Mackenzie MacEachern Signs Two-Year Extension
The St. Louis Blues aren’t on holiday. After extending both Sammy Blais and Marco Scandella earlier this week, the team has announced a new two-year contract for Mackenzie MacEachern. It’s a one-way contract for the depth forward, that will carry an average annual value of $900K and take him through the 2021-22 season.
Interestingly, MacEachern was scheduled to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season after playing in exactly 80 NHL games through the first part of his career. That’s the threshold he needed to meet to be ineligible for Group VI unrestricted free agency, meaning the Blues may have dodged a bullet by having him in the lineup just before the season was suspended.
The 26-year old forward has recorded 10 goals and 15 points in those 80 games, seeing fewer than nine minutes of ice time on average. MacEachern will serve as some inexpensive depth for the Blues as they head into next season trying to squeeze a talented roster into a stagnant salary cap, something that will be made even more difficult if they try to bring back captain Alex Pietrangelo.
MacEachern’s new contract leaves just two more pending restricted free agents on the Blues roster—Jacob De La Rose and Vince Dunn.
Boston Bruins Will Discuss New Contract With Kevan Miller
The Boston Bruins have several decisions to make this summer with regards to their defensive group, including the pending free agency of Torey Krug and Zdeno Chara. Both players obviously would love to stay in Boston, but how exactly they fit into a stagnant salary cap isn’t clear. There is another player however that is scheduled for unrestricted free agency, and that’s Kevan Miller, the 32-year old defenseman who hasn’t played in an NHL game in more than a year. Even with all that time spent away from the ice dealing with injury, Miller may still have a home in Boston if he wants one. Bruins’ GM Don Sweeney was on a conference call today with reporters including Matt Porter of the Boston Globe and indicated that the team will “entertain the opportunity to bring Kevan back.”
Sweeney expects Miller to be fully healthy by the start of next season—whenever that may be at this point—but it’s obviously tough to know exactly what the Bruins would be getting if the did re-sign him. The veteran defenseman has played just 165 games since the start of the 2016-17 season but was at one point an important part of the Boston blue line. The physical, rugged Miller was a staple on the penalty kill and would always be among the team leaders in hits and blocked shots, offering a counterbalance to more offensive-minded players like Krug.
Currently on the final season of a four-year, $10MM contract he signed in 2016, there’s no doubt that Miller will earn less than that $2.5MM cap hit on his next deal. If the Bruins seem cash-strapped after reduced hockey-related revenues keep the salary cap ceiling where it is (or even perhaps drop it), perhaps a player like Miller on a low-cost bounce-back contract could be of some use.
Still, it’s hard to imagine him stepping directly back into the group and being an impact player once again after missing so much time, especially with other younger options coming up the pipe in Boston.
Latest On Torey Krug’s Pending Free Agency
If the NHL ever decides that they are not able to play any more games this season, it will be a wild few months. Very suddenly, players who were in the middle of a Stanley Cup chase will instead become free agents, able to sign with whichever team they choose—or at least whichever is interested in them. Torey Krug is one of the players in that situation. The Boston Bruins defenseman was an integral part of a squad looking to challenge for a league championship but is now in limbo awaiting a decision from the NHL to see if he has played his last game with the team.
Of course, Boston could re-sign Krug, which is clearly what the defenseman is hoping for. He was on a conference call with reporters including Amalie Benjamin of NHL.com yesterday, and explained the situation:
We haven’t had any talks since this thing has started. I can’t speak for any other UFA that’s in a position like I am, but in terms of my situation here in Boston, we haven’t continued any talks or made any progress in that regard.
For me personally, I really hope I did not play my last game as a Boston Bruin. It’s been a special place for me and my family to grow and my love for the game and playing in front of these fans, it’s been very special to me.
Krug, who will turn 29 on Sunday, was having another outstanding offensive season for the Bruins, scoring 49 points through his first 61 games. The left-handed defenseman has been one of the elite puck-movers in the game for some time now, but took his powerplay production to a whole new level last year and seems to continue to improve in his own end. That package—even if it’s not a big one; Krug stands at just 5’9″—would make him one of the most attractive unrestricted free agents on the market this summer and a target for dozens of teams.
The biggest question to this point is will the Bruins even be able to afford him? With the rest of this season still clouded in uncertainty, there’s no telling exactly where the hockey-related revenue numbers will come down for this year. That means the 2020-21 salary cap could be drastically affected, something that would impact heavily the Bruins’ free agent plans.
Krug isn’t the only important player on the Bruins headed for free agency. Jaroslav Halak, who has been arguably the best “backup” goaltender in the league for some time now, is also headed for UFA status. As is Kevan Miller, though it’s not clear what his future holds due to injury concerns.
