With Michigan’s Exit, Quinn Hughes Is Free To Sign With Vancouver
With the University of Michigan getting eliminated from the first round of the Big 10 Tournament Saturday in a best-of-three series with the University of Minnesota, the Vancouver Canucks are suddenly hoping to see the next phase of the future arrive as their 2018 first-round pick Quinn Hughes, the seventh-overall pick, is now free to sign with the team.
Sportsnet’s Rick Dhaliwal reports that Hughes will talk things over with his parents and coaches before deciding on whether he will turn pro with tomorrow likely having more clarity on his future. Canucks’ general manager Jim Benning said the team will do everything they can to bring him aboard.
“We’ll get right on it,” Benning said (via Postmedia’s Ben Kuzma). “We wanted him to concentrate on the weekend and his team, and we’ll contact the adviser and family and see what their intentions are and go from there.”
While there is no guarantee that Hughes will sign with Vancouver, many reports over the past few months suggest that the 19-year-old blueliner is ready to come to the NHL and with Vancouver’s issues on defense, it’s possible that if he signs quickly, he could be playing for the Canucks as early as Wednesday.
Of course a debut will also depend on Hughes health as well. The defenseman blocked a shot late in Friday’s playoff opener and played injured in Saturday’s game. While there is no word on the severity of the injury, he received x-rays and still played, but finished the game with a minus-2 rating. The injury could prevent him from making a quick debut, assuming he signs, as the team would probably prefer to debut him when he is fully healthy considering that Vancouver has fallen far behind for a potential playoff spot and likely has little to play for. Regardless, Hughes is considered to be one of the top prospects in the NHL, who led Team USA to a silver medal in the World Junior Championships and five goals and 33 points in 32 games with Michigan. A top skater, Hughes should provide Vancouver with a top-notch all-around defender, who should finally give the Canucks a quarterback to their power play and an defenseman that can generate some offense. Currently, the team’s top offensive threat is Alexander Edler, who has seven goals and 22 points.
Coincidentally, Vancouver has the potential to add a second player with Michigan’s loss as the team could get Hughes’ teammate William Lockwood, the team’s third-round pick from 2016. Lockwood, a junior, had a breakout season as he posted 16 goals this year with the Wolverines. He tallied eight goals as a freshman and just four in an injury-marred sophomore year. One other significant name that could also be signed away is Josh Norris, the key prospect that the Ottawa Senators acquired in the Erik Karlsson trade this summer. Norris, the 19th overall pick in the 2017 draft, scored 10 goals and 19 points in his sophomore season.
Pacific Notes: Ritchie, Neal, Virtanen, Wagner
The Department of Player Safety announced that Anaheim Ducks forward Nick Ritchie has been fined $4,121.86, the maximum-allowable fine under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for cross-checking Montreal Canadiens’ defenseman Christian Folin.
The hit (video here) came in the first period of Anaheim’s 8-2 victory Friday over Montreal in response to an earlier hit when Folin delivered a high hit on rookie Troy Terry earlier in the game. The 23-year-old was assessed a two-minute minor for interference for the hit. Ritchie has been in trouble before, getting suspended for one game back in 2017 after punching Chicago’s Michal Rozsival.
- Sportsnet 960’s Pat Steinberg reports that Calgary Flames forward James Neal, who has been out since Feb. 14 with a lower-body injury, has begun skating again, although Flames head coach Bill Peters said that he still has a little way to go before returning. Despite the team being in first place and having a solid season, it’s been with little contribution from Neal, who the team signed to a five-year, $28.75MM free-agent deal this summer. Neal has struggled with injuries this year and hasn’t produced, posting just five goals and 15 points in 55 games in his first year with Calgary.
- The Vancouver Canucks announced that forward Jake Virtanen will return tonight against Vegas. The 22-year-old has been out with a fractured rib since Feb. 13. The 2014 sixth-overall pick has improved on his rookie campaign with 12 goals and 22 points in 58 games, while averaging a career-high 14:49 of ATOI. He won’t be eased into the lineup either as he is expected to join the Canucks’ top line right away as well as the team’s second-line power play unit.
