Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Panthers Rumors

Minor Transactions: 07/15/16

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Here is where we will keep track of all the day’s minor transactions:

  • The Florida Panthers have re-signed Jonathan Racine to a one-year, two-way deal worth $660K at the NHL level. The defenseman played 69 games last season for the Portland Pirates, scoring one goal and nine points. Racine was a third-round pick by Florida in 2011, and has played in a single NHL game thus far.
  • Daniel Catenacci has re-signed with the Buffalo Sabres for 2016-17, on a two-way deal worth the league minimum ($575K).  Catenacci made his NHL debut this past season when he suited up for 11 games for the Sabres, but was held pointless. The 5’10” center plays a high-energy game and will try to work his way back into the bottom-six for Buffalo at some point this season.
  • After extending Jake Allen and signing Carter Hutton this summer, the Blues have re-signed two more goaltenders, inking restricted free agents Jordan Binnington and Pheonix Copley to one-year, two-way deals. Binnington made his NHL debut this season when he relieved Brian Elliott on January 14th. The former third-round pick made 13 saves and allowed a goal in his first taste, but will surely head back to the AHL this season.  Copley also debuted this season, relieving Allen on Feburary 27th.
  • Philadelphia has signed restricted free agent Petr Straka to a one-year deal. The 24-year old was originally a second-round pick of the Blue Jackets in 2010, but chose not to sign a contract with them, eventually making him a free agent.  He signed with the Flyers in 2013, and played for the Phantoms exclusively last season.
  • Arizona’s Tyler Gaudet and Stefan Fournier accepted their qualifying offers tweets Sarah McLellan. General Fanager tweets that the deals are both one-year, two-way contracts. The financials read out as just above $874K for Gaudet, and just over $632K for Fournier.

Atlantic Notes: Subban, Canadiens, Panthers

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Boston goaltending prospect Malcolm Subban has fully recovered from a fractured larynx he suffered in the pregame warmups in an AHL game back in early February, writes Stephen Harris of the Boston Herald.  Subban was unable to exercise for more than two months which ended his sophomore pro campaign much earlier than he had hoped.

Subban spent most of last season with the Bruins’ AHL affiliate in Providence, posting a 14-8-5 record in 27 appearances with a 2.46 GAA and a .911 SV%.  The former first round pick (24th overall in 2012) will likely have to wait another year to contend for the backup job behind Tuukka Rask as the team signed Anton Khudobin, who played with Boston in 2012-13, early in free agency.

Other news and notes from the Atlantic Division:

Free Agent Profile: Brandon Pirri

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Now that Shane Doan is officially off the market – although no one really expected the veteran winger to leave the desert – there are few options remaining for teams looking to add offense to their lineups. Yesterday we profiled five of the top forwards remaining in free agency that could conceivably fit the bill. One of those players, Brandon Pirri, noticably stuck out on that list due to his relative youth compared to his unemployed peers.

It’s not usually surprising that aging veterans whose best seasons are clearly in the rear view mirror might linger on the market well into the summer. In fact, many will either be forced to accept training camp invites or face the prospect of retirement. However, it’s exceedingly rare for one of the league’s most prolific goal scorers – based on rate stats – and who is still just 25-years-old, to be waiting for his next contract into the middle of July.

Pirri tallied 14 goals and 29 points last year in 61 games, splitting the season between Florida and Anaheim. The Ducks had acquired the 6-foot, 183-pound forward from the Panthers at the trade deadline in exchange for a sixth-round draft choice. The year prior, Pirri netted 22 goals in 61 contests, albeit with an amazingly low 2 assists, for the Panthers.

Over the last three seasons, Pirri has averaged 0.95 goals for every 60 minutes of ice time he sees at five-on-five play. That rate places him 30th in the NHL among all forwards who have suited up for a minimum of 120 games during that span. In terms of even-strength goal scoring prowess, Pirri is certainly among the best in the game.

Based on overall point-production, however, Pirri ranks just 203rd over the past three seasons in points-per-hour, due in large part to his 2014-15 tally of just two helpers. That ranking would seem to place him outside of a top-six role when it comes to offensive contributions.

