2019 List Of College Players Becoming Free Agents
Originally published on August 8th. The unsigned players are now unrestricted free agents and can sign with any team they choose.
In one week, 23 college players drafted by NHL teams are set to become unrestricted free agents if they fail to sign an entry-level contract. After August 15th, these players are eligible to sign with any team in the league. Several have already signed minor league deals but that does not technically retain their draft rights for the original club. None of the teams that drafted these players will receive any compensation for the expiring rights.
The full list:
Anaheim Ducks:
F Brent Gates, University of Minnesota (80th overall, 2015) – signed to AHL deal
D Steven Ruggiero, Lake Superior State University (178th overall, 2015) – signed to AHL deal
Buffalo Sabres:
F Christopher Brown, Boston University (151st overall, 2014) – signed to AHL deal
F Max Willman, Boston University (121st overall, 2014)
D Ivan Chukarov, University of Massachusetts (182nd overall, 2015) – signed to ECHL deal
Chicago Blackhawks:
F Beau Starrett, Cornell University (88th overall, 2014)
F Fredrik Olofsson, University of Nebraska-Omaha (98th overall, 2014) – signed in Sweden
F Liam Coughlin, University of Vermont (130th overall, 2014) – signed to AHL deal
F Jack Ramsey, University of Minnesota (208th overall, 2014) – signed to AHL deal
Detroit Red Wings:
G Chase Perry, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (136th overall, 2014)
Edmonton Oilers:
D Vincent Desharnais, Providence College (183rd overall, 2016) – signed to AHL deal
F J.D. Dudek, Boston College (152nd overall, 2014)
G Hayden Hawkey, Providence College (177th overall, 2014)
Florida Panthers:
F Joe Wegwerth, University of Notre Dame (92nd overall, 2014)
Minnesota Wild:
D Nick Boka, University of Michigan (171st overall, 2015) – signed to AHL deal
D Jack Sadek, University of Minnesota (204th overall, 2015) – signed to AHL deal
Montreal Canadiens:
D Nikolas Koberstein, University of Alaska-Fairbanks (125th overall, 2014)
Nashville Predators:
F Thomas Novak, University of Minnesota (85th overall, 2015) – signed to AHL deal
D Adam Smith, Bowling Green State University (198th overall, 2016) – signed to AHL deal
Ottawa Senators:
D Miles Gendron, University of Connecticut (70th overall, 2014) – signed to AHL deal
Philadelphia Flyers:
F Brendan Warren, University of Michigan (81st overall, 2015) – signed to ECHL deal
San Jose Sharks:
F Jacob Jackson, Michigan Tech University (201st overall, 2013)
G Jake Kupsky, Union College (193rd overall, 2015)
F Marcus Vela, University of New Hampshire (190th overall, 2015)
Washington Capitals:
D Chase Priskie, Quinnipiac University (177th overall, 2016)
F Steven Spinner, University of Nebraska-Omaha (159th overall, 2014)
The belle of the ball here is likely Priskie, who captained the Quinnipiac squad the last two seasons and was a Hobey Baker finalist in 2018-19. The right-handed defenseman scored 39 points in 36 games and was one of the most dynamic offensive defensemen in the country. Priskie is not expected to sign with the Capitals for a variety of reasons, but will be “highly sought after” according to Bob McKenzie of TSN earlier this year.
Other teams will be able to sign these players starting on August 16th, though it often takes a few days to become official.
Latest On Kyle Connor Contract Talks
While much of the ink this offseason has been spilled about Mitch Marner, there are plenty of other extremely talented restricted free agents still unsigned as we get closer to training camp. There is just a month left before the Winnipeg Jets will get together to prepare for the season but both Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor are still without contracts. In fact, the Jets only have seven forwards signed to one-way contracts for the upcoming campaign meaning any negotiations that leak into the regular season would put a lot of pressure on their already thin depth chart.
When asked by media including TSN whether he hopes to have a deal done before training camp starts, Connor was clear that would be his preference:
Yeah that’s definitely the plan. A player never wants to miss time in training camp, it’s tough always coming in and not getting that preparation, time with the teammates and practice. So that’s definitely a goal for sure.
I don’t think it’s anything to press the panic button on. It’s just kinda how these things do—take a little bit of time.
Connor wouldn’t comment on whether his representatives or the Jets are waiting on a player like Marner to set the market, something that has been speculated on for some time. The young forward also didn’t have much to say about any offer sheets coming his way, something that is still technically a possibility for many of the top names. After Sebastian Aho signed a sheet with the Montreal Canadiens on the first day of free agency—one that was quickly matched by the Carolina Hurricanes—the league seems to be back to normal concerning the RFA tactic (that is to say, there have been no others signed.)
