Mason Jobst Agrees To Terms With New York Islanders
The New York Islanders have agreed to a contract with Mason Jobst, a college free agent from Ohio State University. The team has announced the deal is a two-year entry-level contract starting next season, but there is some confusion around how that would be possible. The undrafted forward turned 25 in February and should not be eligible for a two-year ELC—meaning it very likely is a two-year, two-way standard contract that will not include performance bonuses and will take Jobst right to unrestricted free agency in 2021.
Jobst has been one of the best offensive players in college hockey for four seasons now, recording 164 points in 150 games for the Buckeyes. He is a finalist for the Hobey Baker award this season (despite actually having a worse offensive year than the two previous) and has captained Ohio State for two years. The undersized forward has attended several development camps over the years, spending time with the Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins and Minnesota Wild.
Despite standing just 5’8″ 185-lbs, Jobst has never been one to avoid contact or refuse to play in the “dirty” areas of the ice. The 25-year old played in all situations for Ohio State and has produced even while short-handed. If the Islanders—or more likely the Bridgeport Sound Tigers—plan on using him that way he certainly won’t be complaining. Jobst told NHL.com correspondent Jessi Pierce last year that “you’ve got to be able to play a 200-foot game, you can’t be a perimeter player when you’re [his] size.”
Nico Sturm Signs With Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild have inked a top college free agent, signing Nico Sturm to a one-year entry-level contract. The deal will kick in this season meaning Sturm is scheduled for restricted free agency this summer, but the Wild will happily welcome him into the organization. Sturm recently finished his junior season at Clarkson, where he served as captain.
Sturm, 23, was one of the most sought after names in college free agency this season after a particular effective campaign. With 45 points in 39 games he was named a Hobey Baker finalist and took home several conference honors including Best Defensive Forward. The two-way center brings size and an impeccable work ethic that should help him transition quickly to the professional ranks. In fact, Sturm may get into a game this season for the Wild despite his inexperience.
It’s important to note that if Sturm does play in a game he would no longer be exempt from the expansion draft in 2021. While that is obviously a concern for the Wild, the chance to jump right into NHL action very well could have been the deciding factor in his negotiation. Even if he does need protection a few years from now, Minnesota has added a legitimate NHL prospect for nothing more than a contract slot.
Minnesota has dramatically revamped their forward position this season by trading away core pieces like Nino Niederreiter, Charlie Coyle and Mikael Granlund, and will now add another young name to the group for next season. Sturm should compete with players like Joel Eriksson Ek and Victor Rask for playing time down the middle, though there is certainly no guarantee he’ll be able to bring the same level of offense.
Has The Status Quo Changed For Patrick Maroon?
It’s been an up-and-down season for Patrick Maroon, to say the least. It may be more accurate to call it an up-and-down calendar year even. Things had not gone according to plan and yet Maroon’s play of late has the arrow pointing back up and it may lead to an extended stay with his hometown St. Louis Blues.
The 2017-18 season was a career best for Maroon, as he totaled 43 points in 74 games with two teams. Maroon began the season with the Edmonton Oilers, but it was after a trade deadline deal to the New Jersey Devils that he truly flourished. Maroon was nearly a point-per-game player for the Devils down the stretch, recording 13 points in 17 games. Unexpectedly though, the market never really developed for the 30-year-old power forward. Rather than land the anticipated upgrade to his previous three-year, $6MM contract, Maroon settled for a one-year, $1.75MM deal ten days into free agency with the Blues. There was plenty of speculation that the St. Louis native had some guarantee of an extension once the team could free up future cap space, which would help to explain why he took a discount after a career year.
However, the start to his tenure in St. Louis could not have gone any worse. It took 16 games for Maroon to record his first goal and through the end of February he had just 16 points through 55 games. Add the Blues’ early struggles in and patience had run out on Maroon by January, when rumors emerged that he was likely to be dealt before the trade deadline. Instead, St. Louis began playing well just in time and opted to hold on to all of their pieces for a playoff push. The decision has worked out well when it comes to Maroon, as he has finally picked up his game when it matters most. Since the beginning of March, Maroon has nine points in 13 games, including a recent stretch with six points in five contests. Maroon is now up to 25 points on the year and is back playing at the top of his game.
