Booth's Hard Work Paying Off In Detroit
David Booth had quite the night writes the Athletic’s Katie Strang (subscription required). Booth, who was signed to a PTO after sending general manager Ken Holland an email, has been a healthy scratch for most of the season. Last night, the 33-year-old journeyman netted two goals in a 4-3 Red Wings loss. The second goal tied the game after the Wings fell behind 3-1, gave the team a surge of energy, and nearly potted a hat trick for Booth just seconds later. After two seasons in the KHL that Booth describes as “two very tough years,” returning to the NHL with the team he grew up idolizing seems like a dream come true. A scrappy, “lunch-pail” type player, Booth is trying to follow in the footsteps of former Red Wings–Mikael Samuelsson and Dan Cleary–who struggled to find a niche until landing in Detroit.
Trevor Daley To Undergo MRI
Red Wings defenseman Trevor Daley is set to undergo an MRI today to determine the extent of an apparent neck injury sustained on Friday night against the Rangers, reports Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press. His first season in a Detroit uniform has not gone to plan and this certainly won’t help things. Through 23 games this season, Daley has managed to record just a single assist despite logging more ice time than he has in the previous two years. That’s hardly the type of output GM Ken Holland was expecting when he signed the 34-year-old to a three-year, $9.5MM deal back in the summer.
East Notes: Red Wings, Sabres, Capitals
The Athletic’s Prashanth Iyer hands out some quarterly grades (subscription needed) for the Red Wings and there were some surprises for Iyer in the first 20+ games. Iyer lists Jonathan Ericsson and Luke Glendening as a couple players who earned better marks for improved play while youngsters Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha both received As for their strong, team leading performances thus far. Iyer points out that Detroit has seen some modest improvement from last season, but it’s in the special teams where they’ve seen jumps, which has certainly helped their bubble-team playoff hopes. He does point out, however, that the 5v5 play will need to improve, or the Wings will be on the outside looking in for the second consecutive season.
- Sportsnet’s Rory Boylen writes that despite tanking and acquiring a star in Jack Eichel, the Sabres blueprint of suffering through lean years to get top talent hasn’t worked as they planned. Now, as they sink to the bottom of the Eastern Conference, the losing appears to be taking its toll on not only the fanbase, but players both on the current roster and those who went to playoff-ready teams. Boylen points out that for every success story in Toronto, Pittsburgh or Chicago, there are the Edmonton and Colorado cautionary tales that reveal a circle of hell that revolves around missing the playoffs and drafting high only to see little in return. Buffalo seems to be trapped, once again eyeing a top pick in 2018 with an 82% chance of not even getting that top pick. Worse, it’s shedding that “culture of losing” which has ensnared Sabres present and past. Changing the front office and coaching staff hasn’t changed much, and though it will take time, the Sabres are mired in a negative cycle that is challenging to escape.
- Are the Capitals next to see a decline in play? ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski listed a number of reasons why dark days may be ahead for Washington, who has come oh-so-close to turning that corner in capturing a Stanley Cup. And yet, it’s always found a way to be stopped–be it the always vexing Pittsburgh Penguins or a key injury at the most inopportune time, the Caps could never find a way to maneuver around that last hurdle to secure as much as a Cup Final appearance. Wyshynski writes that optimism remains in the organization but they’re certainly inching closer to that “iceberg” that could ultimately sink the Caps once and for all.
Red Wings Notes: Abdelkader, Frk, “Relentless Hockey”
Detroit Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader was one of many players the organization needed to rebound this season for the team to improve. MLive’s Ansar Khan writes that this is exactly what has happened so far this season as Abdelkader has 14 points (4-10) and has notched a point in nine of his last ten games. The 30-year-old winger was the subject of fan derision after struggling last season, which followed the signing of his seven-year, $29.8MM contract. Abdelkader was rewarded for his strong play while on a line with Pavel Datsyuk, and many pointed to his performance as being tied solely to Datsyuk. Healthier this season, Abdelkader has shown why the Red Wings invested so much in him. If he can stay healthy, he’s on pace for 57 points.
