Poll: Who Will Be The Top UFA Defenseman Available?
With the 2017-18 season underway and several franchises off to inauspicious starts, fans are already looking ahead (somewhat prematurely) to next summer’s free agent class. While free agents can rarely be the fix-it-all answer for a struggling team, they are often pursued as such. That won’t change in 2018, when there projects to be a deep—but risky—free agent crop.
This year, Kevin Shattenkirk and Karl Alzner paced the defensive group and secured long-term deals. Both players have significant flaws in their games, which is something teams will have to live with next summer as well. Still, there are several players worthy of consideration for the top dog and many more that could help teams right the ship in their own end.
While many of these players will likely re-sign with their respective clubs before even getting close to free agency, we’ll take an early look at who should be crowned the jewel come July 1st. It will be interesting to compare to our rankings at the end of the season, to see who improved their rankings and who fell off the map. Make sure to leave your reasoning behind in the comments.
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Poll: Will Evander Kane End The Year With Buffalo?
The Buffalo Sabres were blown out by the New Jersey Devils today 6-2, booed off the ice by their home fans. Still, Evander Kane was able to score twice and generally looked like one of the most dangerous players on the ice. While the Sabres may have their fair share of troubles this season, Kane remains one of the most promising power forwards in the league, capable of a 30-goal season at any time.
One of the biggest questions surrounding the Sabres then will be where Kane’s future lies. The 26-year old is in his final season before unrestricted free agency, and would enter the market as one of the very top options available. Kane has been involved in trade rumors for nearly his whole Buffalo career, especially last summer before he put up another solid season. In 2016-17, Kane scored 28 goals and showed that he could score in a variety of manners. Teams around the league would pay a hefty ransom for a player like that, even if he does come with some off-ice concerns.
So, what will the Sabres do with him? The new regime, led by GM Jason Botterill could certainly lock him up to a long-term deal and have him ride shotgun with Jack Eichel for the next several years, but his true value could lie on the trade market. If the team is out of the race by the trade deadline, he could command a steep price from a contender looking for a piece to put them over the top. Adding a potential 30-goal forward, who you could possibly get under contract down the stretch would be worth several important pieces and could set up the Sabres for more long-term success. If they’re in the race though, how can they justify trading one of their best offensive weapons?
Below is a poll asking whether you think Kane will finish the season as a member of the Buffalo Sabres. If you vote yes, explain in the comments if you believe he’ll get an extension with the Sabres to stay long-term. If no, tell us where you think he’ll be traded and for what kind of package.
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Andreas Athanasiou Heading To Switzerland
Detroit Red Wings restricted free agent forward Andreas Athanasiou remains unsigned… for now. The latest news on the league’s last remaining RFA comes from TSN’s Bob McKenzie, who shares that Athanasiou is on his way to Switzerland to skate with HC Lugano of the NLA. McKenzie was quick to add that Athanasiou has not signed Lugano and is still evaluating his options, but his commitment to going overseas for the time being raises more doubts that he will suit up in the NHL this season.
A recent poll revealed that most fans felt Athanasiou and former holdout Josh Anderson would each re-sign with their respective teams. The second most popular answer was that the pair would both play overseas. Anderson has done his part to prove true the majority, re-upping with the Columbus Blue Jackets, but Athanasiou has not made any similar progress with Detroit and seems more likely to join in the dissenting opinion. Interestingly, it was Anderson who had been connected to the NLA this off-season, with Athanasiou reportedly fielding offers from the KHL. Athanasiou may still end up in Russia, but with an influx of talent heading to the NLA in recent years and the the past success of Lugano, who has not missed the playoffs in six years, the team is far from a poor fit. Athanasiou would be skating alongside former Red Wing Damien Brunner, as well as NHL veterans Maxim Lapierre and Bobby Sanguinetti should he sign with Lugano and the talented group could very well make a title run in 2017-18.
