Blue Jackets Rumors

Joonas Korpisalo Not Yet Cleared For Games

September 23, 2022 at 11:39 am CDT | by Gavin Lee Leave a Comment

While there’s no doubt about who will be the starter for the Columbus Blue Jackets this season – Elvis Merzlikins appeared in 59 games last year – it’s not exactly clear who will be the primary backup. The team brought back Joonas Korpisalo on a one-year, $1.3MM contract but also signed Daniil Tarasov to a three-year deal with an average annual value of $1.05MM.

The thing is, both Korpisalo and Tarasov are coming off hip surgeries.

Korpisalo, 28, has still not been cleared for game action and there is no timetable yet according to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic. The goaltender hopes to play in the preseason, but it is more likely that we see Tarasov first. Portzline notes that Tarasov’s surgery was about a month ahead of Korpisalo’s, meaning he’s ahead in the recovery process.

There is also simply the fact that Korpisalo hasn’t been very good recently. In 22 appearances last season he posted an .877 save percentage and whopping goals against average of 4.15. The 23-year-old Tarasov meanwhile posted a .937 in four NHL appearances, though his professional experience in North America is limited to just 21 games to this point.

Given the fact that Columbus is focused on competing this season, after signing Johnny Gaudreau in the offseason, should Korpisalo start slowly it will be difficult for the team to stick with him. Tarasov is waiver-exempt and can be sent to the minor leagues, but will get his chance at some point to prove he’s ready for the NHL.

Snapshots: Czechia, Columbus, Landeskog

September 22, 2022 at 3:00 pm CDT | by Gavin Lee 16 Comments

The Czech Foreign Ministry has told the San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators that they will not welcome Russian-born players into the country for the Global Series games, scheduled to be held on October 7 and 8 in Prague. A report from the Associated Press confirms that a letter has been sent to the NHL explaining that visas are not to be issued to Russian players because of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

However, deputy commissioner Bill Daly has expressed “no concern” to the AP about players traveling to Czechia, and Sharks general manager Mike Grier told reporters including Corey Masisak of The Athletic that the NHL is handling the situation. Grier also explained that his position is “we all go or we don’t go,” suggesting he will not take the Sharks to Prague if Alexander Barabanov and Evgeny Svechnikov, the team’s two healthy Russian players, are not allowed to participate.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have made several changes in their hockey operations department, naming Trevor Timmins assistant director of amateur scouting, and hiring Marshall Davidson, Dale Derkatch, and Roman Polak (previously reported) as scouts. Zac Urback has been promoted to director of hockey analytics, and Mike Eaves, formerly the head coach of the Cleveland Monsters, will now serve as a pro scout.
Gabriel Landeskog “won’t skate anytime soon” according to Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar, who told reporters including Peter Baugh of The Athletic that the captain is still dealing with an injury from last season. Landeskog is expected to miss the start of the year.

Snapshots: Hague, Pastrnak, Jets

September 21, 2022 at 5:56 pm CDT | by Josh Erickson 2 Comments

When Vegas Golden Knights training camp opens tomorrow morning, defenseman Nicolas Hague won’t be there as he awaits a new contract. The Athletic’s Jesse Granger reports that he isn’t expected to be on the ice with his teammates Thursday morning at City National Arena, the team’s practice facility.

Hague is one of the few remaining restricted free agents in the NHL, alongside Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Rasmus Sandin and Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson as the marquee names. Granger expertly notes that Hague missing camp is more detrimental than in previous seasons, as new head coach Bruce Cassidy will be installing a completely foreign defensive system from what the Knights have been used to in past seasons. Hague, the 34th overall pick in 2017, had 14 points in 52 games last season.

Speaking today during preseason media availability, Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney says it’s a priority for him to get pending free agent winger David Pastrnak signed as soon as possible. Pastrnak, while he’s expressed a strong desire to stay in Boston, hasn’t shared the same urgency in negotiations in previous reporting. Pastrnak, who’s notched 40 or more goals in his last two full seasons, will be in line for a substantial raise, and it may behoove Sweeney to get a deal done before his value rises even further.
The Winnipeg Jets have made three scouting hires, including the first woman scout in team history, Sydney Daniels. Daniels joins the team as an NCAA scout, having previously served as the assistant coach for the women’s team at Harvard. The team also brought on Jari Kekalainen, brother of Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, as a European scout, and former Toronto Maple Leafs scout Tony Martino as a USHL scout.

