Nashville Predators – Page 167

Atlantic Division Snapshots: Radulov, Holland, Larkin, Kempfer

By Glen Miller | at August 22, 2016 5:00 pm

One of the summer’s more interesting free agent signings, winger Alexander Radulov, met for the first time with the Montreal media and Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette transcribed the event. It’s worth a read in full but here are some of the highlights.

Radulov talked about how “things change,” as you grow older, implying he feels is a more mature player than the one who left Nashville. Of course Radulov, along with then teammate Andrei Kostitsyn, is notoriously remembered for missing curfew the night before a playoff game in Nashville’s second round series against the Coyotes in 2012. After the Predators were eliminated, Radulov left the NHL to return to the KHL.
He addressed where he might fit into the Canadiens lineup and gave an answer typical of a player by deferring to his coaches.
Even though Radulov had other options, Florida and Detroit were both rumored to be interested in the skilled winger, his experience as a junior player in Quebec led to him choosing to sign with Montreal.

“We played and we won the Memorial Cup. It was a lot of fun and I saw those fans when they were the happiest people in the world. What can be better than when you make people, fans happy, and that’s the best time.”

Radulov has the skill to be one of the elite offensive wingers in the game and ordinarily securing a player of his ability to a one-year deal worth $5MM would be considered an absolute steal. But given his baggage, no team wanted to go beyond a one year commitment in case it doesn’t work out. Montreal made a similar addition in the summer of 2015 when they signed Alexander Semin to a cheap contract, one which didn’t work out. It’s possible the Radulov signing won’t work out either but it’s a good gamble to take for Montreal given their need for more offensive firepower.

Retained Salary in 2016-17: Central Division

By Zach Leach | at August 21, 2016 9:36 pm

As a new season fast approaches, it’s always nice to look back and reminisce on years and players gone by. Unfortunately for most NHL teams, those feelings of nostalgia are usually cut short by the realization that some of those past players are still on the team’s payroll. Retained salary is a fact of life in the National Hockey League, as buyouts have become commonplace and retaining a portion of an outgoing player’s cap hit is often a deal-breaker in many trades. Retained salary can last long past the playing days of a former player or can simply be for just one year. One way or another nearly every NHL team has at least one guy who’s still being paid without having to perform. We’ve already examined the Metropolitan and the Pacific; below is a list of all the retained salary in the Central Division in 2016-17:

Chicago Blackhawks

Rob Scuderi ($1.125MM in 2016-17): In one of the funnier circumstances of the 2015-16 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins held on to one third of Scuderi’s contract when they traded him to the Blackhawks for fellow underperforming defenseman Trevor Daley. Then Chicago held on to another third of Scuderi’s contract when they traded him to the Los Angeles Kings for yet another underperforming defenseman, Christian Ehrhoff. Now going into 2016-17, the final year of four-year $13.5MM deal he signed when he returned to Pittsburgh, the Penguins, Hawks, and Kings will all pay $1.125MM of his contract. Maybe Scuderi will return to form this season and at least avoid being traded more than once.

Colorado Avalanche

Brad Stuart ($3.6MM cap hit in 2016-17): If you’re scratching your head about that cap hit, you’re not alone. For all intents and purposes, the Avalanche are just paying Stuart not be around this season. They signed the veteran defenseman to a two-year, $7.2MM contract extension before he ever took the ice in Denver, after giving up a second-round pick to get him from the San Jose Sharks in the summer of 2014 with one year left on his previous deal. In 2014-15, Stuart had 13 points in 65 games and showed his age. In 2015-16, he missed all but six games with a back injury and had 0 points. In 2016-17, he’s gone. However, because the contract that was bought out was a “35+” veteran contract, the team faces the full blow of the cap hit in year one of a two-year settlement. Brad Stuart could have stayed with the club, but it seems as if he was healthy enough to play, which means that he would have cost $3.6MM and would have taken up a roster spot that the Avalanche would prefer to give to a defenseman that they actually want on the ice. Instead, the buyout simply means that they pay him the full amount this year, but he does not interfere with their active roster and depth. Stuart’s career is likely over.