While Laine has stolen many of the headlines the last several seasons in Winnipeg, it’s Connor who has established himself as a legitimate first line option at even-strength. The 22-year old former Michigan Wolverine has consecutive 30+ goal seasons in his first two full years in the NHL and put up 66 points in 2018-19. Laine meanwhile has continued his incredible goal scoring, but saw his overall performance drop to just 50 points in 82 games last season.
It’s that even-strength production for Connor that arguably makes him a more valuable player for the Jets moving forward, though both are obviously going to get huge raises coming off of their entry-level contracts. How exactly the team plans on fitting them into their current salary structure is unclear however, given they already have so much money tied up in a handful of other forwards. CapFriendly currently projects the Jets to have a little less than $17.6MM in cap space, but that is for a 17-man roster. That number starts to shrink as you add names from the minor leagues to fill out the forward ranks, and the pair of restricted free agents could easily eat up a combined chunk around $15MM depending on term. That financial crunch may end up forcing the Jets to go with a shorter contract for at least one of them, though nothing seems imminent at this point.
Free Agent Profile: Dion Phaneuf
For years, most people have associated defenseman Dion Phaneuf with the seven-year, $49MM contract he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs back in 2013 when he was considered a top-pair defender. However, that contract didn’t even kick in until the 2014-15 season and suddenly by that point, Toronto was keen to move on from him, eventually moving his contract to Ottawa after just a year and a half. He was then sent to Los Angeles a few years later. Finally after struggling immensely last season, the Kings finally ended it this summer, buying out the now-34-year-old blueliner and putting him on the open market.
Looking at his numbers from a season ago, it’s no wonder why the Kings chose to move on from him. He played 67 games last season, but was made a healthy scratch for the first time in his career and saw his ATOI go from averaging more than 20 minutes a game down to 15:00, a career-low. Offensively, he potted just one goal and six points, while struggling with a minus-21 rating.
However, despite those issues, the blueliner has said he has more to give and would be willing to take on a mentor role with teams that are rebuilding, hoping that teams might be interested in bringing him back to guide their younger players. While retirement is also an option for the veteran, he’s made it clear he wants another opportunity.
Potential Suitors
One team loaded with young defensemen is the Vancouver Canucks. The team has a number of young players, including Quinn Hughes, Troy Stecher and Olli Juolevi, but the team already added a pair of veterans in Tyler Myers and Jordie Benn in free agency, while re-signing Alexander Edler as well. Is there still a need for another veteran now in Vancouver?
Another team that was highly considered early on in free agency was the Dallas Stars, who might want a player like Phaneuf filling in a third-pairing role as the team is loaded with young defensive talent. However, the team opted instead for grabbing fellow buyout victim Andrej Sekera. It now would seem like an unlikely destination for a more crowded blueline.
The Winnipeg Jets, short on defenders after losing Myers, Jacob Trouba and Ben Chiarot on defense, could bring in someone like Phaneuf to fill in the holes until some of their younger defenseman are ready for a full-time NHL role. However, Phaneuf may also just wait until training camp approaches and keep an eye on teams that suffer some injuries.
Projected Contract
Phaneuf is still being paid by Los Angeles thanks to the buyout, so money is likely not that important to the 34-year-old. A minimum salaried deal is a likely outcome and likely the only option at this point in his career.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Poll: Which 35+ Free Agent Would You Rather Sign?
Despite the lingering availability of Jake Gardiner on the market, most teams are just about done with their unrestricted free agent shopping. We saw Kevin Shattenkirk snapped up quickly as soon as he became available, but Michael Stone hasn’t had the same luck so far. Younger players like Ben Hutton may have to wait until the restricted free agent situations around the league are solved, just like some of the older names out there.
Like every year, August brings a lot of questions surrounding the future of long-time NHL skaters. Is it time to hang up their blades, or will there be a team offering a chance at one more kick at the can? In the NHL, multi-year contracts given out to players over the age of 35 come with some added risk. If that player decides to retire at any point, the full average annual value is still applied to his team’s salary cap and he becomes a burden on the books. That only really affects teams that give out expensive deals to aging players though, and one-year contracts for those veterans can actually be quite beneficial to both sides. One-year contracts signed by players over 35 are eligible to include performance bonuses, something that cannot be given to most other players during their NHL careers. We’ve seen plenty of these contracts handed out in the past, and they can be a perfect blend of low risk for the club and high reward for the player.
The group of 35+ skaters this year still without a contract is quite impressive. While last summer our community thought Scott Hartnell was the best “old guy” available late into free agency, this year has some names that could still provide quite an impact. Joe Thornton is one of those names that sticks out, though he is still expected to re-sign with the San Jose Sharks at some point. The (literal) graybeard has made it clear he wants to play again but only for the Sharks, though he’ll likely have to take a pay cut to do it.
