Austin Czarnik, Daniel Carr Receiving Major Free Agency Interest
Who is the biggest the free agent name on the market that you may have never heard of? That would be Boston Bruins forward Austin Czarnik. Czarnik, 25, signed with the Bruins as an undrafted free agent out of Miami University in 2015 and qualified for Group 6 unrestricted free agency after just three pro seasons. During that time, Czarnik skated in 59 NHL games and recorded 17 points. However, only ten of those games came in 2017-18, as Czarnik was pushed out of the Boston lineup by superior play from young players like Jake DeBrusk, Danton Heinen, and Anders Bjork.
Czarnik spent almost the entire season in the AHL with the Providence Bruins, where his 69 points in 64 games was good enough for third in overall league scoring and second-best among all players with more than 45 games played. In both Boston and Providence, Czarnik has shown ability and versatility. He has elite puck possession skills, high-end skating and quickness, and strong offensive instincts, can play center or wing, plays a smart two-way game, and can contribute on the power play and penalty kill – at least that is what he has displayed in two full AHL seasons and a partial NHL season.
The Bruins obviously kept tabs on Czarnik and value his ability, but couldn’t find room for him on the roster down the stretch to get him over the requisite games to avoid Group 6 free agency. As such, Boston has the same chances as every other team at signing Czarnik and it’s shaping up to be quite a fight. The Providence Journal’s Mark Divver spoke with Czarnik’s agent, Brian Bartlett, who stated that there has been “overwhelming interest” in Czarnik so far and that he has heard from more than two-thirds of the league in regards to his client. Czarnik is largely unproven in the NHL and his smaller stature could be a concern, but his upside and potential to be an offensive asset in a bottom-six role has most teams vying for his consideration. The only real risk in pursuing Czarnik is if this turns into a bidding war, with the winner inking the young forward to an above-market contract for a player who has yet to prove he can produce at a high level in the NHL.
Bartlett has also been busy fielding calls on another unexpectedly popular client, Daniel Carr. The Montreal Canadiens forward was set to be a restricted free agent this summer, but was not made a qualifying offer today ahead of the deadline. As such, Carr is now an unrestricted free agent. According to TVA’s Renaud Lavoie, the Canadiens declined to make a qualifying offer to Carr after he first declined an initial offer worth $700K per year. Bartlett reportedly came armed to negotiations with an offer from the KHL worth far more than the Habs’ offer and they will look for a similar or superior deal in free agency. Lavoie says that Bartlett feels initial talks with other teams indicate that they will easily surpass the Canadiens’ last best offer on the open market.
Carr, like Czarnik, was an undrafted NCAA free agent out of Union College who has played a part-time role for Montreal over the past three seasons. Carr has posted 34 points in 94 games for the Canadiens while usually playing left wing in the bottom six. Carr also spent ample time watching the Habs play from the press box. However, he still managed to suit up for 20 games with the AHL’s Laval Rocket this season and contributed 19 points. Carr’s exposure has been limited, but the hard-working forward has done enough to impress scouts from the KHL and likely scouts from the NHL as well. He will remain an interesting name to watch this off-season.
2018 Draft Results By Team
The 2018 NHL Entry Draft is now complete. Check out how each team did with accruing talent and filling needs with each of their selections this weekend:
Anaheim Ducks
1-23. F Isac Lundestrom, Lulea (SHL)
2-54. F Benoit-Olivier Groulx, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
3-79. F Blake McLaughlin, Chicago Steel (USHL)
3-84. G Lukas Dostal, HC Kometa Brno (Czech Republic-Jr.)