Dallas Stars

Ryan Garbutt ($900K cap hit in 2016-17): After signing a three-year, $5.4MM extension with the Stars during the 2013-14 season, Garbutt was traded last summer, alongside Trevor Daley, to the Chicago Blackhawks for Patrick Sharp and Stephen Johns. In what was essentially a salary dump for the Hawks, they asked for the Stars to retain 50% of Garbutt’s contract and $1.8MM yearly cap hit. Though Dallas was likely hesitant to pay for anyone on a division rival to play against them, they can rest easy now. Garbutt was flipped to the Anaheim Ducks for Jiri Sekac midway through the season, lessening the burden on the Stars of having to consistently face a tough competitor who was also on their payroll. Garbutt is entering the final year of his contract, leaving the stars without any retained salary (as of now) for 2017-18.

Minnesota Wild

Matt Cooke ($1MM cap hit in 2016-17): An NHL villain and career grinder, Cooke finished a long stint with the Pittsburgh Penguins and signed on with the Wild in July of 2013 (just months before he could have signed a veteran’s contract at 35 years old) for three years and $7.5MM. While Minnesota was looking for the grit that Cooke was known for, they were also hoping for some of the scoring punch and reliability that he brought to the table. More offensively-talented than the average grinder, Cooke had scored about 30 points per season throughout his career and he also rarely missed games, playing in at least 75 games in all but three of his 13 seasons as a full-time NHLer. So, when Cooke had just 10 points in just 29 games in his second season in Minnesota, paying $2.5MM for another year of an aging enforcer became too much of a chore for the Wild. They bought out the final year of his contract last summer, and will finish paying off the settlement in 2016-17 with a $1MM cap hit.

Thomas Vanek ($1.5MM cap hit in 2016-17, $2.5MM in 2017-18): The Thomas Vanek experiment did not work out as well as hoped in Minnesota. After being one of the top players in the league during his time with the Buffalo Sabres, Vanek had bounced around with Buffalo, the New York Islanders and Montreal Canadiens in 2013-14, before Minnesota gave him a new permanent home in the state where he played his college hockey. A three-year, $19.5MM deal was deemed reasonable for a player who consistently topped 60 points early on in his career. However, those numbers did not repeat themselves as a member of the Wild. Vanek put up 52 and 41 points respectively in his first two seasons, which weren’t bad years, but Minnesota felt that they were not worth $6.5MM. Vanek was hardly a 20-goal scorer anymore, and the Wild were expecting a 30-goal scorer. They bought out the final year of his contract earlier this summer, and will face the repercussions of back-to-back significant cap hits this year and next. However, the move allowed the cap-strapped Wild to bring in another reclamation project, Eric Staal, and at a more reasonable $3.5MM cap hit. Meanwhile, Vanek signed on for a one-year gig with the Detroit Red Wings for $2.6MM.

Nashville Predators

Viktor Stalberg ($667K cap hit in 2016-17, $1.167MM cap hit in 2017-18 and 2018-19): History repeats itself, and just as the Predators found themselves needing to dump to players last summer, they were back in the same position this summer, for a league-high four retained salary players in 2o16-17. It all started with Stalberg, who signed a four-year, $12MM contract in the summer of 2013, leaving the Chicago Blackhawks for a division rival. Paying for the 43-point season of 2011-12 instead of the 23-point, injury plagued season of 2012-13, Nashville would up getting the latter player instead of the more desired former. Stalberg had only 18 points in 70 games in his first year with the Preds, and then added 10 more in only 25 games in 2014-15. Faced with a choice of hoping for a rebound at $3MM per year for two more years or bailing on the deal, the Preds decided to cut and run. Stalberg signed a cheap, one-year deal with the New York Rangers and had 20 points last season, leading to another one-year deal this off-season, this time with the Carolina Hurricanes. While Stalberg may be on his way back to form, his production has not been worth the money that Nashville would have paid him and they should be content with an affordable buyout.

Rich Clune ($283K cap hit in 2016-17): When the cap hit is that low, a buyout was either a really good idea or a really bad idea. In this case, the Predators made the right call. Leaving town with Stalberg last summer was Clune, a career energy line player who arguably should never have gotten the call up to the NHL. Clune was picked up off of waivers by Nashville midway through the 2012-13 season, having not played in the NHL since suiting up for 14 games with the Los Angeles Kings in 2009-10. He went on to play in 47 games for the team that year with a career-high nine points. In 2013-14, he played a full-time energy line roll for the Preds, racking up hits and penalty minutes at a fair price of $538K. However, when it came time to re-sign the grinder, Nashville decided he was now worth $1.7MM over two years. That didn’t work out so well, as injuries and simply being buried on the depth chart earned Clune just one appearance in 2014-15. The decision was easy to buy out his final year rather than pay $850K for little to no contribution. Clune played in 19 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, racking up four points, and signed an AHL contract this summer. His NHL days are likely over and Nashville just has a very, very small price to pay for their over-valuation.