Thornton doesn’t even lead the way in terms of 2018-19 production even though he had 51 points last season. Justin Williams takes the cake in that department after his impressive 23-goal, 53-point year with the Carolina Hurricanes. Williams is a respected leader and can still add some offense, but is still making his decision on whether to come back for another year.
Those two aren’t the only useful players in the group however, meaning there might be several 35+ deals handed out over the next month. If you could get one of them on a one-year deal for your team, who would it be? Cast your vote below and make sure to explain why in the comment section.
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More On Don Waddell’s Position With Carolina
Wednesday: While Waddell has interviewed for the Minnesota job, Dundon fully believes that his current general manager will remain with the team. He told NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti that he expects Waddell to be Carolina’s GM for a while and that he intends to continue with Waddell not being under any sort of formal contract.
Tuesday: For those who weren’t aware that GM Don Waddell had not yet signed a new contract with the Carolina Hurricanes, especially some Hurricanes fans, it came as a painful revelation this morning when the news broke that Waddell had interviewed for the same role with the Minnesota Wild. The resulting question obviously becomes: why hasn’t a General Manager of the Year candidate, whose team made a surprise run to the Eastern Conference Final, been re-signed?
As Luke DeCock of the Raleigh News & Observer writes, Waddell’s continued free agency is just one of a series of odd moves – or really non-moves – made by the Hurricanes organization this off-season. In addition to the GM and President operating without a contract, Carolina has also allowed several executives and scouts to depart, as well as Calder Cup-winning AHL coach Mike Vellucci, and goalie coach Mike Bales, who has yet to be replaced. This all comes from what DeCock describes as owner Tom Dundon‘s belief that “everyone and everything is replaceable”.
Dundon himself addressed the situation, speaking honestly with DeCock about his mindset when it comes to front office staffing:
Even if [Waddell] had a contract I would let him interview, so what’s the difference? It’s not going to stop somebody from doing whatever’s better for them. If they’re going to pay somebody more money, I’m not going to stop them. I told him he’s got to do what’s best for him… I’m not going to pay what other guys pay GMs, so me having a contract with a GM doesn’t really help me. Don in essence has a contract. I already told Don, ‘I’m not going to fire you. If I did, I’d tell you a year in advance.’ My life’s pretty good. I want people to do what’s best for their life. If this is what’s best for Don, the Hurricanes will be fine.”
It’s a bold strategy by the owner and one that might frighten some fans about in the direction of the franchise. At the same time, Waddell has seemed agreeable to the premise and it could be that this is simply Dundon’s style and many are content to operate as such. DeCock writes that Waddell has continued in a “business as usual” manner ever since his contract expired in June and interviewing with the Wild is the first sign that he may be unhappy with his current at-will status. The GM himself talked to DeCock about the situation, and seemed open to the arrangement though:
Tom doesn’t believe in a lot of contracts. Tom’s told me I have a job for life. But he’s also encouraged me to explore other opportunities to see what the market will pay. We started something here, I love it here, but when the job opened up and Tom said you should explore it, that’s what I’m doing.
It remains to be seen whether, as Waddell mentioned, this interview in Minnesota was more or less a way to gauge the market for use as leverage in eventual contract talks or if the GM really is interested in moving on after such a strong first season in Carolina. It is a very strange and unique situation and this is certainly not the last of this story.
2019 Arbitration Figures And Results
August 6th: All arbitration cases have now been completed. In total, six cases were decided by an arbitrator’s award this year. That number, though seemingly not many, actually presents a 50% increase over last summer and more than the past two off-seasons combined. Of those six decisions, the teams and players received the favorable decision an even three times apiece, and each award landed within $150K of the midpoint. All things considered, there were few surprises in arbitration, even though there were more awards than expected. Now the question is where the relationships between those teams and players go from here.
Originally published on July 19th: Friday marked the start of the arbitration season in the NHL, with Brock McGinn first scheduled for his hearing with the Carolina Hurricanes. The appointments will come fast and furious after that, with 23 cases left on the books. When we asked our readers how many would actually get to the hearing stage more than 36% of voters thought 3-4 was reasonable, the same number that reached last year.
We know now that at least one will, as Andrew Copp‘s agent Kurt Overhardt told Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Free Press that their camp will “look forward to” the hearing scheduled for Sunday. Copp and the Jets exchanged figures earlier today. It is important to remember that the two sides can actually work out a deal in the short period after the hearing and before the actual decision is submitted by the arbitrator. For every case except Ville Husso, who the St. Louis Blues took to arbitration, the team involved will be allowed to choose the duration of the contract awarded. They can choose either one or two years, unless the player is only one year away from unrestricted free agency, at which point only a one-year deal is available.
