Minor Transactions: 07/16/19
It’s been a shockingly busy day for mid-July and the moves don’t end at the NHL level. There have been even more notable transactions around the minors today to go along with an unexpected surge of signings and trades in the NHL. Keep up with all the action here:
- The AHL’s Bakersfield Condors have signed three players. The team announced an extension for defenseman Jake Kulevich and the addition of free agent forward Jakob Stukel. College hockey insider Mark Divver also reports that former Providence College defenseman Vincent Desharnais has signed with the club. Kulevich, 26, and Desharnais, 23, are both shutdown defenseman. At 6’4, 216 lbs. Kulevich’s game is in the defensive end, but he also recorded eight points in 29 games for the Condors last year as a part-time player. Desharnais is even bigger at 6’6″, 216 lbs., and just wrapped up an impressive NCAA career with the Friars, capped off by 13 points and a +22 rating in 42 games last year. Stukel, 22, is a former Vancouver Canucks prospect who impressed in Bakersfield last season on a try-out deal late in the year, recording six points in ten games. The performance earned him an AHL contract this year and the shot at a full-time role with the Condors.
- Cam Johnson has been unable to find a two-way NHL deal and has settled for an AHL pact. The former University of North Dakota standout keeper signed a one-year entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils last summer, but did not appear for the team this season and split the campaign between the AHL and ECHL. His numbers in his first pro season were less than stellar, leaving Johnson without many options this off-season. He has signed a one-year deal with the Milwaukee Admirals, the team announced, and will look to get back to his collegiate numbers in the upcoming campaign.
- When the Colorado Eagles moved from the ECHL to the AHL last season, they took Michael Joly with them and the forward hardly missed a beat. He went from 67 points in 52 games to 30 points in 47 games, continuing to be a key player despite the boost in talent among his teammates and competitors. As a result, Joly has earned a contract extension, the Eagles announced. The 24-year-old will join the team for at least one more year and will again push to be among the top scorers on the roster.
Edmonton Oilers Sign Josh Archibald
The Edmonton Oilers have signed forward Josh Archibald to a one-year contract. Archibald became an unrestricted free agent when the Arizona Coyotes decided not to issue him a qualifying offer earlier this offseason. The contract will pay him $1MM according to PuckPedia.
Archibald, 26, will be the latest low-cost winger the Oilers will try and squeeze some offensive production out of, after he scored 12 goals and 22 points in 68 games for the Coyotes last season. In 121 NHL games the former Pittsburgh Penguins forward has 36 points, with a lot more experience on the penalty kill than the powerplay. Archibald may very well get a chance to find some chemistry with Edmonton’s top centers though, as his only real competition on the right wing currently is Alex Chiasson, Zack Kassian and perhaps Sam Gagner or Markus Granlund, depending on how the team deploys their forward group. With Jesse Puljujarvi still not looking like he’ll play for Edmonton this season, that group certainly doesn’t have a clear order in terms of skill level.
While Archibald is a useful player at the bottom of a lineup that can help out in a variety of ways, his signing does seem a bit puzzling when the Oilers have little cap space and several options for the bottom-six. It doesn’t come with a ton of risk as the entire deal can be buried in the minor leagues if necessary, but it’s hard to imagine that Archibald will be a real difference-maker on this team. With 23 players now projected for the NHL roster, the team has just under $3MM in remaining cap space and a roster that looks generally the same as last season. Obviously the hope is that head coach Dave Tippett can turn things around, or that riding out some of these contracts will put them in a better position down the road.
Archibald will be an unrestricted free agent after the contract expires.
Pacific Notes: Eriksson, Ritchie, Smith, Dillon
With so many forwards now on their roster, the Vancouver Canucks coaching staff should have their hands full when training camp begins. The team now has 14 forwards under contract with two restricted free agents still to sign in Brock Boeser and Nikolay Goldobin. That’s a lot of players for just 12 spots in the lineup.
