Jacob Josefson Could Return To Sweden
When you’re an impending free agent on the league’s worst team, you think about your future a lot. When you’re an under-utilized and ineffective member of the league’s worst team, you begin to consider the limits on that future. Such is the case for Buffalo forward Jacob Josefson. With four points in 39 games for the Sabres, who hold a measly 25-42-12 record with three games remaining in the season, Josefson has been a non-factor for a team that has been begging for someone to break out all season long. Now, it seems that Josefson has recognized his ceiling as a professional hockey player and may return home to Sweden this off-season to continue his career.
Josefson, 27, was once a promising young player in the NHL. Drafted in the first round in 2009 by the New Jersey Devils out of Djurgardens of the Swedish Hockey League, Josefson made the jump overseas in 2010 and recorded ten points in 28 games as a rookie. Josefson continued as a part-time player until 2014-15 when he would play 62 games with the Devils. He followed that up with a career-high 14 points in 2015-16. Yet, that campaign also came with a —21 rating. Frustrated that Josefson was nowhere close to the caliber of player they expected out of a first-rounder, New Jersey allowed him to walk in free agency last summer. The best deal that Josefson could scrounge up was a one-year, $700K contract with the Sabres. After another disappointing season, opportunities in the NHL are running out for the underwhelming two-way forward.
Yet, a new opportunity could be emerging with his old Swedish squad. Sweden’s Hockey News reports (link in Swedish) that Djurgardens has reached out to Josefson, a “dream acquisition”, and he is considering a return to where it all began. Josefson was a far more dynamic player as a teenager in Sweden than he ever was at any level in North America and would return home to much fanfare from his former team. However, if Josefson bails on the NHL this off-season, especially if there are offers out there, it would more than likely mark the end of his NHL career.
Poll: Where Will Mike Green End Up In 2018-19?
It’s been a tough season for Mike Green. After starting the year in outstanding fashion, registering four points in his first game and 11 in his first nine, things didn’t end up where he expected. The Red Wings would fall out of contention rather early, and by the new year it was clear that they would be selling what they could at the trade deadline.
Since Green doesn’t have a contract that extended to next season, his name was an obvious candidate to be moved for some future assets and his strong start made him a desirable target for teams looking to solidify their right side. In January, even with his name being bandied about in trade rumors, he expressed his desire to re-sign in Detroit. In a Luke Fox piece for Sportsnet, Green explained:
I’m happy in Detroit. I enjoy it. It’s an incredible organization. Things are good.
I would love to be [back in Detroit]. Whether that happens, there’s so much uncertainty in this league, you just don’t know.
That uncertainty would affect both sides over the next month, as an injury would scare off any would-be buyers and leave Green stranded in Detroit for the last few months of his contract. The defender would re-enter the lineup, only to require back surgery in late March and be shut down for the season. He’s expected to make a full recovery, but his days in Detroit could be over.
But, should they be? Could Detroit use a player like him over the next few seasons to guide the young players along, logging big minutes to protect some of the youth that will need to fill the defensive ranks? A short-term deal could give them another chance to move him at a trade deadline, provided he doesn’t continue to deteriorate at an accelerated rate.
Or will another team look at him as one of the top options on the free agent market, even despite his injury troubles and lack of production in the second half. We ranked Green #10 on our Midseason Free Agent Power Rankings, but he’ll be a tough player to get a read on this summer since there won’t be any post-surgery playing time to judge.
Where do you think Green will end up? Cast your vote, and explain how much money you think he’ll get in the comment section below.
Where will Mike Green land in free agency?