- Fox Sports’ Jon Rosen writes the Los Angeles Kings forward Austin Wagner, who has been out for a week with a lower-body injury, may not be back soon. The 21-year-old rookie skated Friday in a track suit, but isn’t just ready to return to the lineup. “He’s probably more than a week out, I think,” head coach Willie Desjardins said. “Maybe close to a week, but when you’re not skating (in gear) right now, you’ve got to be skating to be close, and he’s not that close.” Wagner has nine goals and 16 points in 49 games.
Tampa Bay Lightning Recall Jan Rutta
UPDATE: Smith reports that defenseman Anton Stralman is considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury. It’s not exactly an injury that screams play time for Rutta, so the newly-acquired defenseman is likely up in Tampa Bay as insurance for the time being. In the meantime, he can practice with the team and get the feel for his new teammates and coaches. If Stralman’s absence ends up being longer than expected, perhaps Rutta will make his return to NHL action.
It’s been a long time coming, but the moment is finally here. Defenseman Jan Rutta, acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks in early January, has finally been called up by the Tampa Bay Lightning. The AHL’s Syracuse Crunch, with whom Rutta has played exclusively since the deal was made, were the ones to break the news, but note that GM Julien BriseBois initially announced the move.
Rutta, 28, is in his second NHL season after coming over from the Czech Republic ahead of the 2017-18 season. The big, two-way defender played in 57 games for the Blackhawks last season, notching 20 points, and despite spending the last three months in the minors, has 23 NHL games to his credit this year as well, along with six points. In 26 AHL games this year, eight of which came with the Rockford Ice Hogs, Rutta has twelve points. Since joining the Crunch, Rutta has been a dependable defensive presence for the team and has logged an impressive +15 rating. While it helps that Syracuse is a good team this season with the second-best record in the AHL, Rutta has done enough to show that he can be an NHL asset and perhaps a contributor to a playoff run.
As for why the call-up has finally come, The Athletic’s Joe Smith notes that the timing is a surprise and to his knowledge no Lightning defenders are currently injured. Tampa Bay has had the cap space to recall Ruuta if need be, but lacked the roster space – part of the reason they traded Slater Koekkoek in the first place to acquire Ruuta. However, with the trade deadline passed and roster limits eliminated, Ruuta was free to be recalled. It remains unclear where he fits barring an unreported injury, however. The Lightning have seven defensemen who have played more than 41 games this season already and Ruuta is not about to replace any of them in head coach Jon Cooper‘s blue line rotation. Yet, the veteran defenseman is probably content just to be back at the NHL level in a season that has surely not gone as he expected.
Gabriel Landeskog Out Four To Six Weeks
The Colorado Avalanche are trying their best to fight for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, but will now have to do it without the services of their captain. Gabriel Landeskog will be out four to six weeks with an upper-body injury, essentially ending his regular season.
Colorado currently sits just four points behind the Minnesota Wild for the final wild card spot, and are the only non-playoff team with a positive goal differential in the Western Conference. A huge part of that differential though has been the play of Landeskog and his usual linemates, All-Stars Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. That trio (though not always lining up together) has been the driving force behind any Avalanche success all season. The 26-year old Landeskog had already set career highs with 33 goals and 69 points this season, and had scored a league-leading nine game winners.
In fact, by nearly any metric or statistic Landeskog was in the midst of the best season of his career. There are few players who can impact the game in the same number of ways he can, engaging physically while still being an excellent offensive weapon. A loss like this will not only be felt on the ice, but in the locker room as well. His leadership qualities are heralded as some of the best in the league, leading to him being named captain at just 19 years old—the youngest in history at the time.
All hope is not lost for Colorado, but the idea of them catching Minnesota and doing any damage in the playoffs is certainly more daunting now. The team will play their final game of the season almost exactly four weeks from today, meaning he very well could miss the first round of the postseason if they do somehow pull it off.
Of course, some Avalanche fans will be excited even through the disappointment of seeing Landeskog go down. The team still holds the Ottawa Senators first-round pick in addition to their own, and would have two shots at first overall in the draft lottery if they miss the playoffs. The possibility of getting the top two picks in the draft doesn’t come around often, even if it would be a minuscule chance at this point.
Erik Karlsson Expected Back For Playoffs
The San Jose Sharks haven’t had Erik Karlsson in the lineup for the past three games (all wins) and shouldn’t expect him back “anytime soon.” That’s what Karlsson told Kevin Kurz of The Athletic, but the star defenseman did say he would be back in time for the playoffs. Karlsson is dealing with a groin injury and hopes to get back on the ice for at least a few games before the Sharks start their first round playoff series.
