Owen Tippett Sent Back To OHL
The Florida Panthers—taking a page out of the Edmonton Oilers book—have sent 18-year old Owen Tippett back to his junior club. Tippett had played seven games with the Panthers, scoring one goal, but will now return to the Mississauga Steelheads of the OHL. He will not burn a year of his entry-level contract as he played fewer than ten games. With the announcement, GM Dale Tallon released a statement:
Owen was impressive in his time with our club and has a bright future with the Panthers. This was a tough decision, but we think it’s best for his long-term development.
It’s hard to argue that this isn’t the best move for Tippett’s development, especially given what will likely transpire over the next few months. While Mississauga has gotten off to a slow start, they do have plenty of talent still and could turn things around enough to at least make the OHL playoffs. What will be very interesting though is Tippett’s international play. He’ll almost certainly be taken by Team Canada to the World Junior tournament in Buffalo after attending the Summer Showcase this year, but there could be an even more intriguing option.
Canada’s Olympic management team has already had discussions with the CHL on taking junior players to Pyeongchang, with Elliotte Friedman reporting on the negotiations. Friedman mentioned Jordan Kyrou as a possibility, but Tippett’s name would likely be added to that list. Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press reported earlier this summer that junior players would be eligible even if they’d already signed their entry-level contracts, and further to that even if they’d already played in the NHL. In specific, Whyno told PHR “if someone’s on a slide, in theory he’s eligible.” That would include Tippett (and Edmonton’s Kailer Yamamoto for the United States), making him an interesting player to watch over the next few months.
Kailer Yamamoto Assigned To WHL
The Edmonton Oilers have made the decision to not keep rookie Kailer Yamamoto past the nine-game threshold. The team announced today that they’ve sent their diminutive forward back to the WHL for additional season, thus retaining the first season of his entry-level contract. Yamamoto’s deal will now slide and kick in next season. In his place, the team has recalled Brad Malone from the AHL.
Removing Yamamoto from the mix was likely a tough decision for the Oilers as they continue to struggle this season. Now at 4-8-1 and coming off a decisive 4-0 loss at the hands of the Detroit Red Wings, removing a talented youngster from the forward rotation doesn’t seem prudent. Still, sending Yamamoto back to the WHL where he can receive top line minutes and continue to develop his game is likely the correct move long-term, as he had played sparingly recently and looked over-matched at times. He’ll rejoin a Spokane team that could really use his scoring ability, and try to vault them back into the playoffs.
Mark Spector of Sportsnet expects the Oilers to sign Chris Kelly now that there is another roster spot available, though the recall of Malone obviously fills that spot for now. Kelly has been practicing with the Oilers since appearing on a professional tryout through training camp and could earn a contract like Roman Polak and Brooks Laich have already in Toronto and Los Angeles. Kelly doesn’t provide much in the way of offense, but is an experienced forward who has always been known for his defensive prowess.
Pacific Notes: Boeser, Sedin, Yamamoto, Jones
Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser‘s hat trick in Saturday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins proved one thing — they can’t hide him any longer. The Vancouver Sun’s Jason Botchford writes that no matter how much this team tries to protect him, there is no point — he’s the becoming the new face of the franchise and the team better make sure they allow him to flourish.
The scribe writes that there hasn’t been much talk all year of Boeser being a Calder Trophy candidate, but after putting up his third, fourth and fifth goals of the season Saturday, maybe they should be talking about that. He was always supposed to be one of the team’s top scorers, but after last night, Boeser now leads the team in scoring with 13 points after 13 games. Keep in mind, he was a healthy scratch for the first two games of the season and he missed one game due to injury.
The timing almost seems fitting as TSN’s Jeff Patterson notes that Henrik Sedin‘s role in the third period found him opening the door from the bench for the younger players. The scribe notes this is what the Sedin brothers have always hoped for, for the team to develop while they are still there, but that comes at the cost of reduced roles. Sedin has just three assists in 13 games, while his brother Daniel Sedin has two goals and three assists. With a 5-1-1 record in the last seven games, this might be the right time for Boeser to take that next step.
- Edmonton Oilers rookie Kailer Yamamoto played today in his ninth NHL game, now one shy before the Oilers burn the first year of his entry-level deal, according to Sportsnet’s Mark Spector. The question for the 19-year-old winger is whether that’s the end of the road for him this season. Will the Oilers hold onto the young scorer, who has three assists in nine games? Or will he be returned to his junior team?