One player who should find himself highly scrutinized is Loui Eriksson, who has made it clear he wouldn’t mind a change of scenery as he has stated he isn’t a big fan of Travis Green and his coaching staff. Unfortunately, a trade might be challenging as Eriksson still has three years remaining at $6MM AAV. When Vancouver Sun’s Patrick Johnson asked general manager Jim Benning about the possibility of sending Eriksson to the Utica Comets of the AHL, Benning was slow to answer.
“I don’t have a direct answer for that right now,” he admitted.
Eriksson’s agent said he doesn’t expect his client to be waived or re-assigned to Utica. Not sure if Benning feels the same way.
- With a large number of young wingers and recent two-way acquisitions this summer, the writing could be on the wall for winger Nick Ritchie, who still has two years remaining at a very reasonable $1.49MM. The 23-year-old hasn’t developed into the scoring power forward the team hoped for when they drafted him 10th overall in 2014 and he might be a perfect trade candidate, according to Eric Stephens of The Athletic (subscription required). Ritchie will have to fight for one of the left wing openings or he could find himself on a new team shortly.
- Edmonton Journal’s Kurt Leavins writes that while many people are questioning the Oilers decision-making in signing veteran goaltender Mike Smith after a disappointing campaign last year in Calgary, the numbers may tell a different story. While the 37-year-old goaltender finished with less than stellar numbers: 42 games, 2.72 GAA and a .898 save percentage, he did finish strong at the end of the season. In his seven of his last 10 regular-season games, Smith finished with a .923 save percentage or higher. He also did the same in three of the five playoff games he appeared in. He could bounce back in a big way.
- The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz (subscription required) looks at the Sharks salary cap situtation in 2020. The team should have $10.3MM in available salary cap space, but that doesn’t include an expected long-term deal for Kevin Labanc. However, the scribe notes that no matter what, the team will probably have to let defenseman Brenden Dillon go despite his value to the team’s blueline. However, if Radim Simek continues to get top-four minutes, Dillon would be only a third-pairing defenseman and wouldn’t be worth the $3.27MM he currently makes anyway, especially if he’s looking for a raise.
Latest on Oilers’ Jesse Puljujarvi
Despite forward Jesse Puljujarvi‘s desire to get an opportunity to start over with a new team, the young winger still remains with the Edmonton Oilers. Now Kurt Leavins of the Edmonton Journal writes that Puljujarvi’s agent, Markus Lehto, had a verbal agreement with former Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli about options for Puljujarvi if things didn’t work out. Problem is, Chiarelli is no longer in charge and new general manager Ken Holland didn’t make that agreement.
However, Leavins writes that Lehto proceeded to put pressure on Holland in hopes of forcing the newly-minted GM to trade him at the draft several weeks ago, requesting that his client doesn’t see the new front office or coaching staff as the change that he needs to find his game. However, Lehto’s demands didn’t work as Holland didn’t get one quality offer for the 21-year-old and former fourth-overall pick in 2016 and the veteran GM called Lehto’s bluff. No team would be willing to give up a significant amount of assets for a player who scored four goals last season and underwent hip surgery that ended his 2018-19 season prematurely.
With training camps in Europe about to open up and most rosters already full on most top-level teams, Puljujarvi’s options continue to decrease as the only teams that likely would give the talented youngster a contract are secondary teams that likely would pay less than the $874K that he could make with Edmonton’s qualifying offer. His options are dwindling and it’s looking more and more likely that he might have to accept the team’s qualifying offer which could force him to play a full season in the AHL or find himself in a secondary league in Europe, neither being the answer he’s really looking for.
Pacific Notes: Kadri, Wright, Lindholm, Doughty
Before the Colorado Avalanche acquired Nazem Kadri from the Toronto Maple Leafs in a big deal involving Tyson Barrie, the Calgary Flames were close to acquiring the veteran center. However, Kadri refused to waive his 10-team no-trade clause that would have sent him in a deal that would have included defenseman T.J. Brodie.
The Calgary Sun’s Wes Gilbertson writes that Kadri did admit that he rejected the deal to Calgary in hopes of convincing the Maple Leafs that he wanted to stay with the team.
