Toronto Not Shopping William Nylander
While the Toronto Maple Leafs were busy extending their hot start with a win over the Washington Capitals—thanks to Auston Matthews‘ tenth goal of the season—William Nylander was still waiting for his chance to play this season, continuing negotiations with the team over his next contract. On Hockey Night in Canada, Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet relayed some new information about the star forward, reporting that the team is not shopping him despite the ongoing negotiations and have made a four-year offer worth “well under $20MM in total.”
Previously we’d heard very little about a possible bridge deal for Nylander, after both sides indicated that they’d rather get a long-term deal done. A four-year contract is somewhere in the middle of those two options, but would still leave him as a restricted free agent at its conclusion and under Maple Leafs control. Anything five years or longer would take Nylander to unrestricted free agency, and also force the cap hit higher and higher. That’s a concern for the team given the upcoming extensions needed for Matthews and Mitch Marner, along with a decision on pending-UFA Jake Gardiner.
Like any other restricted free agent, Nylander must sign a contract by December 1 or be forced to sit out the entire 2018-19 season. Though it would hurt the Maple Leafs on the ice, that scenario seems much more detrimental to Nylander who would be in almost the exact same situation next season without any production from this year. Already he’s losing out on potential goals and points that could be used in negotiations and arbitration, especially given his expected role on the top line with Matthews. For what it’s worth, Nylander hasn’t asked for a trade either, making these negotiations still on track to eventually get worked out between the two sides.
2018-19 Season Primer: Boston Bruins
With the NHL season now just underway, we continue our look at what each team has done this summer and what to watch for in the year to come. Next up is a look at the Boston Bruins.
Last Season: 50-20-12 record (112 points), second in the Atlantic Division (lost in second round to Tampa Bay Lightning)
Remaining Cap Space: $5,246,849 per CapFriendly
Key Additions: F Martin Bakos (free agent, Liberec – Czech Rep.), G Jaroslav Halak (free agent, NY Islanders), D Steven Kampfer (trade, NY Rangers), D John Moore (free agent, New Jersey), F Joakim Nordstrom (free agent, Carolina), F Chris Wagner (free agent, NY Islanders)
Key Subtractions: F Kenny Agostino (free agent, Montreal), D Tommy Cross (free agent, Columbus), F Austin Czarnik (free agent, Calgary), F Brian Gionta (retirement), D Nick Holden (free agent, Vegas), G Anton Khudobin (free agent, Dallas), D Adam McQuaid (trade, NY Rangers), F Rick Nash (free agent, unsigned), F Riley Nash (free agent, Columbus), D Paul Postma (free agent, Kazan – KHL), F Tim Schaller (free agent, Vancouver), F Tommy Wingels (free agent, Geneve – NLA)
[Related: Bruins Depth Chart From Roster Resource]
Player To Watch: F Ryan Donato – Rookie forward Donato made his NHL debut last year in the midst of a season most only dream of. Donato wrapped up a stellar collegiate career with Harvard University by leading the NCAA in goals per game with 26 tallies – and 43 points – in 29 games. The effort made Donato a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given to the top player in college hockey. Donato also starred for his country, playing a major role for Team USA at the Winter Olympics where, again, he led the tournament in goals per game, potting five in six contests. He then stepped right into the NHL, notching five goals and four assists in 12 regular season games down the stretch and even skating in three playoff games. After such an impressive campaign, the question now is can he keep it up?
The ceiling for Donato is clear: as a supremely talented shooter and intelligent offensive player, Donato is able to seamlessly transition into a regular scoring role on a skilled Boston lineup. Donato is currently skating on the off-wing, something he did little of in college, on the Bruins’ second line with veteran center David Krejci and impressive sophomore winger Jake DeBrusk. He’s also been tasked with first unit power play work, getting to share the ice with the NHL’s best line of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and David Pastrnak. If he adjusts well to this role, Donato could be looking at 30+ goals and not only in the conversation for the Calder Trophy, but perhaps the favorite.
