Snapshots: King Clancy Trophy, Kucherov, Bishop, Holzapfel
Now that the NHL has reached the conference championship phase of the playoffs, so too can the NHL awards, which are expected to be handed out day-by-day over the next couple of weeks. First up is expected to be the King Clancy Trophy, awarded to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community. The trophy will be awarded this evening before the start of Game 1 between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Dallas Stars. The three finalists for the awards are Minnesota Wild’s Matt Dumba, New York Rangers’ Henrik Lundqvist and New Jersey Devils’ P.K. Subban.
Dumba has been committed to racial and social justice and the Hockey is for Everyone initiative and helped form the Hockey Diversity Alliance with seven current and former NHL players. Lundqvist supports several different initiatives, including aid for children’s health, education, underprivileged youth, Hockey Fights Cancer and the Make a Wish Foundation. Subban also supports several groups, including initiatives for underprivileged youth, medical support and promoting racial and social injustice.
- Despite the bad news that the Tampa Bay Lightning will have to go through the Eastern Conference Finals without Steven Stamkos, the team did get some good news, however, on the injury front. The Athletic’s Joe Smith reports that first-line forward Nikita Kucherov is expected to be available Monday for the Lightning’s first game against the New York Islanders. Kucherov was forced to leave Game 5 against the Boston Bruins with an undisclosed injury, but has had almost a week to recover. The 27-year-old has been quite effective in the playoffs so far with four goals and 16 points in 13 games.
- The Dallas Stars will be without starting goaltender Ben Bishop once again as The Athletic’s Sean Shapiro reports that Bishop and defenseman Taylor Fedun remain “unfit to play.” Both skated today, but neither appear ready to play. The scribe did add that forwards Andrew Cogliano and Mattias Janmark are both expected to be game-time decisions today. Bishop has appeared in just three games during the playoffs and hasn’t made an appearance since Aug. 31 against Colorado when he allowed four goals in 13 minutes before being replaced. The team will rely on Anton Khudobin once again, who is 8-5 with a .909 save percentage in 14 games during the playoffs.
- Former AHL forward Riley Holzapfel announced his retirement after spending his four years with the Vienna Capitals of the Austrian League. Holzapfel was a second-round pick of the Atlanta Thrashers in 2006 and five season in the AHL before opting to play overseas in 2013, playing three seasons in the SHL before joining Vienna in 2016. He was never able to break into the NHL, however. The 32-year-old was still productive with Vienna, scoring 18 goals and 46 assists in 48 games.
Decision On Rick Bowness' Interim Tag To Be Made After Playoffs
- While making it to the Western Conference Final would make it seem like a pretty safe bet that Stars interim coach Rick Bowness will be installed as the full-time bench boss, Matthew DeFranks notes that this isn’t necessarily the case. The 65-year-old indicated that he hasn’t given any thought yet regarding the idea of remaining in the role beyond the playoffs and that there is a meeting scheduled with GM Jim Nill to discuss his future whenever their postseason action comes to an end.
Snapshots: Overages, Bowness, Sodergran
The suspension of the last part of the 2019-20 season will cause financial ramifications for years to come, most notably the flat salary cap ceiling. Several teams dealing with that cap crunch will also have to deal with some bonus overages, as Frank Seravalli of TSN outlines in his latest piece. These are performance bonuses that have been awarded, but that would push teams over the salary cap ceiling. Normally these are put against the next season’s cap, but in this unique season they can now be split over the next two years.
The team with the biggest overage is the Dallas Stars, who have already racked up a $2.95MM penalty. That number could increase considerably—by another $1.65MM—should Miro Heiskanen earn the Conn Smythe trophy this season.
- Speaking of the Stars, head coach Rick Bowness spoke today about his future with the organization. Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports that Bowness has agreed to wait until after the playoffs to speak with GM Jim Nill about a contract extension, however long that may take for the surging Stars. Bowness is still working under an interim tag after taking over from Jim Montgomery midseason.
- The Los Angeles Kings have loaned Johan Sodergran to Almtuna in Sweden’s second league for the next few months, with an expectation that he will return in time for the 2020-21 season. Sodergran, a sixth-round pick in 2018, recorded seven points in 48 games for the Ontario Reign.
Central Notes: Jets’ Offseason, Zadorov, Bishop
The Winnipeg Jets have quite a few of their franchise players under contract for the next four years, so the team is in a win-now mode. With all the injuries and distractions the team suffered during the 2019-20 season, many were thrilled that head coach Paul Maurice and the Jets even managed to make the playoffs. However, having just won two of their last six playoff series in the last few years, Ken Wiebe of Sportsnet writes that the Jets must make changes to their roster to return to the top of the Central Conference.
One way to do that, suggests the scribe, would be for the team to use what remaining cap room that it has and spend on a top free agent defenseman. There will potentially be a few difference-makers available and with the salary cap leveling out at $81.5MM, the Jets could take advantage of several cap-strapped teams and bring in a big-name player.
