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Florida Trades Demers To Arizona For McGinn

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The Florida Panthers have traded defenseman Jason Demers to Arizona in exchange for Jamie McGinn, tweets Elliotte Friedman. AZ Sports Craig Morgan confirms the deal is straight up with no other pieces. However, Friedman adds that Florida will retain 12.5 percent of Demers salary in the deal.

Demers is a solid two-way defenseman, finishing last year with nine goals and 19 assists. The 29-year-old defenseman was rumored to be moved several times this offseason, so the trade comes as little surprise.

The Panthers previous management, in hopes of making a Stanley Cup run, signed Demers last summer to a five-year, $22.5MM contract to help man their blueline. However, an 81-point performance last season and with a change in management, the team was suddenly stuck with Demers who no longer fit into their long-term plans and with a remaining four years at $4.5MM annually. In acquiring McGinn, the team almost cuts that cost in half as the 29-year-old wing has just two years remaining at $3.33MM AAV. With his departure, the team may look to several younger possibilities to help fill out their defense.

The 29-year-old McGinn is coming off a regular season in which he put up nine goals and eight assists in 72 games. However, with the team ready to install all of its talented young forwards like Clayton Keller, Christian Dvorak, Christian Fischer, Max Domi, Brendan Perlini and many others into the lineup. McGinn had little place left. It was rumored he was about to have to switch positions in Arizona. Demers, however, would help with a struggling, yet improving blueline. He should solidify the team’s top two pairings on defense, along with Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Alex Goligoski.

Ryan Carter Announces Retirement

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Give Ryan Carter credit. Around this time last year, it seemed as though the veteran forward’s career was already over. Carter had been unable to secure a guaranteed contract for the 2016-17 season, but was working toward a new deal with the Minnesota Wild by way of a PTO. However, when a nagging shoulder injury – a torn labrum to be exact – ended his attempt, Carter decided that he needed to move forward with surgery and, at 33, did not know if he would play again. Yet, Carter underwent his procedure, rehabbed, and by mid-February, he was back skating with the Wild. Carter ended up playing in 18 games with the AHL’s Iowa Wild and was one of Minnesota’s “black aces” come playoff time, though he never did get to fully make his NHL return.

It took a lot of effort just to get close to a comeback in 2016-17 and another try just wasn’t in the cards for Carter this year. The Athletic’s Michael Russo was the first to report that the ten year veteran has decided to hang up his skates. The Minnesota native can rest easy in retirement, knowing that he got to play his final two NHL seasons with his hometown team and gave it all he had to return for a third. Along the way, the Minnesota State standout also suited up for the Anaheim Ducks from 2006 to 2011 and the New Jersey Devils from 2011 to 2014, with brief stops with the Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers in between.

A hard-working, two-way threat, Carter was known more as a defensive specialist best-suited for a bottom-six spot and key penalty killing role than he was a point-producers. Yet, Carter finished his career off strong with a career high 15 points with the Devils in 2012-13 and three more double-digit totals to close out his NHL tenure. Carter will also be remembered for a very strong postseason performance for New Jersey in 2012, nearly matching his regular season production as the team charged to a Stanley Cup final appearance. In total, Carter notched 41 goals and 52 assists in 473 NHL games. While his scoring was far from the pace he exhibited in his college days in Mankato, Carter was still able to provide consistent two-way play, work ethic, and character throughout an NHL career built off of solid bottom-six play.

Kings To Bring In Shane Harper On PTO

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Shane Harper is homeward bound. No, he’s not headed to San Francisco (that was the sequel anyway), but close. The Valencia, California native has agreed to a professional tryout with the Los Angeles Kings, based less than forty miles from his home town. Kings beat writer Jon Rosen reported the deal earlier this afternoon.

While Harper is not exactly a household name, the 28-year-old is officially an NHL veteran after debuting with the Florida Panthers last season.  A high-flying scorer with the WHL’s Everett Silvertips back in 2009-10, Harper signed a three-year entry-level deal with the Philadelphia Flyers to kick off his pro career, but was never given a shot at the highest level in Philly, skating instead with their former affiliate, the Adirondack Phantoms, for parts of four seasons. Harper then had to spend two seasons on an AHL contract with the Chicago Wolves before getting another NHL deal, this time with the New York Islanders, after a career best 50-point season. While the Islanders also denied Harper his debut, he caught the eye of the Panthers, who signed him to a one-year deal last summer and called him up for 14 games in 2016-17. Harper potted two goals and added an assist in his brief stint, but also showed some grit and two-way ability. The Panthers traded Harper to the New Jersey Devils on trade deadline day, who did not use him down the stretch and did not show interest in re-signing him. Still, it was a major building block season for an older “prospect” making his NHL debut after logging 398 games and 183 points in the AHL to get there.