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Detroit Red Wings 20% (170)
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Washington Capitals 15% (130)
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Toronto Maple Leafs 7% (58)
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Edmonton Oilers 6% (52)
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New York Islanders 4% (36)
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Chicago Blackhawks 4% (35)
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Vegas Golden Knights 4% (34)
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Tampa Bay Lightning 3% (28)
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Buffalo Sabres 3% (25)
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Montreal Canadiens 3% (23)
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Pittsburgh Penguins 3% (23)
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New Jersey Devils 3% (22)
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Boston Bruins 2% (21)
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Vancouver Canucks 2% (18)
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Minnesota Wild 2% (17)
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New York Rangers 2% (16)
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Colorado Avalanche 2% (15)
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Los Angeles Kings 2% (15)
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Philadelphia Flyers 2% (15)
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St. Louis Blues 2% (13)
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Dallas Stars 1% (12)
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Ottawa Senators 1% (12)
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Anaheim Ducks 1% (10)
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Calgary Flames 1% (9)
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Florida Panthers 1% (8)
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San Jose Sharks 1% (7)
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Arizona Coyotes 1% (6)
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Winnipeg Jets 1% (6)
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Carolina Hurricanes 1% (5)
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Columbus Blue Jackets 1% (5)
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Nashville Predators 0% (4)
Total votes: 850
[Mobile users click here to vote!]
San Jose Sharks Sign Lukas Radil To One-Year Contract
The San Jose Sharks have dipped their toes into European free agency a bit early, signing Lukas Radil to a one-year deal that starts next season. The 27-year old forward recently suited up for the Czech Republic at the Olympics, and has been playing in the KHL for three seasons. Even if the contract began this season, Radil would not be playoff eligible for the Sharks.
Sharks GM Doug Wilson spoke about Radil in the press release:
Lukas is a big-bodied, puck possession forward who has been playing professional hockey at a high level for seven-plus seasons. He is coming off his most successful year yet, and has represented his country on the world’s biggest stages. We feel his game will translate well to the way we play and we’re excited to welcome him to San Jose next season.
That successful year that Wilson mentions was a big one, as Radil registered 38 points in 53 games for Moscow Spartak. That trailed only former AHL dynamo and Boston Bruins second-round pick Alexander Khokhlachev for the team lead.
Radil is a big-bodied forward who was a solid contributor at both even strength and on the powerplay, and could step right into a bottom-six role for the Sharks next season. There is no reason to think that he will turn into a real impact forward right away, but adding NHL-caliber players on reasonable deals adds depth to any team. Radil will turn 28 in August, meaning he won’t be restricted by the entry-level contract system. No word has been released on the financial details of the contract.
Snapshots: Bozak, World Championships, Fast
The Vancouver Canucks received some financial certainty today, when Henrik and Daniel Sedin confirmed their intention to retire at the end of the season. With their decision comes the fact that the Canucks have $14MM coming off the books, and should have ample room to make a splash in free agency if they choose.
Rick Dhaliwal of News 1130 notes that he’s hear Tyler Bozak‘s name as a player the Canucks could have interest in, should he go unsigned by Toronto and reach free agency. Bozak, 32, isn’t a top-line player anymore (if he ever was) but should still command a multi-year deal as one of the better center options on the open market. Where he fits into a Canucks rebuild isn’t clear, but the Vancouver front office has been clear that they aren’t willing to turn the entire franchise over to the young guns, and want some experience to help guide them through the next few years.
- The World Championships are coming fast, and several players indicated their intentions today over whether to play in it or not. Matt Duchene told media that he wouldn’t play for Team Canada in the upcoming tournament, while Ryan O’Reilly confirmed to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic that he would be. O’Reilly has competed five times previously, including being named an alternate captain last year. With two golds and one silver, he will be a welcome addition to a team that looks like it could be a powerhouse.
- Jesper Fast will likely not play again for the New York Rangers this season, after suffering a groin injury that should keep him out the rest of the year. That ends what has been a career year for the 26-year old, with 33 points in 71 games. The Rangers will hope that progression can continue over the next two years of his current contract, as he’ll be relied upon as a key forward while the team rebuilds with their eyes on contention down the road.
Poll: Who Is The More Valuable Vegas Free Agent Forward?
The Vegas Golden Knights had a clear mantra in the expansion draft. They would select players that didn’t have much term left on their contracts, and use cap space and flexibility to build a strong organization over the next few years. Then the season began, and they suddenly went from an fun expansion team to an NHL powerhouse.
