Minor Transactions: 04/04/18
Things are quiet in the NHL tonight, with just three games scheduled before a busy Thursday. One of those games, between Ottawa and Buffalo, is hugely important in the race to the bottom and the best odds at the upcoming draft lottery. Ottawa currently sits three points ahead of the Sabres for last in the NHL, with each team having three games remaining.
As they watch this Dahlin-bowl, the rest of the league continues to make tweaks to their rosters in preparation for the playoffs (or offseason). We’ll keep track of all the moves right here.
- Last night, the San Jose Sharks inked another prospect, signing Sasha Chmelevski to a three-year entry-level contract. Chmelevski will join the San Jose Barracuda on an amateur tryout for the rest of this season, before likely heading back to the OHL next season as a 19-year old. This year, Chmelevski led the Ottawa 67’s in goals and points, taking a huge step forward from his sixth-round draft pedigree.
- The Detroit Red Wings have returned Evgeny Svechnikov, Joe Hicketts and Thomas McCollum to the minor leagues in order to have them ready for Grand Rapids’ playoff run. Svechnikov and Hicketts especially are part of the future in Detroit, and getting them more playoff experience will only be beneficial to their development.
- Arizona, dealing with an injury to Jakob Chychrun, has recalled Dakota Mermis under emergency conditions. Mermis has played seven games with the Coyotes this season, but is still looking for his first NHL point.
- Andrej Sekera is out for the Edmonton Oilers, so the team has decided to recall Keegan Lowe from the minor leagues. Lowe, son of Oilers executive and former player Kevin Lowe, made his NHL debut way back in 2014-15 but hasn’t played at that level since. In 49 games with the Bakersfield Condors this season, he has 14 points.
Poll: Where Will Mike Green End Up In 2018-19?
It’s been a tough season for Mike Green. After starting the year in outstanding fashion, registering four points in his first game and 11 in his first nine, things didn’t end up where he expected. The Red Wings would fall out of contention rather early, and by the new year it was clear that they would be selling what they could at the trade deadline.
Since Green doesn’t have a contract that extended to next season, his name was an obvious candidate to be moved for some future assets and his strong start made him a desirable target for teams looking to solidify their right side. In January, even with his name being bandied about in trade rumors, he expressed his desire to re-sign in Detroit. In a Luke Fox piece for Sportsnet, Green explained:
I’m happy in Detroit. I enjoy it. It’s an incredible organization. Things are good.
I would love to be [back in Detroit]. Whether that happens, there’s so much uncertainty in this league, you just don’t know.
That uncertainty would affect both sides over the next month, as an injury would scare off any would-be buyers and leave Green stranded in Detroit for the last few months of his contract. The defender would re-enter the lineup, only to require back surgery in late March and be shut down for the season. He’s expected to make a full recovery, but his days in Detroit could be over.
But, should they be? Could Detroit use a player like him over the next few seasons to guide the young players along, logging big minutes to protect some of the youth that will need to fill the defensive ranks? A short-term deal could give them another chance to move him at a trade deadline, provided he doesn’t continue to deteriorate at an accelerated rate.
Or will another team look at him as one of the top options on the free agent market, even despite his injury troubles and lack of production in the second half. We ranked Green #10 on our Midseason Free Agent Power Rankings, but he’ll be a tough player to get a read on this summer since there won’t be any post-surgery playing time to judge.
Where do you think Green will end up? Cast your vote, and explain how much money you think he’ll get in the comment section below.
Where will Mike Green land in free agency?
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Detroit Red Wings 20% (170)
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Washington Capitals 15% (130)
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Toronto Maple Leafs 7% (58)
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Edmonton Oilers 6% (52)
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New York Islanders 4% (36)
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Chicago Blackhawks 4% (35)
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Vegas Golden Knights 4% (34)
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Tampa Bay Lightning 3% (28)
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Buffalo Sabres 3% (25)
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Montreal Canadiens 3% (23)
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Pittsburgh Penguins 3% (23)
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New Jersey Devils 3% (22)
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Boston Bruins 2% (21)
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Vancouver Canucks 2% (18)
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Minnesota Wild 2% (17)
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New York Rangers 2% (16)
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Colorado Avalanche 2% (15)
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Los Angeles Kings 2% (15)
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Philadelphia Flyers 2% (15)
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St. Louis Blues 2% (13)
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Dallas Stars 1% (12)
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Ottawa Senators 1% (12)
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Anaheim Ducks 1% (10)
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Calgary Flames 1% (9)
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Florida Panthers 1% (8)
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San Jose Sharks 1% (7)
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Arizona Coyotes 1% (6)
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Winnipeg Jets 1% (6)
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Carolina Hurricanes 1% (5)
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Columbus Blue Jackets 1% (5)
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Nashville Predators 0% (4)
Total votes: 850
[Mobile users click here to vote!]
