Pacific Notes: Voynov, Theodore, Gusev, Sbisa
Despite rumors this morning that former Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov has been cleared to talk to NHL teams, Sportsnet’s John Shannon tweets that a source told him the NHL has not cleared the 28-year-old defenseman who left the NHL in 2014 after he was suspended by the league due to a domestic abuse case.
Voynov, who has played the past three years in the KHL, has indicated he’d like to return to the NHL and looked to be close to getting that opportunity in July when he was granted an expungement of his domestic abuse conviction. The Kings still own the rights to Voynov as he currently sits on the voluntary retirement list. Assuming he gets cleared at some point, Voynov would have to find a team interested in him, which might be difficult. Then that team would have to trade for his rights as the Kings have showed no interest in bringing the blueliner back.
Shannon added that if the NHL eventually decides to allow Voynov to return, he still would face a suspension from the league. The league, union and Voynov’s agent are all discussing his return.
- Las Vegas Review Journals’ David Schoen reports there is little new information on the contract status of restricted free agent defenseman Shea Theodore. The scribe writes that with just three and a half weeks remaining until the start of training camp, there is some concern the 23-year-old blueliner might opt to hold out rather than settle. While there is no word how far apart they are in negotations, Theodore has expressed interest in signing a long-term deal and is likely to get money comparable to other deals signed by New Jersey Devils’ Damon Severson (six years, $25MM) and New York Rangers’ Brady Skjei (six years, $31.5MM), although a bridge deal isn’t out of the question either.
- After recently meeting with Russian forward Vladimir Tkachyov a couple of days ago, Vegas Golden Knights general manager George McPhee was also seen immediately after that in St. Petersburg at a preseason KHL game involving SKA, the team that Nikita Gusev plays for, tweeted international reporter Igor Eronko. The highly-touted 26-year-old, whose rights are owned by the Golden Knights, will be a free agent next season and the team has made it clear they would like to bring him over for the 2019-20 season. Gusev has scored at least 20 goals in each of the last four seasons.
- In another Golden Knights note, The Edmonton Journal’s Kurt Leavins tweets that he’s heard a rumor that Vegas is considering offer defenseman Luca Sbisa a PTO in the coming days. Sbisa produced a solid season for the Golden Knights when he wasn’t injured. Unfortunately, Sbisa only managed to be healthy for 30 contests, but proved to be a valuable leader. His offense also improved as he had 14 points in those 30 games, good second on his career-totals.
David Desharnais Re-Signs In KHL
Teams looking for some last minute free agent shopping could have received some good news earlier this week when it came out that NHL veteran David Desharnais was set to terminate his contract with HC Lokomotiv in the KHL, but it turns out that he won’t be coming back to North America. The 31-year old Desharnais has signed a one-year deal with Avangard Omsk and will be remaining in the KHL this season.
It was quickly reported after the termination news surfaced that Desharnais would be switching KHL clubs, but it wasn’t clear where he’d be headed. We know now that he’ll be joining long-time NHL head coach Bob Hartley in Omsk, where he’ll likely play a key role. Desharnais doesn’t appear to be anywhere near the end of his playing career, and is actually coming off a season with the New York Rangers where he posted 28 points in 71 games. Though there may not be a ton of room left for him in the NHL, there’s no reason to believe that he won’t find a lot of success in the KHL.
An offensive dynamo in junior, Desharnais went undrafted partly because of his small stature and had to fight his way up through the minor leagues. That included an incredible 106-point season in 2007-08 with the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL, in which he registered a 27-game point streak and put up one of the best playoff performances in the history of the league with 33 points in 22 games. Desharnais would find relative success in the AHL, and become a 60-point player for the Montreal Canadiens in 2011-12. In the KHL he’ll face a new test, but could potentially set himself up for another contract in North America next summer. Given the lack of center depth for many teams around the league, it wouldn’t be surprising to see his name pop up down the road.