Captain Zdeno Chara is also on an expiring deal, though he is probably willing to work with the Bruins on a reasonable salary should he decide to come back. Chara took a one-year deal last year that guaranteed him just $2MM in base salary, but had up to $1.75MM in performance bonuses.
On the RFA side, Jake Debrusk, Anders Bjork and Matt Grzelcyk lead the way and will all be looking for raises.
Depending on how the Bruins go about it, shelling out $8MM+ per season for Krug may simply not be possible. You can understand why the two sides haven’t been locked in negotiations though since there is no way to tell exactly how much money Boston even has to spend.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Examining The Top 2020 Group Six Free Agents
Last month, the list of players eligible for Group Six unrestricted free agency this offseason was made available. There were four players that could still potentially avoid that designation although the pause has stopped any progress in that regard although Blues winger Mackenzie MacEachern’s last game reverted him to restricted free agent status. It isn’t the strongest of classes to choose from but there are a handful of players who will certainly generate some interest on the open market whenever the free agent period winds up beginning.
To be eligible, players must be 25 or 26, have three years of professional experience, and have less than 80 games played for skaters and less than 28 games for goalies (with a minimum of 30 minutes per appearance). Here is a quick look at some of the players that should garner some attention.
Gavin Bayreuther (Dallas) – A plethora of injuries last season forced the 25-year-old blueliner into 19 NHL games with the Stars where he wound up holding his own rather well, logging over 18 minutes a night while chipping in with two goals and three assists. Those injuries haven’t been as prevalent this season so he hasn’t had an NHL stint this year but he has been productive in the minors with 29 points in 59 games. He’s someone that should get enough interest to land somewhere with a team that will give him a legitimate shot at a full-time roster spot.
Colby Cave (Edmonton) – In 2018-19, he was basically an NHL regular and split time between the Bruins and Oilers. His offensive upside isn’t overly high but as someone that can hold their own on a fourth line at center, teams looking to bring in competition for the final spot or two up front should have some interest. He was one of the players that could still avoid hitting the open market but that’s looking less likely now with the return of regular season games in question.
Jon Gillies (Calgary) – It was only a couple of years ago that the Flames envisioned him as a goalie of the future as they gave him a one-way salary for the 2019-20 season. However, he was passed on the depth chart by David Rittich and has been in the AHL ever since. At 6’5, he has the size that many teams are coveting between the pipes and with the Flames having other prospects in need of ice time, he’ll welcome a chance to hit the market and try to catch on as an AHL starter elsewhere.
Tyler Lewington (Washington) – With his cap hit being below the league minimum this season, Lewington has been up with the Capitals for more than a quarter of the 2019-20 campaign but has spent a lot of that time as a reserve player as he has just six NHL games played over his 43 days on the roster. He’s a throwback third pairing player who provides some toughness but not a lot else. There is usually still a market for those types of blueliners though and after not getting much of a chance this year, he’ll likely look for an opportunity to compete for an end-of-roster spot elsewhere.
Boo Nieves (NY Rangers) – After spending more than half of 2018-19 on New York’s fourth line and signing an early one-way contract extension to avoid this designation a year ago, it looked as if Nieves had made it. However, he cleared waivers in training camp and has spent all but four games this season in the minors where he continues to show an ability to set up goals but scoring them has been a challenge. If the season resumes, the Rangers can still secure his rights for next year if they play him in four more games.
Andrew Poturalski (Anaheim) – This will be his second trip through this type of free agency after hitting the open market last summer coming off a stellar season with Carolina’s farm team. A broken wrist limited him to just 17 games with Anaheim’s AHL affiliate and they weren’t the most productive. However, his time with the Hurricanes showed that he can at least put up points in the AHL on a regular basis when healthy and with top AHL players garnering more guaranteed money seemingly every year, he should be poised to take advantage.
Carson Soucy (Minnesota) – He has the most NHL action of this season with 55 games on the third pairing for the Wild. His playing time has been more limited since Dean Evason took over behind the bench which may not bode well for his future there but he has done enough this year to draw some interest in a sixth or seventh defenseman role.
Valentin Zykov (Vegas) – His first season with the Golden Knights hasn’t been one to remember. Zykov tested positive for a banned substance which caused him to be suspended for the first 20 games of the season and that set him back. His offensive numbers in the AHL weren’t as high as they usually are while he only picked up four points in 15 NHL games with the Golden Knights. He has shown the ability to be an impact player at the AHL level in the past and with 55 career NHL contests under his belt, there should be several teams interested in him as a top AHL player that gets recalled a few times when injuries strike.
While it’s true that none of these free agents project to be impact NHL players, they can still represent a depth upgrade and we’ve seen how important depth can be as injuries strike. Accordingly, while these players won’t show up on any top free agents lists, they should still receive a lot of interest when they get to the open market.