Christoffer Ehn Joins Grand Rapids Griffins
The Detroit Red Wings have brought over another prospect, assigning Christoffer Ehn to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins after his season in Sweden came to an end. Ehn signed his entry-level contract last spring, and will now get a chance to show what he can do on North American ice.
Ehn, 21, was selected in the fourth round in 2014, but remained unsigned in Sweden for the next few years. After signing last year, he joined the Griffins during their playoff run but didn’t enter a single game. This season he was sent back to Frolunda to play another season in the SHL, where he set a career-high with 17 points in 50 games.
It’s not clear if Ehn will get into any action with the Griffins this time around, but it does lend credence to the idea that he could play there full-time in 2018-19. The young center is extremely defensive-minded, and does his best work when battling the opposition’s top names and grinding them down in the corners. Though his offensive game still hasn’t matured, he does have the size and awareness to play make a difference as a checking-line option.
Evening Notes: Updated Draft Odds, Keith
With the season winding down, and teams vying for the better odds of winning the Rasmus Dahlin sweepstakes, the Ottawa Senators took another step in upping their chances at the top pick by losing to Detroit 2-0 this afternoon. With just four games remaining, the Sens are tied with Arizona for the second worst record in the NHL with 65 points. Buffalo still has the best shot at securing the rights for the first overall pick. The NHL released the odds two days ago and with several teams within a few points of one another, the “tank-a-thon” race could be the matter of a few points as opposed to Colorado’s historically bad season in 2016-17. As it stands, here are the odds for the ten worst teams through Saturday evening. Vancouver won in overtime, blowing a 4-1 lead late but still notching two points, which moved them from a 9.5% chance to 8.5%. Please note that Arizona, Buffalo, New York (Rangers and Islanders), Edmonton, and Montreal all play tonight, which could alter the landscape a bit.
Buffalo (18.5%) – 60 points – 5 games remaining
Ottawa (13.5%) – 65 points – 4 games remaining
Arizona (11.5%) – 65 points – 4 games remaining
Montreal (9.5%) – 68 points – 5 games remaining
Vancouver (8.5%) – 69 points – 3 games remaining
Detroit (7.5%) – 71 points – 3 games remaining
Chicago (6.5%) – 74 points – 3 games remaining
NY Islanders (6.0%) – 74 points – 4 games remaining
Edmonton (5.0%) – 74 points – 4 games remaining
NY Rangers (3.5%) – 75 points – 4 games remaining
- The Chicago Blackhawks are going to miss the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade, and some of that has to do with the Hawks inability to score goals. Duncan Keith has seen his share of struggles and is on pace to set an NHL record for the wrong reasons writes the Chicago Sun-Times Mark Lazerus. After taking 183 shots on net this season, Keith has only gotten the puck past a netminder once. Though his goal scoring has dropped off since he potted 10 back in 2014-15 when Chicago captured the Stanley Cup, nobody saw Keith’s performance going off the rails quite like this. Lazerus writes that if Keith doesn’t score in the final three games, Keith will set the NHL record for lowest non-zero shooting percentage. Lazerus adds that while Keith has been far and away the best defenseman for Chicago this season, he’s even fallen away from what has been his best play. Lazerus attributes this to being one of the only true top four defenseman on the team, something that has bogged down the two-time Norris Trophy winner.
Snapshots: Kane, Martin, Rasmussen, Rask, Hart
While it’s not a big surprise, the play of San Jose rental Evander Kane has opened some eyes in the NHL. In 15 games with the Sharks, the 26-year-old has put up nine goals and five assists, showing he has the skills to be the star winger that many teams thought he could be despite some mid-season struggles with the Buffalo Sabres.
Despite getting Kane for a reduced price because of the lack of interested teams, don’t expect that to be the case this offseason. While it is believed that the San Jose Sharks will try to re-sign him this summer, The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz (subscription required) writes in a mailbag column that no extension talks have begun and the price should be quite high as many more teams are likely to be in on Kane. In fact, Kurz writes the forward will be looking for both term and salary in this deal and could cost the Sharks as much as seven years at $7MM per season, which he believes will likely happen
- Kurz also mentions in his mailbag feature that it is extremely likely the team will buyout defenseman Paul Martin, who has one more year next season at $4.85MM. The 37-year-old blueliner has slowed down and has only managed to appear in 10 games for the Sharks this year and spent 18 games with the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL, the first time he’s ever played in the AHL. A buyout would save the Sharks $2.83MM in cap space for next season, which they might want if they intend to sign a big-named free agent.
- Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press writes that 2017 first-round pick Michael Rasmussen has been playing some of the best hockey of his career in the WHL playoffs. One big difference is that the center has occasionally moved to the wing during recent games due to his excellent chemistry with Carolina Hurricane’s prospect Morgan Geekie. His success at the wing could be a good sign if the 19-year-old prospect hopes to make the Red Wings squad out of training camp. Rasmussen, who has had 31 goals and 59 points (along with five goals and 12 points in four playoff games) for the Tri-City Americans, could be a key rebuilding chip for a struggling Detroit squad.
- Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News-Observer tweets that Carolina Hurricanes forward Victor Rask, who was declared out for the season almost two weeks ago, had successful surgery on his shoulder and is expected to be ready for training camp next season assuming his rehab goes well. The 25-year-old had 14 goals and 31 points this season.
- The Athletic’s Alexander Appleyard (subscription required) breaks down the amazing success that Philadelphia Flyers prospect goaltender Carter Hart has had this year. Besides the amazing, eye-popping numbers of a 1.60 GAA and a .947 save percentage with the Everett Silvertips of the WHL, the 19-year-old has had a such a dominating season that no other goalie’s numbers are even close to Hart. Appleyard continues to break down 106 seasons between the WHL, OHL and the QMJHL combined and can’t find a year in which a prospect had this great of a season in comparison to his peers. Hart is expected to get more seasoning next year in the AHL before he takes over in Philadelphia.
Detroit Puts A Hold On Contract Talks With David Pope
The Red Wings have put a hold on contract talks with college winger David Pope, reports Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press. The 23-year-old recently wrapped up his NCAA career with the University of Nebraska-Omaha with a 20-goal season but has informed the team that he would like to finish up his classes before discussing a contract. Pope was a fourth-round selection of Detroit (109th overall) back in 2013 and will be eligible to become an unrestricted free agent if he does not sign by August 15th.
Daniel Brickley, Mikey Eyssimont Sign With Los Angeles Kings
Friday: The Kings have officially announced the Brickley contract. The two-year entry-level contract will start this season.
Thursday: Daniel Brickley might be the most sought after college free agent on the market this year, and we’d recently heard he had visited the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks in an attempt to make a decision. That decision didn’t take long, as the defenseman has agreed to terms with the Los Angeles Kings. The deal will be a two-year entry-level contract when it is finally signed, and Bob McKenzie of TSN reports that it will start in 2017-18.
Brickley, 22, just finished his junior season with Minnesota State-Mankato, where he recorded 35 points in 40 games and was a considerable two-way force. After playing in the World Championships for Team USA last spring, it is expected that Brickley will be able to step right into the NHL and play a role on any defense corps, making him a desirable asset for nearly every club.
The left-handed shot defenseman stands 6’3″ 205-lbs and has quick feet to skate himself out of trouble in his own end. Though there are sometimes lapses in his own end like many young defenders, his ability to push the play through a solid first pass and ability to carry the puck is perfectly suited to the new NHL.
It is important to note though that Brickley will not be eligible to play in the playoffs this season, since he was not on any team’s reserve list at the trade deadline. The free agent will have to wait until 2018-19 to really make an impact, though the actual contract will still come into effect right away and make him eligible to play in the last few regular season games.
The team has also signed Mikey Eyssimont out of St. Cloud State, their fifth-round pick form 2016. Eyssimont was a point-per-game player this season, recording 39 on the year and leading the club in goals with 17. The 21-year old was also entitled to a two-year deal, but actually would be eligible for the playoffs if it takes effect in 2017-18.
Snapshots: Holland, Gretzky, Ehrhoff
Ansar Khan of MLive reported today that Ken Holland will return as general manager for the Detroit Red Wings next season. Though no formal announcement has been made regarding Holland’s expiring contract, Khan seems convinced that he will be the one leading the Red Wings in 2018-19. He also suggests that Jeff Blashill could also return as head coach, despite a relatively disappointing season that has the Red Wings just five points out of last in the NHL.
Bringing Holland back would likely mean a new contract, and one that could take his name out of consideration for the job in a potential Seattle franchise. Though Holland has never indicated or even spoken about an interest in joining the expansion organization, there has been some chatter about his name as a leading candidate, especially one that the league would welcome. Detroit has some very interesting decisions to come this summer and down the road, as they try to navigate a rebuild for the first time in decades.