4-116. F Jack Perbix, Elk River HS (USHS)
5-147. G Roman Durny, Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)
6-178. D Hunter Drew, Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL)
Arizona Coyotes
1-5. F Barrett Hayton, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
2-55. D Kevin Bahl, Ottawa 67’s (OHL)
3-65. F Jan Jenik, HC Benatky nad Jizerou (Czech Republic-2)
3-73. D Ty Emberson, U.S. National Development Program (USHL)
4-114. G Ivan Prosvetov, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
5-142. D Mitchell Callahan, Central Illinois Flying Aces (USHL)
5-145. D Dennis Busby, Flint Firebirds (OHL)
6-158. G David Tendeck, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
7-189. F Liam Kirk, Sheffield Steelers (England)
Boston Bruins
2-57. D Axel Andersson, Djurgardens IF (SuperElit)
3-77. F Jakub Lauko, Pirati Chomutov (Czech Republic)
4-119. F Curtis Hall, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
6-181. D Dustyn McFaul, Pickering Panthers (OJHL)
7-212. F Pavel Shen, Mamonty Yugry (MHL)
Buffalo Sabres
1-1. D Rasmus Dahlin, Frolunda HC (SHL)
2-32. D Mattias Samuelsson, U.S. National Development Program (USHL)
4-94. F Matej Pekar, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
4-117. D Linus Lindstrand Kronholm, Malmo Redhawks (SuperElit)
5-125. D Miska Kuukonen, Ilves (Jr.-Liiga)
7-187. D William Worge Kreu, Linkoping (SuperElit)
Calgary Flames
3-105. F Martin Pospisil, Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
3-108. F Demetrios Koumontzis, Edina HS (USHS)
4-122. F Milos Roman, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
6-167. F Mathias Emilio Pettersen, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
7-198. F Dmitri Zavgorodny, Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)
Carolina Hurricanes
1-2. F Andrei Svechnikov, Barrie Colts (OHL)
2-42. F Jack Drury, Waterloo Blackhawks (USHL)
4-96. F Luke Henman, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)
4-104. F Lenni Killinen, Espoo Blues (Jr.-Liiga)
6-166. D Jesper Sellgren, MODO (Allsveskan)
7-197. G Jake Kucharski, Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)
Chicago Blackhawks
1-8. D Adam Boqvist, Brynas IF Gavle (SHL)
1-27. D Nicolas Beaudin, Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
3-69. F Jake Wise, U.S. National Development Program (USHL)
3-74. F Niklas Nordgren, HIFK Helsinki (Jr.-Liiga)
4-120. F Philipp Kurashev, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
5-139. F Mikael Hakkarainen, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
6-162. G Alexis Gravel, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
7-193. F Josiah Slavin, Lincoln Stars (USHL)
Colorado Avalanche
1-16. F Martin Kaut, Dynamo Pardubice (Czech Republic)
3-64. G Justus Annunen, Karpat (Jr.-Liiga)
3-78. F Sampo Ranta, Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
4-109. F Tyler Weiss, U.S. National Development Program (USHL)
5-140. F Brandon Saigeon, Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL)
5-146. D Danila Zhuravlyov, Irbis Kazan (MHL)
6-171. F Nikolai Kovalenko, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (MHL)
7-202. G Shamil Shmakov, Sibirskie Snaipery Novosibirsk (MHL)Read more
Nichushkin Reaches Two-Year Deal With Dallas Stars
June 22: GM Jim Nill has confirmed that he will sign Nichushkin to a two-year deal on July 1st, and Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reports that it will be worth around $2.95MM per season.
June 9: While the rumor of his return has been out there for a while, the Dallas Stars and Valeri Nichushkin have agreed to a new two-year contract, according to R-Sport, a Russian news outlet (translation required). The deal cannot become official until July 1 and there is no word on the specifics of the contract.
Nichushkin, the team’s 10th overall pick back in 2013, played three years in Dallas after he was drafted and put up a solid rookie season of 14 goals and 34 points. However, after suffering a hip injury in 2014-15 that cost him all but eight games that season, he had trouble returning to form and wasn’t happy with the lack of playing time the following year when he averaged just 13:56 of ATOI. He tallied just nine goals and 20 assists in 2015-16.
He returned to Russia as a restricted free agent to continue his development with CSKA Moscow, playing two years in the KHL. He tallied 27 goals and 24 assists in those two years, including a 16-goal season this past year. The winger was expected to play for Russia during the Olympics, but was one of five players banned by the IOC and was forced to watch the games instead. Nichushkin, whose contract with CSKA Moscow expired on April 30, had always intended to return to Dallas and continue his NHL career.