Here we’ll keep track of all the hearings still on the books and the figures submitted. This page will be updated as the numbers come in:
July 20:
Brock McGinn, Carolina Hurricanes – Team: $1.75MM AAV, Player: $2.7MM AAV
Settled: Two years, $2.1MM AAV
July 21:
Andrew Copp, Winnipeg Jets – Team: $1.5MM AAV, Player: $2.9MM AAV
Awarded: Two years, $2.28MM AAV
July 22:
MacKenzie Weegar, Florida Panthers
Settled: One year, $1.6MM AAV
Zach Aston-Reese, Pittsburgh Penguins
Settled: Two years, $1.0MM AAV
Ville Husso, St. Louis Blues (team-elected)
Settled: One year, two-way, $700K AAV
Christian Djoos, Washington Capitals – Team: $800K, Player: $1.9MM
Awarded: One year, $1.25MM AAV
July 23:
Evan Rodrigues, Buffalo Sabres – Team: $1.5MM, Player: $2.65MM
Awarded: One year, $2.0MM AAV
July 24:
Oskar Sundqvist, St. Louis Blues
Settled: Four years, $2.75MM AAV
Neal Pionk, Winnipeg Jets
Settled: Two years, $3.0MM AAV
July 26:
Colton Sissons, Nashville Predators
Settled: Seven years, $2.86MM AAV
July 27:
Sam Bennett, Calgary Flames
Settled: Two years, $2.55MM AAV
July 28:
Mirco Mueller, New Jersey Devils
Settled: One year, $1.4MM AAV
July 29:
David Rittich, Calgary Flames
Settled: Two years, $2.75MM AAV
Pavel Buchnevich, New York Rangers
Settled: Two years, $3.25MM AAV
August 1:
Remi Elie, Buffalo Sabres
Settled: One year, two-way $700K AAV
Chandler Stephenson, Washington Capitals
Settled: One year, $1.05MM
August 2:
Linus Ullmark, Buffalo Sabres – Team: $800K, Player: $2.65MM
Settled: One year, $1.33MM
Will Butcher, New Jersey Devils
Settled: Three years, $3.73MM AAV
August 4:
Jake McCabe, Buffalo Sabres – Team: 1.95MM, Player: $4.3MM
Settled: Two years, $2.85MM AAV
Anton Forsberg, Carolina Hurricanes – Team: $700K/$70K, Player: $833K
Awarded: One year, $775K AAV
Sheldon Dries, Colorado Avalanche
Settled: One year, two-way $735K AAV
Rocco Grimaldi, Nashville Predators – Team: $700K/$70K, Player $1.275MM
Awarded: One year, $1MM
Joel Edmundson, St. Louis Blues – Team: $2.3MM, Player $4.2MM
Awarded: One year, $3.1MM
Poll: Which Young Free Agent Is Worth A Flier?
More than a month into free agency, most teams left scouring the open market are looking to take a chance on an affordable option with the potential, however slim, to make a difference at the NHL level. While some veterans can be willing to take a discount to continue their careers, they tend to be known commodities whose ceilings are capped at a certain level. More often, the better risk is to invest in a young player, who perhaps didn’t have the right opportunity of fit in their last locale and still have the ability to break out. The youngest members of the unrestricted free agent market are those former restricted free agents who did not receive qualifying offers. Eight such players are still available, including many familiar names. Which one would you most like your team to take a look at?
Ben Hutton, 26, was arguably the biggest surprise among non-qualified players and it is even more of a shock that he remains available. Hutton was a top-four regular for the Vancouver Canucks last season – the past four seasons really – logging more than 22 minutes per night and recording 20 points in 69 games. Hutton also recorded a career-high in hits and his third season of more than 100 blocked shots. However, Hutton was a key piece of a Canucks defense corps that simply wasn’t very good at their main job: preventing goals. Hutton had a team worst -23 rating and Vancouver was unwilling to qualify him at $2.8MM, especially as they set their sights on a long-term contract for Tyler Myers. Hutton could certainly play a regular role again for a number of NHL teams, but a “flier” for the UMaine product would really be more of a multi-year deal worth $2MM or more per year. That’s a significant investment for a player that still has to prove he can be a consistent positive contributor.