- Right Wing Martin Frk is still at least a week away from returning according to Khan. The right-hand shot with a booming slapper has been one of many bright spots on the Red Wings roster, especially helping a power play that languished last season. The 24-year-old has nine points (6-3) in 18 games this season.
- The Detroit Free Press’ Helene St. James reports that Detroit wants to play “relentless hockey” so they’re not suddenly looking up at a gap in the standings. Currently, the Wings are third in the Atlantic and face the flailing Edmonton Oilers tonight, who are reeling after an 8-3 loss to St. Louis last night. It was the Oilers, St. James writes, that spurred the Red Wings current 4-1-1 run. Head coach Jeff Blashill stressed the importance of staying out of the defensive zone, a problem that saw them blow a 3-1 lead Sunday night and eventually lose 4-3 in overtime. Blashill also told St. James that it’s important to play every game “relentlessly,” a necessity in a league where a playoff spot could literally be decided by a regulation win.
Anton Rodin, Drew Miller Sign Overseas
On the same day he cleared waivers and had his contract terminated by the Vancouver Canucks, Anton Rodin has returned to Europe. However, the Swedish forward is not going back to Brynas of the Swedish Hockey League, where he spent most of his prime years, including an MVP season in 2015-16. Instead, the 27-year-old winger has signed with HC Davos of the NLA, the Swiss club announced. Davos reports that Rodin has signed a two-year deal that will keep him in Switzerland through the end of the 2018-19 season.
The hope for Davos is obviously that Rodin will perform more like he did in his previous European career than he has in the disastrous past season plus for the Vancouver Canucks. Injury and ineffectiveness left Rodin with only four points in 13 total games, NHL and AHL, over the last two seasons. Davos, which sits in fifth place in the NLA, needs a much better effort than that from their newest acquisition.
Meanwhile, while struggling Swedish squad Brynas may be disappointed that their former superstar Rodin chose not to return home, they made the most of the situation by going out and getting a big name of their own. The team announced that they have signed NHL veteran Drew Miller. The long-time Detroit Red Wings forward was unable to turn a tryout with the Chicago Blackhawks this fall into a contract and has been without a job since. He now makes his first foray overseas, joining a Brynas squad that has fallen on hard times. However, with an intelligent, hard-working forward like Miller now in the fold and playing alongside a player of similar ilk in Daniel Paille, it’s not too late for Brynas to learn to play a smart, two-way game and climb back up the standings.
Poll: Who Is The (Second) Best Team In The East?
The 2017-18 NHL season has not gone to plan. Ask any prognosticator from the preseason where their projected standings compare to those today and you’ll get grim looks and uninterested shrugs. The Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild and Montreal Canadiens are all far underachieving, while Vegas, Detroit, Winnipeg, Los Angeles and New Jersey are all showing that they shouldn’t be counted out so soon.
Tampa Bay of course, leads the entire league with 32 points and a whopping +28 goal differential through 20 games. Their dominance this year has led to just three regulation losses, and two early favorites for the Hart Trophy (three, if you think Andrei Vasilevskiy has a shot). Right now most would call them the class of the Eastern Conference, and who would disagree? With the best line in hockey, a stud defenseman entering his prime and an up-and-coming Vezina candidate they’re poised to compete for the Stanley Cup for at least the next few years.
But who does that leave in the second slot? Several teams have claims to stake on the silver podium, but each have their warts. Toronto had a struggling goaltender through the first month of the season, while Columbus can’t get their powerplay working properly. The Penguins have been blown out several times while the Devils have won just three of their last nine games.
Vote below on who you think is the second best team in the east, and make sure to leave a comment if you disagree with the original premise of Tampa Bay as the class of the conference. We’ve included all of the teams within 10 points of the Lightning.
Who is the (second) best team in the East?