However, the floor for Donato is also apparent. The Bruins have recently seen what can happen when a talented offensive player with a knack for putting the puck in the net during his developmental years fails to transition that ability to the NHL. Frank Vatrano, traded late last year to the Florida Panthers, was a goal-scoring phenom in the AHL and was expected to take over a top-nine role last season, only to struggle with scoring, too often get exposed defensively, take too many bad penalties, and ultimately end up as an extra skater later jettisoned away. While Donato is a far superior prospect to Vatrano and is in no way at risk of being dealt, his rookie year could go similarly to Vatrano’s final season in Boston. The Bruins ask all of their forwards to play a responsible, two-way, forechecking game. Donato is still developing those skills and, if he isn’t scoring enough on the second line, could find it hard to get play time in the bottom-six. Danton Heinen and Anders Bjork already have a pro experience, and more importantly two-way IQ, to their credit and could push Donato for an opportunity in the top-six or even force him out of the lineup entirely. The Bruins also have their eye on a Stanley Cup this year and could seek to replace a disappointing Donato via trade if it comes to that down the line.
It says a lot that the Bruins let several middle-six free agent forwards walk without finding viable replacements this off-season, as they clearly trust Donato, as well as DeBrusk, Heinen, Bjork, and other options in the AHL, to be reliable NHL scorers. Already, through just three games, secondary scoring has been an issue for Boston and Donato needs to prove management right that he is ready to take on his current role. The Bruins’ season rests with the ability of their young forwards to continue improving and provide stable secondary scoring. Of that group, Donato is the most important, having been handed the second-line opening early on, and bears watching all season long.
Key Storyline: For much of last season, the Boston Bruins were neck-and-neck with the Tampa Bay Lightning for the top spot in both the division and the conference and at times even the league’s best record. Boston ended up only one point behind the Bolts in the final standings and then fell to their foes in the second round of the playoffs. Part of the reason that Tampa was able to relatively easily dispatch the Bruins: their trade deadline additions of Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller, both of whom remain on the team moving forward. The Bruins added Rick Nash, who was a good fit while healthy but a bust overall, as well as several depth pieces. None of those players are donning the black and gold this year.
Then, this off-season the Toronto Maple Leafs, who finished third behind the Bruins in the division last season and proved to be a difficult first round opponent, landed the biggest fish in free agency, superstar center John Tavares. The Bruins were in on Tavares as well, but after they missed out, opted not to pursue any other prominent free agent scorers.
The Atlantic Division has improved right before the Bruins’ eyes, with many calling the Lightning and Leafs favorites not only to win the division, but the Stanley Cup. And that isn’t even considering the improvements made by the Florida Panthers and Buffalo Sabres as well. Meanwhile, Boston continues to rely on their current core and the young players they have shuffled into the lineup. Without many noticeable external improvements – outside of a top backup goaltender in Jaroslav Halak and a reliable, versatile defenseman in John Moore – can the Bruins keep up? Is this team as good as the patient front office thinks they are?
Overall Outlook: The answer, of course, is yes. This Bruins team is great. Ignore an ugly opening night loss to the banner ceremony-fueled Washington Capitals and Boston still enters the season with some of the highest expectations in the NHL. The best line in the league is supported by young, exciting scoring forwards, dependable veterans like Krejci and David Backes, and several capable fourth line options. The defense is anchored by a legend in Zdeno Chara and a wunderkind in Charlie McAvoy, not to mention offensive dynamo Torey Krug and young Brandon Carlo. Tuukka Rask and Halak could also prove to be the best goalie tandem in the league and not a stretch as Jennings Trophy favorites behind a possession-dominant, defensively responsible lineup. Not to mention, the Bruins have ample cap space and will almost assuredly be a top suitor come trade deadline time. Yes, the Bruins are great. But is “great” enough in a division that is stacked at the top with arguably three of the NHL’s top five teams? Or to make it out of the Eastern Conference, which features the past three Cup winners in the Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins?
Anders Lee Discussing Long-Term Extension With Islanders
The New York Islanders have had their fill of priority free agents walking away, after John Tavares abandoned the team this off-season. New GM Lou Lamoriello and the Isles seem to want to get ahead of the situation with their next core player whose eligible to depart. The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta reports that the Islanders have had recent and ongoing negotiations with homegrown forward Anders Lee about a long-term extension.
