From Conditioning Stint

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  • The Columbus Blue Jackets announced they have recalled Josh Anderson from his conditioning loan from the Cleveland Monsters where he played one game with no points. The 23-year-old wing just signed a three-year, $5.5MM extension with Columbus last week and was just getting back into shape. He will join the team for their game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday. Anderson scored 17 goals in a breakout season a year ago.

Minor Transactions: 10/05/17

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We’ll keep track of all the assignments around the league right here, as teams fine tune their rosters.

  • The Golden Knights assigned Brandon Pirri to the Chicago Wolves after clearing waivers. The 26-year old forward was just signed to a contract yesterday, after failing to earn on in Florida’s training camp. For the Golden Knights, there is no risk to signing a former 20+ goal scorer to see if he can still compete at this level. The team may be weak on offense all year, and could look to Pirri to infuse some scoring touch on the powerplay at some point.
  • The Boston Bruins sent Emil Johansson back to Providence, and will go with the more veteran Paul Postma as their extra defenseman. Johansson joined the organization last year after his European season was over, and played in six games for the P-Bruins down the stretch. A seventh-round pick, Johansson is highly regarded by the Bruins staff and could get his shot at the NHL at some point this year.
  • The Calgary Flames made another move, sending Garnet Hathaway to the minor leagues in order to clear room for Jaromir Jagr. Jagr was introduced yesterday at a press conference but likely won’t suit up for the team until he gets a few practices under his belt. The Flames could have used his offense last night as they were shutout by the Edmonton Oilers, in a game where Hathaway played just 11 minutes.
  • The Washington Capitals have loaned Chandler Stephenson to Hershey after clearing waivers, meaning the 23-year old will have to wait patiently for his next NHL opportunity. Since being drafted in the third round, Stephenson has only been given short chances at a job with the Capitals, playing in 13 games over the past two years. Still looking for his first NHL point, he’ll have to prove it at the AHL level once again.
  • Grand Rapids will be getting some help, as the Detroit Red Wings have assigned Matt Lorito and Eric Tangradi to the AHL. Tangradi cleared waivers today, and will return to the team he helped take to the Calder Cup championship a year ago. In the playoffs for Grand Rapids, Tangradi scored 19 points in 19 games, and will try to do the same this year. The Griffins have also signed Matt Carey to a professional tryout, and sent Matej Machovsky to the ECHL.
  • According to Adrian Dater of BSN Denver, the Avalanche have indeed sent Joe Colborne to San Antonio to begin the season. Colborne was among those who cleared waivers today, and will have to work his way up from the minor leagues if he wants to return to the NHL. It’s a far fall for Colborne, who was a 19-goal scorer in the league just two seasons ago with Calgary, but suffered the same fate as many Avalanche players and posted a career-low in points last season. Scoring just eight all year, his $2.5MM salary looks like a dreadful overpay.
  • The Blue Jackets have assigned defenseman Markus Nutivaara to the AHL (via the Cleveland Monsters website). For the former seventh-round pick appeared in 66 games during his rookie campaign, collecting two goals and five assists. He also made his way into a pair of playoff games, compiling one goal and one assist.

Ben Levine contributed to this post.

Josh Anderson Going Through Immigration Process

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  • Blue Jackets winger Josh Anderson is in the middle of going through the immigration process (which was required once his new contract was signed) and as a result, he will not be in their lineup on Friday night against the Islanders, reports Andrew Erickson of the Columbus Dispatch. However, since his contract is now active, he is counting against their 23-man active roster even though he’s not with the team.

Josh Anderson To Sign With Columbus

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Josh Anderson has agreed to a three-year deal worth $1.85MM a year with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Anderson was a restricted free agent, and the Blue Jackets’ last player to sign before the season starts. The deal will officially take Anderson through the 2019-20 season, and is broken down as follows:

  • 2017-18: $1.6MM
  • 2018-19: $1.85MM
  • 2019-20: $2.1MM

Anderson and the Blue Jackets were locked in contract negotiations all summer. Things rose to a head in September when Anderson reportedly asked for a trade. The final terms are lower than what two other prominent RFAs received. Calgary Flames’ Sam Bennett signed for $1.95MM a year, and Toronto Maple Leafs’ Connor Brown signed for $2.1MM a year.