Among those that they selected, were a pair of free agent forwards that had bounced around the league but found success nearly everywhere they’d been. David Perron and James Neal both had six seasons with 40+ points heading into 2017-18, and were accepted as good (but not great) NHL scoring threats. Neal came with a bit more shine on him after his long playoff run with the Nashville Predators, but perhaps Perron should’ve been the top name all along.
This season, despite Neal being the team’s lone All-Star representative up front, Perron hasn’t stopped scoring. The 29-year old winger has 66 points in 70 games, including a team-leading 50 assists. An underrated player establishing a career high in points isn’t a rare occurrence for the Golden Knights, but NHL teams around the league are sure to be watching closely to Perron’s season.
As unrestricted free agents this summer, Neal and Perron both could fetch big money contracts from a team looking for an offensive upgrade. Both have playoff experience, and are about to get even more with Vegas in the coming weeks. We at PHR may have underestimated Perron, ranking him #11 in our Midseason UFA Power Rankings. Neal came in at #5, but it’s not as clear now who will be the better option on the open market.
So what do you think? Which Golden Knights forward will garner more interest in free agency? Will they both secure long-term deals? Will they even get there? Make sure to leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Who is the more attractive free agent?
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James Neal 67% (390)
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David Perron 33% (190)
Total votes: 580
[Mobile users click here to vote!]
Markus Nutivaara Signs Four-Year Extension
The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed Markus Nutivaara to a four-year extension, worth an average annual value of $2.7MM. Nutivaara was scheduled to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season. The salary breakdown is as follows:
- 2018-19: $2.5MM
- 2019-20: $2.5MM
- 2020-21: $2.5MM
- 2021-22: $3.3MM
Nutivaara, 23, was selected in the seventh round three years ago and has burst onto the scene as a full-time player for the Blue Jackets. Through 59 games this season, he’s recorded 22 points and could see even more ice time in the coming years. With Jack Johnson and Ian Cole likely leaving through free agency, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Nutivaara given more responsibility. With Ryan Murray still scheduled to become an RFA and rumored to be included in trade talks in the past, getting Nutivaara under contract was important.
It’s a very nice raise for the left-handed defenseman, but it does buy out one of his unrestricted free agent years. That obviously bumped up the cap hit a bit, but it is still low enough to be an inexpensive deal for the Blue Jackets if Nutivaara continues to develop. He’ll be just 28 when it expires, and could demand another solid contract on the open market.
The Blue Jackets are heading to the playoffs again if they can hold off the last few challengers, and you can bet that Nutivaara will play a larger role this time around. Last season, he played just two games in the postseason and averaged fewer than 12 minutes. Where he’ll slot in this time around isn’t set in stone, but with the way he has been playing lately there’s no way he should see the press box very often.
Ilya Kovalchuk Can Begin Talking To NHL Teams On April 15
While many people are looking forward to free agency this summer, which includes a number of interesting players like John Tavares, James van Riemsdyk, John Carlson and Evander Kane, the NHL is also expected to get back Russia’s Ilya Kovalchuk this summer, who has made it clear he wants to return to the NHL.
What people may have forgotten, according to the New York Post’s Larry Brooks, is that Kovalchuk also finds himself in an exclusive category as he will become a unrestricted free agent on his 35th birthday, which will be on April 15, and the veteran can begin talking to teams then. While he cannot sign an actual contract for the 2018-19 season until July 1st, he can negotiate with teams and agree to a contract in principle after his birthday. That could prove to be a big advantage to other players who will have to wait for the pre-July 1st interview period to negotiate with teams.
Besides leading Russia to a gold medal at this year’s Olympic Games, Kovalchuk has produced big numbers in the KHL. Despite being in his mid-thirties, he has put up great numbers over the past two years. He has scored 32 goals in each of those seasons and combined for 143 points. While last year, he made it clear he wanted to play in New York or in Florida, Kovalchuk has stated he wants to win a Stanley Cup before he finishes his playing career, which could rule out most of those options from a year ago.
Kovalchuk’s SKA St. Petersburg team is currently in the second round of the KHL playoffs with his team leading 3-1 over Lokotomotiv.