At 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, the 23-year-old should be able to step right into Dallas’ lineup to add both scoring and physicality to the team and should give the Stars another talented young player to build around. He will be given every chance to claim a spot on the team’s second line in training camp. The Stars have finished sixth in the Central Division three of the last four years and have made the playoffs just once in that span.
Kristers Gudlevskis Signs In KHL
The New York Islanders have several free agent goaltenders this summer, and now one of them has left the North American ranks completely. Kristers Gudlevskis has signed with Dinamo Riga of the KHL, returning to the organization he played for as a junior.
Gudlevskis, 25, was acquired by the Islanders from the Tampa Bay Lightning last summer but struggled for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL. The Latvian netminder recorded just an .897 save percentage and wasn’t given an opportunity in the NHL despite the struggles of the goaltenders there. Because of that lack of opportunity, both in New York and Tampa Bay, Gudlevskis qualified for Group VI unrestricted free agency this summer and could sign anywhere he chose.
The Islanders have the same problem with fellow minor league goaltender Christopher Gibson, who is a Group VI UFA himself. Jaroslav Halak is also set to hit the open market, leaving GM Lou Lamoriello an organizational void to fill. That might not be the worst problem to have though, as none of the Islanders goaltenders have been very good the last few years.
For Gudlevskis, it may not be the end of his North American career, but it certainly could be. With World Championship and Olympic experience under his belt, he should continue to be one of Latvia’s top options for international play and will try to prove his talent at the KHL level.
Sergey Zborovskiy Clears Unconditional Waivers
Wednesday: Zborovskiy has cleared waivers and will likely see his contract terminated.
Tuesday: The New York Rangers have placed Sergey Zborovskiy on unconditional waivers for the purpose of mutually terminating his contract. Zborovskiy, a third-round pick by the Rangers in 2015, signed his entry-level contract in the summer of 2016 but spent most of this season in the ECHL. After clearing waivers he will now be able to return to Russia and join the KHL, though he would also technically become an unrestricted free agent eligible to sign with any NHL club.
Zborovskiy, 21, is a big, physical defenseman who put up some fine point totals while in the WHL playing for the Regina Pats, but was always a long shot for the NHL. His skating stride needed work when the Rangers selected him, and apparently hasn’t come far enough for the team to fight to keep him in the organization. This doesn’t necessarily preclude a reunion at some point down the road, but allowing him to go home to compete for minutes in the KHL could be best for his development.
This isn’t the first Russian defenseman the Rangers have lost in this way, after allowing Alexei Bereglazov out of his contract earlier this spring. It’s a tough result for a third-round pick, especially one that was made just two years ago. We’ll see if this affects the way New York targets Russian players in the draft moving forward.
Simon Despres Wants A Second Chance At NHL
Simon Despres was once an up-and-coming defenseman in the NHL. A first-round pick by Pittsburgh in 2009, Despres played a key depth role for the Penguins from 2011 to 2015. Although Despres was limited offensively, even in the AHL, he proved himself to be a very dependable presence in his own end. Annually a positive player with strong possession numbers, Despres eventually worked himself into a full-time role with the Penguins in 2014-15. In that season, he also showed off an improved physical game and a superior puck-moving ability. However, it was also in that season that Despres was traded to the Anaheim Ducks, a deadline deal that sent veteran Ben Lovejoy to Pittsburgh. Despres continued to play well for the Ducks down the stretch and was perhaps at the peak of his NHL career in the postseason that year with a dominant stretch. Yet, the rest of Despres’ tenure in Anaheim would not go as well.
In 2015-16, just four games into the regular season, Despres took a hard check to the head from the Colorado Avalanche’s Tyson Barrie. Despres would miss the next 42 games of the regular season and never truly returned to form in the campaign. Despres suited up for Anaheim for the opening game of the 2016-17 season, but concussion symptoms limited him to just that one appearance for the year. Despres was bought out by the Ducks at the end of the season and, at age 25, was considering retirement. Instead, Despres decided to continue his career overseas. Able to finally leave his concussions in the past, Despres had a strong season with HC Slovan Bratislava of the KHL this year. Now, he wants back in the NHL.
