Minor Transactions: 12/30/17
While much of the hockey world’s focus has been on the World Juniors in Buffalo this week, the NHL is still rolling along with the 2017 segment of the season about to end. With six games tonight and another nine tomorrow on New Year’s Eve, teams are still making moves even with a day off for all but the Rangers and Sabres coming on Monday:
- The Winnipeg Jets announced today that young forward Brandon Tanev has been placed on injured reserve. Coach Paul Maurice told the media that it is a lower-body injury and that Tanev is expected to be out two to three weeks. While Tanev has only ten points thus far, he is enjoying his best NHL season to date, now in his third year with the Jets. His absence only compiles the loss of Mark Scheifele, as another possible depth player who could step up is now out of the picture.
- However, Winnipeg has responded by calling up highly-touted prospect Jack Roslovic from the AHL’s Manitoba Moose. Last season, Roslovic led the Moose in scoring as a rookie and in 2017-18 is the third-leading scorer in the entire AHL with 35 points. With Scheifele out, now is the time for Roslovic to jump in and show that he can be an offensive force in the NHL as well and is deserving of a roster spot for the remainder of the season.
- The St. Louis Blues have activated Jay Bouwmeester from his second stint on the injured reserve this season and expect him to suit up tonight for their game against the visiting Carolina Hurricanes. In turn, the Blues have demoted rookie blue liner Jordan Schmaltz to the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL. Schmaltz, 24, has been held scoreless in four games so far this season, but has 19 points to his credit in 24 AHL games.
- Andy Welinski has been returned to the AHL’s San Diego Gulls, the Anaheim Ducks announced. The move comes after a call-up in which Welinski made his NHL debut and recorded his first NHL point and ended a four-game stint with two assists and a +1 rating. The long-time Minnesota-Duluth star may have to wait awhile for another chance in Anaheim, but he made a good first impression.
- The Vancouver Canucks have brought Michael Chaput back up, according to a team release. Chaput was a frequent contributor in Vancouver last season, playing in 68 games, but has only three to date in 2017-18. While Chaput is having a good year down in the AHL with the Utica Comets, he would undoubtedly rather stick with the ‘Nucks on this recall.
- CapFriendly reports that the Nashville Predators have recalled forward Frederick Gaudreau from the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals, but also notes that this move would put the NHL roster at 24. With the placement of Filip Forsberg on IR, the roster returned to 23.
- In an on-paper move, the Washington Capitals recalled both forward Jakub Vrana and defenseman Madison Bowey from the Hershey Bears of the AHL. Even though neither player moved anywhere, both were sent down Friday to help ease the team’s tight salary cap situation.
- The Boston Bruins activated center David Krejci off injured reserve today after having missed the past six games, according to Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald. The 31-year-old Krejci has only played in 18 games this year, having put up five goals and nine assists this year. He scored 23 goals a year ago.
Nashville Places Filip Forsberg On Injured Reserve
4:41pm: Vingan reports that it is an upper-body injury and there is no timetable for his return.
4:31pm: The Nashville Predators have taken a huge blow as star forward Filip Forsberg was placed on injured reserve today after sustaining an unknown injury in Friday’s game against the Minnesota Wild, according to Adam Vingan of the Tennessean. The winger left the game with 8:40 remaining in the third period.
“He left with a problem,” Predators coach Peter Laviolette said Friday. “We’ll have an update Saturday (probably).”
No update has come across yet. While the impact of the injury is unknown, the loss of Forsberg for any time will be felt. He leads the team in goals scored (15), assists (19) and points (34). Forsberg has been one of the healthiest players in the NHL as he hasn’t missed a game since before the 2014-15 season. He last missed on April 13, 2014 and was one of nine NHL players to have played in every NHL since the 2014-15 season.
The team already made a corresponding move when they recalled forward Frederick Gaudreau from the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL earlier today. Gaudreau has already played 17 games for Nashville this year and has three assists.
Assuming he would be eligible to return within a week and the move is retroactive to Friday, the team would only lose Forsberg for two games, including tonight’s back end of the home-and-home with Minnesota and another game Thursday at Arizona.
