Uncertainty Surrounding Nate Schmidt Injury
Few players have received as much attention this off-season as new Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nate Schmidt. The up-and-coming blue liner was selected by the NHL’s newest club in the Expansion Draft after a pair of strong seasons with the Washington Capitals. Then, before even playing a game with the Knights, the restricted free agent and his new team went to salary arbitration, where Schmidt was the only player this off-season to actually receive a reward from the arbitrator after a hearing. Vegas signed Schmidt to the two-year, $4.45MM deal that had been awarded and it appeared the two sides were all set for the 2017-18 season, with Schmidt prepared to play a major role on defense.
However, things have changed in an unexpected way. Back in mid-August, it was announced that Schmidt was unable to attend a fan event in Montana due to an injury. It was later revealed that Schmidt suffered an ankle injury while training, but no other details were offered. Weeks later, there has been no update on Schmidt’s condition with training camp just around the corner. Sin Bin inquired about the status of Schmidt’s injury today and, again, received no feedback. A team representative simply stated that “there is no update”.
At this point, some worry by fans has become warranted. Although the Knights still roster ten other NHL-caliber defenseman, Schmidt was slated to battle for a top pairing role and his absence would make the start of Vegas’ inaugural season much more difficult. While there’s just as little evidence to support any thought that he might miss time as there is about the injury itself, the lack of information coming from the team is cause for concern. Keep an eye out for updates on the Knights’ promising young rearguard as the season quickly approaches.
Bruins Notes: Pastrnak, Beleskey, PTO Candidates
The negotiations between the Boston Bruins and 21-year-old superstar David Pastrnak have dominated the headlines in recent weeks, despite the fact that there has been little substance to the actual news. Pastrnak is a restricted free agent coming off of a break-out 70-point campaign and is looking for a long-term contract. The Bruins would like to provide him with one and reportedly made an offer of six or seven years worth $6MM per season earlier this summer, after which there has not been much of a response. While that does seem to be somewhat below market value, especially in light of Leon Draisaitl‘s new deal in Edmonton, any report that Pastrnak’s side is unhappy with the offer or unwilling to deal with GM Don Sweeney or President Cam Neely is nothing more than speculation.
Well, it seems that some clarity – and perhaps a conclusion – could soon be on the way. Pastrnak’s agent, J.P. Barry, arrived in Boston yesterday to meet with the Bruins’ brass to discuss the situation. By all accounts, this is the first in-person discussion that the two sides have had this summer, perhaps lending to the idea that the delay in the new contract could be due more to scheduling than anything else. The Bruins still appear certain that they will be able to come to terms on a new deal with Pastrnak, with Neely telling Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald that “David has expressed that he loves it here and wants to play here. We want him here for as long as it makes sense for us.” If Pastrnak continues to produce like he did in 2016-17, what “makes sense” for the Bruins is to keep him as long as possible. With that in mind, they should be flexible to an extent on the salary demands. On the other hand, Neely points out that, outside of the deals signed by former Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli in Edmonton, the market has not changed all that much and their offer to Pastrnak is within reason compared to contracts signed by similar players in recent years. There seems to be a mutual interest between both sides on getting a new deal done and a resolution could be reached in the coming days, finally putting to end a news cycle of fear mongering regarding Boston and their top young scorer.
- Once Pastrnak is signed, Bruins fans can turn their frustration and anxiety to a new target, which will more than likely be Matt Beleskey. With Jimmy Hayes gone, Beleksey will now face the full ire of the Boston fan base some training camp. Admittedly, Beleksey is fresh off of a very disappointing season. The veteran winger was plagued by injury and ineffectiveness in 2016-17, playing in just 49 games and recording only eight points. While his $3.8MM cap hit is manageable, more is expected at that price tag. However, many are quick to forget that Beleskey’s first season in Boston, 2015-16, was the best of his career. The big forward set a career high with 22 assists and 37 points and skated in a career best 15:51 minutes per game. Beleskey’s 260 hits were also tops on the team, helping to make up for the loss of Milan Lucic, a fan-favorite. In fact, Beleskey had “new fan-favorite” written all over him heading into last season, but that has surely changed. Yet, Beleskey told CSNNE’s Joe Haggerty that he plans to stick to his game this season. Beleskey has spent much of the off-season training in Boston and working to improve his speed, but has no intention of cutting back on any of his trademark physicality. If he is fully healthy and re-focused, as Haggerty sited a “touch of complacency” last season, then bringing that physical edge back to the Boston lineup would be a welcome addition. Yes, Beleskey faces stiff competition this fall for a top-nine spot from Frank Vatrano, UFA add Kenny Agostino, and promising prospects Anders Bjork, Jake DeBrusk, Peter Cehlarik, and Danton Heinen, but his size and strength match up with the historical preference in line mates of second-line center David Krejci, who played his best hockey alongside Lucic and Nathan Horton years ago. If Beleskey really can return to form, he will certainly be given a shot at a scoring role and could find a good fit alongside Krejci and David Backes.