Lee, 28, is one of a trio of key forwards set to hit the open market next summer. He, Jordan Eberle, and Brock Nelson could all walk after the season, but Lee and Eberle have stressed that their focus is on this year and they both appear open to extensions. Now, those talks are moving forward with Lee at least. Pagnotta states that a new deal is not imminent, but that Lee’s agent, Neil Sheehy, has been frequently talking to Lamoriello with positive results.
Lee led the Islanders in goal scoring last year with a career-high 40 tallies and 62 total points. He has been a consistent top-six contributor for the team in each of his four full NHL seasons and has shown no signs of slowing down. The 6’3″, 230-lb. winger is one of the most lethal power forwards in the league and would draw considerable interest if he was to reach free agency. As a result, the rebuilding Islanders won’t be likely to land a hometown discount, as Pagnotta indicates that Lee could earn upwards of $7MM per year on a long-term contract. Lee’s play this season, in the absence of Tavares, will likely determine his value to the Islanders moving forward. A hot start will give Lamoriello all the more reason to lock him up before it’s too late.
Alex Galchenyuk “Week-To-Week”, Will Miss Opening Night
Late last week, it was reported that Arizona Coyotes forward Alex Galchenyuk had been sidelined with an injury. However, the team had not yet evaluated the injury or its severity. Head coach Rick Tocchet was tight-lipped about how it occurred, what type of injury it might be, or how long Galchenyuk could be out for. It seems now that the team has taken the proper time to consider Galchenyuk’s status and the results are not optimal. Arizona announced that Galchenyuk is “week-to-week” with a lower body injury and is expected to miss the team’s opener in Dallas on October 4th.
Missing just one game would be a best case scenario at this point, as there continues to be a lack of details or answers regarding this injury. As the Coyotes biggest off-season acquisition, there was a lot of hype and excitement surrounding the young scoring forward entering this season. Beginning the season without him is less than ideal, but even hinting at a long-term injury would be a tough pill for fans to swallow before the season even begins. “Week-to-week” is a difficult time frame to estimate, especially for a player who has been rather resilient in his career. However, when Galchenyuk did suffer a serious knee injury in 2016-17, he had a tough time getting healthy and would up missing 21 games over two stints on the injured reserve. A similar outlook for this mysterious lower-body ailment would be disastrous for Arizona.
Early indications had Galchenyuk not at center, but at left wing for the Coyotes and certainly in the top-six. Until he returns, his spot will likely return to what it was last season – a revolving door of options including Richard Panik, Brendan Perlini, Mario Kempe, and Lawson Crouse. That lineup is even less appealing than last year, when Max Domi (traded for Galchenyuk), Jordan Martinook (also traded), Tobias Rieder and Anthony Duclair (free agency) were also in the mix. The ‘Yotes have to hope that the rest of their forward corps can pick up the slack and could use a hot start from free agent addition Michael Grabner and rookie Dylan Strome. Either way, the team will need Galchenyuk back as soon as possible if they want to take a step forward this season.
College Notes: Perbix, Barnaby, Summers
Anaheim Ducks prospect Jack Perbix has made a decision on his hockey future. The Minnesota native announced on his personal Twitter yesterday that he has committed to the flagship school of his home state, the University of Minnesota. Perbix, who dominated Minnesota high school hockey last year with 61 points in 25 games at Elk River, earned himself a fourth-round selection back in June. He now heads to the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL this season, before joining the Gophers next year. The only question that remains is just how long Perbix remains at the college level. While he may not be an extraordinarily high draft pick, Perbix has the skill to break out in the NCAA and could then press for an opportunity in Anaheim. Right wing is a long-term position of need for the Ducks and one that would grow more dire should they lose Jakob Sifverberg to free agency this year. If Perbix continues to improve and show that he can handle tougher competition, he could be joining the NHL far sooner than after four years at school.
