Minor Transactions: 2/25/18
With the trade deadline coming to a fast-moving finish tomorrow, plenty of teams will need to make adjustments to their roster today. Check in to see what teams are up to:
- The Minnesota Wild have recalled two players to the team in forward Joel Eriksson-Ek and defenseman Nick Seeler from the Iowa Wild. For Eriksson-Ek, the move is just a way to save some salary cap space. For Seeler, he returns after almost two weeks after being sent back to the Iowa Wild. The 24-year-old defenseman has played six games for Minnesota, while playing most of the season with Iowa where he’s played 49 games.
- The New Jersey Devils have assigned center John Quenneville to the Binghampton Devils of the AHL. He had been sidelined since Feb. 10 with a knee injury. The former 2014 first-rounder has played in just two games for New Jersey. In Binghampton, he has 10 goals and 11 assists in 31 games this season.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins have assigned recently acquired forward Vincent Dunn to his team in the ECHL, the Brampton Beast Sunday. Dunn, who the team got from the Ottawa Senators in the Derrick Brassard trade Friday, started the year with the Belleville Senators in the AHL, but got demoted to the Beast. The Penguins will keep the 22-year-old with his former team, rather than sending him to one of their affiliates. Dunn has seven goals and an assist in 17 games for Brampton, but tallied just four assists in 16 games with Belleville.
Senators, Karlsson Trying To Get Trade Done By Deadline
The Ottawa Senators and Erik Karlsson are both working hard on making a deal happen by the trade deadline with the Tampa Bay Lightning being the leading candidate to acquire the star defenseman, according to Elliotte Friedman Saturday on Hockey Night in Canada.
“Whatever gets said, the belief is the Ottawa Senators want to try to make this happen and Erik Karlsson wants it to happen, and they have been grinding away in the last two or three days to see if they can,” Friedman said. “Obviously Tampa Bay is a leading contender, I think they’ve thrown several different proposals at each other.”
While negotiations haven’t reached their final stages, other teams have also shown interest in Karlsson, including the Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks and the Vegas Golden Knights.
The idea that Karlsson could end up in Tampa Bay is not unrealistic considering he is close friends with fellow Swede Victor Hedman. The two playing on the Lightning’s blueline could be the ultimate piece for a team that want to win a Stanley Cup this year. However, what would be the cost? While Tampa Bay has quite a lot of solid prospects they could deal, Ottawa would almost definitely be looking for a major piece from the team’s active roster with names such as Brayden Point, Yanni Gourde and Vladislav Namestnikov, rumored to be names that Ottawa would want back.
“I’m sure the names Brayden Point and Yanni Gourde have come up, but at the very least it might even cost them [Vladislav] Namestnikov and we know how important he is to the first line in Tampa Bay,” said Kypreos on the same segment of Hockey Night in Canada. “But Ottawa wants a major piece back.”
Friedman added in the segment that he believes if Ottawa is willing to accept Namestnikov as the centerpiece of the deal, “that’s something that Tampa would do.” However, the real question is what else would Ottawa want? The team is unlikely to part with 19-year-old Mikhail Sergachev, who seems to have turned the corner after recent struggles.
You also have to factor in the injury to Ondrej Palat, who is out for another two or three weeks with what many believe is a high ankle sprain. Does the team have enough depth to survive without a Namestnikov, who is a major influence on the team’s first line. The 25-year-old is having a breakout season with 20 goals and 24 assists in 62 games this year. He is only making $1.94MM this year, but will be a restricted free agent next year, which could make him harder to sign for the future.
Eastern Notes: Karlsson, Nash, Lindblom, Rosen
Did Erik Karlsson play his last game as a member of the Ottawa Senators?
Just a few weeks ago, there was no way Karlsson would be traded. Just a few days ago, there was nothing more than a rumor that general manager Pierre Dorion might consider a trade if he was blown away. Now suddenly, it seems like everyone is in on a potential trade and there is a good chance Karlsson will be dealt.
The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch writes that while he believes there is a better chance than not that Karlsson will remain with the Senators after the trade deadline, it seems that teams are lining up to make offers. The scribe writes that three teams, in particular, have all been mentioned as trade partners for Karlsson, including the Tampa Bay Lightning, Vegas Golden Knights and the Nashville Predators. Tampa Bay would love to add Karlsson to their stable of defensemen and have a 1-2 combination of Victor Hedman and Karlsson. Vegas wouldn’t mind acquiring the star and making him the face of their franchise and would be easily able to take the contract of Ryan off Ottawa’s hands as well.