Goal scoring is typically sought after and usually rewarded in free agency. Pirri’s continued presence on the open market is a bit of a mystery. It’s possible teams are scared off due to his low assists total from two seasons ago. Though it should be noted, if we remove that outlier from his career numbers, Pirri actually has two more assists than goals scored in his career and typically teams don’t pay as much attention to extreme statistical outliers.

Whatever the reason, it seems clear teams are hesitant about employing Pirri. He’s suited up for three NHL clubs over the last three campaigns and despite quality offensive numbers at the time of the trade, the Ducks obtained him from Florida for the lowly cost of a sixth-round draft pick. After the season, Anaheim elected not to qualify Pirri, a move that may have struck some as a bit surprising. He was eligible for arbitration and goals tend to be given extra weight when arbitrators decide on a player’s salary. It’s possible the Ducks wanted to avoid that process altogether. Nonetheless Pirri is free to sign with any team willing to give him a chance to show off his goal scoring acumen.

Potential Fits

New Jersey – The Devils finished last in the NHL in scoring this past season but have already added top-line LW Taylor Hall to the mix and expect their best returning offensive player, Mike Cammalleri, to be healthy at the outset of the upcoming campaign. A look at the club’s depth chart, courtesy of our partner site, Roster Resource, indicates the Devils have plenty of forward options so their interest in Pirri would likely be tepid at best.

Edmonton – Even though the Oilers have filled the hole they created when shipping the aforementioned Hall to Jersey by signing Milan Lucic, they could still use an upgrade over Mark Letestu at the third-line pivot position. Edmonton finished 25th in scoring and didn’t necessarily improve in that department by swapping out Hall for Lucic.

Columbus – If the Blue Jackets are ever able to offload winger Scott Hartnell they could be in the market for another goal scorer. But it’s possible the team would rather reinvest any savings from a Hartnell move into their defense as they have a number of quality forward prospects ready to make the jump to Columbus.

Los Angeles – Currently the Kings list Dwight King, Kyle Clifford and Dustin Brown as top-nine wingers. King’s career best in the goal socring department is 15 while Clifford has never tallied more than seven in any single season. Meanwhile, Brown’s days as a productive player capable of adequately manning a top-nine role may well be over. On a cheap contract the Kings could make sense for Pirri.

Expected Contract

Considering Anaheim passed on qualifying Pirri at just more than $1MM annually and given how late in the free agent season it is now, it’s not likely Pirri is going to find a deal representing much of a raise over the $925K he earned this past season. As such, a team like the Kings might be a terrific fit for Pirri on a one-year, make good deal at right around $1MM.

 

Top-Line Options Remaining In Free Agency

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

For many teams, free agency is a place to find a player or two to slot into your top two lines, to supplement the core you already have in place.  Edmonton went out and got Milan Lucic, to add some veteran toughness while replacing the outgoing offensive contribution of Taylor Hall. Vancouver added Loui Eriksson in a questionable move for a team who hasn’t quite decided what direction they’re headed in, and Buffalo brought on Kyle Okposo to ride shotgun with their young talent up front.

Now that the madness has died down, the market for these top-six players is extremely thin, with only a few names having established themselves there in the past.  With Shane Doan surely re-signing with the Coyotes, and Patrik Elias looking as though it’s either Devils or retirement, two of the most well known names among this group aren’t going anywhere.  Here are the other possibilities for a team to add to their top-six:

(number in parentheses represents ranking on our Top 50 UFAs)