Salary Cap Deep Dive: Columbus Blue Jackets

September 17, 2022 at 12:45 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose 1 Comment

Navigating the salary cap is one of the more important tasks for any GM. Teams that can avoid total cap chaos by walking the tightrope of inking players to deals that match their value (or compensate for future value without breaking the bank) remain successful. Those that don’t see struggles and front office changes.

PHR will look at every NHL team and give a thorough look at their cap situation heading into the 2022-23 season. This will focus more on players who are regulars on the roster versus those who may find themselves shuttling between the AHL and NHL. All cap figures are courtesy of CapFriendly.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Current Cap Hit: $82,083.333 (under the $82.5MM Upper Limit)

Entry-Level Contracts

F Yegor Chinakhov (one year, $925K)
F Kent Johnson (two years, $925K)
F Cole Sillinger (two years, $925K)

Potential Bonuses
Chinakhov: $700K
Johnson: $925K
Sillinger: $850K
Total: $2.475MM

Sillinger was the lone player from the 2021 draft class to spend the full season in the NHL and he acquitted himself well with 31 points in a middle-six role. If he can secure a top-six role for the next two seasons, he’s a candidate to bypass a bridge deal but it’s still too early to forecast his second contract. It’s possible that he hits one or two of his ‘A’ bonuses worth $212.5K as well. Johnson burned the first season of his entry-level pact with a nine-game stint down the stretch where he didn’t look out of place. He should be able to push for a regular spot in 2022-23 but unless he steps into a dominant role quickly, a shorter-term second contract is likely coming his way. The same can be said for Chinakhov. He fared okay in a limited role last season but players in lower roles rarely get long-term second contracts. If he stays in the bottom six, a one-year deal worth around $1MM or a two-year pact closer to $1.5MM are his likely outcomes.

Signed Through 2022-23, Non-Entry-Level

D Gavin Bayreuther ($750K, UFA)
D Vladislav Gavrikov ($2.8MM, UFA)
G Joonas Korpisalo ($1.3MM, UFA))
F Gustav Nyquist ($5.5MM, UFA)
F Mathieu Olivier ($750K, RFA)
D Andrew Peeke ($788K, RFA)

After missing all of 2020-21 due to injury, Nyquist played in every game last season and put up a respectable 53 points. He’ll need a better showing next season to have a shot at making more on his next deal. Otherwise, at 34, he’ll be looking at a shorter-term deal closer to the $4MM range. Olivier was brought in from Nashville to give the Blue Jackets a bit of grit up front but unless he can secure a regular spot, he’ll be signed for the minimum or close to it a year from now.

Gavrikov took a big step forward last season and really established himself as one of their top blueliners; he sat second on the team in ATOI. Getting someone that spends a fair bit of time on the top pairing for money that’s usually reserved for fourth or fifth defenders is quite good. He’ll be 27 next summer when a long-term deal worth around double his current AAV might await him. Peeke is also in line for a sizable raise after showing that he’s capable of playing on the second pairing in a stay-at-home type of role. With arbitration rights next summer, he could jump into the $3MM range or even a bit higher on a contract that buys out multiple UFA years. Bayreuther should be on the fringes of the lineup this season so he’s unlikely to command much more than the minimum next summer.

Korpisalo had a tough year, one that saw him miss nearly half the games due to injury or illness and when he was between the pipes, he struggled mightily. Knowing his market wouldn’t have been strong in free agency, he opted to take a considerable pay cut to try to rebuild his value this season. If he can, he could get back to the $2.5MM to $3MM range next summer.

Signed Through 2023-24

D Jake Bean ($2.33MM, RFA)
F Emil Bemstrom ($900K, RFA)
D Nick Blankenburg ($825K, RFA)
F Justin Danforth ($975K, UFA)
F Eric Robinson ($1.6MM, UFA)
F Jack Roslovic ($4MM, UFA)
F Alexandre Texier ($1.525MM, RFA)
F Jakub Voracek ($8.25MM, UFA)

Voracek was brought back for a second stint with the Blue Jackets last summer in a move to shake up the core with Philadelphia. On the one hand, he led the team in points with 62 points. On the other hand, only six of those were goals. Players making that much money should be expected to score more than six times but they have to be pleased with the assist total. He is already showing signs of slowing down and the fact he’ll be 35 in 2024 won’t help either. A contract closer to half of his current price might be where his market falls at that time unless he starts to show a lot more of a scoring touch over these next two years.