Harper joins a loaded list of Kings’ PTO roster candidates and has his work cut out for him facing Andrei Loktionov, a younger and arguably more talented player who has the added benefit of being a former King, and grizzly veterans Brooks Laich and Brandon Prust. However, Harper’s local ties and likely willingness to also play with the AHL’s Ontario Reign, which is only another thirty-odd miles from Valencia, could give him an edge on winning a roster spot. Unlike Loktionov and Prust, Harper has also stuck with the North American game and is comfortable with the role of being an AHL depth player. Harper also just got his first taste of NHL action and is likely eager to return, perhaps bringing more of an edge and work ethic than experienced veterans. For now, Harper is at least an interesting story line to follow this fall as a local boy trying to make his hometown team. However, with some luck, Harper could surely be more than that.

Jack Skille Expected To Sign In KHL

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Running out of time to find an NHL contract before the puck drops on the 2017-18 season, another veteran has taken the quiet off-season as a sign to move on. TSN’s Darren Dreger reports that free agent forward Jack Skille is expected to sign with Dinamo Minsk of the KHL in the coming days. The 30-year-old’s decision to continue his career overseas comes a decade after making his NHL debut in 2007.

Skille was selected #7 overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2005 and made the jump to the NHL two years later after a short stint with the University of Wisconsin. Although Skille has never lived up to his draft slot, the two-way winger has nevertheless found an NHL contract in each of the last ten seasons. After three seasons in Chicago, spent mostly with the AHL’s Rockford Ice Hogs, Skille was traded to the Florida Panthers in 2011 and there developed into a bona fide NHLer. Skille has only played in 22 AHL games since his trade to Florida, instead spending parts of three seasons with the Panthers, two seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets, and most recently a year apiece with the Colorado Avalanche and Vancouver Canucks. Through 368 NHL games, Skille registered 84 points, including a career-high eight goals with the Avs just two years ago, but made his name not by his offense, but by his grit and toughness, his ability to win battles along the boards, and his quickness and tendency to always be in position to make a defensive play. Skille’s impressive ability to find an NHL gig as a reliable depth player is over for now, but may not be over for good, depending on his play in Europe.

With Minsk, Skille steps into a position where he will be relied on more for offense than any other time in his pro career and could also fill a leadership role. He also won’t be alone in Belarus though; he joins a squad with several NHL veterans such as Rob Klinkhammer, Quinton Howden, Justin Fontaine, Marc-Andre Gragnani, and new starting goalie Jhonas Enroth. The team is set to make some moves this season and Skille adds yet another talented contributor to the mix. If Minsk makes a leap up the standings in 2017-18 with Skille leading the charge in all three zones, there is little doubt that he will again draw interest from NHL teams next summer and beyond as a dependable and versatile depth option.

Florida Panthers Sign Harry Zolnierczyk To PTO

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The Florida Panthers continue to give out professional tryouts for their upcoming training camp, with the latest one going to Harry Zolnierczyk. The 29-year old is coming off a Stanley Cup Finals appearance with the Nashville Predators, and will try to convince the brass in Florida that he deserves an NHL contract. The Panthers have already invited both Brandon Pirri and Nikolai Belov to camp to battle for the last few roster spots.

Zolnierczyk is an example of a former undrafted college free agent, who has worked hard to keep himself relevant in professional hockey since coming out of Brown University. Bouncing back and forth from the AHL, he played 24 games for the Nashville Predators last season, his fifth NHL team. While proving capable as an AHL scoring threat, he’s never been given much of a chance to play a regular role in the NHL, and will try to show the Panthers that he deserves more than that.

Morning Notes: Zaripov, Campoli, Byron

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Danis Zaripov has entered the NHL free agent market after being cleared to sign despite a two-year ban in the KHL, and he is one of the most interesting wildcards this late in the summer. Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times reports that the Lightning have checked in on him, but there has been no contract talks between the two sides.

More interestingly, Igor Eronko of Sport-Express quotes Evgeni Malkin saying that he would “like to see Danis Zaripov in Penguins. I’d enjoy plaing with him on one line.” Zaripov isn’t the answer the Penguins need at center, but would be an interesting addition to their wing depth.

  • Jeff Cox reports that Vegas Golden Knights draft pick Nick Campoli will not be attending Clarkson University as originally planned, and instead will play for the Sioux City Musketeers this season. Campoli was a sixth-round pick this summer, and had played in the OJHL to maintain his college eligibility. Cox reports that he will attempt to take enough courses to regain eligibility and join Clarkson in 2018-19.
  • Blaine Byron explains to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet why he made the decision to pass up an entry-level contract to sign an AHL deal with the Florida Panthers. Byron considers Florida his best shot at making the NHL, and could see a clear path there for him. The huge number of University of Maine alumni in the management and coaching staff probably helped him feel that way, but there is also a clear need for NHL-level forwards in the Florida system. Byron could make the jump sooner than later, meaning an entry-level deal could be signed before long anyway.