- The two themes of the Bruins’ summer have been 1) the team wants to give the kids a chance to make the team this season and 2) the off-season priority is an extension for Pastrnak. That combination has led to speculation that the Bruins would have interest in a late-summer signing or PTO for veteran wingers, after Pastrnak had signed and the up-and-coming forwards had gotten a look. Until recently, Drew Stafford, who performed well in Boston at the end of last season and kept in touch with the team all summer, and Thomas Vanek, whose career has pitted him against Boston many times, were considered two of the top candidates. Now, both have signed with other teams for the coming season and the Bruins’ options are getting thin. Between the aforementioned Bjork, DeBrusk, Cehlark, and Heinen on the left side and top forward prospect Zach Senyshyn on the right, as well as center Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson potentially pushing Ryan Spooner to the wing or sliding outside himself, the Bruins could easily plug their holes internally. However, if they think that those young players need more seasoning, Beleskey, Vatrano, Agostino, Spooner, and Riley Nash are a group that could use some more competition for top-nine spots. The last thing the team needs is to push natural checking line players, like Noel Acciari and Tim Schaller, into the top nine like they did last year. Depth on the right side is more concerning and the likes of Alex Chiasson or Teddy Purcell could be intriguing PTO candidates, while a high-ceiling scorer like P.A. Parenteau or Jiri Hudler may also be worth a look. With the recent influx of PTO agreements, the Bruins may need to enter the fray before the Pastrnak negotions are over, or else risk missing out on a closer look at one of these options.
Morning Notes: Chytil, Bergeron, Kostka
After trading away their first-round pick in several consecutive years, the New York Rangers selected twice on the first day of the draft picking Lias Andersson at #7, and Filip Chytil at #21. While Andersson is set to try and crack the NHL roster out of training camp, it doesn’t look like Chytil will even be able to take part in the rookie tournament. A report out of the Czech Republic says that Chytil is dealing with a torn leg muscle suffered while playing in the Four Nations tournament.
While this injury hasn’t been verified by the Rangers, it would be a disappointing start to Chytil’s career with the team. He signed an entry-level contract in July, and though he isn’t expected to make the jump to the NHL—he’s just 17 after all—there was still a decision to be made on where he should spend this season. He could have been sent to Canadian junior where the North Bay Battalion selected him seventh overall in this year’s import draft, to the AHL to suit up for the Hartford Wolf Pack, or back to Europe where he could continue to develop on loan.
- Patrice Bergeron underwent sports hernia surgery back in May, but is back on the ice and feels like he’ll be ready for the start of training camp with the Boston Bruins. Bergeron spoke to Matt Kalman of NHL.com, and said even though he’s still getting some treatment for the injury he feels ready enough to start camp. Hernia injuries can linger as we’ve seen in the past, and now at 32-years old it will be interesting to see if Bergeron can get off to a quick start with the Bruins. In the Atlantic Division, where it will be a dog fight for the playoff spots all year long, wasted games in October could come back to haunt them.
- Former NHL defenseman Mike Kostka has signed a tryout with Swedish team AIK, after spending all of 2016-17 in the minor leagues. The undrafted NCAA free agent has played 85 career NHL games, split between Toronto, Tampa Bay, Chicago, New York and Ottawa. At 31, it’s tough to see him make it back to the NHL on a full-time basis, but as always this could open up Olympic consideration. Kostka has never represented Canada on the international stage, but it wouldn’t be out of the question to see him on the roster.
Jakob Chychrun “Progressing Well”, Expected Back This Season
When young Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun underwent knee surgery earlier this month, the timeline for his return was “indefinite” and there was fear that he could miss the entire 2017-18 season. Even when new head coach Rick Tocchet indicated that Chychrun was sure to return this season, there was still skepticism. Now, Arizona Sports’ Craig Morgan has heard from GM John Chayka that the sophomore rearguard’s injury is “definitely not season-ending”.
In speaking with Chayka, Morgan reports that Chychrun is “progressing really well” and that his high-end strength and conditioning has made for an expedited rehab and recovery period. Chayka did not give any details on the nature of the injury, but did day that it is very unlikely that Chychrun would be ready for the beginning of the season. It would be more like a miracle, given the extensiveness of the surgery mere weeks ago, but Chayka seemed optimistic that Chychrun would return much earlier than in most cases.