Eeli Tolvanen Could Be Late-Season Addition For Predators
Despite being under contract this season with Jokerit of the KHL, Adam Vingan of the Tennessean reports that Eeli Tolvanen could still play a role for the Nashville Predators. Vingan spoke to GM David Poile, who told him a late-season addition of Tolvanen “might be probable.” The KHL regular season ends at the beginning of March, but his contract—which runs through April 30th—would need to get an early termination similar to Vladimir Sobotka last season.
As Vingan points out, if Jokerit were to make the finals of the Gagarin Cup playoffs Tolvanen could be involved in KHL games all the way up to April 26th, which would also be several weeks into the NHL playoffs. The club is currently in second place in the Tarasov Division, only behind CSKA Moscow, and are destined for a playoff run.
Tolvanen was selected 30th-overall in the most recent NHL Entry Draft but made an impact right away in the KHL, and is now playing big minutes for the Finnish World Junior team in Buffalo. He’s also in consideration for the Finnish Olympic squad heading to Pyeongchang in February, which would certainly make his first season of professional hockey something to remember. The 18-year old was drafted out of the USHL, where he recorded 54 points in 52 games for the Sioux City Musketeers last season.
He does have a player option for next season with Jokerit, but the Predators will try to get him signed to his entry-level contract well before that. Remember, if he signs his deal this season and gets into 10 games with the Predators (regular season and playoffs combined) he would burn an entry-level year. That might be worth it for Nashville if he can play a role in a potential playoffs run, and could be enticing to him as a way to get to restricted free agent status earlier.
Ryan Ellis Expected Back January 2nd
Life is good for the Nashville Predators, who currently lead the Central Division with 46 points in 33 games and are about to get a huge present for Christmas. Ryan Ellis, out all season following knee surgery, is expected to be back in the lineup on January 2nd. That’s according to Predators GM David Poile himself, who told 104.5 The Zone that the defensemen is just working on his confidence after such a long layoff (quote courtesy of Thomas Willis of NHL.com):
The doctor says it’s about confidence now, he’s fully healed. I’m expecting Ryan Ellis will skate the last week of the year and be looking at the first game of 2018 as a time to be back.
Ellis has turned himself into one of the premier defensemen in the league, scoring 16 goals and 38 points last season while being responsible in his own end every night. The 26-year old was named “associate captain” of the Predators in the offseason, after Roman Josi—who was eventually named team captain—suggested Ellis without hesitation for the job. His return will likely feel like that of a huge trade deadline acquisition, especially if he can get back to the level he played at last season.
In the past, the Predators have leaned heavily on their top two pairings to log nearly the whole game and with Ellis’ return they can again. With Alexei Emelin now in the mix they can afford to ease Ellis back in, but it shouldn’t be long until he’s back playing somewhere near the 24 minutes a night he averaged last season. That makes the Nashville defense corps almost unmatched around the league, and will give them another advantage over the rest of the Western Conference. After a turnaround sparked by the acquisition of Kyle Turris, the Predators are a team on the rise and can be considered a legitimate Stanley Cup contender once again.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Atlantic Notes: Nylander, Bruins’ Cup Hopes
An 8-1 rout of the Carolina Hurricanes was exactly what the slumping Maple Leafs needed. William Nylander was at the top of that list, needed a goal to break a long drought after being victimized by crossbars and posts. Nylander finally scored one, writes Sportsnet’s Luke Fox, and it seemed to ease the tension for the young center who had only scored twice in the past 26 games. Fox adds that Nylander appeared ready to set the league ablaze in scoring, but is now only on pace for 12 goals. Leafs bench boss Mike Babcock, however, calls for pause:
“We think he has the skill to be a centre, to transport the puck, to make plays. The part that we haven’t seen is the ability to play without the puck in his own zone. I would bet you on every team, the majority of forwards were centres, probably eight of the 12. They come into the league and the best players on all the minor hockey league teams are often centres.
They come up and they end up on the wing and it takes a few years to figure out the league and learn how to play hard and how to play without the puck so you don’t spend the whole time just standing there watching the merry-go-round.”