“What happened is they had a deal in place and they wanted me to move my no-trade clause,” Kadri explained. “Obviously, for me, it was no disrespect to Calgary or the Flames organization — I love their team and I love the direction they’re headed. I just figured that had I declined, I would have had a better opportunity of being a Maple Leaf next year, and that’s really what it came down to. “I wanted to play for the Leafs next year. I wanted to be a part of that. In declining that trade, I had aspirations of being a Leaf, and we know clearly that didn’t happen.”
Instead he did get traded to Colorado and now will take over as the team’s second-line center in hopes of developing a powerful secondary scoring line after their top line of Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog.
- The Athletic’s Daniel Nugent-Bowman (subscription required) delves into the drafting success of the Edmonton Oilers’ new director of amateur scouting, Tyler Wright, noting that while the long-time executive with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings has had lukewarm success drafting in the first round, he has been successful in the later rounds of drafts, having nabbed several key players late in the draft, including Josh Anderson, Boone Jenner, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Filip Hronek and could provide value for Edmonton who hasn’t had as much luck later in the draft.
- In a mailbag piece, The Athletic’s Eric Stephens (subscription required) writes that while defenseman Hampus Lindholm is a solid top-pairing defenseman, his offense still hasn’t come around and at age 25, time is running out. The blueliner posted 34 points in his second season back in the 2014-15 season and hasn’t reached that target since then. However, Stephens writes that Lindholm was never a big fan of Randy Carlyle‘s system and could thrive under new head coach Dallas Eakins and show off some more offense, potentially becoming a regular at 40 points.
- Looking back at the recent history of signings by the Los Angeles Kings, The Athletic’s Lisa Dillman (subscription required) looks at the best and worst deals handed out since 2009. Unfortunately for the Kings, the top bad contract is only kicking in this year as the eight-year, $88MM contract that star defenseman Drew Doughty signed a year ago is about to kick in at age 29. After a down season last year, the 29-year-old blueliner will be getting paid $11MM until he turns 37 years old. Not a good sign if people think that before he’s even started getting paid.
Front Office Notes: Holmgren, Wright, Rychel
The Philadelphia Flyers have announced that long-time executive Paul Holmgren will be transitioning into an advisory role with the team moving forward, while GM Chuck Fletcher will now also have the title of president of hockey operations. Holmgren has been with the Flyers organization for 40 (non-consecutive) years in almost every role possible including player, assistant coach, head coach, assistant general manager, general manager, director of pro scouting and president, but will be taking a step back to spend more time with family.
Fletcher will take on even more responsibility as he tries to reshape the Flyers and take them back to the playoffs next season. The Flyers haven’t won the Stanley Cup since 1975 and haven’t won a playoff round since 2012. Fletcher has already made several moves to try and change that streak this offseason, adding Matt Niskanen, Justin Braun and Kevin Hayes to the mix.
- According to several reports including Ansar Khan of MLive, Detroit Red Wings director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright will be following former GM Ken Holland to his new post with the Edmonton Oilers. Kris Draper, who had been serving as an assistant to the general manager is expected to take over for the Red Wings under new GM Steve Yzerman. Several other scouts including Jeff Finley and Andrew Dickson will not return to the Red Wings, while Archie Henderson is following Wright to Edmonton.
- Warren Rychel has stepped down as GM of the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL, replaced by Bill Bowler after a 13-year run. Rychel is a part-owner of the team and brought three Memorial Cup titles during his run in the front office. The Spitfires are one of the most successful franchises in the OHL and routinely produce NHL talent including names like Jason Spezza, Taylor Hall, Ryan Ellis, Adam Henrique, Josh Bailey, Cam Fowler and countless others.