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Toronto Maple Leafs (14-8-0, 28 pts) 30% (353)
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Pittsburgh Penguins (11-8-3, 25 pts) 18% (212)
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Columbus Blue Jackets (13-7-1, 27 pts) 18% (210)
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New York Islanders (11-7-2, 24 pts) 9% (108)
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New Jersey Devils (12-5-3, 27 pts) 9% (105)
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New York Rangers (10-9-2 22 pts) 7% (79)
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Washinton Capitals (11-10-1, 23 pts) 2% (26)
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Detroit Red Wings (10-8-3, 23 pts) 2% (25)
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Carolina Hurricanes (9-6-4, 22 pts) 2% (18)
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Ottawa Senators (8-5-6, 22 pts) 1% (16)
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Other (leave in comments) 1% (12)
Total votes: 1,164
[Mobile users click here to vote!]
Atlantic Notes: Eichel, Housley, Red Wings, Lightning
The Buffalo News’ Mike Harrington writes how Buffalo’s struggles are just as perplexing as those affecting its franchise player, Jack Eichel. The third year pro has looked frustrated and lethargic this season as the Sabres sink to the bottom of the Atlantic, and the Eastern Conference even before the (American) Thanksgiving holiday. Harrington writes:
There’s one gnawing issue that keeps growing: What’s going on with Jack Eichel?
Forget about an elephant in the room. This is an entire herd. Eichel is not the guy we’ve seen the last two years. He was invisible again for long stretches Saturday — not getting a single shot on goal for more than 48 minutes.
He continues on the subject of Eichel, stating that the “dirty secret” amongst Sabres fans is that Eichel is essentially lolly-gagging around the ice when he should be skating harder. Worse, he pinpoints a play during the Sabres 3-1 loss to Carolina Saturday night where Eichel was a non-factor in what would be the game winning score. It’s Eichel, Harringon pens, who got his wish when former coach Dan Bylsma was fired. Which leads Harrington to his next subject: new bench boss Phil Housley.
- Calling him “Pollyanna Phil,” Harrington opines that while the first year coach finally talked tough following an uninspiring loss to Detroit, he was back to his passive ways Saturday. Where Harrington points out that Eichel may need to be shown how lackluster his play has been, Housley has instead gone a more positive route, choosing to highlight what he believes Eichel has done well. If you have a future captain, inked to an expensive long term deal, Harrington suggests that it may behoove the Sabres to call things as they truly are with Eichel.
- The Detroit News’ Gregg Krupa highlights the Red Wings’ young players as the reason for the team’s latest reversal of fortune. It’s been an uptick in usage of Andreas Athanasiou, Dylan Larkin, and Anthony Mantha that has helped the team while captain Henrik Zetterberg has taken a lesser role while still playing at a high level. Krupa adds that nine players on the team have four or more goals, showing that the more even distribution of ice time has benefitted the team.
- Tampa Bay hasn’t lost much this season, but when they have, it’s provided a “reality check” writes the Tampa Bay Times’ Roger Mooney. The Bolts have lost for only the third time this season, and as it was in the other two contests, they came out flat and ran out of time. Mooney points out that the team was resilient after both early season losses, ripping off a couple winning streaks after. Bench boss John Cooper likened it to the old Forrest Gump quote: “That stuff happens.” Regardless, it doesn’t seem to have fazed them in the slightest. Simply put, Mooney quoted Ondrej Palat as saying, “We have to be better,”
Brian Lashoff Sent To Grand Rapids; Danny DeKeyser Set To Return
- Detroit has returned defenseman Brian Lashoff to Grand Rapids (AHL), notes MLive’s Ansar Khan. He played on Friday night with the Red Wings but saw only five shifts and 4:02 of action. Khan adds that Danny DeKeyser, who was transferred to LTIR yesterday to keep in cap compliance, is ready to return to the lineup.