So will it be enough to get that extension in St. Louis? Even after playing poorly through the first half of the season, Maroon is outperforming his modest salary this season and is due a raise, likely in both money and term. The Blues have a number of core forwards signed long-term as well as several promising prospects knocking on the door, but Maroon’s resurgence and proven willingness to take a hometown discount could again be attractive to the team. It remains to be seen if Maroon can continue scoring in these final weeks and into the postseason, but if he does it will only make the decision easier for St. Louis to give him a new contract just months after being ready to trade him away.
Flames, Senators Among Teams Pursuing Joakim Nygard
In tonight’s “Insider Trading” segment on TSN, Darren Dreger reported that one free agent race is already heating up more than three months before unrestricted free agency opens in the NHL. Joakim Nygard, who is currently playing for the top-seeded Farjestad BK in Swedish Hockey League postseason, is looking to make the jump to the NHL this off-season and there is already considerable interest. Among the teams rumored to be leading the pack in the pursuit of Nygard are two Canadian clubs on opposite ends of the spectrum, the Calgary Flames and Ottawa Senators.
It comes as little surprise that Nygard has been attracting attention this season. The 26-year-old forward is enjoying a career year in the SHL, skating on a line with Boston Bruins prospect Oskar Steen, the only Farjestad forward who has outscored him this season. Nygard played in all 52 regular season games this season, recording a career-high 21 goals and 35 points. Nygard finished second in the league goal-scoring race and helped to fuel his team to a top finish. Now he has to finish the job in the playoffs.
After that, he will be free to leave and it looks certain that he is headed to the NHL. In fact, Dreger states that Nygard’s camp has been receiving interest for months now and the move across the Atlantic has been a long time coming. He reports that several GM’s have checked in on Nygard over in Sweden this season, but says that the Flames and Senators specifically are “in hard”. Dreger also offers an NHL comparison for Nygard in Carl Hagelin, stating that Nygard’s skating ability is elite and he can “flat out fly”. The book on Nygard had been that he has the physical and technical tools down, but was still raw in his hockey sense and execution. It seems that he has improved in that area over the past few years and is now ready to show his complete game at the next level.
The battle to sign Nygard will be especially interesting because money won’t be the main bargaining chip. At 26, Nygard will still be forced to sign a one-year entry-level contract, meaning his immediate NHL earnings are capped no matter where he goes. More likely than not, opportunity will be the defining factor in the Swede’s decision. If that is the case, one would think Ottawa would have a major leg up as a team needing to replace several top-nine forwards before next season. Could the Senators start the off-season off early by adding Nygard? Keep an eye out once Farjestad’s season ends in the next month or so.
Pacific Notes: Kings, Karlsson, Pavelski, Marino
The Kings have head coach Todd McLellan at the top of their wish list for next season, reports Sportsnet’s Mark Spector. Interim bench boss Willie Desjardins is not likely to return for the 2019-20 campaign. McLellan was let go by Edmonton earlier this season following a 9-10-1 start to their season but had plenty of success in his first stint back in San Jose. There will likely be other teams on the lookout for a new head coach in the coming weeks so expect the 51-year-old to garner some interest from elsewhere as well next month.
More notes from the Pacific Division:
- Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson has had his skating schedule scaled back as he continues to work his way back from a groin injury, notes Curtis Pashelka of the Mercury News. Instead of skating daily, he’s now hitting the ice every second day which suggests his return is further away than expected. San Jose has already clinched a playoff spot and appears to be locked into a matchup with Vegas so they can afford to be cautious but they also would undoubtedly feel better if he had some game action before the postseason gets underway. Meanwhile, Pashelka adds that center Joe Pavelski, who has missed four straight games due to a lower-body injury, is progressing in his recovery and could be available for their game on Thursday against Chicago.
- The Oilers are in discussions with prospect John Marino, reports Postmedia’s Jim Matheson. The defenseman was a sixth-round pick (154th overall) back in 2015 and is just finishing up his junior year at Harvard, a team that is participating in the upcoming NCAA tournament. Although he still has a year of college eligibility remaining, he’s also eligible for August 15th free agency as it has been four years since he has been drafted.