In his first full season with the Blue Jackets, Anderson scored 17G and 12A in 78 games and an additional 1G and 1A in 5 playoff games. Columbus valued him enough to make moves prior to the expansion draft to protect him and other prospects, but apparently did not budge from its contract valuation. Head coach John Tortorella stated earlier this offseason that Anderson will have to earn his spot on the team.

Sportnet’s Elliotte Friedman was first to confirm that the deal was done.

2017-18 Primer: Columbus Blue Jackets

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With the NHL season now just a couple of days away, we continue our look at what each team has done this summer and what to watch for in the year to come.  Today, we focus on the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Last Season: 50-24-8 record (108 points), third in Metropolitan Division (lost in the first round to the Pittsburgh Penguins)

Remaining Cap Space: $7.99MM per CapFriendly

Key Additions: F Artemi Panarin (trade, Chicago)

Key Departures: F Brandon Saad (trade, Chicago), F Scott Hartnell (buyout), F Sam Gagner (free agency, Vancouver), D Kyle Quincey (free agency, Minnesota), F William Karlsson (expansion, Vegas), F David Clarkson (trade, Vegas), F Keegan Kolesar (trade, Vegas), F Josh Anderson (unsigned RFA)

[Related: Blue Jackets Depth Chart From Roster Resource]

Pierre-Luc DuboisPlayer To Watch: F Pierre-Luc Dubois – When Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen strode towards the podium at the 2016 draft, holding the third-overall pick almost everyone in the building expected him to select Finnish forward Jesse Puljujarvi. Puljujarvi had been neck and neck with Patrik Laine for much of the year as the potential second-overall pick, and had only fallen to a close third in recent months. Despite the obvious talent in Puljujarvi, Kekalainen went after the more important position and selected Pierre-Luc Dubois, the second best center available in the draft (behind just Auston Matthews). That selection was surprising, and early indications may have had fans calling for their GM’s head.

Dubois was sent back to junior and struggled mightily early for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, not even playing center full-time. It looked like it might be a disappointing season for a player who had such high hopes until a mid-season trade to Blainville-Boisbriand turned things around. Dubois would start showing his dominant physical presence once again, and recorded 59 points in 41 games down the stretch and into the playoffs. He was a more well-rounded player, and showed he could be ready for the jump sooner than initially thought.

That jump is about to happen as Dubois has survived all the Columbus cuts and is penciled into the lineup for opening night. Meanwhile, Puljujarvi had a disappointing camp and was sent back to the AHL to begin the year. While those two will be tied together for some time, it seems likely that Dubois will be given every chance to succeed this year with the Blue Jackets. While he’ll begin the season as a winger, there is still a real chance he ends up in the middle at some point. If he could lock down that role, it would be a huge advantage for a club that has some of the best forward depth in the league.

Key Storyline: In 16 seasons since the Blue Jackets were added to the NHL, the franchise has won exactly three playoff contests. Last year marked just the third time the team had been to the postseason, and they have still yet to make it past the first round. That seems destined to change over the next few years, as the Blue Jackets proved last season that they were one of the premiere clubs in the league. With 108 points, they amazingly finished third in their division but should be pushing the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals and New York Rangers once again for the top spot.

With a Hart Trophy-caliber goaltender, elite defense corps, the reigning coach of the year and a lineup featuring a solid mix of size, skill and speed there is no one they shouldn’t be able to play with. Still, the playoff demons are there for this club and the structure could backfire once again. Even with their 100+ point season they were forced to face the Penguins in the first round, and could face a similar fate this year should they not be able to take down the top spot. While they can’t look too far ahead, the playoffs are the real test for this team.

Josh Anderson, Blue Jackets Still Apart On Contract Length

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  • Rick Dhaliwal of News 1130 in Vancouver reports that Josh Anderson and the Columbus Blue Jackets are negotiating over term, not money as the team would like to get him under contract for three years. Whether this information is coming from the agent or team is unclear, but one would hope the situation can be resolved quickly if salaries have been agreed upon. Anderson remains unsigned going into the season, and will miss the opener unless he signs in the next day or so.