Roslovic had a career season with 45 points but somewhat surprisingly, the Blue Jackets weren’t able to work out a deal to extend their team control, instead opting for a second bridge that walks him right to free agency. Assuming he can at least remain as a second-line center between now and then, he will land a bigger contract at that time. Robinson has become a capable bottom-six checker that produces fairly well at even strength which pushed him over the $1MM mark for the first time. If he can find another level and get to the 35-point mark or so, he could make a case to add another million on the open market.

Texier technically only has one year left on his contract but since he won’t play this season under suspension (which allowed him to play closer to home for family reasons), his deal won’t expire until 2024. He was showing signs of breaking out in limited action last season and if he plays at that level if and when he returns for 2023-24, he could land closer to double his $1.75MM qualifying offer. Bemstrom and Danforth had limited roles last season and will first need to secure a full-time lineup spot before they can hope to earn any sort of significant raise on their next deals.

Bean was hoping to get an expanded role after being acquired from Carolina and that’s exactly what happened as his ATOI jumped up by more than six minutes per game while moving into their top four. He’s a bargain at this price tag and if he can hold that role for two more years, he’ll earn considerably more than his $2.8MM qualifying offer. Blankenburg signed as an undrafted college free agent down the stretch, burning his one-year deal in the span of a few weeks. He’s waiver-exempt and could see some time in the minors but if he’s a regular by the end of this contract, he’ll push past the $1MM mark.

Signed Through 2024-25

D Adam Boqvist ($2.6MM, RFA)
F Sean Kuraly ($2.5MM, UFA)
G Daniil Tarasov ($1.05MM, RFA)

Kuraly signed with his hometown team last summer and got a bit of a bigger role than he had with Boston. He responded with the best offensive season of his career with 14 goals and 30 points in 77 games while leading all Columbus forwards in shorthanded ice time per game. This deal looked like a bit of an overpayment at the time but if he keeps up that type of production, the Blue Jackets will get decent value from it.

Boqvist was a key part of the return from Chicago in the Seth Jones trade last summer and showed some promise when he was healthy, notching 11 goals in just 52 games. That was enough for GM Jarmo Kekalainen to award him with this three-year bridge deal, one that carries a $3.12MM qualifying offer. If he can establish himself in their top four and provide above-average production, he could be looking at a sizable raise of his own in 2025.

Tarasov is waiver-exempt this coming season and is likely to be in the minors. However, with a one-way and three-year commitment, it’s clear that the Blue Jackets view him as the backup heading into 2023-24 so it’s safe to slot him into Korpisalo’s spot on the roster a year from now. Even as a second-stringer, two good seasons from him could more than double his current cost.

Signed Through 2025-26 Or Longer

F Johnny Gaudreau ($9.75MM through 2028-29)
D Erik Gudbranson ($4MM through 2025-26)
F Boone Jenner ($3.75MM through 2025-26)
F Patrik Laine ($8.7MM through 2025-26)
G Elvis Merzlikins ($5.4MM through 2026-27)
D Zach Werenski ($9.583MM through 2027-28)

Gaudreau was a surprise acquisition for the Blue Jackets this summer. For a team that was believed to be in the midst of some sort of rebuild, to turn around and sign the most prominent free agent to a max-term deal is a pretty significant pivot. Gaudreau instantly gives them a second high-end scoring threat even if he isn’t able to get back to the 115-point mark as he did last season.

Ever since he was acquired, there were questions about Laine’s willingness to stay beyond his UFA-eligible season which would have been next summer. He put that to rest with this deal, one that still gave him a nice boost on the $7.5MM he made last season while ensuring he’ll stick with Columbus for three years past that UFA-eligible mark. He’s particularly streaky but when he’s on, he’s a legitimate top-liner. Jenner was likely to reach career-highs offensively had a back injury not ended his season prematurely in March. As Sillinger and Johnson progress into bigger roles, it’s Jenner that will likely lose some of his more offensive-minded minutes but as an all-situations player that is above-average at the faceoff dot, he’ll still provide lots of value even if his numbers dip.

After Jones didn’t want to sign long-term with Columbus, Kekalainen moved quickly to lock up Werenski to a deal that, for a moment, had him set to be the highest-paid player in franchise history. He’s another player that had a career year offensively while he logged over 25 minutes a night for the first time. He might not be a player that immediately comes to mind when talking about number one defensemen around the league but he definitely fills that role well for them. Gudbranson was one of the more shocking contracts of the summer. Yes, he fills a hole in terms of grit but he’s also a player that’s best suited for a fourth or fifth role at most. Four years is a lot for that type of player and $4MM is more than many expected.

