Atlantic Notes: Sabres 2020 Offseason, Heinen, Chiarot
While the Florida Panthers received all the attention before free agency opened on July 1 due to their excessive amount of cap space and they fact that they were attracting several of the top free agents on the market, next year’s offseason will look quite a bit different. In fact, it could be the Buffalo Sabres that could be poised to take a similar role next year before free agency opens and could find themselves the team that could lock up some of the top free agents for the 2020-21 season.
The Athletic’s John Vogl (subscription required) writes that while a lot can change in a year, Buffalo has only nine key players under contract for the 2020-21 season along with six restricted free agents. The team is expected to be free of a number of contracts, including Zach Bogosian ($5.14MM), Marco Scandella ($4MM), Vladimir Sobotka ($3.5MM), Conor Sheary ($3MM), Jimmy Vesey ($2.28MM), Matt Hunwick ($2.25MM), Scott Wilson ($1.05MM) and Casey Nelson ($812K). Assuming the salary cap rises by approximately $2MM, the Sabres should have about $29.5MM of projected salary cap, and assuming general manager Jason Botterill can properly persuade them, could add a couple of top free agents.
Who could be available, assuming that some of them don’t re-sign with their teams in the next season? Taylor Hall, Nicklas Backstrom, Brayden Schenn, Chris Kreider, Mike Hoffman, Alex Galchenyuk, Torey Krug, Jake Muzzin, Tyson Barrie, Roman Josi, and Braden Holtby.
- While it’s been assumed for some time that Marcus Johansson would not return to Boston, (he signed with Buffalo earlier today), The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa (subscription required) looked at who might replace the veteran forward this season as the third-line left wing. The problem for Boston is that the team is loaded with a number of right-shot options in Zachary Senyshyn, Karson Kuhlman or Brett Ritchie. However, general manager Don Sweeney suggested it might be best to take the third-line right wing, Danton Heinen, and move him to the left side as he possesses more versatility than the others, which could allow one of the others to move in on the right side. “I think Heinen, depending on what side you play him on,” said Sweeney when asked who could replace Johansson. “Whether it’s Karson or Senyshyn or Brett Ritchie, guys that are right shots, we could play lefty-righty and move Danton over. I think he fits into the same mold of player creative-wise.”
- The Athletic’s Marc Dumont (subscription required) analyzes the video of the Montreal Canadiens newly signed blueliner Ben Chiarot and looks at where he might fit in their lineup. Chiarot, who told reporters that he has discussed with the coaching staff about playing on the second pairing alongside Jeff Petry. However, Dumont suggests that would be a mistake as Chiarot struggles with retrieving pucks in a timely manner, which would not work well with Petry and suggests that Brett Kulak should continue in that role like he did last season. It might be best to play him on the Canadiens’ third pairing, but that seems a waste considering his $3.5MM price tag.
Montreal Canadiens Sign Nick Cousins
The Montreal Canadiens have added some forward depth, agreeing to terms with unrestricted free agent Nick Cousins to a one-year, $1MM contract. Cousins spent the last two seasons with the Arizona Coyotes, but failed to receive a qualifying offer from them this summer.
Cousins, 25, played in 81 games last season for the Coyotes, moving all over the lineup and generating seven goals and 27 points. That total includes just three powerplay points, and actually should have likely been a lot higher. Cousins had an almost unbelievably low shooting percentage of just 4.9%, much lower than league average and his previous rate of 9.1%. He also had relatively solid possession statistics, and recorded 115 hits in the best season of his short career.
The Canadiens are betting he can replicate those numbers with them, and give them a little more depth in their bottom-six. Cousins can play both center and wing, versatility that will be valuable as the team decides how to deploy their group this season. The question will be how much playing time can he get, as Montreal already has ten other forwards on one-way contracts plus three restricted free agents and at least two entry-level players penciled in. It should be a battle for playing time at training camp this year, something that is hardly ever a bad thing for a team looking to climb back into the playoff picture.
Montreal Canadiens Sign Ben Chiarot
The Montreal Canadiens have kicked off the free agent signing once again, agreeing to terms with Ben Chiarot on a new contract. The deal is for three seasons and will carry an average annual value of $3.5MM. GM Marc Bergevin released a statement on the deal:
We are very happy to have come to an agreement with Ben Chiarot today. He is a very reliable defenseman and a solid player who will fill a need for our club. He is the type of player who can play some big minutes and be used in different situations. We are convinced he will improve our defensive group.