The San Jose Sharks have also been mentioned as having checked in with Ottawa about Karlsson and also have the cap room to take on Ryan, but seem an unlikely option.
All three clubs would like to have Karlsson for the next two postseasons, but Garrioch writes that unless the Senators are blown away by an offer, the team should hold onto the star defenseman and move him before the draft. That’s the more likely time the team will see the best offers. The Senators have made it clear to anyone calling that they are looking for about five to six pieces to help the team both immediately and in the future.
- Pierre LeBrun tweets that the New York Rangers that trade talks surrounding winger Rick Nash are progressing. While there is no mention of what teams are attempting to make a deal for the veteran, LeBrun writes the Rangers got an offer they are considering, but then adds that other teams remain in the mix. A deal within the next 24 hours is not out of the question. Elliotte Friedman just added that the Boston Bruins may be the leading candidate in the Nash sweepstakes.
- Charlie O’Connor of The Athletic (subscription required) writes that for Philadelphia Flyers prospect forward Oskar Lindblom to remain with the Flyers once Wayne Simmonds returns from injury, he would have to knock one player off one of the top three lines. Lindblom, who had 16 goals with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL this year has played in just two games since being recalled after Simmonds went down. While he hasn’t put up any points yet, O’Connor writes that Lindblom would need to show that he can produce at the NHL level better than either Michael Raffl or Jordan Weal. Both could easily move to the fourth line to make room for him. The question is whether he can produce.
- Scott Wheeler of The Athletic (subscription required) writes that one asset the Toronto Maple Leafs have is their AHL franchise, the Toronto Marlies, which seems to have one of the deepest rosters in the league. While that is great, the team has too many players and once playoff time rolls around, the Marlies will have some real issues. If the Maple Leafs are eliminated from the playoffs before the Marlies are, the Maple Leafs will also likely send some players down, causing an even bigger roster jam. Wheeler writes the Maple Leafs should consider moving some of their AHL players such as defenseman Calle Rosen to lighten their load, but some of those pieces could also be used to acquire another piece for the Maple Leafs.
Deadline Notes: Plekanec, Green, Gionta, Kane, Lindberg
While it’s still to early to know, Winnipeg Free Press’ Jeff Hamilton feels that there is a strong indication that the Winnipeg Jets are pushing to acquire Montreal Canadiens center Tomas Plekanec tonight. The 34-year-old veteran was also scratched for tonight’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, although that may just be to ensure he doesn’t get hurt right before the deadline. While there are no details on how close the two teams are, the plan, according to Hamilton, is for the Jets to use Plekanec on the team’s third line alongside Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers, which would give the team a deep lineup. Andrew Copp would move to the team’s fourth line and would join Joel Armia and Adam Lowry.
The Jets were supposedly working hard to acquire Derrick Brassard Friday, but lost out to the Pittsburgh Penguins and were forced to look for another center to fill their needs. While Plekanec is a step down from Brassard, the veteran may get some new life with the Jets, especially if he gets to play with Laine and Ehlers.
- With the trade deadline less than two days away, the Detroit Red Wings still have their top trade chip remaining on their roster, but the problem is that he’s still hurt. In fact, the top rental defenseman on the market hasn’t played in five games and could miss Sunday’s game as well. While Green as practiced with the team twice now, including Friday, MLive’s Ansar Khan suggests that while there is little doubt that Green will be moved by Monday, the timing of the injury could easily diminish the team’s returns for him. He writes teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning might pause first if they feel he could re-injure himself the moment they acquire him.
- As mentioned earlier today, there has been some interest in Team USA captain Brian Gionta. However, Pierre LeBrun adds that a couple of East teams have expressed interest in Gionta, including the Boston Bruins. While nothing in imminent, a deal could be made at some point this weekend.
- The Buffalo News’ Mike Harrington writes that the Buffalo Sabres are holding forward Evander Kane out of the lineup tonight. Kane, one of the most anticipated trade candidates join a group of players who have been held out in the last day or two as the team doesn’t want to risk losing a player to injury just before the deadline. “Management thought it was the best decision moving forward and the best decision for Evander,” coach Phil Housley said in his pregame media briefing two hours before faceoff. “… That’s the situation for right now.” No other pending trade candidates were scratched.