Merzlikins was the clear starter for the first time last season and the results were mixed. Granted, the Blue Jackets weren’t expected to be contenders but his save percentage dipped to .907 after being no lower than .916 over his first two seasons. Expectations will be higher now with an improved team in front of him and if he can get back to that .916 mark, this will be a strong value contract for Columbus.

Buyouts

F Alexander Wennberg ($442K in 2022-23, $892K from 2023-24 through 2025-26)

Retained Salary Transactions

None

Still To Sign

None

Best Value: Gavrikov
Worst Value: Voracek

Looking Ahead

At the beginning of the offseason, it didn’t seem like the Blue Jackets would be among the teams that are tight to the salary cap for 2022-23. Before all was said and done, they basically had to give Oliver Bjorkstrand, who led the team in goals last season, away to Seattle just to get compliant. They should start the season at least $1MM under the Upper Limit and while that might not seem like much, that’s probably going to be better than half the league.

Most of this core is already in place for 2023-24 as well with Nyquist being the only key expiring. Voracek expiring the year after will help to afford raises on their bridge deals and youngsters but until there’s a big jump in the salary cap, there isn’t going to be a lot of room to add to this core. Instead, any improvements from here on out will be coming from within.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Minor Transactions: 09/16/22

September 16, 2022 at 5:00 pm CDT | by Ethan Hetu Leave a Comment

NHL hockey is nearly here. Rookie tournaments have started, and training camps are soon to follow. Over the next few weeks, we’ll keep track of all the notable minor signings to see where minor league and fringe players will ply their trade this season.

The St. Louis Blues have added another player to their training camp roster, signing Russian prospect Andrei Bakanov to a PTO. Bakanov, 20, last played in North America with the Guelph Storm of the OHL in the 2019-20 season and has seen game action at the KHL and MHL levels for the past two seasons.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are bringing goaltender Hayden Stewart to their training camp on a PTO. Stewart, 27, has been a starting netminder in the SPHL for the past few seasons and has also seen fill-in duty in the ECHL since turning pro out of Cornell University in 2018. This PTO signing is extremely unlikely to result in a contract offer from the Blue Jackets, but nonetheless, Stewart will get the chance to show what he can do as an extra body to mind the crease for the Blue Jackets’ training camp.
Former NHL defenseman Ryan Sproul will be staying in China. The KHL’s Kunlun Red Star announced that they’d signed Sproul to a one-year extension. The former Detroit Red Wing is beginning his fourth season with the Red Star and seems to have found a long-term home with that club.

This page will be updated throughout the day.

Coyotes, Blue Jackets Sign Players To PTOs

September 14, 2022 at 7:52 pm CDT | by Josh Erickson Leave a Comment

7:52 PM: The Coyotes have confirmed Chiasson’s invitation while also noting that goaltender Christopher Gibson has also inked a PTO. The 29-year-old spent last season with AHL Charlotte, posting a 2.80 GAA and a .907 SV% in 14 games. Gibson has 16 career NHL appearances between the Islanders and Lightning.

5:33 PM: Per CapFriendly, the Arizona Coyotes have signed forward Alex Chiasson to a PTO, while the Columbus Blue Jackets have signed forward Victor Rask and defenseman Ben Harpur to PTOs.

Chiasson, now 31, has a legit shot at not only getting a contract, but playing a top-nine role if things go well. With far more offensive upside than players currently slated to play top-nine roles in Arizona like Nick Ritchie and Christian Fischer, he could get a decent amount of playing time on the power play as well and provide solid value on a cheap contract for Arizona. Playing just 11:37 per game last season with the Vancouver Canucks, Chiasson scored 13 goals in 67 games, six of which came on the power play. He’s not exactly an impact player at both ends of the ice, but he’s been a solid depth scoring option now for multiple seasons. With Arizona simply needing more NHL players in their lineup, signing Chiasson should be a no-brainer.

The opposite is true for the Blue Jackets, who have a bit of a logjam at the bottom of both their forward and defense depth charts. Harpur would be a solid addition to the top-four in AHL Cleveland if he does get a deal, but Rask will have much more competition for a roster spot amongst Columbus’ young forwards. With players like Kirill Marchenko, Yegor Chinakhov, Kent Johnson, and others poised to be full-time NHLers next season, Rask will really need to have a strong camp in order to earn a deal (if he wants an NHL role, that is).