Minor Transactions: 8/23/18
As the start of the NHL season draws closer, players at every level around the globe continue to make decisions on their hockey futures. Keep track of today’s signings here:
- Former Philadelphia Flyers forward Roman Lyubimov allegedly left the NHL last summer because he wanted a chance to play for his native Russia at the Olympics this past winter. However, he was not selected to the Olympic squad after all. It turns out that it might not have been his only motivation for jumping to the KHL anyway. Lyubimov, a free agent this off-season, has decided to stay at home in Russia, with Metallurg Magnitogorsk announcing a contract with the 26-year-old forward. It seems a combination of both wanting to play in the KHL and a lack of production in his one NHL season – six points in 47 games – was likely the cause of his jump overseas last year.
- Avery Peterson, one of the more well-known college free agents to hit the UFA market last week, has settled for an ECHL contract. The Idaho Steelheads have signed the former University of Minnesota-Duluth forward to a one-year deal, the team announced. The big two-way center played a key role in the Bulldogs’ run to the NCAA Championship this past season, but with limited offensive upside, Peterson will have to prove that he can make a difference at the pro level.
- It’s been a while since Matthew Finn has been considered a budding NHL prospect and even longer since he was drafted in the second round of the NHL Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2012. Yet, the smart, capable defenseman continues to make a living in the minors. Finn has signed an ECHL deal with the Florida Everblades after spending part of last season with the team while on a contract with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers. While Finn has logged plenty of time at the “AA” level, this is his first ECHL contract. The former Guelph Storm captain will bring leadership and experience to the Estero-based squad and if he is able to replicate his production from his last healthy season spent in the ECHL, should be back in contention for an AHL deal next summer. At this point though, it seems unlikely that we will ever see Finn at the NHL level despite his initial promise when drafted.
Vegas Golden Knights Linked To Vladimir Tkachyov
In the early part of the 2017-18 season, one of the biggest stories in the NHL was that of Vadim Shipachyov. The Vegas Golden Knights had convinced the then 30-year old Shipachyov to leave the KHL after nine seasons in the league and come to North America to play in the NHL. Signing him to a two-year, $9MM contract before the expansion draft process or free agency, the Golden Knights were betting big on the talented Russian forward.
Unfortunately that relationship didn’t get off to a good start, with Shipachyov beginning the season in the minor leagues and failing to really ever establish himself with the Golden Knights. After just three NHL games, the two sides parted ways and Shipachyov returned nearly all of his $2MM signing bonus in order to return to Russia. Some noted that the tough situation might prevent the Golden Knights from convincing other Russian free agents—including Nikita Gusev, whose rights belong to Vegas—from joining their organization in the future, though there was never any real evidence to support it.
Now, Igor Eronko of Sport-Express passes on a Russian report that Golden Knights GM George McPhee recently had a meeting with Vladimir Tkachyov, whose contract is scheduled to expire next spring. Tkachyov—the 24-year old center playing for Ak Bars Kazan—was linked to teams like the New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers back in 2017 before signing a two-year extension with Ak Bars. That was followed by his best offensive season yet, in which he scored 22 goals and 36 points in 53 games and helped his club win a Gagarin Cup. There’s no reason for NHL teams to have lost interest, but it’s not clear who is the front runner for his services at this point, or even if he’ll consider coming to North America this time around.
The Golden Knights obviously have a lot to offer, given their immediate success in the NHL and healthy salary situation. If they are interested in signing Tkachyov though, it will be interesting to see how the previous Shipachyov situation affects things—if it does at all.
Overseas Notes: Sandin, Taffe, Garbutt
Murray Pam of Sporting News Canada is reporting that Toronto Maple Leafs first-round pick Rasmus Sandin will not return to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL next season, and is currently with Rogle of the SHL preparing for the season. The Maple Leafs could still assign Sandin to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies if they chose to, because the 18-year old defenseman was playing on loan to the CHL.
Toronto brought top pick Timothy Liljegren over right away and allowed him to play all season in the AHL last year, and could potentially do the same with their latest first rounder. That would allow the two to potentially play together on a Calder Cup-winning squad, but may block Sandin from receiving the same type of minutes that he would in the SHL. The Marlies currently project to have some combination of Martin Marincin, Calle Rosen, Andreas Borgman and Andrew Nielsen on the left side this season, which doesn’t leave a lot of room for Sandin to play big minutes.