Graham Black Leaves Pros For University

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In general, people play college sports before playing professionally. For AHL veteran Graham Black, that isn’t the case. Black was included today as part of the recruiting class for the University of Calgary, CUSN’s Victor Findlay reports. Findlay adds that while Black is ineligible to compete this season, he will be back on the ice in 2018-19 for the Dinos.

The “big surprise” of the class announcement, Black has played in 131 AHL games in the last four years after leaving the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos. Black, 24, was a fifth-round pick of the New Jersey Devils in 2012 and looked ready for the next level after scoring 97 points in 69 games for the Broncos in 2013-14. The scoring center signed a three-year ELC with New Jersey in 2014, but his production fell off in the minors. Through two seasons with the AHL’s Albany Devils, Black had just 23 points in 98 games. Last summer, he was shipped alongside Paul Thompson to the Florida Panthers as the meager return for the Devils taking on Marc Savard’s contract in exchange for a second-round pick as well. While Thompson found a home in South Florida, skating in 21 games with the Panthers, Black never got past the bench. He registered eight points in 33 games with the Panthers’ affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, and watched several games from the press box.

The Panthers did not tender Black a qualifying offer this off-season, making him an unrestricted free agent, but with so little scoring to show for at the pro level, it seems as though Black made the decision to move on from pro hockey. The Regina native will head back up north, far from Florida, to get an education while still playing hockey, something he could not have done in the United States. Meanwhile, the University of Calgary will have the rare opportunity of having a veteran pro to lead their college squad. It’s a win-win for both parties and a fresh start for Black as he embarks on a unique career path.

Brandon Pirri Returns To Florida Panthers On Tryout

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Professional tryout season is alive and well. Brandon Pirri is the latest player to sign a PTO, inking one with the Florida Panthers today. The forward will return to the team with which he found the most NHL success, scoring 22 goals in the 2014-15 season. Pirri will join Nikolai Belov as a Panthers PTO, fighting for the last few spots on the roster.

One of the most interesting things about that 22-goal season from Pirri, is that it came with just two assists. Pirri had never been known as a pure sniper before, posting huge assist totals in the AHL as he dominated competition with his offensive skill. Nearly a point-per-game player in the minor leagues, that level of offense has escaped him since he left Florida, spending time with Anaheim and last year with the New York Rangers. Pirri scored just 18 points in 60 games despite being given a chance on the team’s powerplay. He just didn’t seem to fit in New York, and couldn’t find a job on the open market this summer.

Pirri is just 26, and the Florida Panthers desperately need offensive weapons to fill out their lineup. They have several roster spots up for grabs, but the veteran will have to fight off youngsters like Owen Tippett and Henrik Haapala in order to make the squad.

Blaine Byron To Sign AHL Contract With Florida

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Blaine Byron is one of the less heralded NCAA free agents, but shouldn’t be overlooked after a breakout season with the University of Maine. He’s signed a one-year AHL contract with the Springfield Thunderbirds, the minor league affiliate of the Florida Panther. According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, his contract comes with a catch; Byron’s deal will have an out clause that will allow him to sign an NHL contract with another team should there be an offer during the season. Friedman believes that Florida would then be given the chance to match the contract.

The most interesting part of agreeing to an AHL contract is that it will keep Byron in contention for a spot on the Canadian Olympic team. Friedman’s belief that Byron is signing this deal instead of a two-year entry-level contract doesn’t make much sense without the Olympic route, since he’ll be limited to entry-level regulations even if he waits until mid-season.

There’s no guarantee that Byron would be asked to join the Canadian Olympic team, but his talent last year at Maine sure blossomed. Given a prominent role, the 22-year old Byron scored 41 points in 36 games and was generally the most dangerous player on the ice any given night. Selected in the sixth round by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2013, he still has plenty of work to do to get to the NHL.

Jason Demers Won't Comment On Nixed Vancouver Canucks Trade

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Various players were in Toronto today for the BioSteel Camp, which gave savvy media members a chance to talk to them individually and away from the normal post-game scrum. One of them, Luke Fox of Sportsnet, caught up with Florida Panthers defenseman Jason Demers and asked about the report from earlier this summer that he blocked a trade to the Vancouver Canucks. Demers definitely didn’t deny the report, saying that Pierre LeBrun of TSN has “got his sources.”

Regardless, Demers is still playing in Florida this season and is getting ready to try and bounce back from what was a disappointing year. The right-handed defenseman was one of the best two-way options on the open market in 2016 when the Panthers snatched him up for five years and $22.5MM but scored just 28 points and wasn’t as effective in his own end. It will be interesting to see if he becomes available once again if the Panthers get off to a bad start, or if the right deal comes along to pry him out of Florida. His no-trade clause covers just eight teams around the league.

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