Perhaps that much needed goal could get the young center back on track.
- ESPN’s crew of writers debated the chances that the Bruins have in making a strong push for a Stanley Cup run. Greg Wyshynski believes that the Nashville Predators serve as inspiration for a team that played on the fringe for awhile before playing stronger as of late. Wyshynski says the teams match up everywhere except in net, where he wonders if Tuukka Rask is capable of playing big like the Preds’ Pekka Rinne did last season for Nashville. Emily Kaplan agrees, believing that their 7-2 throttling of Columbus is an indication they’re truly a contender, but that depth is a concern. She also lauds Charlie McAuvoy as being as good as advertised. Chris Peters takes the dissent, saying that it will take a lot to get past Tampa, and even if they do, defeating a Metropolitan team would be a heavy task as well.
What Your Team Is Thankful For: Ottawa Senators
As the holiday season approaches, PHR will look at what teams are thankful for as the season nears the quarter point of completion. There also might be a few things your team would like down the road. We take a look at what’s gone well in the first month and what could improve as the season rolls on. So far we’ve covered the following teams:
Atlantic: BOS, BUF, DET, FLA, MON, TOR
Metropolitan: CAR, CBJ, NJD, NYI, NYR, PHI, PIT, WSH
Central: COL, MIN, NSH, STL
Pacific: ANA, ARZ, CGY, EDM, LAK, SJS, VAN, VGK
What are the Senators most thankful for?
They have to be thankful for that no matter how bad things have gotten in Ottawa in recent weeks, the Senators are only six points away from earning a playoff spot in the Atlantic Division. Shocking isn’t it. The Boston Bruins, currently holding the third playoff spot in the division, have 35 points, while Ottawa has 29 points with their 11-13-7 record. While that might require the team to actually win a few games, a sudden turnaround could easily have them competing for a playoff spot. The team might also be thankful for a solid performance at Saturday’s Centennial Classic where they shutout the Montreal Canadiens 3-0 in front of a national audience.
Who are the Senators most thankful for?
Several players are having solid seasons, but the play of Mark Stone has been solid this season. Even while on a current scoring drought (one goal in the past 13 games), he leads the team with 14 goals in 31 games, which should be an improvement over the 22 goals he had last season in 71 games. His defensive abilty is also a big plus on the ice. What’s even better is that he is just a restricted free agent next season, so the team has some remaining control of the 25 year old. In all likelihood, even if the team begins a rebuild, it’s likely Stone will be considered a part of that and wouldn’t be shipped off for picks or prospects.
What would the Senators be even more thankful for?
More than anything, the team needs to see some production from Matt Duchene. After trading away Kyle Turris, prospects and picks to win the Duchene sweepstakes, the 26-year-old center hasn’t improved the team’s offense at all and so far looks like the team may have made a mistake. He has six goals and nine assists in 31 games this season, but Duchene has put up just two goals and three assists in the 17 games that he’s been with the Senators. The team needs him to figure things out and begin leading a line that can put points on the board every night. It doesn’t help that the Nashville Predators addition of Turris only seems to have helped them. Turris has four goals and 13 assists in his 17 games with the Predators, which only makes the deal look worse.
What should be on the Senators Holiday Wish List?
The Senators have found themselves in the news for many things, but defenseman Erik Karlsson‘s comments that he won’t take a hometown discount when he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2019 didn’t sit well with many fans or their owner. In a perfect world, the Senators would find a way to recapture the magic they had a year ago and find a way to convince Karlsson to sign long-term and pay him what he’s worth. The question is what is the long-term plans for this franchise. Are they playing to win or should they blow up their team and rebuild for the future? A rebuild would go much quicker if they trade Karlsson, but finding a franchise defenseman isn’t an easy task either.
Snapshots: Penguins, Sharks, Predators
The Pittsburgh Penguins might be in the news for a trade before long, that is if they don’t improve their play very soon. GM Jim Rutherford spoke to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, telling the reporter that the team is “coming in to a critical period where we’ll make a decision whether we need to shake things up or not.”