There are two key possibilities, including St. Louis Blues’ Alex Pietrangelo and Boston Bruins’ Torey Krug. Both are looking for big paydays and may have to look outside the organization unless their respective teams are ready to move out salary to accommodate them. Wiebe notes that Pietrangelo might be a better fit for the Jets as he is right-handed and would be a good fit leading the team’s power play. Both players could be persuaded to sign in Winnipeg with big short-term offers.
- Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said that defenseman Nikita Zadorov is expected to play tonight in Game 4 of their series against the Dallas Stars, according to Adrian Dater of Colorado Hockey Now. The 6-foot-6, 235-pound blueliner didn’t play during the third period of Game 3 on Wednesday due to an undisclosed injury, but is expected to be ready now. The 25-year-old had a goal and an assist in that game, but it will be his physical presence the team will need if Colorado hopes to even the series against Dallas.
- Speaking of the Stars, Matthew DeFranks of the Dallas Morning News reports that there has been a slight change in the status of starting goaltender Ben Bishop. The netminder skated, but remains unfit to play. The team, however, hasn’t been forced to rush Bishop back as backup Anton Khudobin is playing quite well in his place. Khudobin has a 6-4 record with a 2.75 GAA and a .913 save percentage. “Dobby’s been great, but listen, Bish is unfit to play,” said coach Rick Bowness. “It’s as simple as that. I think we’ll just leave it right there.”
Dallas Stars’ Reece Scarlett Signs With Dinamo Riga Of KHL
The Dallas Stars have lost one of their minor league depth options as AHL defenseman Reece Scarlett has signed a contract with Dinamo Riga of the KHL, according to TSN’s Brennan Klak.
The 27-year-old Scarlett has been with the Stars organization for the past three years, playing entirely with the Texas Stars in the AHL. He has never made an appearance in a NHL game and opted to take his chances in the KHL, where he might be able to seize a bigger role there.
Known for his excellent skating and stickhandling, Scarlett has not been able force his hand into the Stars’ defensive lineup over the years. After playing just one game due to injury in 2018-19, Scarlett came back to score five goals and 16 points in 51 games for Texas. He was originally drafted in 2011 in the sixth round with the New Jersey Devils.
Snapshots: Stars-Avalanche, Dubois, Seabrook
The NHL hasn’t even finished the first round, with two series playing game six tonight, but they’re already moving on with at least one second-round series. The Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars are set to start their battle tomorrow night according to several reports including Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.
The league obviously wants to take advantage of a Saturday night, but also is determined to get through the bubble-playoffs as quickly as possible. Both first-round game sevens, should they be needed, are scheduled for Sunday.
- Pierre-Luc Dubois wasn’t able to carry the Columbus Blue Jackets to a first-round victory but did show that he’s an emerging star in the NHL. That will only help him when he negotiates his next contract this fall. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic examines the young center’s situation, explaining that he believes a three-year deal would make sense. Interestingly though, LeBrun writes that “if Dubois signs longer term, it’s going to be for tangibly more than [William] Nylander.” The Toronto Maple Leafs forward signed a six-year, $45MM deal in 2018.
- The Chicago Blackhawks are still hoping that Brent Seabrook can be an impact player for them in 2020-21, even after his major surgeries limited him to just 32 games this season and took him out of the postseason. Seabrook, who rehabbed hard to try and be a part of the team in the bubble, will have his role “figured out in training camp” according to Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman, who spoke to reporters including John Dietz of the Daily Herald. The 35-year-old defenseman has four years remaining on his contract.
Snapshots: Shea, Pavlychev, Brome
After 21 players became unrestricted free agents over the weekend, news is trickling in on where they will start their professional careers. The Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins have already snatched up a couple of the high profile names, but the Dallas Stars won’t be left out of the fun. Mark Divver of Rinkside Rhode Island reports that Ryan Shea is expected to sign with Dallas following his four-year career at Northeastern.
Shea, 23, was a fourth-round pick by the Blackhawks in 2015 and is coming off an impressive 31-point season as captain of the Huskies. The 6’1″ defenseman will start his career with the Stars organization, though it’s not clear exactly whether an NHL entry-level contract or an AHL pact is coming.
- AHL contracts are what many of these unsigned draft picks end up getting, like Nikita Pavlychev who has signed a one-year deal with the Syracuse Crunch. The 23-year old center played four years for Penn State but ended up failing to reach a deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins who drafted him in 2015. The Russian-born Pavlychev is a defensive stalwart, using his 6’7″ frame to lock down opposing forwards and disrupt passing lanes.
- As expected, the Detroit Red Wings have loaned Mathias Brome to the SHL for the next few months. Like their other loans, Brome will return for NHL training camp as he looks to make the jump to North American professional hockey for the first time. The 26-year old only recently signed his first NHL contract after scoring 43 points for Orebro HK in 2019-20.