Western Notes: Oilers’ Offseason, Kane, Denver Players, Sikura
The Edmonton Oilers are not heading to the playoffs and are currently looking at all their in-house options before the season ends. Then the team will embark on the next bunch of steps to fix the team that one year ago was the talk of the league. The Athletic’s Jonathan Willis (subscription required) comes up with an eight-point plan on how to fix the team this offseason, primary of which is to watch its spending, both on free agents as well as the possibility to send off some of their own contracts as well.
One of the first suggestions is that Edmonton should not overreact when it comes to some of their underperforming players. While several of their defensemen had tough seasons this year including Oscar Klefbom, Andrej Sekera and Adam Larsson, Willis believes that it’s unlikely that they will struggle again and the team must preach patience. However, the team needs to unload expensive contracts of bottom-tier players, suggesting the team might want to see if they can trade off defenseman Kris Russell and forward Zach Kassian to free up some of their money.
As for free agency, the team should avoid big-name free agents and look to sign some of the more modestly-priced players that will be on the market even suggesting that they could consider bringing back Patrick Maroon if he will agree on a short-term deal.
- The Chicago Blackhawks great Patrick Kane said he hasn’t decided yet whether he will play at the World Championships in Copenhagen in May, according to Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times. He said he’ll consider it after his season ends, but it’s “definitely an option. After I didn’t go last year, I was thinking that maybe I should have went.”
- Although this note is about a Western collegiate team, The Athletic’s Corey Pronman (subscription required) had an interesting nugget in his prospect mailbag. Pronman was asked of the potential signings of the University of Denver’s three forward prospects in Henrik Borgstrom, Troy Terry and Dylan Gambrell, three of the team’s top players. Pronman’s response is that he believes all three will be signing with their respective teams the moment their college season is over. Denver is currently playing in the NCAA tournament. Borgstrom, the Florida Panthers’ 2016 first-rounder scored 22 goals in his sophomore season. Terry, the Anaheim Ducks’ 2015 fifth-rounder picked up 13 goals and 44 points in his junior campaign, while Gambrell, San Jose Sharks’ second-round pick in 2015, finished his junior year with 13 goals and 42 points. All three could be major contributors to their teams as soon as next season.
- The Chicago Blackhawks also could benefit greatly soon as well as Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times writes that if Northeastern University loses today or Sunday, expect prospect Dylan Sikura to be signed and in the Blackhawks lineup by Thursday. The Northeastern senior, who was the sixth-round pick in 2014, has had dominant season the past two years, combining for 42 goals and 110 points in two seasons. Northeastern is playing Michigan today.
Joe Thornton Could Return During Playoffs
Don’t count out Joe Thornton just yet. One of the league’s most well-respected veterans, “Jumbo Joe” has largely been counted out this season. The 38-year-old suffered a major knee injury, a torn MCL, back in January and few expected a return to the San Jose Sharks lineup in 2017-18. Thornton tried to put those thoughts to rest today, as NHL.com reports that he hopes to return to action as soon as possible, even if it’s late in the playoffs. Thornton’s full statement when asked about his progress and a potential return:
“Who knows? If I’m better mid-April or mid-May, I’m not sure yet, I can’t say. I’d like to contribute and to play if I can… I’ve been just kind of fooling around on the ice for I’d say about 10 days now. Probably full equipment for four or five sessions just by myself. … It’s feeling really strong, but I’m sure as every week goes on it will get more intense, but so far so good.”
Thornton’s words don’t exactly inspire great confidence, but it at least instills a glimmer of hope that one of the game’s most visible players could return and make an impact in the playoffs. Considering the fact that Thornton has 20 years of wear and tear on his body, it’s amazing that the 1997 first overall pick hasn’t simply been shut down for the season.