What that trade would be is unclear, but as we examined just this week the Penguins still need help down the middle and seem willing to use whatever assets necessary to put forward a Stanley Cup contender again this season. The team does have its top two picks in the upcoming draft, and several young players that could be moved. A shake up would seem to suggest a roster player moving out though, which should be expected since the team is pressed right up against the cap. Either way, they’re a team to watch before we enter the holiday roster freeze on December 19th.
- Speaking of dealing young assets, the San Jose Sharks aren’t ready to do something like that anytime soon just to get back to the playoffs. Curtis Pashelka of the East Bay Times spoke with Sharks GM Doug Wilson, who told him that you won’t “see me trading key young core players” for rentals that could help them this year. The Sharks have turned around their season recently and now sit in third place in the Pacific Division, but are still far from guaranteed a spot in the postseason. Getting there may have to come from the inside, if they don’t find a fit on a short-term rental.
- The Nashville Predators are back near the top of the Central Division after going 7-1-2 in their last ten games and will get a boost tonight after activating both Ryan Johansen and Scott Hartnell from injured reserve. Their returns make the Predators lineup something to marvel at, with four lines capable of scoring at any time. At some point this season the team is also expecting Ryan Ellis to get back into the lineup, at which point few will doubt them as a Stanley Cup contender. For now, they’ll hope Johansen and Hartnell are enough to overcome the Vancouver Canucks and get another two point.
Kyle Turris Speaks Out About Not Signing In Ottawa
When Kyle Turris was dealt to the Nashville Predators earlier this season, he immediately signed a six-year extension with the club for an average annual value of $6MM. He and Ottawa Senators GM Pierre Dorion both spoke to media saying a deal like that was never on the table between the two sides, basically pointing the finger at each other. Now, Turris is pointing the finger at an entirely different member of the Ottawa executive group.
Speaking to media including Josh Clipperton of the Canadian Press ahead of the Predators’ matchup with the Vancouver Canucks tonight, Turris explained who really stopped any extension talks in Ottawa:
It’s tough because I think management did want to sign me, but I think that the owner didn’t. And that was his decision.
Senators owner Eugene Melnyk has been known to interfere with the hockey operations in many instances, and is about as hands-on as any around the league. While Turris’ comments don’t prove anything, you can be sure there was something that happened between he and management before being jettisoned to the Western Conference.
The Senators meanwhile have taken a nosedive since sending Turris out of town for Matt Duchene, and are now inspiring normally level-headed journalists like Ian Mendes of TSN to suggest a quick surrender this season. With trade rumors circling constantly around the team, the idea that Turris could have been kept on a reasonable extension won’t please many fans.
For his part, Dorion organized a press conference today to address some of the issues from the last few days. On Turris’ comments, he made his stance clear (via Arash Madani of Sportsnet):
Everything in hockey goes through me. Not Mr. Melnyk…
The contract he signed with [the Predators], he wouldn’t make with us. It’s that simple.
If there is any truth to the claim, it is curious why ownership wouldn’t want to keep Turris around. While he’s not the flashiest or most marketable player, he was a solid piece on an Eastern Conference final squad last season and will likely provide at least a few valuable years during the extension. Immediately, questions will go up over whether the fiscally conservative Melnyk was trying to save money, something that Senators fans have been dreading over the upcoming Erik Karlsson decision.
Karlsson is likely looking for an extension around twice as expensive as Turris, something that the Senators might not be able to afford even though Dorion made it clear today that he wants “Karlsson to be here for the next 10 years”. If they can’t, then perhaps Mendes is right and the “Ottawa Senators need to give up on this season and start thinking about the future.”
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Minor Transactions: 12/13/17
The transaction freeze is coming quickly in the NHL, as all 31 teams will lock down their rosters between December 19-27th. That means they have just a few days left to make any trades or waiver assignments they need, leading to daily intrigue around the league. We’ll keep track of all the minor moves of the day right here.
- The St. Louis Blues have swapped backup goaltenders, sending Ville Husso back to San Antonio while calling up Jordan Binnington from the Providence Bruins. The Blues of course don’t have a primary affiliate this season, which explains why their prospects are scattered throughout the league. Husso had been up to fill in for the injured Carter Hutton, but needs playing time of his own to continue his development. Enter Binnington, who can backup Jake Allen for the time being.