Eric Nystrom ($500K cap hit in 2016-17, $1MM cap hit in 2017-18): Nystrom was another case of just overpaying for bottom six talent by GM David Poile. A budget team like Nashville simply cannot afford to overpay for non-contributors, which may explain the numerous buyouts and certainly explains Nystrom’s departure earlier this summer. After a couple of good years in Dallas, the Predators won the bidding for Nystrom’s services by giving him a raise of over $1MM per year with a four-year, $10MM contract. Nystrom’s first season in Nashville was not bad, as he totaled 21 points, but his lack of a two-way game made him a liability as a bottom six forward. 2014-15 and 2015-16 were much worse though. Nystrom scored 12 points in 60 games and then seven points in 46 games; he was nothing more than a veteran 13th man. Rather than pay $2.5MM for another year of the type of player that can be had for peanuts, the Predators bought out Nystrom’s contract to the tune of $1.5MM in cap waste over two seasons. Nystrom is currently a free agent.

Barret Jackman ($667K cap hit in 2016-17 and 2017-18): Jackman was the next to go this past June, as the lifelong-Blues defenseman failed to live up to expectations in his first year with a new team. Signing with the Predators for two years and $4MM last summer, Jackman was supposed to bring a veteran presence to what was regarded as one of the deepest and youngest defensive cores in the NHL. Instead he contributed very little, as his five points were the lowest of his career as a full-time player and the physicality and defensive awareness that he was known for disappeared for games at a time. The former Calder winner no longer had anything to bring to the team, and Nashville saw alternatives on the market and in the system that were better suited for their team and more worth their cap space. Jackman’s buyout is hardly a burden for the Predators, who will be better served to have other take his ice time in 2016-17. Jackman also remains a free agent.

St. Louis Blues

NONE. Quite the opposite of division-rival Nashville, St. Louis has no retained salary for this next year. The Blues are very efficient with their cap usage, which allows them to consistently have one of the deeper teams in the NHL and compete year after year.

Winnipeg Jets

NONE. No wonder the Central is considered the best division: very little cap waste. The Jets, and even more so the Atlanta Thrashers before them, had to be careful not to get bogged down in bad contracts so as to start fresh in their new city and put together the best team possible.

0 comments Chicago Blackhawks Colorado Avalanche Dallas Stars Minnesota Wild Nashville Predators St. Louis Blues Winnipeg Jets

Front Offices On Jimmy Vesey

By Gavin Lee | at August 17, 2016 2:59 pm

After completing his meetings with team representatives today (which include names like John Tavares, Jonathan Toews and Auston Matthews) Jimmy Vesey will have to decide where he plays his first professional hockey game. TSN spoke with a couple of front office members about Vesey’s future, and they bring up separate but interesting points:

Brendan Shanahan, President & Alternate Governor, Toronto Maple Leafs (link):

He’s had a fabulous college career, and has earned the right to have this kind of interest from this many clubs, us being one of them. People are attracted to his leadership qualities; captain of Harvard, he’s obviously a very intelligent player on the ice and off, and he’s a guy who seems to have the ability to put the puck in the net, so when those types of players come available people line up.

Brian Burke, President of Hockey Ops, Calgary Flames (link):

If you look at the college free agents, they have made a dramatically insignificant contribution to our league. Tyler Bozak might be the best one. Of the 100 or 150 that have signed, most have very little impact. I think this player is going to play, and make a difference. I think he’s going to be a good player..but if you look at that group and the money the league has spent on their contribution, it’s a pimple on an elephant’s butt.

Back in February, when the Nashville Predators still held Vesey’s rights, GM David Poile spoke about his ability and future with the team:

We’ve had him here for our development camps each of the last two or three summers and he’s grown so much as a player and a person. Physically, he’s ready to play. As far as a college hockey player, he’s dominant in a lot of areas; one of them is his skating. Obviously, offensively he’s put up a lot of good numbers, so we truly believe that he can come in and play right away.