Still, the best thing for Athanasiou and for hockey is for the skilled 23-year-old to stay in North America. In just his second NHL season, the young center scored 18 goals and defied expectations for a Detroit team with few bright spots. The Red Wings may not want to overpay – in salary or term – for Athanasiou, who did have an unsustainable 15% shooting percentage in 2016-17 and is only in the early stages of developing a defensive game, but the best decision is always to work things out. Just ask the Dallas Stars, who missed the playoffs last season and had to go on a spending spree this summer in hopes of righting the ship. They would love to have Valeri Nichushkin back, the talented young winger who left the team in the summer of 2016 to head to the KHL, where he remains, after failing to come to terms in restricted free agency. Maybe the Red Wings would rather trade Athanasiou or maybe they’ll realize their mistake and work out a contract. Either way, there seems to be little upside to simply losing the scoring youth for this season (or longer). Athanasiou skating with Lugano may just be the straw that finally breaks Ken Holland‘s back.
2017-18 Primer: Columbus Blue Jackets
With the NHL season now just a couple of days away, we continue our look at what each team has done this summer and what to watch for in the year to come. Today, we focus on the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Last Season: 50-24-8 record (108 points), third in Metropolitan Division (lost in the first round to the Pittsburgh Penguins)
Remaining Cap Space: $7.99MM per CapFriendly
Key Additions: F Artemi Panarin (trade, Chicago)
Key Departures: F Brandon Saad (trade, Chicago), F Scott Hartnell (buyout), F Sam Gagner (free agency, Vancouver), D Kyle Quincey (free agency, Minnesota), F William Karlsson (expansion, Vegas), F David Clarkson (trade, Vegas), F Keegan Kolesar (trade, Vegas), F Josh Anderson (unsigned RFA)
[Related: Blue Jackets Depth Chart From Roster Resource]
Player To Watch: F Pierre-Luc Dubois – When Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen strode towards the podium at the 2016 draft, holding the third-overall pick almost everyone in the building expected him to select Finnish forward Jesse Puljujarvi. Puljujarvi had been neck and neck with Patrik Laine for much of the year as the potential second-overall pick, and had only fallen to a close third in recent months. Despite the obvious talent in Puljujarvi, Kekalainen went after the more important position and selected Pierre-Luc Dubois, the second best center available in the draft (behind just Auston Matthews). That selection was surprising, and early indications may have had fans calling for their GM’s head.
Dubois was sent back to junior and struggled mightily early for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, not even playing center full-time. It looked like it might be a disappointing season for a player who had such high hopes until a mid-season trade to Blainville-Boisbriand turned things around. Dubois would start showing his dominant physical presence once again, and recorded 59 points in 41 games down the stretch and into the playoffs. He was a more well-rounded player, and showed he could be ready for the jump sooner than initially thought.
That jump is about to happen as Dubois has survived all the Columbus cuts and is penciled into the lineup for opening night. Meanwhile, Puljujarvi had a disappointing camp and was sent back to the AHL to begin the year. While those two will be tied together for some time, it seems likely that Dubois will be given every chance to succeed this year with the Blue Jackets. While he’ll begin the season as a winger, there is still a real chance he ends up in the middle at some point. If he could lock down that role, it would be a huge advantage for a club that has some of the best forward depth in the league.
Key Storyline: In 16 seasons since the Blue Jackets were added to the NHL, the franchise has won exactly three playoff contests. Last year marked just the third time the team had been to the postseason, and they have still yet to make it past the first round. That seems destined to change over the next few years, as the Blue Jackets proved last season that they were one of the premiere clubs in the league. With 108 points, they amazingly finished third in their division but should be pushing the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals and New York Rangers once again for the top spot.
With a Hart Trophy-caliber goaltender, elite defense corps, the reigning coach of the year and a lineup featuring a solid mix of size, skill and speed there is no one they shouldn’t be able to play with. Still, the playoff demons are there for this club and the structure could backfire once again. Even with their 100+ point season they were forced to face the Penguins in the first round, and could face a similar fate this year should they not be able to take down the top spot. While they can’t look too far ahead, the playoffs are the real test for this team.