Byfuglien Saga Reaching Conclusion
In times like these it is easy to forget about those NHL transactional situations that were ongoing when the league decided to pause their season, but even though no games are being played there is work being done to conclude them. One such situation revolved around the Winnipeg Jets and Dustin Byfuglien, which included all the markings of a good drama—a lack of communication, heaps of frustration and the withholding of large sums of money.
Byfuglien, 35, seemed like he was leaning towards retirement at one point last offseason, but when he didn’t go that route and instead simply failed to report to Jets’ training camp he was eventually suspended by the team without pay. The veteran defenseman opted for ankle surgery in October without the team’s involvement, only complicating things.
For months now there has been reporting suggesting that the two sides were getting closer to a settlement on the dispute over his remaining salary, but nothing has been officially announced from either side. Last night on TSN’s Insider Trading, Darren Dreger explained that it all may be coming to a head soon:
It is nearing an end, but obviously given current events it’s not top priority for all involved. What I know is that the National Hockey League is scheduled to discuss the situation with the Winnipeg Jets in the very near future. Now, the Players’ Association, the league, the player and the Winnipeg Jets are all aligned in the termination agreement, but it hasn’t been executed yet and because of that the Winnipeg Jets aren’t in a position to announce. The detail work between the league and Winnipeg Jets is expected to ironed out in the near future.
While it’s unclear what kind of an agreement will be executed in terms of payment, it will mark the end of Byfuglien’s tenure in Winnipeg. Whether he plays NHL hockey again in the future will be up to him, but you can bet that there will at least be some lukewarm interest should he hit unrestricted free agency. To be clear, Byfuglien would not be eligible for the 2019-20 playoffs with a new team regardless of when they happen.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Ryan Shea Not Expected To Sign With Blackhawks
Soon after a report surfaced that Luke Martin was unlikely to sign with the Carolina Hurricanes, news that another top collegiate defenseman will test free agency has popped up. According to Rinkside Rhode Islander reporter Mark Divver, Ryan Shea will not sign with the Chicago Blackhawks and instead will become an unrestricted free agent later this summer. Shea recently completed his senior season at Northeastern University, where he served as captain.
Unlike Martin, whose game almost entirely revolves around his defensive play, Shea has blossomed offensively over the years at Northeastern and recorded 31 points in 34 games this season. The left-handed defenseman was a fourth-round pick of the Blackhawks back in 2015 but played a year in the USHL before heading to college. He can become an unrestricted free agent after August 15th—though that date may change depending on how the league ends up scheduling the coronavirus-delayed offseason.
Chicago announced four signings earlier today, including Evan Barratt, one of their more highly-touted college prospects, but Shea shouldn’t be completely overlooked. The 23-year old has improved his skating and defensive play every year and was relied on in all situations by the Huskies.
Earlier this year, Scott Powers of The Athletic (subscription required) spoke to Shea and asked him if he felt any loyalty to the Blackhawks organization. At that point, the young defenseman told Powers that his relationship with Blackhawks director of player development Mark Eaton was “very strong” and that Chicago felt like the right spot by “all indications.” Obviously, things haven’t gone exactly according to that plan.
Luke Martin Not Expected To Sign With Hurricanes
Every summer, some of the college players that were drafted several years ago end up becoming unrestricted free agents. They have spent four years in their NCAA program and only have to wait a few months to earn the right to sign with whichever team they want. While the day that draft rights expire is usually in the middle of August, it’s not clear how that will work this year thanks to the current pause.
Still, news is bound to start coming out about which prospects intend to test free agency. Luke Martin appears to be one of those players, as Andy Strickland of Fox Sports Midwest reports that the University of Michigan defenseman is not expected to sign with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Martin, 21, was the 52nd overall pick in 2017—slightly higher than his ranking on several lists before the draft. He ended up ranked 61st among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting, but the Hurricanes clearly liked what they had seen in his first year of college hockey. Martin had previously been a member of the national team development program and had registered seven points in 35 games as a freshman with the Wolverines.
The 6’2″ defenseman never really has taken a step forward offensively. His junior season resulted in just nine points in 36 games, but he has logged big minutes against top opponents since his freshman season and could be an interesting depth addition for an NHL organization later this year.
Minnesota Wild Attempting To Sign Kirill Kaprizov Early
The Minnesota Wild have already fared quite well on the college free-agent market, signing forward Mitchell Chaffee. They also signed 2019 second-rounder Hunter Jones to an entry-level contract. Now, general manager Bill Guerin has focused his sights in on KHL star Kirill Kaprizov, according to The Athletic’s Michael Russo (subscription required).
