Snapshots: Malkin, Vesey, Columbus, Trade Talk
Surgery will not be necessary for Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin writes the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Seth Rorabaugh. An MRI revealed that an unspecified injury on March 11 would not require surgery to Malkin’s elbow. Malkin, who has been the subject of trade rumors, played through the injury since March and only missed one postseason game as a result.
In other NHL news:
- CSN New England’s Joe Haggerty reports that despite having his rights traded to Buffalo, Hobey Baker Trophy winner Jimmy Vesey shouldn’t be counted out of signing with Boston. The Massachusetts native was drafted in the third round by Nashville in 2012, but never signed with the Preds. His rights were traded to Buffalo this past week, and although he had Buffalo on his shortlist, many analysts are convinced Vesey will reach free agency on August 15. Haggerty stressed that the Vesey camp has been difficult to predict so anything is possible. But reading between the lines, and listening to his agent, it sounds as if Vesey will take a thanks, but no thanks approach to Buffalo’s overtures.
- Columbus might be looking to move up in the draft writes Craig Hagerman. The Blue Jackets currently own the #3 overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, but are interested in jumping to one of the top 2 spots according to Columbus Dispatch writer Aaron Portzline. Portzline points out that the asking price would still be significant should the Jackets climb in the draft, but it wouldn’t be as insane as last year’s attempts when Connor McDavid was the expected (and eventual) #1 pick.
- Pioneer Press writer Chad Graff indicates that with the expansion draft now a reality, trade talk will ramp up during the draft. Due to limitations of the players that can be protected, Graff writes that GMs are trying to offload players they could lose for nothing. Additionally, Graff quotes Minnesota general manager Chuck Fletcher as saying the Las Vegas team will be more competitive out of the gate than any previous expansion team due to the league’s new financial structure.
Minor Transactions: 6/17/16
Here is where we’ll keep track of today’s minor transactions, updating as they happen.
- Maxim Lamarche, a former undrafted free agent signed in 2013, has re-upped on an AHL deal with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The 23-year old defenceman has yet to make his debut in the NHL and isn’t expected to do so anytime soon.
- The first captain of the Stockton Heat, Aaron Johnson has decided to take his talents to Europe. He has signed a contract to play with Adler Mannheim of Germany’s DEL. Johnson was once a staple of the Columbus Blue Jackets’ blueline, playing in 172 games for them over two different stints (4 total seasons). He hasn’t played in the NHL since 2o12-13, when he suited up for 10 games with the Boston Bruins
- Daniel Sprong, one of Pittsburgh’s top prospects underwent shoulder surgery Friday and will be out 7-8 months. Sprong made his NHL debut this season before joining the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins for their playoff run and showed his scoring ability, putting up 7 points in 10 games in his first taste of professional playoff hockey.
- The Edmonton Oilers have re-signed center Tyler Pitlick to a one-year deal, according to the team twitter. Pitlick, a former second round pick, didn’t play for the Oilers this season after fighting injury again. He did put up 21 points in the 37 games he suited up in for the AHL Bakersfield Condors.
- According to ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun, Lightning center Jonathan Drouin has withdrawn the trade request he issued last season during a battle with GM Steve Yzerman over playing time. After making his return to the team and performing well in the playoffs, Drouin now wants to stay in Tampa for the long haul. The quickly approaching free agency of first-line center Steven Stamkos may have something to do with it, as Drouin can feature heavily in the future of the Lightning if Stamkos were to sign elsewhere.
- Recent Calder-cup winning goaltender Anton Forsberg has been re-signed by the Columbus Blue Jackets, according to the team. He’ll receive a one-year, two-way deal that will keep him on the AHL roster unless something changes on the big club. Forsberg has played in seven games for the Blue Jackets’ over the last two seasons, but backstopped their AHL affiliate to 43 wins over that time.