Speaking with Jean-Francois Tremblay of La Presse in his native Quebec, Despres states that money is not an issue and that he will do what it takes to get back into the league. He says that he will visit with teams this summer or attend camp on a tryout basis if that is what it takes. He even says he would be open to an AHL contract as a first step, specifically noting that he would not hesitate to accept an offer from the Laval Rocket, the Montreal Canadiens affiliate in his hometown that did not exist when he was in the NHL. Despres goes on to describe how he has changed his diet and lifestyle to get healthier and has even trained in martial arts in an effort to learn how to avoid bad hits and further concussions. He also describes how his time in the KHL has improved his skating and puck possession. It seems Despres has done all he can to work his way back from a potentially career-ending injury and now feels ready for a return. Now all he can do is wait for a team to give him a second chance.
Minor Transactions: 6/18/18
Former Dallas Stars defenseman Andrew Bodnarchuk won’t wait until July 1st to decide on his future in free agency. The 29-year-old veteran will make his first foray into international play, as EHC Munchen of the German DEL have announced that he is set to join the team. Bodnarchuk has played in 42 games in the NHL over his career, but has largely played a regular role in the AHL with more than 600 games to his credit. Most recently, he spent the entirety of his two-year contract with Dallas as the alternate captain and defensive leader of the Texas Stars, who fought all the way to Game Seven of the Calder Cup Final this year. Bodnarchuk will now take that same leadership and ability on the back end to Munich, where he will join a talented team that already employs several former AHLers like Keith Aulie, Ryan Button, and Derek Joslin on the blue line.
- Also heading overseas is former top prospect Patrice Cormier. The 28-year-old forward and captain of the AHL’s Manitoba Moose has signed with Barys Astana, per a report from the local Kazakhstan sports news source Shaiba. Cormier is a major addition for Astana, a team that has struggled in recent years and recently watched top scorers Nigel Dawes and Linden Vey depart in free agency. Cormier, a second-round pick of the New Jersey Devils in 2008 and the star prospect in the return for Ilya Kovalchuk in 2010, has never quite reached his lofty expectations. However, in 49 NHL games and another 400+ AHL game, all with the Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets organization, Cormier has proven to be a capable player in all three zones who can show finesse around the net as well as physicality along the boards. Cormier seems like a player primed to break out in the KHL.
- Cormier may also be joined by another impressive AHL forward in Curtis Valk. The Florida Panthers restricted free agent is also expected to sign with Barys Astana according to sources at Shaiba. Valk, 25, led the Springfield Thunderbirds with 62 points in 73 games this season and finished among the top ten in the AHL in scoring. Nevertheless, the undersized forward was only given one game at the NHL level to show himself. Perhaps upset with his lack of opportunity despite solid minor league results in his four-year pro career, Valk is eyeing a move of his own and could become a dynamic one-two punch with Cormier up front for Barys.
- The Calder Cup champion Toronto Marlies already lost captain Ben Smith to Europe and aren’t keen to lose any of the other contributors to their title any time soon. The team announced today that they have re-signed veteran forward Colin Greening to a one-year, AHL contract. Greening, 32, was previously acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs as part of the return from the Ottawa Senators for defenseman Dion Phaneuf. Even on a relatively pricey NHL contract, Greening served almost exclusively in the AHL with the Marlies over the past three years. Although some speculated he could challenge for at least a two-way contract this summer, it is expected that on his new deal with Toronto that Greening could be named the new captain of the Marlies and is likely content to remain in Toronto for as long as he can to close out his career.
- On the other end of the spectrum, the Marlies announced the first AHL contracts for several college players who had joined the team on amateur tryout deals during the stretch run and postseason: Robert Morris’ Brady Ferguson, Holy Cross’ Scott Pooley, Alabama-Huntsville’s Josh Kestner, and Niagara’s Derian Plouffe. They also inked Matt Bradley, an unsigned free agent from the WHL’s Regina Pats, to a one-year AHL deal as well.