  1. Jiri Hudler (18) – Though Hudler is now 32-years old and took a significant step back last season, he still represents one of the better second-line options available. His 46 points in 2015-16 split between the Flames and Panthers were a disappointing total for a player coming off a 31-goal, 76 point season but still ranked him right alongside players like Andrew Ladd (46 points, $38.5MM) and David Backes (45 points, $30MM).
  2. Kris Versteeg (25) – While Versteeg is probably better suited as a third-liner on a good team, he has shown the ability to move up in the lineup consistently in the past.  A three-time twenty goal scorer, Versteeg has scored at least 34 points in each of his seven healthy seasons.  He can play either wing, and brings a level of physicality to his game as well.
  3. Radim Vrbata (27) – Vrbata is clearly on the downswing of his career, having put up just 27 points and a whopping -30 mark last season.  Now 35, he’ll look to sign a cheap deal and could be a nice value signing for a team pressed against the cap. Remember, this is a guy who has over 250 career NHL goals, and is just one season removed from the second 30-goal season of his career.
  4. Alex Tanguay (33) – Though he’s now 37, Tanguay continues to produce like a second-line center, putting up another 35 point campaign despite having a much reduced role after a trade to Arizona.  For a team looking to shelter their young forwards, a veteran like Tanguay can provide some offensive punch on a cheap, short-term deal. He’ll likely break 900 points in what has been an excellent career for the former Avalanche stalwart.
  5. Brandon Pirri (NR) – Despite Pirri’s reputation as a bottom-six forward, some teams might see the former Panther as a second-line option, due to his previous goal scoring ability.  Pirri has potted 36 goals over the past two seasons, including 22 in 2014-15. The problem is that he’s racked up just 17 assists over the same time.  He was an outstanding scorer in his AHL career, and is still just 25-years old, meaning that taking a shot on him might not be the worst gamble among the remaining options.

Minor Transactions: 07/11/16

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Here is where we will keep track of all the minor transactions happening today:

  • According to Harvey Fiaklov of the Sun Sentinal, the Florida Panthers have inked Denis Malgin to a three-year entry-level contract, after drafting him in the third round in 2015. The 19-year old played for Zurich last season under new Ottawa Senators assistant coach Marc Crawford. Overshadowed by number one pick Auston Matthews, Malgin put up 17 points in the professional league.
  • Thomas Raffl is heading back to Austria, instead of signing with a new team in the NHL.  After coming over last season to play in the AHL, the unrestricted free agent has decided to take his talents back to Europe, according to Brennan Klak.
  • The Minnesota Wild have announced that they’ve re-signed defenseman Zach Palmquist to a one-year, two-way deal worth $660K at the NHL level.  The 25-year old scored 11 points last season in the AHL, his first full professional season.
  • Roman Lyubimov, a 24-year old forward from the KHL has agreed to terms with the Philadelphia Flyers on a one-year entry-level contract, according to a team release.  Lyubimov has played six seasons already in the KHL, breaking in as an 18-year old in 2010-11.
  • The San Jose Barracuda have inked a quartet of players to one-year, AHL contracts.  John McCarthy, Jake Marchment, Matt Willows and Jamie Murray all signed with the team according to a press release.  Marchment is a name well known to San Jose fans, as he’s the nephew of former player and current development coach Bryan Marchment, a veteran of 926 NHL games.

Panthers Extend Derek MacKenzie

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Panthers have extended forward Derek MacKenzie for an additional two years, reports Sun Sentinel writer Harvey Fialkov. The deal represents a modest raise, paying Mackenzie $1.35MM a year. MacKenzie is currently entering the final year of his contract that pays him $1.30MM a year.

MacKenzie—the Panthers’ alternate captain—racked up 6G and 7A in 64 games. He is best known for his gritty defensive play, and has started the majority of his shifts in the defensive zone. The fourth-line center performed well in the face-off circle last season by winning just under 55% of his face-offs. While he doesn’t light the lamp often, the Panthers value MacKenzie’s energy and defensive responsibility.

Mackenzie is a league veteran at age 35, drafted by Atlanta in 1999 before signing with Columbus in 2007. The extension will probably be Mackenzie’s last. This is a good signing for the Panthers as it locks up a veteran piece to guide the team’s young core. With the team experiencing transaction-based turmoil this offseason, bringing MacKenzie back restores some stability.

 

Avalanche Re-sign Calvin Pickard To Two-Year Deal

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

According to a team release, the Colorado Avalanche have re-signed netminder Calvin Pickard for two years prior to the arbitration deadline.  Pickard got into 20 games at the NHL level last season, performing admirably with a 2.56 GAA and .922 save percentage.

Mike Chambers of the Denver Post gives us the financial details on the deal, which will see Pickard earn $925K in the first year, and $1.075MM in the second.

With Reto Berra dealt to the Panthers earlier this offseason, the door is wide open for Pickard to become the full-time backup for Semyon Varlamov. The duo will be earning a combined $6.925MM per season, a reasonable number for a team looking to get a handful of young RFAs under contract.