- Tobias Lindberg, who the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights Friday in the Derrick Brassard trade, has been assigned to the AHL, but not to their affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, but back to the Chicago Wolves, the affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights, according to Chicago Wolves broadcaster Jason Shaver. The Penguins didn’t want to move him at this point of the season to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, but can still recall him at any point during the season.
Flames Notes: Smith, Goloubef, Mangiapane, Glass, Fox
The Calgary Flames announced they have placed veteran goaltender Mike Smith on injured reserve today although general manager Brad Treliving says he remains day-to-day. The goaltender has missed six games with a groin injury.
“I’d love to give you clarity of which day that is. We don’t know yet,” said Treliving, according to Postmedia’s Wes Gilbertson.
The team has been using the combination of David Rittich and Jon Gillies and may look to pick up another goaltender as the compete for a playoff spot in the Western Conference.
- Treliving also said that Stockton Heat defenseman Cody Goloubef will have his AHL contract upgraded to a two-way NHL deal, according to Sportsnet’s 960. The 28-year-old has 129 games of NHL experience and was recently on loan to the Canadian Olympic team. The defenseman just picked up two assists to help lead his team to a 6-4 victory over the Czech Republic to capture the bronze medal earlier. In 34 games for Stockton this year, he has seven goals and 10 assists.
- The team also made several moves today, including recalling forwards Tanner Glass and Andrew Mangiapane, while assigning forward Ryan Lomberg to Stockton. The 34-year-old Glass has played seven games for Calgary this year. The veteran should provide some experience on the team’s fourth line. The 21-year-old Mangiapane has played nine games for Calgary, but has failed to score a point. Picked in the sixth round of the 2015 draft, Mangiapane has excelled at a young age in the AHL, having scored 39 goals in two years. The 23-year-old Lomberg had just one assist in seven games for Calgary, but has five goals and 84 penalty minutes with Stockton.
- Treliving also mentioned, according to FlamesNation’s Ryan Pike, the team has 46 contracts (out of a possible 50) and are looking at possible college free agents to add as well as the possibility of trying to sign Harvard University defenseman Adam Fox, who the team drafted in the third round of the 2016 draft. Fox had a 40-point season as a freshman and currently has 21 points this season with The Crimson.
Deadline Primer: Colorado Avalanche
With the trade deadline now just a few days away, we continue our closer look at the situation for each team. Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs? Next up is a look at the Colorado Avalanche.
Well, it’s been a great run for the Colorado Avalanche this season. Really, who could have expected that the worst team in the NHL in 2016-17 would have still been competing for a playoff spot in February? The team has nothing to be disappointed in: they got a great return for Matt Duchene earlier this year, watched Nathan MacKinnon embrace his superstar role, and exceeded expectations as a group all year long. However, they were never supposed to be a playoff team this quickly and, barring a miraculous stretch run, they won’t be. Colorado has quickly fallen behind in the Western Conference playoff race in recent weeks. Since their ten-game win streak ended in January, the Avs are 5-7-2 and just barely sticking around the conversation for a playoff spot. They are sixth in the Central Division, with teams ahead of them like the Minnesota Wild and the Dallas Stars getting hot at the right time, making it difficult to see Colorado winning a divisional berth. Over in the Pacific, the resurgence of the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings, on top of the Stars, Wild and St. Louis Blues, also puts a wild card spot nearly out of reach. While it may not be the storybook ending some hoped for, it’s time for the Avalanche to cut ties with their rental players, if the right deal comes along, and move on, with eyes towards taking another step forward next year.
Record
32-23-5, sixth in the Central Division
Deadline Status
Seller
Deadline Cap Space
$37,680,931 in deadline cap space
44/50 contracts per CapFriendly
Draft Picks
2018: COL 1st, COL 2nd, NSH 2nd, COL 3rd, COL 4th, COL 5th, COL 6th, COL 7th
2019: OTT 1st, COL 1st, COL 2nd, OTT 3rd, COL 3rd, COL 5th, COL 6th, COL 7th
Trade Chips
Even if GM Joe Sakic and company decided they still wanted to keep pushing for a playoff spot, their deadline plans would be more or less the same. Colorado does not have a firm enough seat in the Western playoff race to warrant buying, but there is little difference between standing pat and “selling”. The team has only a few impending unrestricted free agents and Sakic will move them if the right deal comes along. If not, he will likely be happy to keep them as the Avs’ own “rentals” and, in some case, may even have extension talks. Headlining the group of available Avs are goaltenders Jonathan Bernier and Andrew Hammond, either of which could be expendable whether Colorado is a traditional “seller” or not. Bernier, who is currently sidelined with an injury but expected back soon, has been a great value addition to the team this season, outplaying incumbent starter Semyon Varlamov and forcing a near-even split in net. Bernier, if healthy, could be an attractive addition for a team in need of a more reliable backup goalie for the postseason. He could always re-sign in Colorado even if he is dealt. Hammond, on the other hand, has not seen any NHL action this season, but could be affordable added insurance for a playoff-bound squad. Blake Comeau, a former 20-goal scorer and consistent bottom-six contributor, will likely get the most attention as the deadline draws closer. Comeau would be a nice depth addition for any number of contenders. To a much lesser extent, Gabriel Bourque and Joe Colborne could also draw some interest. Colin Wilson has been a huge disappointment in Denver, but if the team is willing to eat some of his near-$4MM salary in 2019, they could easily trade the veteran forward away less than a year after acquiring him from Nashville.