Of course, both sides have a reason to fight for a return to the lineup. Before his injury, Thornton was somehow outpacing his last season’s scoring, with 36 points in 47 games. At his age, the big center has shown little sign of slowing down. However, he may not have the same luck in free agency again this off-season, after earning a one-year, $8MM extension from the Sharks. This extensive injury coupled with a stronger free agent market (and San Jose’s rumored heavy interest in spending) could mean that Thornton won’t be able to cash in again. However, fighting his way back into the lineup would show both the Sharks and other potential suitors that Thornton still has what it takes to play in the NHL. For the Sharks, it would of course be nice to add another familiar body – and one of the top play-makers of his generation, to the lineup even it it’s not until later in the playoffs. San Jose is chasing the Vegas Golden Knights for top spot in the Pacific Division, but seem more likely to square off with either the Anaheim Ducks or Los Angeles Kings in the 2-3 match-up, which could honestly be a more difficult draw. If they are able to move on, Thornton’s return would help to combat the upstart Knights (or a wildcard winner) and would certainly be a necessary boost to take on one of the many strong teams who could come out of the Central Division.
Thornton’s potential return would also simply be a great boost for fans of the game. A fun player to watch, a great personality, and a Hall of Fame caliber career that simply lacks a Stanley Cup makes Thornton an easy player to root for. Hopefully his optimism that this injury won’t be season-ending comes to fruition.
Tavares Notes: Potential Suitors, Rangers, Deadline Moves, Snow
The worse the New York Islanders play as their recent struggles continue, the more NHL teams are salivating at the chance to steal away a star player, which is a rare thing, according to the Toronto Sun’s Steve Simmons. The last significant star free agent that signed with another club dates back to 2006 when the Boston Bruins signed Zdeno Chara away from the Ottawa Senators. However, usually franchise free agents sign with their former team like Steven Stamkos did back in 2016.
Simmons writes that the San Jose Sharks and the St. Louis Blues are the two teams that are thought to be at the top of the list of suitors for Tavares. He adds that several teams with cap space might also be interested in attempting to lure Tavares to their team as they lack that superstar player, including the Vegas Golden Knights, New Jersey Devils and the Vancouver Canucks. Other teams like Montreal, Detroit, Carolina and even Toronto might also attempt to make a stab at acquiring the 27-year-old center.
- It doesn’t look like the New York Rangers are expected to go after Tavares, according to Larry Brooks of the New York Post. With the Rangers rebuilding their franchise, it just doesn’t seem to make sense that Tavares would sign with them. Considering Tavares is fueled by team loyalty, it seems unlikely he would sign with the Rangers who could offer only seven years, while the Islanders can offer eight years and are much closer to reaching the playoffs.
- The lack of trade deadline moves might also count against the New York Islanders in their quest to re-sign Tavares, according to Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos. While saying that he would not move Tavares, Islanders’ general manager Garth Snow also said he would not make moves for rental players. In the end, the biggest acquisition the team made was trading a third-round pick for defenseman Brandon Davidson, who had been placed on waivers only months earlier. Now after seven losses since the deadline, Kypreos questions whether Snow’s moves were the right ones. Certainly bolstering the team for a playoff run might have shown Tavares how committed the team is to winning. Instead the losing could easily drive the soon-to-be free agent away. The team is sitting in last place in the Metropolitan Division, well out of range of a playoff spot. “It almost feels like this thing is snowballing away from the Islanders and Tavares,” said Kypreos.
- Arthur Staple of The Athletic (subscription required) writes that co-owners Scott Malkin and Jon Ledecky have some tough decisions to make in the next few weeks. The scribe writes that they chose to keep Snow last offseason because he and then-new head coach Doug Weight were close with Tavares. However, with fans calling for Snow’s head, ownership may want to make a change before Tavares hits free agency. Even if they don’t make an immediate move, Snow’s job may come down to whether Tavares stays or goes. “It’s out of my control,” Tavares said regarding Snow’s job status. “I’m here to play hockey, be the best player I can be for the Islanders. Those things are above my head. I just try to have the right attitude every day, not take this for granted, enjoy the group we have, the staff we have. Ever since I’ve been here I’ve been treated great, just tried to come out and give everything I can. We wish we’d have more success, but anything that happens, anything that has happened is out of my control.”