- Matt Barnaby, who shares his name with father and former NHLer Matthew Barnaby, has also committed to his school of choice. The 20-year-old forward announced via Twitter that he has decided to join Penn State University next season. While the Nittany Lions have vastly improved since joining the NCAA level in 2012, Barnaby is nevertheless one of the bigger names to join the program. Last season, Barnaby finished third in scoring in the junior-A Central Canada Hockey League, recording 76 points in 62 games for the Pembroke Lumber Kings. The Buffalo native has since joined the USHL’s Chicago Steel with high expectations for the campaign. Although Barnaby was undrafted through three years of NHL Draft eligibility, he will still join Penn State with substantial buzz and will be a player to watch for in the NCAA for years to come.
- Former Clarkson University standout defenseman Kelly Summers has not had the off-season that he hoped for or many expected. One of the top unsigned college free agents to hit the market in August, Summers was coming off a 30-point campaign for the Golden Knights and seemed headed for an entry-level contract or at least a promising AHL situation. After all, frequent Clarkson pair mate – and one with slightly less production – Terrance Amorosa signed with the San Diego Gulls early on. However, that never came to fruition and now Summers has had to settle for an AHL tryout, as he was included on the Belleville Senators’ camp roster. Ironically, Ottawa was the team that initially drafted Summers in the seventh round in 2014, so Summers really has not made much progress at all in a disappointing free agency experience.
New Jersey Devils, Miles Wood Agree To Four-Year Deal
The New Jersey Devils announced they have signed restricted free agent Miles Wood to a four-year, $11MM deal with an AAV of $2.75MM. Wood is expected to report to practice tomorrow at the Prudential Center, according to NHL.com’s Amanda Stein.
Wood had a breakthrough season last year when he tallied 19 goals, 32 points and 84 penalty minutes in his second season for New Jersey, while playing in a bottom-six role. Despite losing playing time once the playoffs hit, the 23-year-old restricted free agent opted to hold out during training camp. The Athletic’s Corey Masisak reports that the Devils management and Wood went back and forth between one, two, three, and four-year contracts before finally agreeing to the four-year deal. It’s likely Wood was willing to give up term in order to get more money from the Devils. Despite the four-year deal, Wood will still be a restricted free agent when this contract ends as he’s not eligible for unrestricted free agency until 2023.
With Wood off the board, there remain just three restricted free agents remaining that have not signed a deal and are holding out, including Toronto Maple Leafs’ William Nylander, Vegas Golden Knights’ Shea Theodore and Anaheim Ducks’ Nick Ritchie.
Elliotte Friedman was the first to report Wood’s AAV.
Trade Rumors: Faulk, Bobrovsky, Ritchie, Wood
When TSN released their off-season Trade Bait List in early July, Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Justin Faulk was ranked #4, among the most likely players to be dealt. A little more than two months later, all three players ranked ahead of him – Erik Karlsson, Max Pacioretty, and former teammate Jeff Skinner – have changed teams, while Faulk remains in Raleigh. But for how much longer? Appearing on TSN Radio 1050 recently, insider Pierre LeBrun revealed that Faulk was a target of the Toronto Maple Leafs this summer and speculated that the team could still move to acquire him this season. LeBrun opines that Faulk, a right-handed shot signed to an extremely reasonable $4.83MM cap hit over two more years, would be a perfect fit for the Leafs. Toronto has long been searching for a top pair defenseman to complement lefty Morgan Rielly and Faulk fits the bill. LeBrun speculates that the Hurricanes are likely asking for a major package in exchange for Faulk, but meeting those demands may not be an impossible task for Toronto. Several Maple Leafs players and prospects could fill gaps in Carolina, such as veteran center Nazem Kadri, promising wingers Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson, and young goalies Garret Sparks and Joseph Woll, as well as a full cabinet of draft picks. There have also been some inclinations that the Hurricanes are preparing to move on from Faulk as well, such as acquiring a new top pair righty in Dougie Hamilton and passing over Faulk, a career ‘Cane, for their captaincy. The team is under no pressure to deal their long-time stud defenseman, but if GM Don Waddell receives a strong enough offer, he seems likely to pull the trigger.
- Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen has been clear that he does not want to trade either Artemi Panarin or Sergei Bobrovsky, but as both remain unsigned and approaching free agency and trade calls continue to come in for Panarin, there has been rampant speculation as to where the star winger may land. After recent comments from Bobrovsky that could be read as implying that his time in Columbus could soon be over, many have begun to predict where he may land as well. In a recent segment for TSN Radio 1200 in Ottawa, Darren Dreger stated his belief that the New York Islanders would be the front runners in a Bobrovsky trade scenario. Dreger adds that there will be more than a few suitors should the two-time Vezina winner hit the trade market or, better yet, the open market. However, Dreger feels that the Islanders and new GM Lou Lamoriello feel more pressure to add a true No. 1 goaltender in their hopes of soon returning to contender status. The Isles currently roster unpredictable Robin Lehner, on a one-year deal, and failed starter Thomas Greiss, as well as two prospects overseas in Ilya Sorokin and Jakub Skarek. Lehner and Greiss do not instill much hope and Sorokin may never make the jump to North America. The Islanders are without a solution in net in the immediate future and could target Bobrovsky at any cost to solve that problem.
- How long will the Anaheim Ducks and New Jersey Devils wait on contract resolutions with Nick Ritchie and Miles Wood respectively? The restricted free agents continue to hold out for better contracts and miss valuable time in training camp, despite underwhelming numbers through their first three seasons to support their absence. At this time last year, Columbus Blue Jackets RFA forward Josh Anderson – a similar power forward-style player – remained unsigned and was the subject of numerous trade rumors. Yet, Anderson had just 34 points through 96 games in his first three seasons, whereas Ritchie and Wood have more experience and production through the same amount of time. Ritchie, a first round pick in 2014, has 59 points in 186 games. Wood, one of the Devils’ top scorers last season, has 49 points through 137 games. One would think that either team could drum up interest if they began actively shopping their respective RFA, but it hasn’t happened to this point. Wood is not without flaws to his game, but has exceeded expectations and played a major role for New Jersey last season and with more play time has the potential to be even better. In contract, Ritchie has his strengths, but has not lived up to his first-round billing. Between the two, it would be less of a surprise to see Anaheim part with Ritchie.
Snapshots: Stone, Panthers, Olofsson
As if being an Ottawa Senators fan wasn’t hard enough right now, a report surfaced this morning that suggested Mark Stone wanted out of the city when his contract expired at the end of this season. Stone settled with the Senators this offseason on just a one-year deal that will pay him $7.35MM this season and qualifies for unrestricted free agency on July 1, 2019. The 26-year old forward was asked about the report after practice today, and denied it vehemently.
I love it here. This has been a great month for me, I’ve enjoyed my previous four years here and I want to continue to be here.
As a player you’re looking to win every time you step on the ice. No matter who you’re playing with, no matter who’s in the lineup you have to look at it the same way. Obviously [the Senators front office] has said they’re rebuilding, but I think for the guys in this locker room we’re looking to win hockey games and looking to win as many as we can.
Stone could potentially be one of the very best forwards available on the open market next summer if he decides not to re-sign with the Senators, and can’t actually put pen to paper on a contract extension until January 1st, 2019. Even if he is enjoying things right now, it’s a dangerous situation for the Senators to be in given their expected struggles this season. Still, Stone has never said anything to make Ottawa believe that he wouldn’t be willing to stay and was even in discussions on a long-term deal this offseason at one point.
- Not only do the Florida Panthers have a new captain in Aleksander Barkov, but today they announced their entire leadership group. Keith Yandle, Aaron Ekblad, Vincent Trocheck and Jonathan Huberdeau will all wear an “A” as alternate captains at various times this season, solidifying that group of five as the core of the team going forward. Among them, only Yandle is older than 25 while Barkov and Ekblad are still just 22 and 23 respectively, giving the Panthers a chance to keep most of the group together for a long time. In fact, all five are signed through at least the 2021-22 season and should help Florida return to the playoffs at some point in the next few years.