Roman Polak Retires, Joins Columbus As A Scout

September 14, 2022 at 6:47 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose Leave a Comment

Long-time NHL defenseman Roman Polak has decided to call it a career but he will be sticking around the game as Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports (Twitter link) that the Blue Jackets have hired him as a European scout. Polak will replace Milan Tichy who has joined Edmonton’s scouting department.

The 36-year-old spent the last two seasons playing back home with Vitkovice of the Czech Extraliga where he was the team captain. He had a limited role in 2021-22 and evidently decided that the time was right to hang up his skates rather than pursue another season on the ice.

Polak played in parts of 14 NHL seasons, spanning 806 career games between St. Louis, Toronto, San Jose, and Dallas. His offensive numbers were quite limited – just 26 goals and 114 assists – but he was best known for playing a physical defensive game. He had over 1,400 blocked shots and nearly 2,000 hits which helped him to earn seven contracts and over $24MM in his career before heading back overseas. Now, he will begin his second NHL stint working under GM Jarmo Kekalainen, the then-scout who played a big role in him being drafted by St. Louis back in 2004.

Boone Jenner (Back) Will Be Ready For Training Camp

September 5, 2022 at 7:30 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose 2 Comments

Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner told Aaron Portzline of The Athletic (subscription link) that he has fully recovered from the back injury that cost him the final 23 games of last season. Jenner has missed time with back trouble in three different seasons now but all three have been in different areas. The 29-year-old had 44 points in 59 games last season while logging over 20 minutes per night for the first time in his career and he will undoubtedly be a welcome return for a Columbus team that is looking to turn their fortunes around quickly following the addition of Johnny Gaudreau this summer.

Columbus Blue Jackets Sign James Neal To Professional Tryout

September 1, 2022 at 5:45 pm CDT | by Ethan Hetu 7 Comments

The Columbus Blue Jackets have added some big names to their roster this summer, and now they’re going to be giving another big-name player a chance to earn a spot on their team. Per CapFriendly, unrestricted free agent winger and former 40-goal scorer James Neal has signed a professional tryout (PTO) with the Blue Jackets.

Neal, 34, split time last season between the St. Louis Blues and their AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds. In 19 games for the Blues, Neal registered two goals and four points. At the AHL level, Neal fared better, scoring 14 goals and 26 points in 28 games to go along with 12 points in 17 games during the Thunderbirds’ run to the Calder Cup Final.

Neal’s game has declined since his prime, and he isn’t the goal-scoring offensive force he once was. But he has had time over the past two seasons to adjust his game in order to fit lower on a team’s lineup, and now he’ll have a chance to impress coach Brad Larsen and earn a spot on the Blue Jackets’ roster.

On paper, this signing seems to be a way for the Blue Jackets to add an experienced, veteran NHLer to compete with the young players Columbus would ideally like to see make their NHL team. As with any professional sports team, the Blue Jackets are a competitive outfit. They’re not going to hand roster spots to any young player, no matter how talented. Adding Neal on a PTO gives up-and-coming wingers such as Kent Johnson, Kirill Marchenko, Liam Foudy, and Yegor Chinakhov a big-name veteran to compete with for a lineup spot.

Additionally, Neal’s presence could also push players such as Mathieu Olivier or Justin Danforth to defend the NHL jobs they’re currently penciled into. While he might not make the team given the competition he’ll face, this PTO gives Neal an opportunity to show the Blue Jackets organization what he can do. If he performs well, he could potentially earn another two-way deal and serve as useful depth for a Blue Jackets club looking to make some noise next season.

Columbus Blue Jackets Sign Liam Hawel To PTO

August 30, 2022 at 10:29 am CDT | by Josh Erickson 7 Comments

The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed center Liam Hawel to a professional tryout contract, per CapFriendly.

23 years old now, Hawel was originally a fourth-round pick of the Dallas Stars in 2017. After not receiving an entry-level deal from Dallas, Hawel signed an AHL contract with the Montreal Canadiens for 2020-21 after wrapping up his junior career with the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers.

The COVID-related chaos of the 2020-21 campaign limited Hawel to just seven games in AHL Laval, though, where he tallied just two assists in seven games. Hawel then took the extremely rare step of going to university after starting his professional career, tallying 37 points in 24 games last season for St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia.

Not signed to any sort of contract for 2022-23, Hawel needs a strong training camp performance just to earn an AHL contract in Cleveland. He could earn an NHL contract too if he really impresses, especially given the organization’s weak minor-league depth at forward, at least in terms of those signed to NHL deals.

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