The Other Option For Josh Anderson And Andreas Athanasiou

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There are just two remaining restricted free agents in the league in Columbus winger Josh Anderson and Red Wings winger Andreas Athanasiou.  Both players appear to be at an impasse when it comes to multi-year contract talks and it has been suggested that they could go overseas for the season and suit up in the Olympics.

While that would solve a problem in terms of getting them playing time and a paycheck (not to mention a nice bonus of playing in the Olympics, an opportunity that wouldn’t typically be afforded to them), there would still one other problem that will be lingering, a lack of arbitration rights.

Both Anderson and Athanasiou are coming off of their entry-level contracts so arbitration isn’t an option for them and that will still be the case a year from now if they play overseas for the full season.  In theory, an offer sheet is a possibility but if a team was willing to extend one by now at a salary that the player wants, it would have already been signed.

As a result, this is a rare circumstance where the teams hold a lot more leverage than they typically do at other times in restricted free agency and that’s likely part of the reason that there hasn’t been much movement lately on either side, short of Anderson reportedly asking for a trade.  And even with that, it’s not likely that Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen will be willing to entertain that option considering how hard they worked to keep him away from Vegas in expansion not to mention the precedent it could set in negotiations with future players down the road.

While it would seem like both players are basically at an impasse, there is another option that isn’t really being discussed too much.  Pretty much all contract talks thus far have been multi-year deals but why not focus on a one-year pact instead?

While Anderson and Athanasiou would likely be leaving a bit of money on the table for 2017-18, a one-year contract would also set them up with arbitration eligibility next summer.  The threat of having an arbitrator side with their numbers in a hearing shifts at least some of the negotiating leverage back in their favor.

Meanwhile, the teams would get their players under contract and playing for them which is the desired outcome while also allowing them some more time to try to hammer out a long-term deal; both players could sign extensions as early as July 1st.  In Detroit’s case, getting Athanasiou a bit cheaper would also help in their efforts to work around a tight salary cap situation this season.

Of course, finding the right salary number on a one-year deal is easier said than done.  However, it would appear that there’s a better chance of trying to bridge the gap on a contract like that than a multi-year one considering the fact little progress has been made since July.

There are still a few more days before the regular season gets underway so there is still time for Columbus and Detroit to work out multi-year contracts with their respective players.  But if talks can’t gain traction soon, the time might be right to compromise and focus on a one-year deal instead.

Josh Anderson Requests Trade From Columbus Blue Jackets

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According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the Josh Anderson saga has come to a head. The unsigned restricted free agent has requested a trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets. This is a big swing in what had thought to have been a regular negotiation up to this point. Though the two sides had been firm in where they stood, requesting a trade likely signals that they don’t see a deal being completed anytime soon. That said, both Pierre LeBrun and Aaron Portzline of The Athletic report that GM Jarmo Kekalainen has not received a trade request as of yet.

Josh AndersonAnderson, 23, is coming off his entry-level contract at the perfect time in his career. The big-bodied forward scored 17 goals last season, and provides a versatile style that can move up and down the lineup. He’s made it clear that he would be willing to play in Europe for a year and suit up in the Olympics if he wasn’t offered a fair deal, but with cap space available this year and next, it always seemed as though something would get done.

The Blue Jackets for their part have made it clear that they could move on without him. Head coach John Tortorella hinted that Anderson would have to fight for his job when he returned from his holdout, and the team has refused to give in to any contract demands above what they deem reasonable.

All of this is not to say that a trade will be consummated. Last year, we saw Jacob Trouba go through a similar negotiation, requesting a trade out of Winnipeg because of the role he was expected to play. Eventually, Trouba would sign during the season for two years and move into a prominent role. He’ll be up for another contract after this season, but is now a key part of the Jets going forward.