When healthy, Karlsson has been an incredible performer for the Sharks, who currently sit just a point back of the Calgary Flames for first place in the Pacific Division. His 45 points ranks 12th in the NHL among defensemen despite him playing only 52 games—teammate Brent Burns leads the league with 73 points in 67 games—and he has logged an average of more than 24 minutes for the Sharks even including his last two games where he was extremely limited. There’s no doubt the Sharks are better with him in the lineup, and will hope to get him back on the ice to shake off the rust before an important playoff series starts.
Remember that Karlsson remains unsigned and is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Showing he is healthy and playoff capable will go a big way to dissuade any hesitation to sign him, be it from the Sharks or another team on the open market. The last time the 28-year old was in the postseason was 2017, when he recorded 18 points in 19 games and pulled the Ottawa Senators within one goal of reaching the Stanley Cup Finals.
Depleted Devils Missing Several Players
The New Jersey Devils have lost four straight games and are firmly positioned at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division standings. That lack of success has only been furthered by injury lately, as the team is missing a huge chunk of their regular skaters. Team reporter Amanda Stein details all those who are missing practice today as the team prepares for their trip to Washington. Taylor Hall, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Miles Wood, Kevin Rooney, Nathan Bastian, Sami Vatanen, Pavel Zacha, Will Butcher and Mirco Mueller are all absent. John Quenneville and Kyle Palmieri who have missed games recently due to injury both took part.
The Devils will take on the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers in a back-to-back situation over the next two days, and very well could find themselves slipping even further down the standings over the next month. With so many injuries and other key players shipped out at the deadline, it appears as though New Jersey might have another good shot at the draft lottery this season. They are currently ahead of just Ottawa, Detroit and Los Angeles in the “Lose for Hughes” race.
Hall’s absence is the most notable obviously, as the reigning Hart Trophy winner continues his rehab from minor knee surgery. With just a single season left on his current contract, many have wondered about Hall’s future in New Jersey. GM Ray Shero unequivocally told Craig Custance of The Athletic (subscription required) that he did not consider trading his offensive star at the deadline, and that he will approach Hall this summer to try and work out a contract extension.
New York Islanders Recall Christopher Gibson
The New York Islanders won in a shootout over the Ottawa Senators last night, but may have lost a key part of their team in the process. Robin Lehner was injured on a collision with Brady Tkachuk, and though there is no word yet on how serious the injury is, Christopher Gibson has been recalled from the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Gibson’s recall is under emergency conditions, meaning it won’t take up one of the post-deadline recalls but also means Lehner is still dealing with an injury of some sort.
Gibson, 26, has played in one game with the Islanders this season but has once again spent the majority of his year in the minor leagues. Originally selected in the second round of the 2011 draft, he has never quite been able to crack an NHL roster for very long. In his career, Gibson has played in just 13 NHL contests and has a .901 save percentage.
If Lehner’s injury keeps him out for any length of time, it will be Thomas Greiss who attempts to guide the Islanders to a Metropolitan Division title. The Washington Capitals are currently tied with the Islanders at 83 points (with an identical record to boot) while the Carolina Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets are all still within striking distance. Lehner has been outstanding this season and is a huge reason the Islanders are where they are, posting a .927 save percentage through 38 games.
Injury Updates: Green, Daley, Letang, Kings
It has been a rough year for Red Wings defenseman Mike Green. He missed the first three weeks of the season with a virus that was attacking his liver while also missing 13 games due to a lower-body injury. Unfortunately for Green, the virus is back which will cause him to miss the next seven-to-ten days, the team announced. Despite missing 22 games already, Green still leads Detroit in scoring from a defenseman with 26 points in 43 contests.
The Red Wings won’t need to make a corresponding roster move to take Green’s place, however, as veteran blueliner Trevor Daley will suit up tonight against Colorado after missing the last two games with an upper-body injury. He has also had issues staying healthy this season and has only suited up in 38 of their 65 contests.
Other injury notes from around the league:
- Penguins defenseman Kris Letang skated with teammates for the first time since suffering an upper-body injury just over a week ago, reports Jonathan Bombulie of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. However, there remains no firm timetable for his return. Pittsburgh could certainly use their number one blueliner as they remain in a dogfight for a playoff spot in the tight Eastern Conference. Fortunately for them, they got one defender back tonight as Brian Dumoulin returned after missing the past three games with a concussion.