2017-18 Primer: Detroit Red Wings
With the NHL season now less than a week away, we continue our look at what each team has done this summer and what to watch for in the year to come. Today, we focus on the Detroit Red Wings.
Last Season: 33-36-13 record (79 points), seventh in Atlantic Division (missed playoffs)
Remaining Cap Space: $-3.02MM per CapFriendly—including Johan Franzen ($3.95MM), who will go on LTIR.
Key Additions: D Trevor Daley (free agency, Pittsburgh), F/D Luke Witkowski (free agency, Tampa Bay), F David Booth (PTO), F P.A. Parenteau (PTO)
Key Departures: F Drew Miller (free agency, unsigned), F Andreas Athanasiou (RFA, unsigned)
[Related: Detroit Depth Chart From Roster Resource]
Player To Watch: F Anthony Mantha – Mantha is an enigma for many Red Wings fans. Despite having the size, strength and skating ability to be a dominant force in the league, he at times drifts into the background or disappears completely. His coaching staff has felt the same, moving him into the press box at times during his rookie campaign, and ultimately demanding more from him on a game-by-game basis.
This year will be a telling one. Mantha comes into the year after scoring 17 goals and 36 points in just 60 games, but even their distribution showed his inconsistency. Seven goals and fifteen points came in a 12-game span in the middle of the season, where he showed off just how forceful he can be with the right work ethic. He would score just 14 points in the remaining 32 games.
Now, with the Red Wings pivoting towards their youth and a sort of on-the-fly rebuild, Mantha must be better. At 23, the time is now for him to prove that he can be more than just a secondary scoring threat, and team up with other youngsters like Dylan Larkin to bring the next wave of Detroit success.
Key Storyline: Last year after the Red Wings fell out of contention, they did something they hadn’t done in some time. At the trade deadline, they moved Brendan Smith, Tomas Jurco and Thomas Vanek for future assets. That idea of selling mid-season is something almost entirely foreign to this generation of Red Wings fans, as the team hadn’t missed the playoffs since 1990.
Going into this season with a new arena and new hopes, the team will have to make a similar decision. If they aren’t competing for a playoff spot in early 2018, selling off some assets is a necessary next step. Though they’re expected to struggle once again, the team is over the cap and used some of their room to bring in a veteran Trevor Daley. That move seemed to show that they weren’t willing to go for a full rebuild, at least not yet.
While there is certainly upside in parts of their roster, players like Mike Green, Gustav Nyquist and Jimmy Howard are all unlikely to be around for the next great Red Wings team. Moving on from them whenever they can would help both the salary structure and the on-ice product down the line. Green especially will be a sought-after commodity at the trade deadline as he heads towards free agency, as the 31-year old can still provide offense from the back end. He has a full no-trade clause that would have to be worked around though, taking away some of the Red Wings’ leverage in trade talks.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
John Mitchell Signs PTO With Columbus Blue Jackets
Well that free agency didn’t last long. Just after the Chicago Blackhawks released John Mitchell from his professional tryout, the Columbus Blue Jackets have snatched him up and signed him to a similar agreement. The Jackets got a good look at Mitchell this week, when they took on the Blackhawks in Tuesday night’s preseason action.
Mitchell played just under 10 minutes in that game, but does have a longer track record of NHL success. He’s scored double-digit goals in five different seasons, and even had a career-high of 32 points in 2013-14. It’s unlikely that will translate into an NHL opportunity in Columbus, but he can provide some more experience and a fresh body to insert into the rest of the exhibition schedule.
Columbus has their fair share of young players vying for full-time roles, and bringing in veteran competition is a motivational tactic of many coaching staffs. Mitchell will certainly be incentivized to push as hard as he can, knowing that this could be his last chance in the NHL. At age 32, he’s only seen the playoffs a single time in his career and is coming off a dreadful season with the Colorado Avalanche.