Fredrik Claesson, 26, played in just 37 games for the New York Rangers this past season, but in that limited action did average more than 17 minutes of ice time per night and added six points. The Swedish rearguard also finished third-best on the team with a +3 rating. Claesson would have been better served spending some time in the AHL as well last season, rather than watching 45 games from the press box, but the lack of immediate interest in him this off-season suggest that whichever team takes a chance on him likely doesn’t need to worry about his waivers viability. Claesson could be an asset as a very capable defensive blue liner who can mentor others at the AHL and also play a competent game as an NHL depth option. In the right situation, he could even hold down a regular role on a third pairing. Claesson only made $700K last season, so a minimum deal should be all he’s expecting.
Joe Morrow, 26, has never stuck around long enough to earn a regular role on a team. Traded twice before he even made his NHL debut, Morrow was buried in Boston for several years before hitting free agency for the first time two years ago at just 24, when the Bruins opted not to extend a qualifying offer. Morrow signed in Montreal and was well on his way to his first season of 41+ NHL appearances when he was dealt to the Winnipeg Jets at the trade deadline. Fortunately, instead of playing a depth role, Morrow won a starting job and played well in 18 games down the stretch, totaling 56 games and 16 points on the year. Finally, he was expected to at least have a fighting chance at a regular role this past season in Winnipeg. The team gave him that chance, 41 games to be exact, and he disappointed, recording just seven points and earning less than 14 minutes of ice time. Morrow is still a good puck-moving defenseman, but some of the allure of the “what if he was given a fair shake” has worn off. For now, Morrow is simply a depth defenseman who can be a nice NHL substitute, but perhaps there is still a chance the former first-rounder can take advantage of an injury and put up some points.
Tobias Rieder, 26, might be the most recognizable name on this list and certainly the most accomplished forward. Rieder was a budding star early in his career, posting double-digit goals in each of his first four seasons, including a 37-point sophomore campaign. All of this came with the Arizona Coyotes, but when the ‘Yotes traded Rieder midway through the 2017-18 season, things began to fall apart. Rieder disappointed in L.A., recording just six points down the stretch and zero in a first-round sweep, leading to the Kings not qualifying him last off-season. The Edmonton Oilers took a flier on Rieder, and as could happen with any of these players next season, it just didn’t pan out. Rieder failed to score a goal all season long and finished with just 11 assists in 67 games. The German winger bet on himself as well, signing a one-year, $2MM deal, but due to his poor results, Rieder will have to again take a one-year deal for even less this time to stay in the NHL. However, when it comes to upside, a 26-year-old with multiple successful scoring seasons on his resume, not to mention a strong two-way game, certainly brings some intrigue.
Dmitrij Jaskin, 26, was not prepared for what happened to him last season. Jaskin, who made his NHL debut as a teenage in 2012-13, was entering his seventh season with the St. Louis Blues. Jaskin had just completed a career-high 76-game season the year prior, contributing 17 points and a whopping 207 hits as an effective fourth-liner for St. Louis. Yet, the Blue placed him on waiver before last season began, and Jaskin was scooped up by the Washington Capitals. The Capitals used him sparingly, as the Russian winger saw his games played, ice time, and points all drop to their lowest in his five years as an NHL regular. Washington then opted not to qualify Jaskin at $1.1MM, even though their usage of him was largely the cause of his down season. Jaskin is arguably still worth around that much, as he could be a very capable checking line forward given his big frame and his experience using it. Jaskin’s ceiling might be limited offensively, but he could nevertheless be a value addition as a depth option for many teams.
Stefan Noesen, 26, seemed like he had found the perfect fit with the New Jersey Devils. The Anaheim Ducks lost Noesen to the Devils on waivers during the 2016-17 season and he proceeded to record eight points in 32 games the rest of the way after registering just two points in 14 NHL games over the past three seasons combined. Noesen then broke out the following year, earning a starting role with the Devils to the tune of 13 goals, 27 points, and +12 rating in 72 games. So what was the encore performance this past season? Eight points and -19 rating in 41 points, as the wheels fell off entirely for Noesen. The Devils decided to move on and now Noesen is left wondering what his NHL role can be moving forward. His 27-point campaign seems like the exception rather than the rule, and while his two-way game has impressed, he has not earned the opportunity to show that his even strength ability can also be used to kill penalties, which further limits his value. The question of what Noesen can really bring to the table explains why he’s still available, but also makes him an interesting target, especially at what has to be far from his $1.725MM salary from last season. A team that thinks they have Noesen figured out and can sign him to a minimum contract could be in for a surprising return.
Rourke Chartier, 23, was one of the more surprising players not to receive a qualifying offer, as the young forward just wrapped up his entry-level contract. The San Jose Sharks were unwilling to offer Chartier a qualifying offer that would have only been marginally higher than the league’s $700K minimum salary, and it would have been a two-way offer at that. San Jose apparently was not thrilled with the 2014 fifth-round pick, who made his NHL debut this past season, but recorded one lone point in 18 games. Chartier did register 18 points in 26 AHL games this year and as been a consistent contributor at the minor league level. However, there are concerns about whether the offensive upside that Chartier displayed as a junior player can translate to the pros. Chartier may be a total wild card at this point, but he is young enough and affordable enough to be a decent gamble for some team who believes in his potential.