Morning Notes: Lee, Knight, Senators
The New York Islanders are headed back to the playoffs for the first time since 2016, and a huge part of their success this season can be traced back to the stability brought to the organization by GM Lou Lamoriello and head coach Barry Trotz. Almost no one predicted the Islanders to improve this season after losing captain John Tavares in free agency, but under the disciplined hand of the pair of experienced management have become one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. That management has not avoided questions though, as the Islanders still sit with new captain Anders Lee and veteran forwards Brock Nelson and Jordan Eberle unsigned through the better part of the season.
All three are scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency this summer—along with resurgent goaltender Robin Lehner—but it is Lee that brings about the most anxiety in Islanders fans. Named captain after Tavares’ departure, Lee has been open with his desire to stay in New York long-term. Pierre LeBrun spoke about the situation on the latest edition of TSN’s Insider Trading, saying that both sides have been working towards a deal but the sticking point right now is term. Lee’s camp is apparently looking for seven or eight years, while New York is trying to keep it a bit shorter. Arthur Staple of The Athletic (subscription required) has heard the same thing, but also writes the deal will “surely get done” at some point.
- Goaltenders are a tricky bunch to scout and develop, but Corey Pronman of The Athletic (subscription required) breaks down just why Spencer Knight might be the next one selected in the first round and where exactly he should go. Pronman details all of the outstanding qualities Knight brings to the table, but hesitates in his comparison to Andrei Vasilevskiy who he believes was a slightly better prospect in his draft year due to his international success. Vasilevskiy was selected 19th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2012, one of only two goaltenders picked in the top-20 this decade (Jack Campbell was picked 11th in 2010).
- If the Ottawa Senators want to take a look at Knight, they’ll have some extra hands on deck to do it. According to Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia, the Senators will be adding to their scouting staff this offseason in hopes that they can help continue their rebuild through a huge number of draft picks the next few years. The Senators have been notorious for having one of the smallest scouting departments in the league, but have still actually unearthed quite a few exceptional players over the years. Thomas Chabot‘s selection—18th overall in 2015—sticks out as one of the best, even in a draft class that has provided some incredible talents.
Eastern Notes: Buchnevich, Kreider, Johansson, Krug, Tavares
No one really knows what the plans are of general manager Jeff Gorton and the New York Rangers. The team could continue quietly rebuilding this summer or accelerate that process and bring in a big-name free-agent or two. Regardless, many of the team’s decisions will depend on what their overall plans are.
That will certainly be the case in how the Rangers intend to deal restricted free agent Pavel Buchnevich. While the 23-year-old hasn’t been as impressive this season as last point-wise, Buchnevich has scored a career-high 18 goals and with his entry-level contract ending, is in line for a significant raise. With quality restricted free agents getting more and more money on their next contracts, Buchnevich could be an interesting case.
The Athletic’s Shayna Goldman (subscription required) writes that much will have to do with the Rangers’ plans. If the team intends to make a significant splash in free agency, going after an Artemi Panarin-type of player, the team might be better served locking him up to a long-term extension to keep his salary down. However, if the team intends to quietly go one more year into its rebuild, then the team would have ample cap room to sign him to a shorter-term contract until they know what they have in him.
- The Rangers announced that forward Chris Kreider will be out Monday and remains day-to-day with a lower-body injury. He has been out since Tuesday. Kreider has been a key asset to the team’s offense as he has 26 goals this season.
- The Boston Bruins received some good news as the Boston Globe’s Matt Porter reports that Marcus Johansson, who has been out of the lineup since Mar. 5 with a lung contusion after colliding with Carolina’s Micheal Ferland, is back on the ice. He is in a gold non-contact sweater, suggesting that he hasn’t been cleared for contact. The 28-year-old was acquired by the Bruins in a trade deadline acquisition, but has appeared in just four games for Boston, registering only an assist. Porter also notes that Torey Krug is also wearing a non-contact jersey at practice today. Krug has been out since Mar. 12 with a concussion.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs caught a break after John Tavares took a tough cross-check from the New York Rangers’ Marc Staal, as the star center was at practice today, according to TSN’s Kristen Shilton. The Maple Leafs have lost five of their last seven after falling in overtime to the struggling Rangers.