It’s clear that not everyone in the league is sold on Vesey’s ability to step in and be a difference maker at the NHL level, but the amount of teams that have taken meetings with him over the past few days would suggest they believe he at least will be able to step in right away. Vesey, or at least his agent Peter Fish, has only said that he’ll make a decision this weekend at some point.

0 comments Calgary Flames Nashville Predators Players Toronto Maple Leafs Auston Matthews Jimmy Vesey John Tavares Jonathan Toews

The Jimmy Vesey Sweepstakes Begin

By Brett Barrett | at August 15, 2016 11:49 pm

After months of speculation, Hobey Baker winner Jimmy Vesey finally has his wish and is now an unrestricted free agent. The Nashville Predators’ 66th 0verall pick in 2012 is now an unrestricted free agent as of 12:01 AM EST. However, Vesey isn’t expected to sign anywhere until later this week.

Vesey is not the only pending free agent coming out of college, but he’s definitely the biggest name on the list. He’s expected to be able to step right in to an NHL team’s top nine forwards and produce. The Hockey News’ 2016-17 Pool Guide predicted his output at 18 goals and 20 assists in 80 games. Thirty-eight points as a rookie would put him in the same neighbourhood as Sam Bennett, Joonas Donskoi, Robby Fabbri, and Nikolaj Ehlers in 2015-16.

Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, New Jersey, New York Rangers, and Toronto have all been talked about as potential landing spots. Each has certain charms that would entice Vesey. You can read Pro Hockey Rumors’ breakdown of each of those teams here.

Wherever he signs, Vesey will get the maximum allowable rookie salary $925K plus $2.85MM in bonuses for a potential total of $3.775MM per season for two seasons. This means his decision will be made based on the situation of the team, and not money.

Of course, signing college free agents hasn’t always turned out for NHL teams. When Justin Schultz signed with the Edmonton Oilers in 2012, he was expected to be the Paul Coffey of the modern Oilers. Instead, his game stagnated and he was ultimately booed out of town; he was traded to Pittsburgh where he was slotted as a bottom pairing/ depth defenseman. TSN radio host Jason Gregor penned a piece on college free agents at Oilers Nation on Monday, where he quoted an NHL scout as saying “NCAA free agents have become the most overrated and over-hyped asset in hockey”.

It’s not that they’re not good players, the scout told Gregor. It’s that “teams treat them like they are going to be stars. They get into bidding wars and pay them like they are top-three draft picks. It’s crazy,” according to the scout.

Recent college signing Kevin Hayes represents a decent comparable. His two NHL seasons of 36 and 45 points would represent a solid start for Vesey as a future top six winger. That’s an impressive total for a rookie, but not in the first-overall-pick range. Adjusting for the lockout-shortened season and Connor McDavid‘s injury-shortened campaign, the last five forwards selected first overall have scored an average of 59 points in their rookie season. Taylor Hall‘s 42 points represents the low end, while McDavid’s 87-point-pace is the high mark.

More to come…

0 comments Boston Bruins Buffalo Sabres Chicago Blackhawks Free Agency Nashville Predators New Jersey Devils New York Rangers Toronto Maple Leafs Jimmy Vesey

Off-Season To Date: Central Division

By Mike Furlano | at August 14, 2016 10:27 am

The NHL has entered its seasonal lull where teams are done signing free agents and will wait until training camp to make roster moves. Each team’s additions and subtractions will most likely remain static until the season starts, so compiling moves runs little risk of changing in the coming days. We have already documented the off-season moves of teams in the Atlantic Division and Metropolitan Division, and now we take a quick look cross-conference at the Central Division.

Chicago Blackhawks

Key Additions: Jordin Tootoo, Brian Campbell
Key Departures: Andrew Ladd, Teuvo Teravainen, Bryan Bickell, Dale Weise, Tomas Fleischmann, Christian Ehrhoff, David Rundblad, Andrew Shaw
Unsigned RFAs: None
Cap Space: $2,490,705
Projected Roster Size: 22
Notes: Another year, another cap-constrained selloff for the Chicago Blackhawks. This summer they managed to find a taker for Bryan Bickell, but it cost them young prospect Teuvo Teravainen. They also signed Brian Campbell to a one-year deal worth $1.5MM—a steal assuming Campbell doesn’t significantly decline this season. The ‘hawks are particularly tight on cap space this year because Artemi Panarin achieved most of his bonuses last year, and the resulting cap hit gets applied to the upcoming season