- HC Slovan Bratislava of the KHL have signed Jeff Taffe, the epitome of a professional hockey journeyman. Taffe, 37, played pro for more than a decade in North America, suiting up for 180 NHL games split between the then-Phoenix Coyotes, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Florida Panthers, Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild before heading overseas to play in Europe and the KHL. He’s played in the SHL, KHL and NLA the last few seasons and will return to Slovakia to suit up for Slovan Bratislava this season. Once a first-round pick by the St. Louis Blues, Taffe has always been an incredibly talented offensive performer in the minor leagues and internationally, and will try to continue that at his advanced age in the KHL.
- Speaking of HC Slovan, Ryan Garbutt won’t be playing for them again this season after signing in Germany’s DEL. Garbutt, a veteran of over 300 NHL contests, played for three different KHL teams last season after failing to find a job in North America. Once a 17-goal man for the Dallas Stars, the offense dried up for Garbutt fairly quickly and he found himself in the minor leagues for a good chunk of the 2016-17 season. At 33, it seems unlikely he’ll make a return to the NHL and will finish his career with 87 career points.
Snapshots: Corsi, Ramo, Matthews
The Columbus Blue Jackets have hired a pair of new faces for the coaching staff, bringing in Jim Corsi as goaltending development coach and Carey Krug as an assistant for the Cleveland Monsters. Corsi of course is the coach that the statistic is named after, but also has a long history of developing NHL goaltenders including working with Dominik Hasek and Ryan Miller after taking over from legendary coach Mitch Korn in Buffalo.
Krug, another familiar name in the hockey world, is the uncle of Boston Bruins defenseman Torey Krug and has been a skills development coach working with various players for more than a decade. He’ll join Columbus’ AHL affiliate and work with head coach John Madden for the upcoming season.
- Karri Ramo will miss the next six months thanks to a knee injury, keeping him out of a good portion of the KHL season. After posting outstanding numbers with Jokerit last season, Ramo was set to start for Avangard Omsk this season. Instead, that job will likely go to hulking goaltender Igor Bobkov, who also came over to Omsk this offseason. Bobkov was selected back in 2009 by the Anaheim Ducks in the third round, but never did crack the NHL. Now 32, it seems unlikely that Ramo will ever return to the NHL during his playing career.
- Auston Matthews has been the center of several rumors this offseason regarding his perceived attitude towards Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock and the arrival of John Tavares in town. He sat down with Jonas Siegel of The Athletic (subscription required) to put some of that speculation to rest, and admitted that he is ecstatic about the team adding a star of Tavares’ stature. Matthews also admitted that if the Maple Leafs brass asked him if he was ready to be the next captain of the team already, he would tell them yes—an admission that is only going to start more speculation about the 20-year old superstar.
Minor Transactions: 08/21/18
One day closer to the start of the NHL preseason, and there are more moves happening in other corners of the hockey world. We’ll keep track of them right here.
- Igor Eronko of Sport-Express is reporting that David Desharnais will see his contract terminated in the KHL, only to sign with another team. Desharnais signed quickly this summer with HC Lokomotiv, but is apparently headed somewhere else to start his KHL journey. The diminutive center played 71 games for the New York Rangers last season and actually contributed 28 points, but took a deal just a few days into free agency to head overseas. Now 31-years old, Desharnais could eventually return to the NHL if he can prove his offensive touch is still around.
- Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Martins Dzierkals has signed with Dinamo Riga of the KHL, heading back to his home country of Latvia after several years in North America. Drafted in the third round three years ago, Dzierkals never earned an NHL contract from the Maple Leafs but had been working with their development staff and playing in the ECHL. The talented forward will test his game at a higher level in 2017-18, and could try to earn a contract somewhere else in the NHL in the next few years.
Minor Transactions: 08/17/18
The hockey machine continues to chug along this offseason, with veteran players finding homes overseas and junior stars swapping sweaters. We’ll keep track of all the minor moves right here.