- Wayne Gretzky will be a household name in China if he isn’t already, that’s what Darren Dreger of TSN makes it sound like on the latest iteration of Insider Trading. Dreger reports that Gretzky will soon sign a deal to put his branding on everything from arenas to equipment in China as the country encourages more and more children to take up the sport. Gretzky is obviously still one of the most well-known names in hockey worldwide, and could still have a huge impact in the growth of the sport.
- Christian Ehrhoff has officially retired from professional hockey, but as John Vogl of the Buffalo News points out he’ll still be getting a paycheck from the Buffalo Sabres for some time. Ehrhoff, bought out in 2014 just three seasons into a ten-year contract, will remain on the Buffalo payroll through 2027-28. That’s another ten years from now, not bad for a player who only suited up 192 times for the Sabres over three seasons.
Minor Transactions: 03/27/18
Just a handful of games remain in the NHL regular season, and teams are beginning to be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. Yesterday, the New York Islanders were knocked out of the race after their loss at the hands of the Florida Panthers. It’s been a tough season for the Islanders, who expected to be in the race in the last season of John Tavares‘ current contract. Now all Islanders eyes turn to the offseason and what their captain will decide to do.
While the Islanders wait out the last few games, we’ll keep track of all the minor moves around the league right here. Check back throughout the day to stay up to date on all the comings and goings.
- The Winnipeg Jets have sent Michael Hutchinson back to the minor leagues, likely meaning he’s healthy enough to get back into game action. The Jets still have three goaltenders on their NHL roster, with Steve Mason still working his way back from a knee injury and Eric Comrie serving as backup.
- The Chicago Blackhawks have re-assigned Matthew Highmore to the minor leagues, despite playing 14 minutes last night. The young forward has two goals in his 13 games this season, but with the solid debut of Victor Ejdsell, perhaps there isn’t enough room to give him the ice time the team wants. Highmore has 35 points in the AHL this season in his first year of professional hockey.
- Last night the Detroit Red Wings recalled Joe Hicketts from the minor leagues, giving the 21-year old another chance in the big leagues. Hicketts played one game for the Red Wings earlier this year, but has spent most of the season with the Grand Rapids Griffins.
- The Buffalo Sabres have sent Justin Bailey back to the minor leagues, as they prepare for Casey Mittelstadt‘s debut on Thursday night. Bailey has played in just 12 games with the Sabres this season, recording four points in the process.
- Alexandar Georgiev is on his way back to the minor leagues, as Henrik Lundqvist is heading back into the net. GM Jeff Gorton told media this was always the plan when they had two healthy goaltenders in the NHL, and meant nothing against Georgiev’s play in his short stint. The 22-year old goaltender has a .918 save percentage in ten NHL games so far, and has put himself into contention for the full-time backup role next year.
GM Notes: Holland, Dorion, Bergevin
The Detroit Red Wings were officially eliminated from postseason contention recently, but the majority of their fans had already given up on this season some time ago. Even before it started, the Red Wings looked to be in a tough spot as they transition from the old guard to the first steps of a rebuild. They’ve done well to add draft picks over the last two years, but one question still remained. Who would be leading them down these uncharted waters, and towards the next successful Red Wings team?
Many fans have expressed a desire for change at the top, and GM Ken Holland‘s contract is up at the end of the season. Whether that means there will be a new voice steering the ship is still unclear, but Craig Custance of The Athletic (subscription required) provides a wealth of insight into how the organization and other executives around the league see the situation. Answers range from an expected extension to a trip to Seattle for the long-time Detroit GM, but it seems we’ll have to wait a little longer to find out where he’ll be next year.
- Pierre Dorion, another GM on the edge of a potential rebuild and a fan mutiny, provided some answers on his plans for the Ottawa Senators offseason to Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia. Dorion confirmed that on July 1st they will indeed offer an extension to Erik Karlsson, though he didn’t give any indication what that offer may look like. He also admitted that the front office will evaluate the coaching staff, including Guy Boucher, after the season and decide what the future will look like behind the bench. The Senators had an extremely disappointing season after coming just a goal shy of the Stanley Cup finals in 2017, and have faced several media firestorms over comments by everyone from Kyle Turris to owner Eugene Melnyk.
- In his latest 31 Thoughts column, Elliotte Friedman mentions that Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin received a vote of confidence from ownership for the second time this season. If that means Bergevin is sticking around to fix what went wrong this season, the response in Montreal will likely be very divided. There are many fans who believe the organization should go in a different direction with their front office, but if Bergevin does indeed remain this summer could be quite interesting. Never one to shy away from a big trade, the Canadiens have to do something to take advantage of the best years of Carey Price and Shea Weber, and are still starved for the first-line center they’ve been looking for for years. Friedman mentions that Martin Lapointe, currently the Director of Player Development, could assume a larger role going forward.