Chiarot, 28, has developed into quite the reliable defender for the Winnipeg Jets over the years and played in 78 games for the first time last season. Registering a career-high 20 points and logging nearly 19 minutes a night, his departure will be another painful one for a Jets’ blue line that has been ravaged this offseason. Their loss is Montreal’s gain however, as Chiarot represents some much-needed depth on the left side for the Canadiens.
Standing 6’3″, 219-lbs, Chiarot actually led the Winnipeg defense corps in hits last season with 171 and trailed only Jacob Trouba in blocked shots. He was also a key part of the penalty kill, and could be asked to handle even more short-handed time in Montreal where they don’t have the likes of Josh Morrissey in front of him. In fact, Chiarot now becomes the highest-paid left-handed option for the Canadiens, unless Karl Alzner makes a miraculous return to form and gets a regular shift this season. That could mean time with one of Shea Weber or Jeff Petry, though it is obviously not clear yet how things will shake out in training camp.
At the very least, this deal represents a great opportunity financially for the 28-year old as he has only earned approximately $5.3MM over a career filled with short-term deals. Chiarot was ranked 43rd on our Top 50 UFA list.
Montreal Canadiens Sign Phil Varone
The Montreal Canadiens have agreed to terms with free agent forward Phil Varone on a one-year, two-way contract. The deal is worth $700K in the NHL level but will pay the minor league veteran $450K in the AHL.
Varone, 28, actually got the biggest NHL opportunity of his career last season, playing 47 games with the Philadelphia Flyers. He recorded just seven points during that time in extremely limited minutes, but has been a top minor league scorer for years. In fact in 2017-18 with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Varone recorded 70 points in 74 games to rank second in the entire league—one point behind Laval Rocket forward Chris Terry, who has since moved on. Varone won the AHL MVP that season.
In Montreal, he’ll likely have to fight tooth and nail to secure a roster spot. The Canadiens already have ten forwards on more expensive one-way contracts, plus three restricted free agents and two entry-level players penciled in. That means he’s most likely ticketed for the minor leagues once again, where he will try to help the Rocket and serve as injury insurance for the Canadiens.
Notable AHL Signings: 7/1 & 7/2
It’s not uncommon to see many players coming off NHL contracts, including those who have found success in the AHL, opt to sign minor league contracts early in July. As the new league year begins, many unrestricted free agents find that the market for their services at the top level does not develop. Rather than hold out hope for a two-way NHL contract further into the off-season, many are content to accept AHL contracts, which don’t rule out the possibility of signing in the NHL but provide some certainty about the coming season. Through the first two days of free agency, more than a few familiar names have settled for minor league pacts:
- Tyler Sikura has signed a one-year deal with the AHL’s Rockford Ice Hogs, remaining in the Chicago Blackhawks organization. Sikura has been a key contributor for Rockford the past two years, even earning a one-year contract with Chicago this past season, but did not make an NHL appearance. He was likely content to stay with organization anyway, as he can continue to play with younger brother Dylan Sikura.
- After playing a key shutdown role for the Charlotte Checkers en route to a Calder Cup championship, defenseman Josiah Didier has signed a one-year deal with the Providence Bruins. Providence has several top prospects on their blue line, but are lacking depth and Didier should again play an important role for his team next season.
- The San Antonio Rampage have signed former Detroit Red Wings prospect and second-round pick Zach Nastisiuk to an AHL contract, as well as fellow forwards Cameron Darcy and J.J. Piccinich. The trio will have to fight for ice time in the minors, as the St. Louis Blues have signed quite a few depth players already over these past two days.
- The Lehigh Valley Phantoms went big game hunting among AHL veterans yesterday, signing five-time AHL All-Star Cal O’Reilly to a two-year deal and bringing back their own All-Star, Greg Carey. O’Reilly, 32, has been on an NHL contract in each of the past five seasons, but had to settle for a step down this year despite another strong campaign. The center was a point-per-game scorer for the Iowa Wild, notching 67 points in 67 games to finish in the top ten in the AHL in scoring. It was his sixth AHL season with 60+ points. Carey, 29, saw his contract with the Philadelphia Flyers expire, but remains in the organization, where he has recorded three straight 50+ points seasons. The Phantoms also signed another Iowa forward, Gerry Fitzgerald, and defenseman Eric Knodel to one-year contracts.
- A trio of familiar names have joined the Hartford Wolfpack: goalie Thomas McCollum, forward Harry Zolnierczyk, and defenseman Vincent LoVerde. All three players are coming off of NHL contracts but will have to work their way back into relevance at the top level. McCollum and Zolnierczyk both have played in the NHL, albeit not in several years, and LoVerde is a two-time AHL All-Star and Calder Cup champ. It’s quite a haul for Hartford.