2017-18 Primer: New York Islanders
With the NHL season now just a few weeks away, it’s time to look at what each team has done this summer and what to watch for in the year to come. Today, we focus on the New York Islanders.
Last Season: 41-29-12 record (94 points), fifth in Metropolitan Division (missed playoffs)
Remaining Cap Space: $2.98MM per CapFriendly
Key Newcomers: F Jordan Eberle (trade, Edmonton)
Key Departures: F Ryan Strome (trade, Edmonton), D Travis Hamonic (trade, Calgary), F Mikhail Grabovski (trade, Vegas), G Jean-Francois Berube (expansion, Vegas)
[Related: New York Depth Chart From Roster Resource]
Player To Watch: F Mathew Barzal – Even though it may have seemed like it over the last few years, it’s not every day that a 20-year old player can walk into the NHL and completely change his team’s offensive profile. That’s the kind of impact that Barzal could have on the Islanders though, as he has legitimate superstar upside and could give the team a real weapon outside of the top line. While John Tavares and Eberle could be a dangerous duo this year, and the other good-but-not great forwards like Andrew Ladd, Josh Bailey and Brock Nelson could still have some upside, it’s really Barzal who could make them special.
There is no guarantee he even cracks the club to start the year. Often, 20-year olds are required to spend time in the minor leagues to develop their game. But after giving him a taste of the NHL at the beginning of the season, and watching him dominate the Western Hockey League with the Seattle Thunderbirds—to the tune of 104 points in 57 games—it’s clear that Barzal could handle himself right away.
There would surely be growing pains five-on-five, where Barzal could get beat by bigger, stronger players than he’s used to facing. But with the man advantage (something that looks like it might happen a lot more this year) he could be a game-changer right away. Barzal tallied 39 of his 87 assists on the powerplay last year for Seattle, showing off his patented puck skills while patiently waiting for a lane to open up. He may already be one of the best players in the world at getting pucks through stick traffic, using a feathery touch on his saucer passes.
Even though the Islanders’ season was considered a disappointment, they still recorded 94 points and actually had more wins than the eighth-seeded Toronto Maple Leafs. They ranked 28th in the league in powerplay efficiency last year, scoring on just under 15% of their chances. Improving that number could get them a few more wins, and a seat at the table in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Key Storyline: Even though Barzal and fellow youngster Joshua Ho-Sang are creating some excitement around the team, the most ink (or pixels) will undoubtedly be spilled on the impending free agency of Tavares. We’ve heard about it all summer, how the Islanders’ captain wants to see where the team stands in terms of its building, finances and success before making a long-term decision. There doesn’t seem like there will be any moment of respite from the speculation all season.
Taveras is an NHL superstar through and through, and would easily be the top name in free agency next summer. Should he get that far, he may even rival Connor McDavid as the league’s top paid player, after what would likely be a heated bidding war for his services. Today, as it happens, marks his 27th birthday and already he’s scored 537 points in his NHL career. That ranks ninth in the entire league since that time, trailing at least five future hall of fame players, and several others who would be in consideration. Unlike some of those, who rely on their offensive game to drive their value, Tavares also comes as a bonafide number one center, capable of matching up against anyone at even strength.
It’s overwhelmingly clear that the Islanders will pay anything to retain his services, but it’s not just about his contract. The team will need to have an identity in New York somewhere, and their best hope lies in the Belmont Park location. Proposals will be seen in the near future, but it could take several months before a decision is made. In the meantime, Islanders fans should just enjoy their captain in his prime, each and every night.
Faceoffs, Slashing & Powerplay Opportunities
The first taste of preseason hockey the last few days has been notable for two things: injuries and penalties. While teams like the St. Louis Blues and Ottawa Senators have already had their fair share of the former, the league seems intent on increasing the latter. Through 18 preseason games so far (the boxscore for three matches is unavailable on NHL.com) teams are averaging 7.25 powerplay opportunities per game, thanks in part to the crackdown on slashing and faceoff violations.