Decisions Coming From Dante Fabbro, Shane Bowers
The talent on the Boston University roster this season didn’t quite match up with the regular season results this year and the Terriers needed to win the Hockey East Conference Tournament to keep their season alive with an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. They faced the same scenario last season and were able to get in, but lightning didn’t strike twice. The Northeastern Huskies knocked off BU in the Hockey East semifinals tonight and now decisions await several of the teams stars.
The most notable decision will come from 2016 first-round pick Dante Fabbro. The 16th overall pick by the Nashville Predators that year, Fabbro was a superstar for the Penticton Vees of the BCHL and has only continued to progress at BU into a high-end two-way defenseman. Fabbro set a career high with 33 points in 37 games this season and was named a first-team all-conference selection for his efforts. Fabbro may not have much more growing to do at the college level, but does have another year of NCAA eligibility remaining. If he chooses to turn pro and surrender that final year, he would undoubtedly be a welcomed addition in Nashville. However, he does have some incentive to wait one more year. The Predators have one of the deepest blue lines in the NHL, armed with an elite top-four and seven veteran defenders already signed through next season. Fabbro could end up buried in the minors or at the very least outside top-four consideration for several years if he signs with the team that drafted him. If he instead opts to return to BU for his senior year, he could then wait until August 2020 and become an unrestricted free agent. The wait is now on to see what Fabbro decides to do. Ironically, teammate Patrick Harper finds himself in the same situation with the Predators. The talented forward had a down year after back-to-back point-per-game campaigns to begin his collegiate career. He may be looking to move on from the college game, but Nashville’s 2016 fifth-round pick could benefit from another year with the Terriers and also opens himself up to the possibility of free agency if he returns for a fourth NCAA season.
The clock may also be ticking for Fabbro’s teammate and fellow first-round pick Shane Bowers. A 2017 selection, Bowers actually has two years of eligibility remaining, but rumors surfaced earlier this season that Bowers was considering moving on from the NCAA ranks. In fact, there was some doubt that Bowers would return to BU after the World Juniors earlier this year, with some speculating he could sign with the Colorado Avalanche instead. Originally a pick of the Ottawa Senators, Bowers was one of the pieces moved to the Avs in the Matt Duchene trade and now finds himself with the opportunity to join a good team with a need for secondary scoring. Bowers certainly has room to improve before turning pro, but the former USHL standout would still likely step into an immediate role in Colorado. Bowers could potentially even join the Avalanche right away this season to help the team in their playoff push. Such a chance doesn’t come around very often and could persuade Bowers to cut his tenure in Boston short.
Elsewhere on the roster, starting goaltender Jake Oettinger, another 2017 first-round pick, may consider a move to the pros as well. The Dallas Stars top goalie prospect had another up-and-down year, but has undeniable talent and could choose to leave the college level behind him. However, after watching another talented, young Dallas keeper, Colton Point, see limited action and ample struggles in both the AHL and ECHL in his first pro season in the Stars’ system, Oettinger may not be in any rush. Most of the Terriers’ other NHL prospects have years of eligibility remaining and seem unlikely to jump ship. Among those who hypothetically could are Hockey East Rookie of the Year and Philadelphia Flyers first-rounder Joel Farabee, another Nashville Predators prospect in David Farrance, and intriguing Chicago Blackhawks defensive prospect Chad Krys.
Two players without any choice in the matter are Bobo Carpenter and Max Willman. Carpenter, who struggled with injuries this season, nevertheless will be a priority free agent now that BU’s season is over. The undrafted forward has NHL lineage, leadership skills, and a strong work ethic. At just 22, Carpenter brings four years of NCAA experience and consistent scoring numbers to whichever team is lucky to land him. There may not be the same press to sign Willman. A rare five-year college player, Willman is a 2014 selection of the Buffalo Sabres but may not be tendered by the team. In four years at Brown University and a graduate year at Boston University, Willman managed just 51 points in 134 games with just one breakout year as a junior at Brown. Buffalo may like how the 24-year-old’s mature game could translate to the pros, but his upside may not be worthy of an entry-level contract. Should Willman become a free agent, the Cape Cod native will have plenty of AHL teams close to home who could be willing to give him a chance.