Colorado Avalanche

Key Additions: Joe Colborne, Fedor Tyutin, Patrick Wiercioch
Key Departures: Mikkel Boedker, Shawn Matthias, Nate Guenin, Nick Holden, Reto Berra
Unsigned RFAs: None
Cap Space: $1,534,405
Projected Roster Size: 22
Notes: The Avalanche have had a tumultuous offseason. They waged a prolonged standoff with RFA Tyson Barrie before re-signing him to a four-year, $22MM deal, but then lost head coach Patrick Roy as he stepped down due to not having enough control. The Avs did not address their suboptimal possession metrics, nor did they boost their roster traditionally to compete in the historically tough Central Division.

Dallas Stars

Key Additions: Dan Hamhuis
Key Departures: Vernon Fiddler, Alex Goligoski, Kris Russell, Jason Demers, Colton Sceviour
Unsigned RFAs: Valeri Nichushkin
Cap Space: $7,984, 167
Projected Roster Size: 21
Notes: The Stars parted with significant defensive pieces and failed to upgrade its goaltending, but they still remain poised to challenge for first in the Central. They did sign Captain Jamie Benn to an eight-year, $76MM extension, a steep price but one most pundits found reasonable. The Stars still have ample cap room to sign another defenseman—even more if they decide to trade either goalie for a cheaper backup option.

Minnesota Wild

Key Additions: Eric Staal, Chris Stewart
Key Departures: Thomas Vanek, David Jones
Unsigned RFAs: None
Cap Space: $2,168,909
Projected Roster Size: 21
Notes: Minnesota remained relatively static this offseason, letting Vanek walk but signing Eric Staal to a three-year, $10.5MM contract. The Wild are hoping that having Zach Parise healthy for the playoffs this year will be enough to challenge for the Central Division crown.

Nashville Predators

Key Additions: P.K. Subban, Yannick Weber
Key Departures: Shea Weber, Jimmy Vesey, Carter Hutton, Cody Hodgson, Paul Gaustad, Barret Jackman, Eric Nystrom
Unsigned RFAs: Stefan Elliot
Cap Space: $5,414,166
Projected Roster Size: 23
Notes: The Predators rocked the boat this offseason by shipping Weber off to Montreal for fellow Canadian defenseman P.K. Subban. With the move, the Preds hope to have a stalwart offensive-minded defensemen for the foreseeable future, but give up elite rock solid dependency in return. Overall the move should boost Nashville’s offense and help them take the next step in the Central.

St. Louis Blues

Key Additions: David Perron, Landon Ferraro, Carter Hutton
Key Departures: Brian Elliot, David Backes, Troy Brouwer, Steve Ott, Anders Nilsson
Unsigned RFAs: None
Cap Space: $3,957,083
Projected Roster Size: 22
Notes: The Blues lost talent this offseason after Troy Brouwer and captain David Backes signed elsewhere in free agency. They also traded away goaltender Brian Elliot for draft picks, placing their trust in young Jake Allen. With the Blues’ young guns stepping up last year, the organization must have felt that they could afford to let Backes and Brouwer go. Finally, it was rumored this summer that the Blues would trade Kevin Shattenkirk—in the final contract year—but nothing has materialized to date.

Winnipeg Jets

Key Additions: Shawn Matthias
Key Departures: Grant Clitsome
Unsigned RFAs: Jacob Trouba, J.C. Lipon
Cap Space: $10,018,333
Projected Roster Size: 23
Notes: Winnipeg stayed relatively pat this summer, signing only Matthias to beef up the team’s bottom six. The focus is on what they haven’t done—namely, sign RFA Jacob Trouba to a new deal. Trouba will anchor Team North America’s defense this summer at the World Cup of Hockey, and a good performance could loosen Winnipeg’s pocketbook.

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Latest On Jimmy Vesey

By Gavin Lee | at August 11, 2016 11:57 am

11:57am: Speculation is running rampant now, but Adrian Dater of Bleacher Report is hearing that the Blackhawks and Maple Leafs are the finalists for Vesey, and that Jonathan Toews will be present at the Hawks’ recruitment on Monday. He’s confirmed that Stan Bowman, the Hawks’ GM, has gone to see Vesey skate twice recently. With so many conflicting reports, the “Vesey Sweepstakes” has become the biggest story in the NHL, though he still has to prove his ability at the next level.