- Michael Russo of The Athletic (subscription required) is reporting that Gustav Olofsson has suffered another shoulder injury, and there is fear that it is serious. Olofsson underwent an MRI yesterday, but there has been no update from the team as of yet. The 23-year old defenseman played 41 games for the Wild last season and could have perhaps battled for a full-time spot had he not suffered the injury. Selected in the second round five years ago, Olofsson has been limited by injury throughout his professional career and will hope for good news this time around.
College Free Agent Michael Prapavessis Signs With AHL’s Cleveland Monsters
Former RPI Engineers defenseman Michael Prapavessis has found his next team. An unsigned Dallas Stars draft pick, Prapavessis became a free agent in August after completing his collegiate career. With training camps ongoing, he has finally reached an agreement with the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters on a one-year contract, the team announced. Prapavessis, an Ontario native, is set to stay in the Great Lakes region, moving to Ohio after four years in Rochester, New York.
Prapavessis, 22, was always a candidate for an AHL contract, though given his lengthy free agency, the ECHL was beginning to look more likely. A four-year starter on the blue line for RPI, Prapavessis was a productive puck-mover, as well as a locker room leader, taking on the captaincy as a senior. Although RPI is not an elite NCAA program, he proved that he could play a major role at a high level – then looked competent in a short stint with the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones – which is likely what an earned him a shot with the Monsters. Prapavessis may not be ready to play an immediate top-six role in Cleveland, but when called upon there is a degree of trust that the coaches of the Columbus Blue Jackets affiliate can have in his ability and intelligence.
With Prapavessis’ signing, the majority of the August college free agent market is now under contract. Prapavessis, Clarkson’s Terrance Amorosa, St. Cloud’s Judd Peterson, and Boston University’s John MacLeod have signed in the AHL, while New Hampshire’s Shane Eiserman, Minnesota-Duluth’s Avery Peterson, Minnesota’s Jack Glover, and Brown’s Tyler Bird have inked ECHL deals. Two very talented defensemen – Clarkson’s Kelly Summers and Minnesota’s Steven Johnson – as well as Western Michigan forward Aidan Muir, remain unsigned and it will be interesting to see how long the trio remain unemployed.
Connor Hurley Signs With Norfolk Admirals
The ECHL Norfolk Admirals (affiliate of the Arizona Coyotes) today announced that they have signed forward Connor Hurley to a contract for the 2018-19 season, which brings with it quite a bit of intrigue for a relatively low-level minor league deal. A year ago John Vogl—then with the Buffalo News, and now of The Athletic—reported that Hurley, who had played three seasons with Notre Dame had transferred to the University of Minnesota. Due to NCAA transfer rules, Hurley was forced to sit out the 2017-18 season but was expected to play in 2018-19 with the Gophers. Now, with a contract in hand, Hurley has apparently left the collegiate ranks which also means that the Buffalo Sabres have either lost, or will lose his exclusive negotiating rights.
Hurley was selected 38th overall in 2013 by the Sabres, but played a year in the USHL before heading off to college. That meant the Sabres would retain his draft rights through his graduation, unless he was no longer a student according to the NHL Central Registry. This deal with the Admirals seems to confirm that he is not, though no one had previously listed him among the 16 players who saw their exclusive draft rights expire in August, nor was there a report of his official status change with the league.
Buffalo fans should be familiar with the process of a player leaving college early, given the situation with Cal Petersen just last summer. Petersen left Notre Dame after just three years with an intention to turn pro, and thus was granted his unrestricted free agency 30 days after informing the Central Registry of his decision. That only works for players who are at least four years out from their draft year, but since Petersen—like Hurley—played a year in the USHL before heading to college he was eligible for free agency before the usual August 15th threshold. The goaltender eventually signed with the Los Angeles Kings on July 1st, 2017.
Hurley, selected the same year as Petersen, is now almost surely an unrestricted free agent himself and could be signed by any team in the NHL. That is unlikely given his performance in college and new deal with the Admirals, but is still a possibility if someone sees potential in him. In 2016-17, the last time he played hockey at a high level, the 6’2″ center recorded 16 points while playing in only 21 games for Notre Dame.