- Sam Vigneault left Clarkson University early to join the Columbus Blue Jackets, but his play in the minors tailed off over the past two years and his entry-level contract expired without an NHL experience. However, he’s content to stay in the organization, as Vigneault has signed a one-year deal with the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters.
- Former top goalie prospect Zach Fucale has had a tough go of it in the pros. A second-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in 2013, Fucale has been relegated to the ECHL for much of the past three seasons. He managed to find an AHL contract with the Syracuse Crunch, but considering the depth in net for the Tampa Bay Lightning after signing three goalies yesterday, Fucale is likely headed back to the ECHL.
- Cole Schneider has been a force in the AHL for years, recently wrapping up his sixth straight season of 50+ points. However, the 28-year-old has been unable to translate that offense to the NHL. Although he still had enough value to warrant a trade to the Nashville Predators this season, Schneider never made an appearance for the team. That hasn’t stopped him from sticking with the organization though. The Milwaukee Admirals have brought back the talented forward on a one-year deal.
Flames Sign Brandon Davidson, Byron Froese
After adding goalie Cam Talbot earlier, the Calgary Flames have addressed their depth at the other two positions, signing defenseman Brandon Davidson and forward Byron Froese, per team releases. Both veteran players have signed one-year, two-way contracts with NHL AAV’s of $700K.
Both Davidson, 27, and Froese, 28, have bounced around the hockey world of late and are hoping to find more stability by landing in Calgary. Davidson, an Alberta native, has spent two stints with the Edmonton Oilers, as well as time with the Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, and Chicago Blackhawks in the last four years alone. Davidson has struggled to score at the NHL level, but has shown that he can be a dominant physical force at times. Froese, from nearby Manitoba, did not see any NHL action last year, but was traded nonetheless from the Montreal Canadiens to the Philadelphia Flyers. It was the second time in three years he had been traded and Philly became his fourth team in that span, joining Montreal, Tampa Bay, and Toronto. Like Davidson, Froese has really never been more than a part-time player at the highest level due to concerns about his offensive ability. However, he has established himself as a solid two-way forward.
Given the depth that the Flames have on both the blue line and up front, the odds are the Davidson and Froese will spend much of next season with the AHL’s Stockton Heat. However, their NHL experience and reliable defensive ability should make them top call-up options for Calgary when injuries strike.
Montreal Canadiens Tender Offer Sheet To Sebastian Aho
It has finally happened. The Montreal Canadiens have tendered an offer sheet to Sebastian Aho of the Carolina Hurricanes. The proposed contract is a five-year deal with an average annual value of $8.454MM. Sportsnet reports that Aho has indeed signed it, meaning the Hurricanes now have one week to either match the contract or allow Aho to join the Canadiens and receive draft compensation in return. A deal of this value would result in the Hurricanes receiving a first, second and third-round pick in 2020. Chris Johnston of Sportsnet reports that the deal has the maximum amount of signing bonuses allowable—which would equate to approximately $21MM in the first 12 months—a contract structure the Hurricanes would have to match. If they do, Carolina would also not be able to trade Aho for a full year.
Appearing at a press conference soon after he received word of the offer sheet, Hurricanes GM Don Waddell admitted he was surprised that the offer wasn’t higher for Aho, and joked that it made his summer easier by removing any negotiations. To be clear, this will be Aho’s next contract one way or the other meaning he will carry a cap hit of $8.454MM for the next five years and reach unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2024. That’s obviously not an ideal situation for the Hurricanes, but actually isn’t a salary that is far away from what the two sides likely would have settled on.
In fact, this deal for Aho may well have ramifications around the league regardless of whether the Hurricanes match or not. The 21-year old forward switched to center full-time this season and reached new heights in basically every offensive category. With 30 goals and 83 points in 82 games, Selke and Hart trophy votes, Aho is deserving of a huge raise and was arguably just as valuable as some of the other top restricted free agents on the market. Those players and teams now have a five-year contract comparable, something that may not please some of the young stars.
It’s also important to remember that the first-round pick would be unprotected if the Hurricanes choose not to match the offer sheet.
Riley Barber Signs With Montreal Canadiens
Young forward Riley Barber will try his luck in Montreal next season. The Canadiens have announced a one-year, two-way deal with the 25-year-old that pays him the minimum $700K at the NHL level with $400K guaranteed. The former college standout at Miami University has played in just three NHL games with the Washington Capitals over four seasons in the organization and will look for more of an opportunity next year.