Snapshots: Strader, Hutton, Alfredsson, Cullen, Coaching Vacancies
Some sad news out of Dallas today as the team announced that their play-by-play announcer, Dave Strader, has been diagnosed with cancer. Strader just completed his first season as the voice of the Stars and has been in play-by-play booths for the last 36 years. Everyone at PHR sends their best wishes to Dave and his family through this difficult time.
Other news and notes from around the NHL:
- The re-signing of goalie Marek Mazanec in Nashville earlier today brings forth some doubt as to Carter Hutton’s future with the team. GM David Poile confirmed the two sides are in talks on a new contract but that he feels that “Going to another team will give him a better opportunity to get more games and to probably extend his career” and that “It’s not over yet, but I would say that is probably the way that Carter is leaning”. Hutton has spent the last three years with the Preds, posting a 33-23-12 record in 75 games with a 2.55 GAA and a .910 SV% and will be an unrestricted free agent July 1st.
- Former NHLer Daniel Alfredsson has signed a one year extension to stay on as Ottawa’s Senior Advisor of Hockey Operations, a role he first began in this past season. Alfredsson is the Senators’ All-Time scoring leader, collecting 1,108 points over 17 seasons with the team.
- Pittsburgh center Matt Cullen has yet to decide on his playing future. The 39 year old is an unrestricted free agent on July 1st and played with a broken toe since Game 2 of the Conference Finals. Cullen was the fifth oldest NHLer to suit up in a game this past season.
- It appears that one of the two remaining head coaching vacancies is close to being filled as Calgary GM Brad Treliving said in a radio interview this morning that their search would be “coming to a conclusion very quickly”.
- Following Lake Erie’s AHL title, Columbus will now look to fill their replacement for former Associate Coach Craig Hartsburg. Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch reports that Lake Erie coach Jared Bednar, as well as Darryl Sydor and Brad Shaw, are likely to be interviewed for that position.
Friedman’s Latest: Hartnell, Eriksson, Barrie
Although the Montreal Canadiens failed to move up in the lottery last month, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that they may try to make a deal to improve on their ninth overall pick. After picking late in the first round the last three seasons, Montreal will try to replicate the success they’ve had with their last couple of top-10 picks. In 2012 they selected Alex Galchenyuk third overall, and nailed Carey Price at number five way back in 2005. If Montreal wants to get back to the playoffs and have any chance at contention, they’ll have to improve through the draft. Here’s more from Friedman’s latest 30 thoughts:
- The Columbus Blue Jackets interviewed quite a few players ahead of selecting third overall in the upcoming draft. With rumors swirling that they are already getting offers for the pick, perhaps they’re just covering their bases before one of these deals blows them away.
- Still with Columbus, Friedman hears that there are trade rumblings around Scott Hartnell and that he is willing to waive his no-movement clause for several teams. Hartnell has three seasons at $4.75MM left on his deal, but put up another 20-goal season in 2015-16 and is a near-lock for 40 points at least for the immediate future.
- On Loui Eriksson, Friedman says that Boston will take one final run at re-signing the winger before he becomes a free agent on July 1st. If he makes it that far, expect a long list of suitors for the 30-year old after putting up an excellent 63 point campaign. He’s coming off a contract that earned him $4.25MM a season, and will look to improve on that number.
- It seems certain that Avalanche defenceman Tyson Barrie will be on the move this summer, but perhaps not until Colorado secures some help on the back-end. Their top target is Winnipeg Jets’ Jacob Trouba, who has played well since being drafted in 2012 and would take a fairly large ransom to pry away from GM Kevin Cheveldayoff.
- After acquiring Marc Savard‘s cap hit on Friday, the New Jersey Devils are no longer a landing spot for the Pavel Datsyuk dilemma should he decide to go back to Russia. According to Friedman this leaves only Carolina and Arizona as potential takers for the $7.5MM cap-hit he’ll incur since he signed his deal after he turned 35.
- Since Florida now has some room following the jettison of Savard’s hit, they’ve turned their attention to extending Vincent Trocheck. The 22-year old is a restricted free agent this summer, and is coming off an impressive 53 point season. With extensions for Aaron Ekblad and Reilly Smith due next year, Florida will have to keep Trocheck’s hit as low as possible if they’re to fit in all their young talent.