Change is coming to Boston University one way or another, but just how much change will depend on how many of their top players decide to turn pro versus return for another year. Either the Terriers or the NHL will end up with a good amount of talent added to the mix next season.
Jordan Binnington Avoids Group VI Free Agency
The St. Louis Blues are fighting for playoff position, but they also had to make sure one of their players met a very important threshold. Jordan Binnington, who has taken over the crease for the team this season needed to hit 28 games played in order to avoid becoming a Group VI unrestricted free agent. This kind of unrestricted free agency occurs when a player age 25 or older sees his current contract expire without getting into enough NHL games. Binnington had zero games under his belt before this season because his only previous appearance—way back in January of 2016—hadn’t been for 30 minutes of ice time.
As of today, Binnington has just 26 appearances under his belt and would need to play in at least two more games for the Blues under normal rules in order to avoid becoming a UFA this summer. Interestingly though, Andy Strickland of Fox Sports Midwest reports that because Binnington signed his first entry-level contract in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season, his requirements were dropped to 26. That means Binnington will now become a restricted free agent at the end of this season, even if he doesn’t play in another game for the Blues.
It was unlikely that Binnington would have been held out for every remaining Blues game, given how well he has played. The 25-year old netminder leads the league with a 1.79 goals against average and has a 19-4-1 record on the year. That’s because of his crazy .929 save percentage that includes five shutouts. Still, he could have suffered an injury at any point that would have ended his season and allowed him to hit the open market in a few months.
The Blues have a tough decision on what to do with Binnington now, as though it’s easy to want to sign him they still have Jake Allen under contract for two more seasons at a $4.35MM cap hit. If they want to lock up Binnington on a multi-year deal they’ll likely have to give him a bit more money, but luckily he now actually won’t qualify for unrestricted free agency until the summer of 2021. He will however have arbitration rights this offseason.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Mathias Brome Drawing NHL Interest
With the NHL regular season in its home stretch and most European pro leagues already on to the postseason, talk has already begun about players who could be looking to make the jump overseas this off-season. There are always several European free agent signings each summer, with this past off-season an especially busy period for such moves, and this year should not be any different. One of the names that could join the NHL ranks is Swedish forward Mathias Brome. Hockey News Sweden reports that several teams are looking into importing the young winger this off-season.
Brome, 24, just finished his second season in the Swedish Hockey League, setting new career highs. Brome finished tied for 14th in scoring in the league with 35 points in 52 games and was a top-20 goal scorer with 15 tallies. While it may not seem like overly impressive output, the SHL sported just one point-per-game scorer in 2018-19, so Brome’s numbers were truly among the best in the league. However, they weren’t enough to help his team earn a playoff berth. Mora IK finished second-to-last in the league and will have to play to avoid relegation for the second straight season.
Brome will likely take any chance he can get in the NHL, but he will be eager to move on from Mora one way or another if the team is relegated out of the SHL. Brome’s contract with Mora expires at the end of the season and if he does not end up in the NHL, Hockey News Sweden states that he will be a hot commodity among other SHL squads.
However, the report indicates that a move to the NHL is the most likely result. A number of teams have reportedly reached out to Brome, with Hockey News Sweden specifically naming the Vegas Golden Knights as a team with great interest. A well-rounded, two-way winger, Brome may not have the flashy offensive ability that some of his countrymen possess, but makes up for it with a balanced game that should fit nicely with being a useful depth piece in the NHL. Should Brome land an NHL contract, he will likely begin his career as a top-six AHL player or bottom-six player in the NHL. Having the ability to play either a scoring role or checking role makes Brome a versatile option. This very well could be the main reasons that there is an influx of interest in the young forward. We’ll see soon enough if that interest translates to a contract from Brome.