Eastern Notes: Kovalchuk, Marner, Smith, Rasmussen
Could the Boston Bruins be the front-runners for Russian free agent and former NHL superstar Ilya Kovalchuk? Evidently, the Sports Hub’s Ty Anderson thinks so.
As reported by NBC Sports, Anderson appeared on Toucher & Rich on 98.5 and said he believes the Bruins are currently the leading candidates to get the 35-year-old winger due to the Bruins cap space. While the Bruins are listed by CapFriendly as having just $6.5MM in available cap space, the team has few free agents of their own to deal with and a loaded roster, including multiple talented veterans such as Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron and a core of youth of which many had solid rookie years last season.
Kovalchuk, who tallied 31 goals for SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL has been touring NHL cities, looking for a new home. While his preference has been to stay on the East Coast, especially either New York or Florida, he’s broadened his search this year including a trip to Los Angeles and San Jose as he’s made it clear that he wants to win a Stanley Cup as soon as possible.
- Kevin McGran of The Star interviewed Mitch Marner about multiple topics, but the 21-year-old star said that there has been no discussion yet with management about a potential contract extension. The fourth-overall pick from the 2015 draft will be eligible for a contract extension on July 1 along with teammate Auston Matthews, but there is no word on whether Marner will sign an extension this year or will have to wait until next year. “Nothing has been said yet, but nothing you can do,” said Marner. “If nothing happens, you still have a year to play under your rookie contract. Just go out there and try to prove you can make the team better.”
- While the New York Rangers are looking for defense, the New York Post’s Larry Brooks writes that veteran defenseman Brendan Smith has stayed in New York following the season and has been working with fitness trainer with Ben Prentiss to get into better shape. Smith, who was placed on waivers on Feb. 9, after signing a four-year, $17.4MM contract in the offseason, came into camp out of shape and struggled on the Rangers’ blueline all season long. The scribe writes that the Rangers not only expect him to compete for a job at training camp, but they expect him to return to the status of the player they handed that contract to.
- Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press writes she believes it looks promising that 2017 first-round pick Michael Rasmussen makes the Detroit Red Wings team out of training camp this year. The ninth-overall pick last year put up 31 goals and 58 points for the Tri-City Americans of the WHL and even got some time at the wing position during the season because Detroit would likely like for him to start at the wing if he makes the team next season. What’s more impressive is that he scored 16 goals and 33 points in just 14 playoff games, suggesting he might be ready for Detroit. If he doesn’t make the team, he will have to return for one more year to Tri-City.
Western Notes: Flames, Bolland, Grant
Don’t expect the Calgary Flames to make a selection in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft next Friday and probably don’t expect to see them make a pick too early on Saturday either. The Flames currently sit with just three picks in the 2018 Draft: a fourth-rounder, sixth-rounder, and seventh-rounder. The rest of their selections were used in deals to acquire Travis Hamonic, Mike Smith, and Michael Stone. Speaking with Calgary GM Brad Treliving, beat reporter Kristen Anderson makes it sound as if the team’s philosophy toward the value of draft picks versus prospects will very likely keep them from adding any significant picks this year. Treliving admitted that he has looked at scenarios that would allow his team to trade back in to the first round and has tried to make a deal with other teams, but doesn’t know if they’ll ever reach a point where a trade will actually happen. In fact, he called that possibility very unlikely. Understandably, Treliving is hesitant to trade away young players or promising prospects for picks that will be farther behind in their NHL development and who they only hope will one day reach or exceed the level of the player they move in return, calling it “backwards shuffling”. Treliving also lacks some firepower in terms of future picks with his 2019 second-, sixth-, and seventh-round selections already lost as well. Right now, the asking price for early picks is too high for the Flames to bite on anything just yet. However, don’t underestimate what the anxiety of waiting through three rounds could force them to do next weekend.