After signing with Washington out of Miami University (Ohio) after three years, he immediately put up big numbers for the Hershey Bears of the AHL, but opportunities with a loaded Capitals squad were few and far between as he only got a three-game stint with the team in the 2016-17 season. However, while his name was often brought up in the last two years as a potential fourth-line option, the 25-year-old Barber has never been able win a spot with the team, despite showing his offensive skills. He tallied 31 goals and 60 points for Hershey this season.
He should get a solid chance to prove himself although he will have to prove compete with players like Matthew Peca, Nate Thompson and Jordan Weal if he wants to establish himself in the NHL.
Keith Kinkaid To Sign With Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens will bring in some competition to battle Charlie Lindgren for the right to back up Carey Price next season, as Bob McKenzie of TSN confirms Keith Kinkaid will sign a one-year contract with the team.
Kinkaid, 29, ended up playing in 41 games for the New Jersey Devils last season before a deadline deal took him to the Columbus Blue Jackets as an insurance goaltender. At one point during 2017-18 it looked like he was ready to steal the job from Cory Schneider and establish himself as a full-time starter in the NHL, but that idea is now in the past after his struggles in 2018-19.
Those numbers were definitely disappointing. While equaling the 41 games played from his previous year, Kinkaid finished with a 15-18-6 record, while allowing an extra 23 goals in almost the same amount of minutes. He finished with a 3.36 GAA and .891 save percentage and now must prove that he can beat out Charlie Lindgren next year or end up as the team’s third goaltending option.
UFA Notes: Pickard, Agostino, Leier, Speculation
There’s a goalie competition coming to Detroit. TSN’s Frank Seravalli reports that free agent goalie Calvin Pickard is poised to sign a two-year deal with the Red Wings when the market opens tomorrow. As Seravalli notes, that will pit him against Jonathan Bernier for the backup role behind Jimmy Howard. With Howard, 35, signed through just next year but both Bernier and soon Pickard signed for two more years, the time share in net next season in Detroit could be fascinating. Not only could the two veteran goalies battle to be Howard’s understudy next season, but they could be in line to replace him a season later. Neither keeper found much success in 2018-19. Bernier, who some expected to beat out Howard for the starting job, instead posted the worst numbers of his career – a .904 save percentage and 3.16 GAA – in 35 appearances. Pickard fared even worse, allowing an .875 save percentage and 3.86 GAA in a season split between the Philadelphia Flyers and Arizona Coyotes. Pickard’s advantage in the battle though will be his price point, expected to be low after a down year, compared to Bernier’s $3MM mark.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs are lacking the cap space to do much of anything other than adding affordable depth pieces. Adrian Dater of Colorado Hockey Now reports that one such deal is already done. Former AHL MVP Kenny Agostino is expected to sign a two-year, one-way contract with the Leafs, though Dater does not provide any salary details. Agostino, 27, finally got a full-time look in the NHL last season, playing in 63 games with the Montreal Canadiens and New Jersey Devils. Agostino recorded 24 points on the year, a mark that Toronto would be very happy with if the winger comes in at a low cost.
- It was a year of change for Taylor Leier, who experienced both his first trade, moving from the Philadelphia Flyers to the Buffalo Sabres, and his first season spent exclusively in the AHL. Despite qualifying for Group 6 unrestricted free agency, it seems the 25-year-old forward has place emphasis on familiarity instead of opportunity. The Rochester Americans, affiliate of the Sabres, have announced a one-year AHL contract with Leier. The signing comes as a bit of a surprise, considering Leier spent the entire 2017-18 season in the NHL and has been a very productive AHL player. Young and capable, Leier seemingly would have been a good fit for a two-way deal somewhere, but apparently would rather stay put in Rochester, perhaps in hopes of convincing Buffalo that he is worthy of an NHL contract.
- Spoiler alert! Although he acknowledges that they are just educated guesses and provides few details, TSN’s respected insider Bob McKenzie has offered some insight where some of the biggest UFA names may end up tomorrow. McKenzie believes that Columbus teammates Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky may not end up as a package deal after all. He thinks that Panarin, and possibly Semyon Varlamov, could land with the New York Islanders, while Bobrovsky goes alone to the Florida Panthers. Those moves would then leave the Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets as the likely to suitors for Robin Lehner. McKenzie also states that a long-term deal for Mats Zuccarello with the Minnesota Wild appears to be close to done.