Though part of that is due to the bigger gap in talent preseason games represent, and the league trying to show off their new stance on enforcing rules that have always technically been part of the game, this number would be monumental should it carry over to the regular season. Powerplay opportunities peaked in the first season after the lockout, when obstruction rules were put into place to speed the game up. In 2005-06, teams were afforded 5.85 powerplays per game. That resulted in some pretty spectacular totals.
In that year, a whopping seven players broke the 100-point mark, with Joe Thornton leading the way with 123. He did it on the back of 54 powerplay points, and each of the rest of the group tallied at least 40 points with the man advantage. Last year, when powerplay opportunities were at an all-time low of 2.99 per team, per game, Niklas Backstrom of the Washington Capitals led the entire league with 35 powerplay points.
While no one is expecting the league to suddenly hand out close to 15 powerplays a game, even a moderate increase will have huge effects on the league. If, suddenly players are given two or three more opportunities a game for points, the overall increase in production could have a marked effect on the contracts signed next summer.
As an example, William Nylander led the Toronto Maple Leafs with 26 powerplay points, good for 15th in the entire league. Should that total balloon to 40+ due to no other fact that he was given more opportunities, he’ll likely be looking at an 80-point season, and a huge negotiating boost next summer when he looks to cash in. In seems then, that teams who took advantage of a signing window this offseason may be rewarded in the short term. Though obviously teams will try to use even strength totals as the basis of contracts, agents will use anything they can to try and secure the best deals for their clients.
Enforcing these rules is a good thing for injury, as hopefully we’ll see less incidents like the ones concerning Marc Methot and Johnny Gaudreau this year. But make no mistake, leaning into the idea of more powerplays will have ripples throughout the structure and finances of the game.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Jarome Iginla “Selective” In Continuing Team Search
Many have fairly assumed, in a very quiet off-season, that there has simply been no interest in 40-year-old Jarome Iginla. However, if Iginla’s agent, Don Meehan, is to be believed, the future Hall of Famer is actually just being very “selective” with where he signs next. Meehan told the Calgary Sun’s Michael Traikos:
“I think after his lengthy career he can afford to be very selective. It’s having the independence to choose where you want to be and look for a perfect situation for yourself.”
The only problem with that, despite Meehan’s insistence that Iginla has received offers this off-season, is that beggars can’t be choosers. Iginla’s “wish” list is thought to include a return to the Calgary Flames, where he spent much of his illustrious career, a return to the Pittsburgh Penguins, now two-time Stanley Cup champions, or a return to his hometown of Edmonton to play for the Oilers. It makes sense that Iginla would want to play for any of those three teams. But what do up-tempo, high-powered offensive clubs like those want with an old, slow power forward who scored just 27 points last year. Sure, Iginla’s experience and leadership is invaluable in the locker room, but could he really make the Flames, Pens, or Oilers any better on the ice?
Only time will tell as the waiting game continues for Iginla. Traikos too doubts Iginla’s plan to wait for the perfect opportunity, but as training camp wears on, there are bound to be openings that he may have interest in. However, the likes of Brian Gionta, Jiri Hudler, and numerous others on PTOs are also looking to jump on those spots. Iginla has earned the right to choose how he ends his career, but if he really wants to end it with another season of NHL hockey, he may need to be more open to other opportunities.
2017 PTO Tracker
Over the course of the offseason more and more players will accept invitations to join team training camps. Usually these are players trying to resurrect their career or to show that they have one or two more years left before retirement.
Making a team as an invitee is harder than just being one of the top-12 forwards or top-6 defensemen. Teams are usually looking for specific needs, such as a speedy second line forward or a defenseman who can eat minutes. Teams may want to save their bottom roster spots for developing prospects, so invitees risk being cut unless they meet a team’s identified need.
Here are the notable players who have been invited to training camps thus far. The list excludes players that are attending camps but are already signed to minor league contracts or prospects who are hoping to earn a minor league deal. Check here often for updates.