- The Nashville Predators have sent Frederick Gaudreau back to the AHL according to Adam Vingan of the Tenessean meaning that Scott Hartnell or Ryan Johansen are likely back tonight. Gaudreau has three points in 17 games this season.
- Ville Pokka has been recalled by the Chicago Blackhawks while Cody Franson is moved to injured reserve. The Blackhawks have been waiting for Pokka to make his mark in the NHL since acquiring him in 2014, but he’s continued to struggle with defensive miscues throughout his career. If he does get into the lineup, it would be his NHL debut and a chance to prove that his offensive value can overcome any lapses in his own end.
- Ben Harpur has been sent back to the AHL by the Ottawa Senators, though it’s not clear why yet. Head coach Guy Boucher recently said that Mark Borowiecki wasn’t close enough to return yet, and Chris Wideman is still out long-term. Harpur’s assignment leaves the Senators with just six healthy defensmen on the active roster, meaning another move is likely to follow. In the meantime the team has called up forward Nick Paul, bringing him back after his latest stint in the AHL. Paul, a 22-year old winger, has played four games with the Senators this season but has been held scoreless.
- Arizona has recalled Joel Hanley from the AHL, bringing the 26-year old back for the third time this year. Hanley has played four games for the club this year, and is eligible to be brought up and down as he cleared waivers just a week ago. The team had sent Kyle Capobianco back to the minor leagues to keep him in game action, but needed another defenseman with Niklas Hjalmarsson still not ready to return.
- The New Jersey Devils have brought Nick Lappin up from the AHL to replace Marcus Johansson, who ends up on injured reserve for the second time this year. Lappin had been tearing up the minor leagues with 12 goals in 23 games, continuing his pattern of finding the back of the net with ease. Johansson is out with an ankle bruise suffered on Saturday.
- Duncan Siemens has been reassigned to the San Antonio Rampage, as the Colorado Avalanche continue to try and spark something in the first-round pick. Siemens was selected 11th-overall in 2011, but hasn’t been able to crack the NHL for any length of time. In five career games, he has zero points.
Minor Transactions: 12/11/17
Another interesting weekend in the NHL that brought some incredible matchups, not the least of which was the Tampa Bay-Winnipeg game on Saturday night. While Tampa Bay took home the victory in overtime when Brayden Point lifted a backhand past Connor Hellebuyck, the game showed just why both teams have a good chance to go deep in the playoffs this year.
Now, Monday comes with roster moves for several teams in the league. Right here we’ll update with all the minor transactions of the day, so make sure you refresh often.
- The Nashville Predators might as well have a permanent listing on these posts, as they’ve swapped their backup goaltenders once again. Juuse Saros is back up with the team, while Anders Lindback is headed for the AHL. Nashville has been moving the two back and forth all year, trying to use Saros as the NHL backup while also getting him the most development time possible. The 22-year old actually has had a poor season at both levels, a troubling trend for a team with their eyes on the Stanley Cup.
- The Winnipeg Jets have activated Steve Mason from injured reserve, meaning Eric Comrie is heading back to the AHL. Comrie was given one start during this call-up, but allowed five goals to the Florida Panthers and will have to wait for his next opportunity. He’ll likely jump right back into the net for the Manitoba Moose, with Michael Hutchinson both nicked up and a potential trade target.
- It was fun while it lasted for Kyle Capobianco, but the young defender has been sent back to the minor leagues. Capobianco, 20, made his NHL debut for the Arizona Coyotes last week but will have to wait for his next chance. He’ll return to the Tucson Roadrunners, where he has 14 points in 17 games this season.
- As expected, the Anaheim Ducks have sent Jared Boll, Jaycob Megna and Kevin Roy to the minor leagues today. Andy Welinski has been recalled and will make his NHL debut, while Ryan Getzlaf and Jakob Silfverberg are expected back in the lineup. Welinski is already 24, but after four successful years at UMD and then an impressive rookie year in the AHL, Ducks fans should be excited for his debut.