10:55am: Mark Divver of The Providence Journal reports that New York Islanders’ GM Garth Snow was in Foxboro yesterday to see Vesey skate. Assuming that most teams at least have some interest in the soon-to-be free agent this doesn’t come as much of a surprise, though it does add some intrigue to the next few days.

9:42am: All offseason, one of the biggest stories has been the upcoming free agency of Harvard forward Jimmy Vesey. After being selected by the Nashville Predators, Vesey would not sign and, after having his rights traded to the Buffalo Sabres a few months ago, will become a free agent on August 15th. Here’s the latest:

Today, Stephen Harris of the Boston Herald tells us that the Vesey camp has narrowed their list down to six teams that still includes Buffalo. Vesey’s agent, Peter Fish, said:

What Jimmy wants to do is see it through. He’s wanted to go to free agency and he’s going to see it through. There’s about 4-5 teams other than Buffalo that he wants to hear from. And then after that he’s going to make a decision. I think he’d love for the Bruins to be one of those teams. I assume that we will be taking a call from them.

This, obviously, stands in the face of Joe Haggarty’s report yesterday that the Bruins had become an unlikely landing spot for Vesey. Haggarty had a source that said the Blackhawks, Devils, Rangers, Leafs and Sabres had all passed Boston on the list of likely suitors leaving the Bruins to try and make up ground in the next few days.

Fish of course, was at the Beantown Summer Classic when he spoke to reporters, making the addition of the Bruins note understandable. In the Herald piece, Harris writes that one “very-well informed area NHL scout” believes that the Blackhawks, Rangers and Bruins will eventually be the finalists. Vesey will ultimately choose whichever team he wants to play for regardless of money, since each club will likely offer him the same ELC. Fish lends credence to this, with another telling quote:

We’ve looked at depth charts with some teams and talked about them. . . . There’s obviously a lot of thought that goes into it: The city, the coach, the GM, the salary structure, how a team treats their players in the second and third contracts down the road.

Whatever happens, Vesey has a huge reputation to now uphold, as he’s been the belle of the ball this summer. If he struggles – and he likely will struggle at times – fan perception could turn quickly on the 23-year old. We’ll keep an eye on the situation for the next few days, and look to bring you the news of his decision as soon as it happens – whether it be Monday or down the line.

0 comments Boston Bruins Buffalo Sabres Chicago Blackhawks Free Agency Nashville Predators New Jersey Devils New York Rangers Players Jimmy Vesey

Roster Crunch: Central Division

By Gavin Lee | at August 8, 2016 11:45 am

Previously, we looked at some of the battles for the last few spots among Pacific Division teams, happening to focus mostly on the third pairing on many teams. With the Anaheim Ducks leading the way with their glut of young defenders, we’ll head to the Central Division next where there are a few teams who might be contenders to scoop up one of extra Ducks pieces.

Dallas Stars – It’s not often you see a team lose three of it’s top-four defenders in one offseason, but that’s what happened to the Stars this summer after Alex Goligoski, Jason Demers and Kris Russell all became unrestricted free agents. While Russell has yet to sign, he was probably miscast as the 24-minute-a-night player the Stars used him as down the stretch. They brought in Dan Hamhuis to fill one of the spots, but it’ll be a battle between Jamie Oleksiak, Stephen Johns, Patrik Nemeth, Jordie Benn and Esa Lindell for playing time this year. Because Johns is the only right-handed member of that group, perhaps Julius Honka, a former first-round pick, will make his NHL debut this season as well.

St. Louis Blues– The Blues will head into camp with a much different look on their top two lines, after veterans Troy Brouwer and David Backes left town for greener pastures. Down the middle there is a chance for a young player to step up, as Jori Lehtera and Kyle Brodziak (they of 45 combined points a year ago) are currently penciled in as the second and third line centers. Perhaps Patrik Berglund moves back to the middle, or Robby Fabbri is given the reins to the second line, but either way there are some opportunities for the taking.