It has been reported that Kaprizov, the third-leading scorer in the KHL, is expected to sign a contract this summer. However, due to KHL rules, he would not be eligible to sign a NHL entry-level contract until his contract expires on Apr. 30, four days after his 23rd birthday. That would allow Minnesota to sign him to a two-year, entry-level deal by May 1. However, with the KHL playoffs recently having been cancelled and with the World Championships also being cancelled, Kaprizov doesn’t have any remaining obligations remaining to Russia, which might be enough for his team, CSKA Moscow, to release him from his contract.
Kaprizov had career highs in goals and assists with 33 goals and 29 assists in 57 games in his sixth season in the league. Guerin would prefer his two-year, entry-level deal to start for the 2020-21 season, so the team gets the most out of the deal. Guerin is now trying to talk to his agent, Dan Milstein, about the potential of getting a deal done early. Of course, the recent agreement between the St. Louis Blues and college defenseman Scott Perunovich, where he agreed to two different contracts, depending on when the season continues, could be an option as well, especially if Kaprizov wants to force restricted free agency one year earlier.
KHL Goaltender Alexei Melnichuk Drawing NHL Interest
The premature end to the KHL season combined with the current pause in the NHL season has front offices looking even closer than usual at the free agents coming out of Europe’s top league. KHL free agency opens on May 1 and a number of players will be expected to make the jump to North America on that date. Young goaltender Alexei Melnichuk of SKA St. Petersburg is expected to be part of that group, reports TSN’s Darren Dreger.
According to Dreger, a number of NHL teams have been impressed by the play of the 21-year-old Melnichuk this season. He believes that it is down to three or four teams competing for his services right now. Melnichuk, who is represented by super-agent Dan Milstein, expects to have whittled it down to just one by the end of April. Melnichuk will not have much say in the term and value of his contract, an entry-level deal, but will make his decision based on fit and NHL opportunity. There have been no specific teams linked to Melnichuk at this moment, but there are plenty of potential suitors looking for a young depth and even an heir apparent.
This season, Melnichuk made 16 appearances in his rookie season with KHL powerhouse SKA. He posted a very impressive .930 save percentage and 1.68 GAA, finishing twelfth and fourth respectively among league goaltenders. Of course, Melnichuk made far fewer appearances than the other top KHL goalies above him in the rankings and fellow St. Petersburg keepers Magnus Hellberg and Alexander Samonov were equally impressive behind a stout defense. Yet, Melnichuk also excelled with SKA’s VHL minor league team, recording a .925 save percentage and 1.95 GAA in eight regular season appearances and leading the team on a postseason run with a .937 save percentage and 2.16 GAA in ten starts. His numbers in the VHL last season are also stunningly good. Melnichuk may be young and could be a few years away from an NHL job, but has all the makings of a goalie who can make the jump one day.
Maple Leafs, Kyle Clifford Interested In Extension
Like any trade deadline rental right now, Kyle Clifford hopes that his stay with his new team is longer than just a handful of regular season games. If the NHL season does not resume, the Toronto Maple Leafs would be one of a number of teams regretting the prices they paid at the deadline for assets they were unable to use in the postseason. However, it seems that Clifford is hoping to stay longer than just this season anyhow and the Maple Leafs are equally hopeful of making more of their deadline deal. Agent Todd Reynolds tells Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun that there is mutual interest on both sides in a contract extension.
Of course, there are a couple obvious caveats with this report. The first is that this report comes from Clifford’s agent, whose job it is to drum up interest in his client. With NHL action suspended and Clifford heading toward unrestricted free agency with 17 points on the year and just three in 16 games with Toronto, Reynolds needs to keep the veteran forward’s value up, especially if he doesn’t get another chance to play this year. The other issue is that the Maple Leafs are in no position to make any future salary commitments until they are aware of the impact that the current league pause will have on the salary cap. With nearly $77MM already tied up in 17 players for next season and major needs on defense, Toronto may not have the room to sign a bottom-six forward like Clifford if the salary cap remains at $81.5MM or only increases marginally.
With that said, should the report be more than just puffery from an agent and if the Maple Leafs do indeed have the desire and space to retain Clifford, the fit makes a lot of sense. The team acquired he and goaltender Jack Campbell from the Los Angeles Kings because they both fit specific needs. Toronto could use a veteran defensive forward who plays with grit and intensity, not just in in the 2020 postseason but moving forward. Clifford brings experience and leadership, but most importantly a physical element often lacking in the Leafs’ lineup. The Ontario native reportedly likes playing in Toronto, has an identifiable role on the team moving forward, and it doesn’t hurt that Reynolds also represents another Maple Leaf defensive forward in Zach Hyman. A signing might not be imminent, but mutual interest in an extension between Toronto and Clifford seems to make more sense than not.