Marko Dano, 24, rounds out the group. A first-round pick in 2013 out of Slovakia, Dano has immense ability, but has struggled to put it all together. As a rookie with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2014-15, Dano contributed 21 points in just 35 games and looked like he was well on his way to becoming a top-six NHL forward. In fact, Columbus parlayed his strong first season into using him as a key piece in the (first) Brandon Saad trade. With the Chicago Blackhawks, Dano put up good numbers in the AHL but was not given much opportunity in the NHL and was traded after less than a year to the Winnipeg Jets. Dano looked like an immediate fit in Winnipeg, recording eight points in 21 games down the stretch of his sophomore season. Yet, in the three years since, Dano has just 14 points in 69 NHL games. This past season, he was placed on waivers and claimed by the Colorado Avalanche; the Avs put him back on waivers a month later after he had been held scoreless in eight games. The Jets brought Dano back in, but kept him in the AHL for the remainder of the year – where he again showed great offensive ability – before opting not to extend a qualifying offer. Four NHL teams have now taken a look at Dano in his young career and have passed. Although his ability is obvious, it’s fair to question whether teams still believe that Dano can figure out how to put it to use at the NHL level. Is a minimum contract worth answering that question though?
Of these eight players, which one is most worthy of an investment? Is it the more established, but more expensive veteran? The serviceable depth option? Or the unproven, but intriguing gamble? You choose which of these players you would like your favorite team to take a chance on, based on value and upside.
Free Agent Profile: Jason Pominville
While Jason Pominville’s best days are certainly behind him, the winger has continued to be relatively productive in recent years. Despite that, he’s still looking for a new contract more than a month into free agency.
Although his ice time dipped considerably last season to just 12:28 per game, the 36-year-old still managed to score 16 goals for the second straight campaign and all but two of his 31 points came at even strength. That makes him one of the better five-on-five players that’s still available on the open market and while his days of being a top liner are gone, affordable secondary scoring is something that will be in demand in the weeks leading up to training camp.
Of course, there are some concerns to his play. He’s not the best two-way player, nor is he the fastest skater and given his age, Pominville doesn’t have much time left in his career. As a result, he’s not going to be a fit in a top-six while teams that run a bottom-six group that’s counted on to be defensively responsible probably won’t show much interest either. Nonetheless, given his track record of production, the veteran should have some suitors.
Potential Suitors
Teams in a few different situations could have interest. A veteran team looking for some extra scoring help in the bottom six could have a use for Pominville, as could a team that’s tight to the cap but is looking to add some extra depth. On the flip side, even a rebuilding team could view him as a capable placeholder to allow a prospect more time in the minors to develop with an eye on potentially flipping him at the trade deadline.
In the East, a return to Buffalo doesn’t appear to be likely given their cap situation. Pittsburgh would be a potential fit if they wind up shipping out a bigger contract to free up enough room to re-sign defenseman Marcus Pettersson. He’d play primarily in a lower role with them but has the offensive acumen to hold his own when moving up in the lineup. If Justin Williams opts to not return to Carolina, Pominville could be a reasonable fit instead, albeit in a lesser role. The Islanders are lacking some offense in their bottom six; although that is by design to some degree, having someone like Pominville would at least give them a bit more versatility.
Out West, Arizona has been on the lookout for more offensive depth which would make Pominville a potential fit. However, they’d have to go into LTIR to sign him (Marian Hossa’s deal still has two years left) which could be a concern if they believe Clayton Keller can reach some of his performance bonuses. Dallas had an issue with secondary scoring last season (Pominville’s goal total would have been fourth on the team) and while they’ve improved their forward group, more scoring depth would certainly be welcome. Chicago could still have a bit of cap room left over once they re-sign Brendan Perlini and Pominville would give GM Stan Bowman some extra insurance in case some of his prospects need more development time.