Players to Watch: RW Blake Comeau, G Jonathan Bernier, D Mark Barberio, LW Gabriel Bourque, G Andrew Hammond
Team Needs
1) Picks and prospects
Again, the success that this team has achieved is a total surprise. They are still very much in a rebuild and, like all rebuilding teams, simply need to stock up on draft picks and prospects. The team got a great return for Duchene earlier this year, including a first-round pick and player selected with a first-round pick last year, and simply want to continue to accumulate those franchise building blocks. Given the pieces they’re willing to move, the Avs won’t be getting much back outside of mid-round picks and middling prospects anyway. If the Avalanche walk away from the trade deadline with some combination of third- and fourth-round picks and a prospect scoring winger or two, it will be a major success.
Trade Deadline Notes: Flames, Plekanec, Neal
“Will GM Brad Treliving and the Calgary Flames ‘pull a Hextall’?”, wonders the Calgary Sun’s Eric Francis with mere days left before the NHL Trade Deadline. Francis is referring to Philadelphia Flyers GM Ron Hextall, who recently acted quickly to acquire goaltender Petr Mrazek from the Detroit Red Wings when his top two goalies went down with long-term injuries. Treliving and the Flames are now in a similar position, with their one experienced keeper, Mike Smith, out with a groin injury and a return not imminent. Calgary is currently working with two rookie goalies, David Rittich and Jon Gillies, as they try to keep up in the Western Conference playoff race. If Treliving, like Hextall, feels that he owes his team a true starting-caliber goalie, he could hit the rental market for some help down the stretch. Options could include Buffalo’s Robin Lehner, an impending RFA and likely the top available target, Arizona’s Antti Raanta, if the Coyotes are willing to move him, a reunion with Chad Johnson, or even a lesser option albeit with more experience such as Michael Hutchinson or Andrew Hammond. However, as Francis points out after his conversation with Treliving, if the team continues to put forward lackluster performances in front of their young goalie tandem, perhaps paying the steep price to bring in an upgrade won’t be worth it. The situation is one worth monitoring as the deadline fast approaches.
- One player expected to move before the deadline is career Canadien Tomas Plekanec. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that calls have been flooding in to Montreal GM Marc Bergevin, especially following the Derick Brassard news, inquiring into the cost of trading for the veteran center. Plekanec, 35, has seen his offense fall off dramatically over the past two seasons, but still plays a reliable two-way game and can still be an experienced asset for many teams. With the Canadiens far outside the playoff picture and Plekanec on an expiring contract, possibly headed for retirement, a deal will almost certainly be struck with an interested team. It seems the days are numbered on a relationship that began in 2003-04.
- The Vegas Golden Knights placed James Neal on injured reserve today, per beat writer Steve Carp. While Neal is simply suffering from an illness right now, an undisclosed illness has also kept teammate Shea Theodore out of the lineup for more than a week. With forwards Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and William Carrier also on IR and an unclear picture of when Neal will return to action, one has to wonder if the Knights will take a longer look at the forward market before the deadline passes them by.
Minor Transactions: 02/21/18
After a busy night in the NHL, the league has just three games on tap for today. Instead, teams might use their time off to cement their status for the trade deadline and make inquiries around the league. All the minor moves we’ll keep track of right here. Refresh the page throughout the day to make sure you stay up to date on all the comings and goings.
- Tucker Poolman has been sent back to the minor leagues by the Winnipeg Jets, after being scratched again last night. It’s been eight straight games in the press box for Poolman, who will get a chance to play again with the Manitoba Moose.