Stephen Johns Unavailable For Game Three
- Stars defenseman Stephen Johns remains unfit to play for tonight’s third game against Calgary, relays Sean Shapiro of The Athletic (Twitter link). His availability for Thursday’s contest was up in the air for a while with Taylor Fedun ultimately suiting up in his absence, though he played just over five minutes of ice time. There’s no word on how much longer Johns will miss.
Florida Panthers Part Ways With GM Dale Tallon
Aug 10: The Panthers have officially parted ways with Tallon, announcing that a search for their next GM has begun. In a short statement, owner Vinnie Viola explained what Tallon has meant for the club and why they were now moving on:
For the last decade, Dale raised the team’s profile, attracted key players to South Florida and brought character and class to our franchise. When we purchased the Panthers in 2013, we did so with a singular goal–to win a Stanley Cup. We have not seen our efforts come to fruition. We will now begin an organizational search for the next general manager.
Aug 7: The Florida Panthers were very unlikely to have made the playoffs this season under the standard format and few gave them a chance of an upset over the stout defense of the New York Islanders in the qualifying round. Yet, the organization is still not taking their elimination earlier today lightly. Fox Sports’ Andy Strickland reports that the hammer is set to drop on long-time executive Dale Tallon. The team is expected to move on from their GM shortly.
Tallon, hired as GM in Florida in 2010, had previously served in the same role with the Chicago Blackhawks and had a hand in the team’s Stanley Cup win the season prior to his departure. Tallon served as GM for the Panthers until 2016, when he was elevated to President of Hockey Operations. He then resumed GM duties as well in 2018. Having been around for a decade, Tallon’s influence can be found in every corner of the roster, even in long-time homegrown stars Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau, and Aaron Ekblad, who were all drafted by Tallon.
However, Tallon’s mistakes have also made a lasting impression on the roster. This past off-season in particular, Tallon gambled with the Panthers’ salary cap space, spending big on goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, forward Brett Connolly, and defenseman Anton Stralman. It is hard to argue that any of the three have lived up to expectations in yet another disappointing season for the franchise, which has not won a playoff series since 1996. Yet, they are all multi-year deals and will continue to impact the team for seasons still to come. With little cap space heading into this off-season, top scorers like Mike Hoffman and Evgenii Dadonov could prove difficult to re-sign and the club could take another step backward next season. Other lasting mistakes have included a botched Expansion Draft strategy that saw the team give away Reilly Smith in order to ensure Jonathan Marchessault was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights, only to see both become reliable top-six forwards, not getting enough for forward Vincent Trocheck from the Carolina Hurricanes at the trade deadline this year, and simply flip-flopping on their organizational strategy too frequently.
In finding Tallon’s replacement, the Panthers need to find someone with a long-term outlook on the position and a concrete plan on how they will rebuild the club. Having made just three playoff appearances in the past ten years, Florida fans will likely be happy to miss the postseason for another year or two if it means sustained success down the road. That could start with some lottery luck in the form of the No. 1 overall pick and Alexis Lafreniere. Maximizing their four picks in the first three rounds one way or another will also be imperative for the new GM in his first draft. Finding a way to shed some dead weight salary and to add much-needed depth at all positions will also be key.
Not all of Tallon’s tenure in Florida has been bad – including the aforementioned homegrown standouts and a pair of division titles – but at the end of the day the Panthers have had no postseason success and they have their work cut out for them to change that any time soon. Tallon’s replacement will have plenty of work to do to undo some of the GM’s mistakes and to reverse the curse on the Florida franchise.
Stars Make Final Roster Cuts
Although the official rosters aren’t expected to be released until tomorrow, Stars GM Jim Nill told reporters, including Matthew DeFranks of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link) which four players will not be on their roster. Those that won’t be making the trip to Edmonton are goalie Colton Point, defenseman Dillon Heatherington, plus forwards Joel L’Esperance and Rhett Gardner.
Point spent most of his sophomore professional season with Idaho of the ECHL where he posted a 2.86 GAA with a .898 SV% in 20 games. However, even with him being cut, Dallas will be taking four goaltenders with them into the bubble. As for Heatherington, this was the first time in three seasons that he didn’t see any NHL action. Instead, he played exclusively with AHL Texas where he had 14 points in 59 games.
L’Esperance has been one of the top scorers in Texas in each of the last two seasons so his exclusion is a little more surprising. He finished second on the team in scoring this year with 25 goals and 15 assists in 58 games while chipping in with a goal in three contests with the big club. Gardner just wrapped up his first professional year and while he only had 24 points in 55 games with Texas, he did manage to get into eight games with Dallas.
The cuts mean that a pair of their top junior prospects, defenseman Thomas Harley and center Ty Dellandrea, will go into the bubble. They are the most recent first-round picks of the Stars and while they may not play, they will benefit from being around the team, especially with the start of the 2020-21 season at the lower levels still in question.