Anderson on the other hand doesn’t seem to be asking for a bigger role, just respect on a bigger contract. Connor Brown, a similarly-aged player coming off his entry-level deal was given three years and $6.3MM from the Maple Leafs, but that was perhaps a bit of a hometown discount. Brown scored 20 goals in his rookie season, but isn’t as physical as Anderson. Sam Bennett received just two years at $1.95MM, even with more experience and draft pedigree than either Anderson or Brown. Bennett is also a center, but had a disappointing season in 2016-17 with only 13 goals.

If the Blue Jackets did examine trading Anderson, it’s likely they would find takers from all around the league. Teams are always looking for young depth forwards with upside, which is exactly what he brings. Though he may not be a perennial 20-goal scorer, he could fit into several contending lineups as a relatively inexpensive option on the wing. Columbus, who went out of their way at the expansion draft to protect him from the Vegas Golden Knights, would need to get back substantial value even if he’s continuing to hold out. The player has little leverage at this point, unless he wants to play the rest of his career overseas.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Overseas Notes: Jagr, Zherdev, Salmela, Pogge

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NHL legend Jaromir Jagr will surely keep pushing for an NHL roster spot, even if it takes him through the 2018 Winter Olympics and his 45th birthday to finally land a gig with a contender down the stretch. In the mean time though, Jagr finally has a place to call home for 2017-18 season. Unsurprisingly, it’s Czech club HC Kladno, of whom Jagr is a part owner. Czech hockey news source “Hokej.cz” was the first to report (link in Czech) Jagr’s plans, and even goes so far as to say that Jagr should be ready for game action by Saturday. Now, Kladno was always the fallback plan for Jagr, so this announcement doesn’t eliminate the possibility that Jagr could still sign in the NHL or KHL, as has been most recently rumored, at any time. What it does mean, is that the ageless wonder is going to keep playing, one way or another.

  •  Latvian KHL club Dinamo Riga took a hit earlier today when former NHL forward T.J. Galiardi terminated his contract with the team following a hot start to his season. However, Riga was ready to react accordingly, as they soon after announced the addition of 2003 4th overall pick Nikolai Zherdev. Zherdev, a name that many in North America equate with missed opportunity, was a top pick of the young Columbus Blue Jackets organization more than a decade ago. While a one-dimensional scoring forward, Zherdev’s talent was undeniable. In four seasons with the Jackets, Zherdev recorded 76 goals and 105 assists in 283 games; he was also a -52. Columbus traded Zherdev to the Rangers in 2008-09, where he again was a highly successful scorer, but Zherdev left the team after the season, returning home to Russia. After a season in the KHL, Zherdev attempted an NHL comeback with the Flyers, but didn’t have the same gusto to his game and headed back across the Atlantic in the off-season. Since the young age of 26, Zherdev has been playing in the KHL and has struggled with health and inconsistency for much of that time. Zherdev was already released after just two games with Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk earlier this season, but hopes he can find a more permanent home with a Riga club in need of as much help as it can get.
  • While Riga is deep up front, even after the loss of Galiardi, they don’t enjoy the same talent on the back end. They helped themselves with that problem today as well, inking veteran defenseman Anssi Salmela to a one-year deal. The 33-year-old Finn played in 112 NHL games between 2008 and 2011, bouncing between the New Jersey Devils and Atlanta Thrashers, but managing to play a respectable and reliable stay-at-home role in both locations. Salmela has done more bouncing around since heading back to Europe; he’s jumped from team-to-team and league-to-league in the KHL and Swedish Hockey League, including a strong showing with Linkoping just last season. Salmela will add some experience and leadership for the Dinamo as they look to be build upon their last-place roster.
  • Another NHL veteran finding employment overseas in goaltender Justin Pogge. After losing starter Ville Kolppanen, Swedish club Rogle BK reached out to the reliable journeyman. The team announced (link in Swedish) the new deal today, comparing Pogge to former keeper Anders Lindback. Pogge sat on an NHL bench as recently as 2012, but has actually not seen any big league action since the end of his rookie year in 2008-09. Pogge has played in Italy, Sweden, and most recently Slovakia, with the KHL’s HC Slovan Bratislava last year, and has actually fared well for himself since leaving North America behind. He has a chance to continue an altogether impressive European career as he begins his time with Rogle this season.

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