- Arizona is reluctantly looking at options with C Martin Hanzal as he nears free agency. While the Coyotes would like to re-sign him before he hits the market next summer, they are considering moving him and have asked for his list of teams he would accept a trade to.
What’s Next For The Calder Cup Champions?
On Saturday night in exciting fashion the Lake Erie Monsters, Columbus’ AHL affiliate, took home the Calder Cup for the first time in their history. Up three games to none in the series against the Hershey Bears, the teams took a 0-0 tie into overtime before 21-year old Oliver Bjorkstrand iced the game with his playoff-leading tenth goal. The finals sweep was the first of its kind since the Norfolk Admirals won in 2012, easily triumphing over the Toronto Marlies in four games.
Bjorkstrand took home the playoff MVP award, joining past winners such as Tomas Tatar, Robin Lehner and Carey Price. He’s carving out quite a playoff career thus far, having put up 77 points in 59 games throughout his time in junior to go with his 16 this season.
For head coach Jared Bednar, this not only is his first Calder Cup victory, it’s the first time an AHL team under his purview progressed past the first round. Now carrying a strong .589 winning percentage through four seasons as an AHL head coach, he’ll surely start to get looks as a NHL boss soon enough.
If he does, he’ll be following in the footsteps of recent Calder Cup champions; Willie Desjardins took the Texas Stars to the Cup in 2014, and was immediately hired on by the Vancouver Canucks. Jeff Blashill won with the powerhouse Grand Rapids Griffins in 2013, and was the successor in Detroit after Mike Babcock left for Toronto. In 2012, Jon Cooper took the Norfolk Admirals all the way, winning 55 games in the regular season and taking home the championship. Two seasons later he was behind the bench for Tampa, and has now taken them deep into the Stanley Cup playoffs in consecutive years.
For players like Bjorkstrand, their days on the the Monsters might be numbered. After being selected in the third round by the Blue Jackets in 2013, Bjorkstrand returned to the WHL and finished an impressive junior career with 118 points in just 59 games, adding 25 more in 17 playoff contests. This season, he scored 17 goals for the Monsters in the regular season, and made a solid debut for the Blue Jackets, putting up 8 points in just 12 games with the big club. He’ll look to break camp with the team as early as next season.
The other Monster making waves this postseason was 18-year old Zach Werenski, last season’s eighth overall pick. After completing his season at the University of Michigan, the defenceman signed an amateur try-out with the Monsters, as to preserve his status for any future expansion drafts. His entry-level deal with the Jackets will kick in in 2016-17, keeping him a first year professional for that season.
Werenski played seven games down the stretch for the Monsters, before becoming one of their top performers in the playoffs. His 14 points ranked him third overall on the Monsters and second among AHL defencemen trailing only Marlies’ standout Connor Carrick.
While Werenski played exceptionally these playoffs for the Monsters, he’ll be hard pressed to crack the roster this fall. The Blue Jackets have seven defencemen under contract for next season, including young standouts Ryan Murray and Seth Jones. With a lot of money tied up long-term at forward in players that aren’t providing much value, the Blue Jackets will need to rely on their young pipeline on the back end for the next few years.
Winning the Calder Cup is an outstanding achievement, and for Monsters’ captain Ryan Craig, it’s a long time coming. Breaking in with Tampa Bay just after their 2004 Stanley Cup run, Craig has bounced up and down for the next decade, never securing a place in the NHL or repeating his strong rookie season of 28 points in 48 games. Now 34, he’s a champion at the pro-level for the first time in his career.
You can bet teams will be scouring this roster for players as the season draws closer, betting that success in the AHL could lead to success for their big club. It’s a young, talented group, with six players above the age of 29. While Columbus didn’t have much success at the NHL level this season, they possess the third overall pick in this June’s entry draft after moving up in the lottery and may find themselves in a position to deal from a stocked cupboard in order to improve the team this season.