- Matt Frattin has re-signed with Barys Astana in the KHL, returning to the league after playing in Switzerland at the very end of last season. Frattin, a former Toronto Maple Leafs prospect scored 29 points in 42 games during his first taste of KHL action last year and should find success again going forward. In 135 NHL games, Frattin recorded just 35 points but always showed flashes of a high offensive ceiling. Now 30 years old, his NHL career is likely behind him.
- Former NHL defenseman Karl Stollery is heading to Jokerit of the KHL, leaving Dinamo Riga after a successful 2017-18 campaign. Stollery logged huge minutes for the club and also participated for Canada at the 2018 Winter Olympics. After a great four year career at Merrimack College, Stollery tried to grind his way through the North American minor leagues and only managed to suit up for 23 NHL contests.
- The Hershey Bears have signed Logan Pyett and Adam Morrison to AHL contracts, giving the team some more experience for this season as they look to bounce back. Pyett is a former Detroit Red Wings prospect who has played in the KHL the last few seasons, while Morrison was originally selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in round three of the 2009 draft. The 27-year old goaltender has spent most of his professional career in the ECHL, but regularly posts solid numbers and should give the Bears some depth at the position.
- The Oshawa Generals have traded four draft picks to acquire Giovanni Vallati from the Kitchener Rangers, bringing in the Winnipeg Jets prospect to give them another puck-moving defenseman for this season. Vallati has a ton of talent though still is learning how to use those skills to lock down the defensive zone and play a more consistent game. Two second and two third round picks was the cost to acquire the 18-year old, meaning the Generals will hope to get immediate dividends from Vallati.
Paul Postma Signs In KHL
It’s about that time in the NHL offseason that veteran players start looking for opportunities overseas, and Paul Postma is just the latest to latch on with another club. The 29-year old defenseman has signed a one-year deal with Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL.
Postma signed on with the Boston Bruins last season as a depth defenseman, but got into just a handful of games at both the NHL and AHL levels. That lack of playing time came after a 2016-17 season in which he finally started to prove he could be an NHL regular with the Winnipeg Jets, playing in 65 games while they dealt with an injury to Tyler Myers and a short holdout by Jacob Trouba. Originally selected by the Atlanta Thrashers in the seventh round of the 2007 draft, Postma had never played more than 42 games in an NHL season previously.
Those 14 games with Boston last year likely didn’t do much for his free agent market this summer, explaining why the right-handed defenseman had to head overseas to find work. In the KHL he should be provided a bigger opportunity, and he’s joining a club that is coming off a Gagarin Cup championship in the 2017-18 season. We’ll see if Posta can perform well enough to earn himself a pro job back in North America next offseason, or if he’ll stick around in the KHL for a while.
Minor Transactions: 08/09/18
The NHL is still waiting on a transaction this week, but other leagues are busy making moves. We’ll keep track of some of the minor dealings right here.
- After being traded just yesterday, Sergey Kalinin has inked a four-year contract with CSKA Moscow of the KHL, likely meaning any chance of an NHL return is over for the veteran forward. Now 27, Kalinin played 121 games for the New Jersey Devils and 19 with the Toronto Marlies before returning to Russia last season, and would have to make quite the impact in order to garner any NHL interest in four years.
- Johnny Austin has signed an AHL contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, after playing just a few minor league games with the Laval Rocket last season. Austin spent four years at the University of Connecticut, where he led all defensemen in scoring in 2017-18 with 19 points in 35 games. The 23-year old is undersized, but should give the AHL Penguins another powerplay option this season.
- Matt Lane, another undersized offensive college player, has signed an AHL contract with the Milwaukee Admirals. The 24-year old forward has played the majority of the last two seasons in the ECHL, where he recorded 25 points in 59 games last year. A gold medalist at the 2012 U18 World Championships with USA Hockey, Lane is trying to get to the next level in professional hockey after a solid career with Boston University.
- Andrew Crescenzi is headed to the EBEL next season, where he will suit up for HC Bolzano out of Italy. After playing many years in the minor leagues including the last several in the Los Angeles Kings organization, Crescenzi made his NHL debut in a two-game stint during the 2017-18 season. Unfortunately held scoreless, he’ll take his talents to Italy where he may be able to use his huge frame and physicality more effectively.