In the meantime, Chayka mentioned that 2016 AHL All-Star Kyle Wood is the early favorite for Chychrun’s roster spot and would likely fill the seventh defenseman role. This seemingly confirms that off-season addition Adam Clendening will be made a starter to begin the campaign. Chayka also mentioned that AHL veterans Joel Hanley and Andrew Campbell would be given a look and that the team is actively looking into securing a professional tryout with one or two available blue liners. Dennis Wideman, John-Michael Liles, and Fedor Tyutin lead the list of capable veteran defenseman who may be intrigued by a PTO with Arizona. The Coyotes are swimming in forward depth with many promising prospects ready to make the jump, but the same cannot be said on defense. Even with the additions of Clendening and Niklas Hjalmarsson and the eventual return of Chychrun, a PTO could turn into a major role for the right player.
Prospect Notes: Khovanov, Jokiharju, Rookie Camps
It’s been an up-and-down summer for Alexander Khovanov. Expected to be a top pick in the 2018 draft, Khovanov was planning on coming to Canada to join the junior ranks and compete right in front of the eyes of NHL scouts. Because of his public commitment, he went second-overall to the Moncton Wildcats in the CHL Import Draft, but eventually re-signed with Ak Bars in the KHL for three years.
Now, according to the Moncton Times & Transcript, Khovanov will miss at least six months of development due to contracting hepatitis A. He’s battling the illness in Russia. It’s a tough break for a player who was expected to go somewhere in the first round, as his draft year is compromised almost entirely. Hockey fans will hope for a quick recovery from the young forward.
- Scott Powers of The Athletic catches us up on several of the Chicago Blackhawks’ prospects, including Henri Jokiharju who is now considered likely to start training camp with the club. Last we heard it was in doubt after he suffered a knee injury in July. Jokiharju was the Blackhawks’ first-round selection this year, and will likely return to the Portland Winterhawks where he was outstanding as a 17-year old rookie. Scoring 48 points in 78 games, he was one of the most impressive puck-rushing defensemen in the entire WHL, and should only develop further this year.
- Our friends over at Roster Resource have added the rookie camp rosters for all the teams who have announced them thus far, giving you a quick look at who will be competing over the next few weeks. The site has also added depth charts all the way down through the ECHL, giving unprecedented information all in one place for your favorite team. Make sure to keep their page bookmarked all season for an easy check of where players are stationed throughout the year.
Roman Polak Skating Again, Rehab On Track
After suffering a broken fibula in the playoffs for the Toronto Maple Leafs, there hadn’t been many updates on free agent defender Roman Polak. Today that changed when agent Allan Walsh of Octagon Hockey tweeted out a video of his client completing a skating drill. The interesting part is that Polak is skating in Maple Leafs gear, despite being unsigned at present. Toronto has a history of allowing rehabbing players to train at their facilities, but it could point to Toronto being an eventual destination for the 31-year old.
Polak has already played for the Maple Leafs in two different stints, and there has been speculation since his injury that a spot would be held for him when he eventually returns. A favorite of head coach Mike Babcock during his time there, he was the team’s lead penalty killer and provided some toughness to a blueline mostly occupied by more offensive options. While this is obviously no guarantee that he would return, it’s good to see him on the ice again and healthy.
The right-shot defenseman has played 634 games in the NHL over his career, recorded 115 points and 504 penalty minutes. While possession stats rate his overall impact poorly due to a below-average ability to skate or pass the puck out of his own end, he does draw rave reviews from teammates and coaches for his work ethic on and off the ice. He’s coming off a one-year, $2.25MM contract with the Maple Leafs and would surely have several suitors should he be healthy enough to play at some point this year.
St. Louis Blues Prospect Undergoes Surgery, Out Until December
The St. Louis Blues announced today that prospect goaltender Luke Opilka underwent successful surgery to repair a torn left hip labrum. Opilka had been dealing with the injury throughout last season with the OHL Kitchener Rangers. The Blues expect Opilka to be out until December 2017.
This is the second hip surgery for Opilka. He underwent hip surgery last offseason in an attempt to help him in the long term. Opilka came back and put up a 3.51 SV% and a .889 GAA in 31 games for Kitchener.
The Blues drafted Opilka 146th overall in the 2015 NHL draft. It was unclear whether Opilka would remain in the OHL as an over-ager, or make the transition to the AHL. Unfortunately, the Blues do not have a full-time AHL affiliate until 2018-19. The Blues did call call Opilka up from the OHL during the Blues’ playoffs last season, but the young goaltender did not dress for any games. His presence was more for practice fodder and to give the NHL goaltenders a rest.