Projected Contract
Pominville is heading for a significant pay cut. He made $5MM in salary last season ($5.6MM cap hit) and he’s probably not going to even get half of that on his next deal. Getting one-third of that price point is the likelier scenario. A one-year deal is a certainty which allows for the possibility of performance incentives which would make him a bit more intriguing to a cap-strapped squad. A base salary around the $1MM mark with a chance to come close to doubling that in games played and production bonuses is something that a lot of teams could afford and could wind up providing a bit of value as well. With the current state of the UFA market, it’s hard to see Pominville getting much more than that.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Free Agency Rumors: Bargains, Brassard, Upshall
NHL free agency is more than a month old, yet still chock full of value. In fact, the Athletic’s Jonathan Willis calls it the strongest August unrestricted free agent class that he has seen in over a decade. So how many of these notable names can expect to find NHL employment before next season? Willis broke down the group of unsigned players, listing five centers, six left wings, four right wings, four left-shot defensemen, four right-shot defensemen, and zero goaltenders that he feels certain still deserve a role in the league. Many of those are distinguished veterans who will comes as no surprise, names like Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Justin Williams, Derick Brassard, Patrick Maroon, Thomas Vanek, Jason Pominville, Brian Boyle, and Ben Lovejoy, for example. Others are simply role players at this point in their career, having failed to show the upside needed to be an impact contributor, such as Riley Sheahan, Tobias Rieder, Magnus Paajarvi, Dmitrij Jaskin, Ben Hutton, Joe Morrow, and Fredrik Claesson, to name a few. However, the most intriguing names, pointed out by Willis as possible targets for bargain hunters at this point in the off-season, include Jake Gardiner, Kevin Shattenkirk, Oscar Lindberg, Valeri Nichushkin, and Alex Petrovic. Willis believes each one has a high ceiling and has more to give an NHL team than the rest of the list, aside from some of the top veterans. Some of those analyzed by Willis who he didn’t feel were necessarily worthy of another NHL contract? Jamie McGinn, Micheal Haley, Cody McLeod, Zac Rinaldo, Devante Smith-Pelly, Drew Stafford, Andrew MacDonald, David Schlemko, Adam McQuaid, and Cam Ward.
- One of the aforementioned names, Derick Brassard, may be closest to finding a new home. The Edmonton Journal’s Kurt Leavins has confirmed the Edmonton Oilers’ interest in the veteran center, as they currently have a hole down the middle on their third line. This is hardly the first time that Brassard’s name has been linked to the Oilers, but it is the first time details have emerged. Leavins reports that Brassard is seeking upwards of $4MM AAV on his next contract, which is beyond what Edmonton is willing to pay. They have fair reason to avoid that salary too, as Brassard is coming off the worst season of his career, a 23-point campaign split between the Pittsburgh Penguins, Florida Panthers, and Colorado Avalanche. Approaching 32 years old and already showing signs of decline over the past few years, Brassard will be hard-pressed to get $4MM from any team, never mind the cap-strapped Oilers. Leavins mentioned that the Montreal Canadiens also have interest in Brassard, but the two teams are unlikely to engage in a bidding war. If the Oilers are already in talks with Brassard, they stand a good chance to land him at a fair price, even if it takes another few weeks to move him to a reasonable asking price.
- Leavins also notes that Scottie Upshall is hoping to throw his hat back into the ring for NHL consideration this summer. Upshall joined the Oilers in training camp on a PTO last fall, only to suffer a serious lower-body injury and to be cut from camp. Leavins notes that he has been rehabbing for the past nine months and feels he is ready for a comeback. The market for Upshall certainly won’t be overwhelming – he was on a PTO last year and is now a year older and coming off a major injury – but there’s reason to think he still has value and could earn another training camp invite. Upshall has had his struggles with both injuries and consistency throughout his 15-year NHL career, but the journeyman forward has cracked 30 points five different times and is an established two-way contributor and penalty killer. His last full season with the St. Louis Blues in 2017-18, Upshall played a regular role on the team’s fourth line, albeit missing 19 games, and was on a full-season pace for 25 points and a career-high 155 hits. If Upshall really is back at full strength, it’s fair to assume that some teams may have interest in his veteran presence and energy role, especially if they can also assume a 20-30 point season on a minimum contract.
Free Agent Profile: Cam Ward
Since the unrestricted free agency rush of July 1st subsided, just two NHL goaltenders have been signed off the open market: Anthony Stolarz with the Anaheim Ducks and Jared Coreau with the New York Islanders. That’s two goalie signings in 33 days, making it easily the quietest position of this off-season, despite a major re-shuffling of UFA starters early on and several RFA extensions as well.
Unsurprisingly, several notable names remain available – Scott Darling, Chad Johnson, Mike McKenna, Al Montoya – while Michal Neuvirth has already accepted a PTO. However, one name sticks out above the rest for both his career accomplishments and his meaningful role in 2018-19.
Cam Ward, 35, ventured outside of Carolina last season for the first time in his 14-year NHL career. Ward signed a one-year, $3MM contract with the Chicago Blackhawks last summer and proceeded to play a major tole for the team this past season. Dealing with ongoing issues with starter Corey Crawford, Ward ended up playing in 33 games to Crawford’s 39 and Collin Delia‘s 16. Although Ward’s .897 save percentage and 3.67 GAA were the worst among the trio, it was only a marginal gap. The Blackhawks struggled defensively and no goalie was safe, as all three finished with a save percentage below .910 and GAA above 2.90.