Ty Rattie Signs In KHL
After his first season playing more than half the year in the NHL, Ty Rattie is saying farewell to North America. The free agent forward has signed a one-year deal with Lokomotiv in the KHL according to Igor Eronko of Sport-Express, reuniting him with former Edmonton Oilers executive Craig MacTavish, who is now the head coach there. Rattie was not issued a qualifying offer by the Oilers last month, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Rattie, 26, played 50 games last season for the Oilers but recorded just 11 points, never establishing himself as a real offensive presence despite plenty of opportunity. Originally selected 32nd-overall in 2011, he bounced up and down in the St. Louis Blues organization for years before a short stint in Carolina and the last two seasons with Edmonton. In 99 career NHL games he has 30 points, but can’t seem to carve out a good number of minutes anywhere he goes.
A two-time 100-point player in the WHL, Rattie has found plenty of success in the AHL as well. He’ll head overseas to a team with a familiar face behind the bench to try and prove he can contribute with a bigger role, but it’s going to be tough to convince NHL front offices of his worth at this point.
Latest On Nikita Gusev And The Golden Knights
A player who a few short months ago was simply excited to finally be in North America and looking forward to playing for the Golden Knights is now in the middle of a high-pressure negotiation that could force him to be traded for the third time before even making his NHL debut. Nikita Gusev finally made the jump this spring after a phenomenal KHL career and the Russian forward was hoping to take the next step of his career with Vegas. However, the 27-year-old scorer also sought fair value, burning his entry-level deal to negotiate a fair contract. The problem is that the Knights lack the space to meet even modest demands, currently over the cap and with other players to sign. The question now is whether Gusev becomes a casualty of the cap crunch or whether Vegas is willing to move other pieces to retain him.
The Athletic’s Jesse Granger reports that the Golden Knights and Gusev’s camp are currently $2MM apart in terms of AAV on a new contract. Gusev has long been rumored to be seeking at least $4MM annually, while Granger believes the offer on the table is two years at $2MM. Granger estimates that Vegas has just over $2.5MM of cap space to work with after moving David Clarkson to the LTIR, if they make no other moves. However, Gusev is not the only player in need of a new contract, as backup goalie Malcolm Subban, standout collegiate defender Jimmy Schuldt, and potentially veteran leader Deryk Engelland are all in need of extensions. Even if Gusev were to accept the current offer or potentially even if he were to be traded, the Knights would still need to make a move to clear out cap space, so another deal is nearly unavoidable. Granger wonders if the hold up in negotiations is simply the calculus of who Vegas would have to move out to meet Gusev’s demands.
The longer that talks drag on, the more likely a Gusev trade becomes. The dynamic winger is not without fans around the league who would be willing to take a chance at his current asking price. The Hockey News’ Steven Ellis names five teams that have both the interest and the means in cap space and trade capital to acquire Gusev: the Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, Columbus Blue Jackets, Ottawa Senators, and Edmonton Oilers. Unsurprisingly, three of those five teams – Ottawa, New Jersey, and Columbus – are among the bottom five in the league in payroll and would have no concerns about paying Gusev. Montreal just took a big swing and miss at Sebastian Aho on an offer sheet, so they’re clearly willing to pay up for scoring as well. Edmonton would be a tight squeeze, but the Oilers could desperately use more forward talent to surround Connor McDavid. Ottawa could be most appealing to Gusev if he want to become a team’s centerpiece and boost his public image, while the upstart Devils may be his best chance at winning a Stanley Cup as soon as possible. However, Gusev’s preferences will matter little to Vegas if they do choose to move him, likely opting for the best package of picks and prospects they can find.
A resolution won’t be easy to come by, although both Granger and Ellis agree that the Golden Knights would be better served by keeping Gusev. If the team can figure out their cap situation, perhaps by moving the contracts of non-core players like Ryan Reaves and Nick Holden or Jon Merrill, then keeping Gusev is the ideal move given his ceiling and the potential for Vegas to have the most formidable forward corps in the league. Moving Gusev will likely bring back a nice return in building blocks, but at the cost of could-be superstar. It is not an easy choice for Vegas, whereas Gusev holds all the leverage as a KHL icon but unproven NHL commodity just waiting for his chance to break out, in Vegas or otherwise. So long as he gets paid a fair wage, Gusev is likely willing to begin his NHL career anywhere.