Marian Gaborik Has “Non-Surgical Procedure” On Knee
At the Los Angeles Kings’ state of the franchise event yesterday, GM Rob Blake revealed to season ticket holders and media that Marian Gaborik had undergone a “non-surgical” procedure and is still unlikely for camp. That news comes from Dennis Bernstein of The Fourth Period and the NHL Network, who reports the procedure was to repair ligament and tendon damage in his knee.
While it’s not clear if this is a new procedure or the same one Blake spoke about back in April, but it does cast further doubt on the start of Gaborik’s season. With the less-than-forthcoming way that the Kings are explaining the procedure and injury itself, there deserves to be some speculation on whether or not the team is planning on using some long-term injured reserve time for the aging winger. Gaborik for what it’s worth has posted several videos and photos of him training or biking recently, showing that he’s at least healthy enough to be in the gym.
Gaborik is coming off another dreadful season in which he registered just 21 points and will play this season at 35-years old. With still four years remaining on his contract, there was thought that the Kings might buy him out this summer. That couldn’t happen with his injury, and the opportunity is starting to disappear. With his front-loaded contract, a buyout next summer would result in a still fairly hefty cap hit.
Travis Zajac Undergoes Surgery, Out 4-6 Months
Terrible news for the New Jersey Devils today, as the team announced that Travis Zajac is out for 4-6 months following surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle. The injury was sustained during his offseason training program. Zajac will now miss a good portion of the season, with six months from now being the middle of February.
Zajac is coming off another fairly successful season in which he registered 45 points as the team’s number one center. While he hasn’t been a big point producer for some time now, his consistency and defensive effort is a big part of the Devils’ offense. Though they’ll obviously miss his presence in the lineup, it does open the door for some of New Jersey’s young players to step up and prove their talent on the big stage.
In addition to Nico Hischier, the first-overall pick from this year’s draft, the Devils also have a group of centers ready to take the next step. Pavel Zacha, Micheal McLeod and John Quenneville all could step into a role in the middle if the team deems them ready for full-time duty. That’s not to say any of the four would be needed on the top line, as Adam Henrique will likely be given even more responsibility.
Luckily the team also added even more depth this offseason by signing Brian Boyle and trading for Marcus Johansson. Though the latter was expected to play mostly wing in New Jersey, he does have experience at center and could be moved back there if deemed necessary. Still, for a team that struggled to score last year and is trying to compete while Corey Schneider is still in his prime, losing a top option like Zajac is a serious blow.
Snapshots: Coyotes, Granlund, Horvat, Heeter
The Arizona Coyotes are excited about their offseason moves, and perhaps none more than Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The Coyotes star defenseman has gained a friend and pairing in Niklas Hjalmarsson, who has played with him on the international stage in the past. The two Swedes will team up on Arizona’s first pair this season and try to make some noise in the Western Conference. Speaking with Dave Vest of NHL.com, Ekman-Larsson spoke about his new teammate:
I’m super excited about [playing with Hjalmarsson]. He’s super easy to play with. He talks a lot and he’s a good skater and moves the puck. I would say he’s underrated.
While Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook got a lot of the national press out of Chicago, any Blackhawks fan will tell you that Hjalmarsson was an integral piece to the three Stanley Cup teams. He was a defensive rock for the club for many years, and will try to allow Ekman-Larsson to open up his game a little bit while still taking on the tough matchups.
- Michael Russo of the Star Tribune reports that Mikael Granlund rolled his ankle in Finland and has been seen on crutches, but is still expected to be ready for training camp. It will slow down the young forward’s offseason training, but luckily he seems to have escaped serious injury. Granlund will be relied upon heavily for the Minnesota Wild this season after signing a three-year, $17.25MM contract this summer.
- In other Granlund news, Rick Dhaliwal of NEWS 1130 reports that Markus Granlund‘s wrist is fully healthy and the Vancouver Canucks forward is already skating. Granlund underwent surgery in March to correct an ongoing issue, but is “100%” and ready for training camp. Coming off a 19-goal season, he could jump onto a top-line role once again for the Canucks.
- Granlund also told Dhaliwal that he thinks Bo Horvat‘s new contract will be done soon. Horvat is still sitting as a restricted free agent even though Canucks’ GM Jim Benning has been clear he wants to lock him up long-term. The young center will likely be the new face of the franchise in Vancouver once the Sedin twins leave town, and will be looking for a contract which adequately compensates him for that.
- The Toronto Marlies have signed a goaltender to work with Garret Sparks this year. The team announced they’ve signed Cal Heeter to a one-year AHL deal, bringing him in after a solid end of the season with the Calder Cup champion Grand Rapids Griffins. Antoine Bibeau, the previous goaltender for the Marlies was not given a qualifying offer this spring and signed with the San Jose Sharks.