Snapshots: DeKeyser, Subban, 2019 Draft
Some fans might have noticed this morning when the Detroit Red Wings recalled Brian Lashoff from the minor leagues, that they actually were over the NHL’s salary cap. Even though Lashoff makes just $650K, the team had already used nearly all the extra space provided by Johan Franzen‘s long-term injured reserve stint. Well, the salary cap sleuths at CapFriendly have figured out how they were able to work it. Danny DeKeyser has been placed on long-term injured reserve for the time being, even though he’s expected to return before long (perhaps even this weekend)Reqo.
The Red Wings are playing with fire this season as they push right up against the cap ceiling, and could be forced before long to make a move to get rid of some salary. They already moved Riley Sheahan to clear a few million off the cap, and still they needed to use LTIR again so early on. Luke Witkowski‘s suspension makes it tough, as though he forfeits the salary he would have earned the team does not receive a cap break. Even with the short-term injury to Trevor Daley, the team can’t afford to put him on IR and call up another player. They simply don’t have the money, unless DeKeyser is out much longer than expected.
- Speaking of injured reserve, Malcolm Subban has been activated by the Vegas Golden Knights. The team has sent Dylan Ferguson back to his junior club, happy to have gotten into a game (and earned an NHL paycheck). Subban is a welcome sight for the Golden Knights, even with Maxime Lagace earning the win last night over Vancouver. Lagace has played admirably, but an .864 save percentage still won’t cut it for long in the NHL. Though Subban has little experience himself, most believe he is an upgrade in net.
- Craig Button of TSN has more information on the 2019 draft, giving us an early look at his rankings for the draft still more than 18 months away. Jack Hughes is the easy favorite on top as he continues to cruise through his season with the NTDP, but there are some very interesting others on the list. Bowen Byram is perhaps a surprising #2, but anyone that saw his U17 performance will understand why Button has him here. The 16-year old defenseman is already playing (and playing well) in the WHL with the Vancouver Giants, and looks like he’ll have the size and mobility to develop into an all-situations stud down the line. Obviously, projecting 16-year old players is never an exact science and several will see their stock drop off in the next two years. Still, you can make an impression on scouts at this age, like Nolan Patrick did before losing most of his draft-eligible season to injury.
Minor Transactions: 11/17/17
As we come to the end of another interesting week in the NHL, things are heating up in the rumor mill and on the ice. We’re close to a quarter of the season gone already, and teams are starting to fight tooth and nail for every inch of ice and every point in the standings. As we saw last night, any team can win on any given night, as Arizona took down Montreal, Colorado walloped Washington, and Vegas continued their golden start with a win over Vancouver.
As always, we’ll keep track of all the minor moves teams complete today as they try to squeeze every drop of value out of the fringes of their roster.
- The Detroit Red Wings were down to just six defensemen with Luke Witkowski suspended ten games and Danny DeKeyser still dealing with injury. To give them some insurance they’ve recalled Brian Lashoff from the Grand Rapids Griffins, a familiar face to Detroit fans. Lashoff has spent his entire career in the Red Wings organization, playing 122 NHL games while also competing for the Griffins every year. The big-bodied defenseman doesn’t provide much offensively, but can slide onto a bottom-pairing without much difficulty.
- After clearing waivers, the Columbus Blue Jackets have assigned Zac Dalpe to the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL. Dalpe was waived yesterday when deemed healthy enough to play again, and was activated from injured reserve just before his new assignment. The veteran forward will have to wait for his next opportunity in the NHL, but has experience with the Monsters from a year ago. In 20 games for Cleveland down the stretch, he scored 15 points and should be a key part of their offense again.
- With Chris Wideman set to miss the next several weeks, the Ottawa Senators have brought back defenseman Ben Harpur from Belleville of the AHL. This will mark his third stint with Ottawa this season; he has suited up in three NHL games so far while playing in four minor league contests. The Sens already had six other defenders on the roster so Harpur is likely to be scratched at times which might explain why they chose him over top prospect Thomas Chabot.