- San Jose Sharks goaltender Martin Jones has now gone eight straight games of allowing two goals or less this year after Saturday’s 2-1 shootout win over the Anaheim Ducks, according to Kevin Kurz of The Athletic (subscription required). The steady goalie made several key saves in the second period on his way to the victory. The 27-year-old who has always been steady in net for the Sharks currently boasts a 1.98 GAA in 10 games and a .930 save percentage.
Andrej Sekera Resumes Skating, Still Several Weeks Away From Returning
Oilers defenseman Andrej Sekera skated for the first time on Friday since undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL sustained late in May during the playoffs, notes Postmedia’s Jim Matheson. The blueliner says that his recovery is on schedule but given the varying timelines for players coming back from this surgery, there remains no firm timeframe for his return. At the time of the operation, the team said he’d be out between six and nine months; the six-month mark is still a couple of weeks away (November 18th). Sekera estimates that he won’t be cleared for contact for another two weeks so it’s unlikely that he will get the green light to return until late this month at the earliest.
Freddie Hamilton, David Booth On Waivers
Ryan Stanton of the Edmonton Oilers has cleared waivers, but two more names are on the wire today. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reports that both Calgary forward Freddie Hamilton and Detroit forward David Booth are on waivers.
Hamilton’s status is likely because of the continued presence of Mark Jankowski, who is still waiting for his first NHL point but has looked the part of an NHL forward. Selected in the first-round of the 2012 draft, it’s been a long road for Jankowski but the patience looks like it’s paying off. The Flames are also expected to activate Jaromir Jagr from injured reserve this week, meaning someone had to go up front.
Booth has basically been a non-factor for the Red Wings, playing just four games and 20 total minutes of ice time. After attending camp on a professional tryout, he signed a one-year two-way deal with the Red Wings. While his experience may cause someone to put in a claim, it’s unlikely that Booth has much left to give in the NHL. A former 30-goal man, he hasn’t been a reliable scoring threat since 2012.
It must be noted that once again Vadim Shipachyov has not been waived by the Golden Knights in order to mutually terminate his contract as many expected. Though it still seems overwhelmingly likely that Shipachyov returns to Russia, as long as the papers are not filed there is always a chance something is worked out.
Ryan Stanton Placed On Waivers
While we were already told not to expect Vadim Shipachyov‘s name to appear on the waiver wire today, we weren’t left with an empty list. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports that Ryan Stanton of the Edmonton Oilers has been waived, likely meaning he’s now healthy enough to be assigned to the AHL. Stanton had been on season-opening injured reserve so far, after signing a two-year two-way contract with the Oilers this summer.
Stanton spent all of last season in the minor leagues, but was once a full-time part of the Vancouver blueline. In 120 career NHL games, the 28-year old undrafted defenseman has just 27 points. If he goes unclaimed (which seems likely) he’ll provide the Bakersfield Condors with some extra experience and depth, something the 3-4 team could desperately use.
Edmonton Oilers’ Matt Benning Drawing Interest
Sportsnet’s Mark Spector reports that while the Edmonton Oilers continue to look for an answer this season, “at least one team” is showing interest in defenseman Matt Benning in trade talks—though there is certainly no hurry to move him. Spector writes that the team likely would however be willing to give up Anton Slepyshev or Ryan Strome in potential deals.
Edmonton is off to a terrible start for a club that was expected to contend for the Stanley Cup this season, riding a 3-6-1 record into Wednesday’s matchup with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Connor McDavid clearly can’t carry the team all on his own, and they’ve received little offensive help beyond the top line. Slepyshev has been held scoreless thus far, while Strome has just three points on the season. That’s while Jordan Eberle starts to thrive in New York with nine points through 11 games.
The Oilers need help, and they need it soon if they’re going to turn around this ship. The team ranks dead last in the NHL in goals for, and both special teams rank in the bottom three. Spector does suggest that Chris Kelly will sign if Kailer Yamamoto is sent back to junior, which should help their penalty kill but do little for their offensive woes. The answer to those isn’t quite so simple.