Still, Ward cannot have been happy with his results last year. A Stanley Cup winner and former All-Star, Ward was rock solid for the Hurricanes for several years. He thrived early on as a workhorse, including a 2010-11 campaign in which he posted a career-high .923 save percentage in a league-best 74 appearances. He then settled nicely into a timeshare role, posting back-to-back seasons with a 2.40 GAA while playing in around 50 games each year from 2014 to 2016. Even as he continued to age and his numbers slipped slightly, no one could have predicted his pedestrian performance last season. It was a sharp decline from his career numbers that could have been an outlier or could be signaling the end of his career.
One thing that is certainly working against Ward finding work this off-season is the now well-established narrative that he does not play well as a backup. Over his career, Ward has played in four seasons, including last year in Chicago, in which he did not make at least half of his team’s starts. In those three seasons combined, Ward is 49-38-13, with a a save percentage of .895 and a GAA of 3.37. In all of his other seasons combined, Ward has a record of 285-218-75, with a save percentage of .911 and a GAA of 2.63. It is extremely clear that Ward does his best work with regular appearances and any team looking to make the most of signing him will want to offer that opportunity. But does such a landing spot exist?
Potential Suitors
The honest answer is that the team likely to sign Ward, if any, isn’t aware of the need just yet. Ward could very well be a veteran option that a team turns to in case of injury or poor performance that can be a temporary starter. While it’s impossible to project injuries, the New York Rangers have a starter who is even older than Ward and have very little depth behind him. A Henrik Lundqvist injury could certainly turn the Blueshirts on to Ward as an option to step in at starter during a season that brings high expectations to New York. The same could be said for the Vegas Golden Knights, whose 34-year-old starter Marc-Andre Fleury has dealt with injury issues before. Vegas is in better shape with their depth in net and could handle a short absence from Fleury, but without a proven NHL goalie elsewhere on the depth chart, a long-term injury could send them on the hunt for a solution. Despite having both John Gibson and Ryan Miller, the Anaheim Ducks are far from safe when it comes to injury risk and could be an option for Ward if disaster strikes. The Philadelphia Flyers shuffled through goalies like no other team in NHL history last year, so another issue with Brian Elliott could easily have the Flyers intrigued in Ward.
As for teams who risk needing a starter due to poor play, no team jumps out more than the Columbus Blue Jackets. It’s perhaps even fair to call them the most likely landing spot for Ward, as they are sure to go through some bumpy times with their young tandem of former backup Joonas Korpisalo and unproven import Elvis Merzlikins. The team only has more untested foreign talent in the minors as well. The Blue Jackets have ample cap space, so if there was a bidding war for Ward at any point, Columbus would be the favorite to beat out any other team in need of an emergency starter.
If Ward is intent on signing before the season begins though, rather than wait for a need-based market to develop in-season, there are a couple of teams who could still be looking for a backup. Again, that isn’t the ideal role for Ward, but it is one that the respected veteran would likely be willing to try his hand at again. The Florida Panthers spent big on Sergei Bobrovsky this summer, but 22-year-old Samuel Montembeault is slated to be the primary backup heading into next year. He is waiver-exempt still and could head to the AHL without issue if the team opted to look at a veteran backup. However, this doesn’t seem extremely likely, considering their investment in Bobrovsky, who they likely expect to make 65 starts. In Colorado, the Avalanche seemed hesitant to give last year’s third-string, Pavel Francouz, an extended look despite strong numbers in the NHL and AHL. He is now the likely backup to Philipp Grubauer, who himself is still finding his footing as a true starter. The Avs have almost no depth in net and could look to add another name to the mix in Ward.
Projected Contract
Ward has made at least $3MM in each of the past four seasons and more than $6MM on the contract prior to that. Those days are now over. Regardless of the impact that his role or the team’s defense had on his 2018-19 performance in Chicago, Ward has lost his leverage to command a sizable salary after such a poor season. If he is settling in to a backup role before the season, he will almost certainly land somewhere between $1MM and the league minimum of $700K. If he is signing mid-season to take over as a starter or at least in a timeshare, that number could go up, but not much higher. If Ward feels like he has several years left, he will be looking at this season as an investment in future earnings; he will accept a cheap deal to go to the right place where there is the potential to succeed, so as to hit the market next summer with some more bargaining power. The only question is whether that right fit exists, now or down the road after the season begins. Ward could call it a career if no such opportunities arise by the end of the calendar year.