Pickard has performed well since being drafted 49th overall in 2010, and should eventually push for the starting role in Colorado. With Varlamov due to become an unrestricted free agent in three years, Colorado will see if the 24-year old Pickard has what it takes to become a number one in this league.

Panthers Notes: MacKenzie, Reimer, Huberdeau

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Today marked another long-term extension for the Panthers, as the team locked up 25-year old Reilly Smith for another five seasons. It’s the latest in a series of big moves the Panthers have done as they build their team to compete for the short and long term.  In a series of tweets, play-by-play announcer and Fox Sports Florida reporter Steve Goldstein gives us some insight into the rest of their summer:

  • Assistant captain Derek MacKenzie is currently an unrestricted free agent but seems destined to head back to Florida at some point. Goldstein describes it as a formality, and expects him to be around for the next few seasons. MacKenzie is regarded highly in the Panther dressing room, and provides some toughness to their bottom six.
  • Newly signed goaltender James Reimer may play in as many as 35 games this season even without an injury to starter Roberto Luongo.  With Luongo’s advanced age, the team will look to protect him for a long playoff run. Reimer signed for five seasons and is expected to take the reins at some point down the road.
  • GM Tom Rowe expects to get a long-term extension done at some point with forward Jonathan Huberdeau.  The former third overall pick represents the last of the young group Florida has built, and due to some savvy cap management, the team will have money for him going forward.  Huberdeau scored 20 goals and tied for third on the team in points last season with 59.

Panthers Extend Reilly Smith For Five Years

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Clearly the biggest players in free agency this year, the Florida Panthers are close to another move to lock up their young core. Gary Lawless of TSN was first to report that the team was close to an extension with forward Reilly Smith that would pay him $5MM a season for an additional five years.  The team has since confirmed the length of the deal, though not the financial details.

In just the past few weeks, the team has traded for then signed Keith Yandle, dealt away Dmitry Kulikov, given extensions to Aaron Ekblad and Vincent Trocheck, signed free agents Jason Demers and James Reimer, and pretty much owned the hockey world.

Smith, 25, had an excellent season last year with the Panthers, scoring 25 goals and 50 points. The former third round pick has had quite a start to his career, putting up at least 40 points in each of his first three full seasons. The talented young winger came over to Florida in the deal that saw them take on Marc Savard’s cap-hit from the Bruins, one that they recently dealt to New Jersey for some cap relief of their own.

The Panthers have been on quite a clear path lately, trying to push past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 1996, the year they lost in the Cup finals to Colorado. After being knocked out by the New York Islanders last season, the team has made clear upgrades to their defensive group, and should have one of the better top pairings in the league with Ekblad and Yandle signed long-term.

Smith is still under contract for next season at a $3.43MM cap hit, meaning that a five-year extension would take him through the 2021-22 season.  Perhaps not coincidentally, that is also when Trocheck and Aleksander Barkov will hit free agency, giving the team a chance to re-tool if they need to at that point.

If the financials are true, it would mean the Panthers have four young forwards under contract long-term for less than $6MM apiece in Barkov, Trocheck, Smith and Nick Bjugstad. All 25 or under, that quartet scored 93 goals last season. Next on the to-do list would be Jonathan Huberdeau, the former third overall pick who put up 20 goals of his own last season.  He’s due $3.25MM next year before becoming an arbitration-eligible RFA next summer.

Sens’ Prospect Colin White Headed Back To NCAA

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

According to a report from Ken Warren of the Ottawa Citizen, Ottawa Senators’ prospect and former first-round pick Colin White has decided to go back to Boston College this season. The 19-year old was considered a possibility to crack the team’s NHL roster, but has decided to return to the Eagles for 2016-17.

White, selected 21st overall in 2015, exploded onto the college scene last season with 43 points in 37 games as a freshman. His 19 goals ranked third on the team, and those 43 points put him fifth in the entire H-East division.

While this shouldn’t scare any Senator fans, and doesn’t deserve any comparisons to the recent comments of Jimmy Vesey about hitting free agency, White did have a chance at cracking the roster as early as this season.  Boston College is an outstanding program that will take control of his development for another season, and he should see an increased role in their offense as they go after another national championship.

Fellow Boston College standout Ian McCoshen recently signed on with the Florida Panthers after three seasons in college, and White may take a similar path.

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

scroll to top