Moving Benning would certainly bring back something of value, as the 23-year old defenseman has shown at least an ability to play a full-time role in the NHL. Though he doesn’t have a ton of offensive upside, some might see him as a solid answer to shore up a bottom pairing. Dealing him would mean opening one hole to fill another however, as the Oilers would need a replacement for his 16-odd minutes a night. Benning is a restricted free agent this summer though, and with money locked up in four defensemen already and a new deal looming for Darnell Nurse, he could be on the outside looking in anyway. The Oilers will obviously have to be very careful with their cap space once McDavid’s league-leading contract extension kicks in.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Keeping An Eye On Entry-Level Slides: An Update
Two weeks ago we ran an article looking at the young players in the NHL who were also eligible to see their contracts slide by one year. Should they be sent back to their junior or European clubs before playing in 10 NHL games, they would avoid burning the first year of their entry-level contracts.
At the time, none of the players eligible had surpassed that threshold. Today is a different story. Three players have already played their 10th game in the NHL, changing the goalposts somewhat for their respective teams. Now, those clubs must decide whether or not to keep them past the next threshold of 40 games, when they’ll get a year closer to unrestricted free agency. Below, we’ll take an updated look at the entire group.
10+ Games Played
Mikhail Sergachev (TBL)
Victor Mete (MTL)
Alex DeBrincat (CHI)
Each of these three seemed to have a good shot at staying with their respective teams right from the start, but now the most interesting thing to watch will be that 40 game mark. For Sergachev especially it holds quite a bit of value. Due to a condition on the trade that brought him to Tampa Bay, if he fails to play 40 games this season the Montreal Canadiens would have to send a second-round draft pick (Montreal would also receive a sixth-round pick in return). That extra asset could be tantalizing for the Lightning, but with Sergachev’s outstanding start—the young defenseman has 10 points in 11 games—it may not be worth sending him away from the team.
8-9 Games Played
Pierre-Luc Dubois (CBJ)
Nico Hischier (NJD)
Jesper Bratt (NJD)
Nolan Patrick (PHI)
All four of these players seem destined to play past the nine game threshold, with Dubois set to play his tenth game tonight, and Patrick only sitting out due to injury this week. Bratt and Hischier have played in all eight of New Jersey’s games, combining for 13 points. Their strong early play will likely keep them in New Jersey for the year.
Interestingly, Dubois has lasted in the Columbus lineup despite registering just one point all season. He’s not being sent back before tonight’s game, but it will be interesting to see how the season plays out. He’s not struggling with the pace of play, but hasn’t received the opportunity to really show what his offensive ceiling is. Should Columbus face more injuries, Dubois could be thrust into a more important role.
5-7 Games Played
Kailer Yamamoto (EDM)
Yamamoto is one of the most interesting cases, because though he’s played seven games with the club and at times been one of the ice-time leaders beside Connor McDavid, he was scratched last night against the Dallas Stars. As Leon Draisaitl and Drake Caggiula came back, there seemingly wasn’t a spot left for Yamamoto in the top nine.
The diminutive forward has three points through his seven contests, but isn’t a lock to stay past nine games if the Oilers feel he still needs some more development. Though he obviously has the skill to play at this level, if they’re not going to play him every night his path may lie back in the WHL. That would certainly change the fate for the Spokane Chiefs, his junior team, who are currently 8-6-1 on the season.
1-4 Games Played
Owen Tippett (FLA)
Janne Kuokkanen (CAR)
Samuel Girard (NSH)
Tippett finally worked his way into the lineup for Florida, and the early results suggest he could stay there all year. The winger from the Mississauga Steelheads scored his first goal last night, and could find himself getting more ice time as the Panthers try to dig their way out of a rough start. By no means is he guaranteed, but the team has hinted that he would stay in the NHL right away since the start of training camp.
Kuokkanen started off hot for the Hurricanes in limited minutes, but has been relegated to the press box for the team’s last five games. As we wrote in the previous article, the Hurricanes could actually send him to the AHL instead of back to junior, meaning he could bounce up and down this season.
Girard has certainly impressed in the three games he’s played, but none of those have come in the team’s last four. He may be back in the lineup tonight however when the team takes on the Chicago Blackhawks, and if he keeps up his high level of play they may have no choice but to keep him around. Still, it’s always tough for a 19-year old defender to stick in the NHL and especially one that is just 162-lbs. He’ll have to show beyond a shadow of a doubt that he’s ready to be a contributor to this team all season.