- In addition to claiming and assigning Gabriel Dumont, the Tampa Bay Lightning have sent Matthew Peca to the Syracuse Crunch. Peca has scored five points in 10 games for the Lightning, and is scheduled to become a Group VI free agent this summer.
- After being acquired yesterday, the San Jose Sharks have recalled Eric Fehr from the minor leagues, sending Rudolfs Balcers back down in his place. Fehr could get into the lineup as a fourth-line player in the coming days, after an impressive performance for the San Diego Gulls through the first part of the season.
- The Anaheim Ducks have recalled Reto Berra under emergency conditions while John Gibson deals with his latest injury. Ryan Miller will start for now, and will need him to help them towards the playoffs like Jonathan Bernier did a year ago.
- Speaking of goaltenders, the Edmonton Oilers have returned Laurent Brossoit to the minor leagues as Al Montoya is set to get back on the bench. Montoya needs to play just three more games for the Oilers to force them into sending a fourth-round pick to Montreal instead of a fifth.
- Ryan Sproul is on his way back to the minor leagues after getting into four games with the club. Sproul has a point in each of his last two games, but will need to wait for his next chance to get into the lineup.
- The New Jersey Devils have returned Nick Lappin to the AHL as several players approach a return to the ice. Lappin has played in just six games with New Jersey this season, but is leading the Binghamton Devils in goals with 17.
- After Carey Price took a shot to the head last night, the Montreal Canadiens have recalled Charlie Lindgren under emergency conditions. With him comes Noah Juulsen under a regular recall, ready to make his NHL debut after battling injury this season. Juulsen was called “very close” to NHL ready in September by his GM, before breaking his foot in training camp.
Jake McCabe To Undergo Shoulder Surgery
The Buffalo Sabres will be without Jake McCabe for the rest of the 2017-18 season, as he’ll undergo shoulder surgery that will keep him out for four to six months. According to GM Jason Botterill, McCabe had been dealing with the problem for a while:
Jake has been progressing well in his recovery from his previous injury, but we decided that this was a good opportunity to take care of a problem that he has been dealing with for a while. Jake will have time to fully recover before the beginning of the 2018-19 season.
Even though the Sabres are struggling through another disappointing season, McCabe is one of the hopefuls to be part of a turnaround. Just 24, the defenseman has shown potential to become a solid player in his own end and a top-4 defenseman in the NHL. Though he’s clearly not done developing, there is reason to think he can be a solid piece going forward.
McCabe has one more season on his current deal that carries a $1.6MM cap hit, after which he’ll be a restricted free agent. Starting July 1st, the team could consider an extension to buy out some of his UFA years, or wait to see what he can do coming off this latest injury. Four months gives him plenty of time to get ready for training camp, while six is starting to cut it pretty close. Regardless, unless he faces a setback in his rehab he’ll be ready to go on opening day.
Snapshots: Karlsson, Raanta, Iginla
Erik Karlsson‘s name has come front and center once again as the last few days tick down before Monday’s trade deadline. There have been several reports that the Ottawa Senators intend to listen on offers for their superstar defenseman, but Darren Dreger of TSN has thrown some cold water on the speculation. Dreger tweets that the chance Karlsson is dealt by the deadline is low, even if GM Pierre Dorion is listening to offers.
Any team seriously interested in Karlsson at the deadline would need to put together a huge package, and perhaps even take Bobby Ryan‘s contract back as well. Those obstacles are in addition to a 10-team no-trade list that Karlsson has submitted, making a deal increasingly difficult to pull off. Still, if there is movement on him in the next few days the acquiring team would be getting one of the best defensemen in the world for two playoff runs, something that would surely vault them into the Stanley Cup contender list.
- Antti Raanta is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer, and many wondered if the Arizona Coyotes would move him at the deadline for whatever asset they could. According to Pierre LeBrun of TSN, that isn’t the plan for GM John Chayka and the rest of the Coyotes front office. Instead, they plan on trying to re-sign the 28-year old goaltender and keep him in the crease for the foreseeable future. Raanta is having an excellent season when healthy, with a .924 save percentage that puts him fourth among goaltenders who have started at least 30 games this season.
- Jarome Iginla is back skating after his latest injury, practicing with the Providence Bruins today. According to Mark Divver of the Providence Journal, Iginla is just testing out his health and doesn’t have any contracts pending in the NHL. If Iginla does find a taker this season, he’d need to sign by the trade deadline on Monday to be eligible for the playoffs.