Snapshots: Puljujarvi, Broberg, Aho, Eriksson
A return to the Edmonton Oilers for restricted free agent Jesse Puljujarvi is getting less and less likely. Despite hope that new general manager Ken Holland and head coach Dave Tippett might be able to give the 21-year-old a fresh start, Puljujarvi hasn’t shown much interest in returning to the team since he requested the team trade him to give him a new start elsewhere.
“Although the Oilers have a new well-respected GM and a new coach the team is still pretty much the same,” said Puljujarvi’s agent Markus Lehto (in a Finnish publication via Edmonton Journal’s Kurt Leavins. “Sometimes a player and a team are not a fit. This seems to be the case here. Nothing radical about it.”
While Leavins leaves the quote open to interpretation, especially the part where he said, “… the team is pretty much the same.” However, it’s clear that Puljujarvi has little interest in returning to Edmonton, leaving him with two options, waiting for Edmonton to find a trade partner or allowing him to leave and play overseas next season. Finding a trade partner has been challenging as the team wants good value back for a player who has just 17 goals over three full seasons.
- A Swedish website, Hockey Svervige (translation required) reports that Edmonton Oilers first-round pick Philip Broberg, who recently signed his entry-level deal, will play for Sweden’s Skelleftea in the SHL this year alongside fellow Oilers’ prospect Filip Berglund, rather than come over to North America immediately. The Edmonton Journal’s David Staples adds that Holland’s main objective was to put him in a position to get the most minutes possible, which was the main reason for wanting him to come to North America and play in the OHL with the Hamilton Bulldogs. However, while there is no guarantee of playing time with Skelleftea, the team could always send him down to the Allsvenskan and have him return to his old team, AIK Stockholm.
- In a tweet sent out by Carolina Hurricanes newly signed forward Sebastian Aho, the 21-year-old makes it clear that he only hoped to settle his restricted free agency as quickly as possible and had no interest in leaving Carolina. “I am grateful for the offer from the Montreal Canadiens, but it was always my hope to return to the Hurricanes,” Aho said. “As a restricted free agent, I had limited options for moving along the process to get a deal done. It was always important to me to be on the ice for the first day of training camp. This entire situation has been difficult for me and my family, and I am happy it is at an end.”
- Patrick Johnston of The Province writes that it is becoming less and less likely that the Vancouver Canucks will be unloading the contract of veteran Loui Eriksson this offseason. The scribe writes that general manager Jim Benning has not been able to reach Eriksson to talk to him about the situation, it is clear he doesn’t intend to request a trade and isn’t planning on retiring. There are fewer and fewer options to find a team with the salary cap needed to take on his three years and $6MM AAV and with a full no-trade clause, he doesn’t have to accept a deal anywhere either. So unless, Benning can make an impressive maneuver, it looks like the Canucks are stuck with him.
Edmonton Oilers Sign Philip Broberg
The Edmonton Oilers have come to an agreement with their top draft pick, inking Philip Broberg to a three-year entry-level contract. Broberg was selected eighth overall at the recent NHL Entry Draft.
It is still not exactly clear where the 18-year old Broberg will spend the 2019-20 season, as he could either go back to Sweden for another year of development or come to North America to play in the CHL. The Hamilton Bulldogs of the OHL own his CHL rights, and the Oilers have hinted that is where they’d rather have him spend next season. The 6’4″ defenseman would likely get huge minutes in all situations playing for the Bulldogs, something he may not get so easily in Sweden.
Regardless of where he plays next season, the Oilers are hoping from big things from the smooth-skating defenseman. Broberg has all the physical attributes to become a dominating presence in the NHL, though some have questioned his decision making at times. Oilers GM Ken Holland knows he must turn out a quality product this year in Edmonton and battle for a playoff spot, but rushing Broberg through the system would be a mistake.
His contract will slide forward as long as he does not play in ten NHL games this season.