No Longer On Roster
Logan Brown (OTT)
Filip Chytil (NYR)
Alex Formenton (OTT)
Martin Necas (CAR)
All four made their NHL debuts, but were eventually sent back before breaking the first threshold. Only Chytil remains in the North American professional ranks, currently playing for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL.
Teddy Purcell, Lauri Korpikoski Sign Overseas
Two of the more notable names left without an NHL contract when the 2017-18 season began have come to terms on new deals elsewhere. Teddy Purcell, a former 65-point scorer who of late was on a PTO with the Boston Bruins, signed with the KHL’s Avangard Omsk today, the team announced. Lauri Korpikoski, fresh off a strong campaign with the Dallas Stars and Columbus Blue Jackets, somewhat surprisingly drew little attention this off-season and has now signed with the ZSC Lions of the NLA, according to a team release. The former Edmonton teammates will each look to rejuvenate their careers overseas this season.
Purcell, 32, was had a roller coaster career. The undrafted University of Maine product made a surprise jump to the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings in 2007-08 after just one year of college and made an immediate impact. After being swapped for Jeff Halpern early in his career, Purcell took off with the Tampa Bay Lightning, scoring 51 points his first season and 65 the next. His scoring continued, but that didn’t stop the Bolts from trading him to the Edmonton Oilers, who in turn traded him to the Florida Panthers less than two years later. During this time, Purcell had continued to be a consistent scorer no matter where he landed. So, when Purcell given nearly no attention in the free agent market last year and ended up back in L.A. and soon after buried in the minors, it came as a shock to many. This time around, no one was surprised when Purcell was unable to turn his tryout in Boston into a contract, but the fact remains that there is still no evidence that Purcell ever stopped being a solid play-making forward. Now in Russia, Purcell has the potential to light it up with Avangard. Don’t be surprised if the swift winger scores early and often in the KHL and catches the eye of the Canadian Olympic team.
As for Korpikoski, his off-season went much like Purcell’s last year. 20 points in 60 games aren’t eye-popping numbers, but it was a pleasantly surprising season for Korpikoski in Dallas. The two-way forward had never been a big producer – his career high 40 points came back in 2010-11 with the Phoenix Coyotes, a team on which he was pressed into a top-six role due to a lack of talent – but Korpikoski had made a career out of his well-rounded game. A 2004 first-round pick of the New York Rangers, the now-31-year-old was a hard-working and reliable player for long stretches in New York and Arizona, but a drop-off in production in the desert and a subsequent trade to the Edmonton Oilers in 2015 looked like the beginning of the end. Yet, the Stars took a gamble last summer and it paid off with a sold effort from Korpikoski and a trade return of young defenseman Dillon Heatherington from Columbus at the deadline. However, the renewed interest never came and Korpikoski has had to settle for Switzerland. With ZSC, Korpikoski will join a talented NLA team and will get a chance to skate alongside NHL veterans like Robert Nilsson and Drew Shore. While Finland is in better shape for the upcoming Winter Games than the U.S. or Canada, don’t count out the possibility of the veteran Finn winger from getting the call to go to Pyeongchang as well.
Edmonton Oilers Officially Activate Leon Draisaitl, Drake Caggiula
The Edmonton Oilers are starting to get healthy. After practicing in full this week and being cleared to return, the team has activated both Leon Draisaitl and Drake Caggiula from injured reserve, while assigning Brad Malone to the Bakersfield Condors to make room. Draisaitl and Caggiula will be in the lineup tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The pair return to a team that hasn’t been able to generate much offense despite having one of the best players in the world leading their lineup. Edmonton is 2-5 on the season and have scored just 10 even-strength goals all season. Six of those ten have been assisted on or scored by Connor McDavid, leaving one to wonder where any secondary scoring is expected to come from. Draisaitl will hopefully help that, though his breakout season a year ago was played for the most part alongside the 20-year old captain. Draisaitl did have three points before being taken out of the lineup due to a concussion.
Edmonton has a tough stretch in front of them, facing the reigning Stanley Cup champions twice in the span of four games. In between, they’ll take on the streaking Dallas Stars and the always dangerous Washinton Capitals. If things don’t start turning around for the Oilers, they could find themselves in a deep hole to try and climb out of. Even with McDavid leading the way, giving up points in what looks like a wide open Pacific Division is a rough way to start the season.