- AZSports’ Craig Morgan recently spoke with Anton Thun, the agent for Dave Bolland, about the veteran Arizona Coyotes center’s future. Bolland, 32, has yet to play a game for the Coyotes despite being traded to the team in the off-season prior to the 2016-17 season. A lingering back injury and lower-body concerns forced the Florida Panthers to dump Bolland’s contract in Arizona – a move that also cost them prospect Lawson Crouse – and he has not been cleared to suit up at any time since. Thun reports that Bolland is doing better, but there is still no expectation that he will be able to play next season. Instead, Thun suggests to Morgan that Bolland is likely to be placed on long-term injured reserve yet again in the final year of his contract and will then formally announce his retirement after next season. If this proves true, it will be a disappointing end to the career of a well-respected player who built a career on his reliable defensive play.
- One of the more talented offensive defensemen in the AHL is off to Finland for the next stage of his pro career. Alex Grant, 29, has signed with Jokerit of the KHL, the team reported today. The journeyman defender has made a career of being one of the top scoring blue liners in the minor leagues, jumping from one two-way contract to the next throughout the past nine years. However, in that time he has only been given seven NHL appearances and appears to have decided to make a name for himself at the highest level in Europe rather than continue to play in the AHL. After an impressive 49-point campaign with the Providence Bruins in 2016-17, Grant signed with the Minnesota Wild last summer and was expected to be one of their top depth options on the back end. Instead, he again was not given that chance and will now seize an opportunity with Jokerit. Offensive-minded defensemen who have struggled to find their place in the NHL have often found great success in the KHL. Grant could very well be the next in that line, which has featured the likes of Matt Gilroy, Philip Larsen, and Jakub Nakladal in recent years.
Snapshots: Islanders, Gudlevskis, Lucic, Canadiens
The New York Islanders have made a coaching move, but not the anticipated one. Still lacking a head coach for his team, Lou Lamoriello has nevertheless made another change to the coaching staff, firing assistant Greg Cronin. The Athletic’s Arthur Staple confirmed the move, but added that no other coaching decisions have been made yet at the NHL or AHL level. Staple also had nothing to say about any of the motivations behind Cronin’s departure. Ironically, if Lamoriello was to tab Boston Bruins’ assistant Jay Pandolfo as his head coach, the Boston native Cronin would be an easy fix to replace him.
- The Islanders have struggled in net for too long and need to make a change at goalie. That all but rules out recycling any of their unrestricted free agent goaltenders. Jaroslav Halak, Christopher Gibson, and Kristers Gudlevskis are all set to hit the open market and of the three, Gudlevskis faces the lowest chances of finding employment again in the NHL. Once a highly-regarded prospect for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Gudlevskis play in the AHL simply never reached an elite level that would have warranted an extended look at the highest level. This past season, he performed poorly and was handily outplayed by Gibson. As such, he may not have many opportunities in North America next season. It is no surprise then that Latvian news outlet OlyBet reports that Gudlevksis has had preliminary talks with Dinamo Riga, the KHL team in his native country. Gudlevskis was brought up in the Riga junior ranks and even appeared in two games with the big league team before coming overseas. Gudlevskis has never returned to Europe since and his preference would likely be to stay in the NHL, but it would be a natural fit with Dinamo if the offers don’t come from NHL teams this summer.
- In today’s edition of TSN’s “Insider Trading”, Pierre LeBrun and Darren Dreger have set the record straight about the trade market for Edmonton Oilers forward Milan Lucic. It was previously believed that the Oilers were shopping Lucic in hopes of ridding themselves of his contract, but in speaking with several team executives, LeBrun and Dreger feel that is not the case. Instead, they have heard that Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli is seeking hockey trades rather than cap dump trades for Lucic. This would indicate that it is Lucic who has requested the trade and Edmonton is simply trying to oblige him.
- One team rumored to be in on Lucic is actually out, according to LeBrun. The Montreal Canadiens, who pursued the power forward and former Bruins enforcer vigorously when he initially hit free agency, were speculated to again be interested in acquiring Lucic. The Habs could use some size up front and Lucic shared a strong rapport with coach Claude Julien when the pair were in Boston. However, LeBrun states that they are definitively “out” on Lucic.