- The Kings are expected to have defenseman Alec Martinez available tonight against Montreal, notes Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider. He has been out for nearly three weeks due to an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, winger Austin Wagner is still listed as day-to-day but he’s unlikely to suit up on their current homestand which wraps up on Thursday night.
Jason Demers To Return To Arizona Lineup
He wasn’t expected to return this season and yet here he is. Jason Demers will be activated from injured reserve and join the Arizona Coyotes lineup for their game tonight against the Anaheim Ducks, his first NHL action since November 15th. Demers played just 18 games for the Coyotes before suffering a knee injury that at the time was expected to keep him out for the remainder of 2018-19.
Demers, 30, was acquired by the Coyotes prior to last season and ended up averaging more than 21 minutes a night through 69 games. The right-handed veteran has long put up positive possession statistics and can contribute offensive at even-strength and on the powerplay, giving the team a versatile option on the blue line. That versatility has been obviously lacking for much of this season while the team has dealt with injury after injury.
His return comes just as Jordan Oesterle will come out of the lineup with an upper-body injury, and will give the Coyotes a boost right when they need it most. The team is on a six-game winning streak and currently sits just two points behind the Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars for the wild card spots in the Western Conference. In what has been an injury-ravaged season, the Coyotes seem to have a real chance to make the playoffs if they continue to show improvements down the stretch. Demers’ presence will be a welcome on one the ice tonight.
Bruins’ Kevan Miller Out “Week-To-Week”
This season’s Boston Bruins team nor veteran defenseman Kevan Miller are any strangers to injury. The Bruins have dealt with mass amounts of man-games lost this year, including from Miller, who had missed 26 games this season already, split between two separate 13-game injuries. As such, it was hardly a surprise when head coach Bruce Cassidy mentioned today that what was initially considered a routine minor injury for Miller has proven to be anything but. Following what Cassidy called “bad news on an MRI”, Miller is considered “week-to-week” with an upper-body injury.
Miller has already missed three games on this third injury stint of the year, taking his total games sidelined to 29 versus just 36 played. The rugged defenseman is not afraid to put his body in harm’s way, whether that’s blocking shots or taking a hit to make a play. While that’s part of what endears him to his teammates and coaches, it also lands him on the IR more often than he would like. This situation is no different, as Miller took a puck up high against the Vegas Golden Knights and left the game early and has not appeared for the Bruins since. All three of his injuries this season have come while in the shooting lane, while this is the second season in a row that Miller has been injured while visiting the Golden Knights. Even in his injuries the dependable defender is consistent.
Even having missed close to half of the season so far, Miller still leads Boston in blocked shots, showing how adept he is at the task but also why it has so frequently caused him harm. He is also second only to Charlie McAvoy in hits per game among Bruins defenseman, so that element of his game will also be missed down the stretch. However, depth on the blue line is not an area of concern for Boston this season. John Moore, who only recently lost his starting job once the Bruins were at full health on the back end, has taken over Miller’s role seamlessly. Steven Kampfer, who the team has not needed to play in the calendar year, is another veteran option and a right-shot should Cassidy wish to balance out his blue line with Miller out. There’s also Urho Vaakanainen, Jeremy Lauzon, Jakub Zboril, and Connor Clifton, who are all highly regarded and have logged NHL minutes already this season. All Boston defenseman may have to ramp up their aggressiveness in Miller’s absence, but otherwise the team should be fine. Even with Miller out for potentially weeks longer, the Bruins should be capable of dealing with another injury or allowing for rest down the stretch. Of course, the hope is Miller is ready to return before the postseason begins.
The Bruins also issued some good news today, announcing that key bottom-six forward Sean Kuraly should be ready to go for Thursday night’s game. Kuraly missed Boston’s last game and will presumably miss their next on Tuesday night against the Carolina Hurricanes with a concussion, but is on the road to recovery. As for star forward David Pastrnak, Cassidy simply said that he is on schedule in his rehab. This comes after the two week re-evaluation promised last month after he underwent thumb surgery, but stops short of issuing a new timeline. Seeing as the Bruins have not lost in regulation since January 10th, the team is under no pressure to rush Pastrnak – or Miller – back early.