Chicago Blackhawks – It’s hard to argue with the Blackhawks strategy of paying their superstars top dollar to keep them in town, while keeping costs down elsewhere by dealing away strong young talent. Again this season it’ll be a top-heavy roster, with only five forwards making over $1MM. Their lineup construction is anyone’s guess, as there has been talk of moving Marian Hossa off the top line and into a more checking role. It might be Patrick Kane skating alongside Jonathan Toews this year, or perhaps the recently signed Nick Schmaltz. Either way, there is a ton of opportunity for young players on the bottom six this season, with Andrew Shaw and Teuvo Teravainen suiting up in different cities.

Nashville Predators – On paper, the Predators seem to have too many defensemen under contract, as after signing Matt Carle to a extremely cheap deal, they now have eight blueliners with NHL pedigree. While the top-four is locked up with P.K. Subban, Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm and Ryan Ellis, the bottom pair is most likely going to be Carle with a revolving door of Petter Granberg and Yannick Weber on his right side. This leaves Anthony Bitetto without a spot once again, meaning the New York native would be exposed to waivers at some point.

Minnesota Wild – While Mikael Granlund spent a good portion of last season as a center, it looks like this year will have him playing the wing more often, especially given the signing of Eric Staal. With Charlie Coyle coming into his own as an offensive force, and Mikko Koivu‘s steady presence, there isn’t much room for Granlund down the middle. It also might cause Erik Haula, a strong contributor from the third line last year to transition even further into a penalty killing and defensive role. We’ll see what kind of chance the team gives Chris Stewart, who is a former 28-goal scorer, who hasn’t surpassed 15 in three straight seasons.

Colorado Avalanche – It’s a good thing that the Avalanche were able to come to terms with restricted free agent Tyson Barrie, because without him the blueline looks a little thin. While Erik Johnson and Francois Beauchemin will be a steady pairing again this year, players like Patrick Wiercioch, Fedor Tyutin and Eric Gelinas will have to play big roles in the defense this season. One interesting option is Nikita Zadorov, a former first-round pick who suited up for 22 games with the Avs last season. They seem like a perfect team to go after one of the surplus defenders in Anaheim, perhaps Cam Fowler to pair with Barrie long-term.

Winnipeg Jets – Just like the Blues, the Jets find themselves with a different look up front after losing their captain. Andrew Ladd is now playing in Long Island (or Brooklyn, or Queens) and the Jets will have to find an internal replacement for his 19-minutes a night. Perhaps 20-year old Nikolaj Ehlers is that replacement, after 38 points a year ago. Kyle Connor and Patrik Laine are both expected to debut with the team as well, giving them more depth on the wing than they’ve had in a few years. If anything, the team has too many young forwards to bring them all up, meaning we may see skaters like Marko Daňo and Joel Armia see extensive AHL time once again.

0 comments AHL Anaheim Ducks Chicago Blackhawks Colorado Avalanche Dallas Stars Minnesota Wild Nashville Predators Players St. Louis Blues Waivers Winnipeg Jets Andrew Ladd Andrew Shaw Cam Fowler Chris Stewart Dan Hamhuis David Backes Eric Staal Fedor Tyutin Jason Demers Jonathan Toews Jordie Benn Kris Russell Kyle Brodziak Matt Carle Mikael Granlund P.K. Subban Patrick Kane Patrick Wiercioch Patrik Laine Petter Granberg

Salary Cap Report: Central Division

By Brett Barrett | at August 6, 2016 2:08 pm

As the hockey world takes its collective breath before the World Cup, training camps, and the regular season, most teams have checked off their boxes and marked their ledgers. Some teams are not finished building their rosters, with RFAs still to sign and trades to explore. Some teams have plenty of space to maneuver with; other teams will need to get creative to stay under the cap.

We’ll complete our Salary Cap Reports by taking a look at the Central Division. Of note:

The Central Division has the two highest paid players in the NHL in Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. The Blackhawks captain and leading scorer signed matching eight-year, $84MM extensions in the summer of 2014.
After June’s blockbuster trade, the NHL’s highest paid defenseman is now in the Central: P.K. Subban and his $9MM cap hit are now members of the Nashville Predators. The Predators also have the highest paid goalie in the division, with Pekka Rinne making $7MM per season.
With Dallas captain Jamie Benn signed to a long-term extension already, there aren’t any superstar pending-UFAs in the Central, but veteran scoring wingers Patrick Sharp and Alex Steen are both up at the end of this season. Calder Trophy winner Artemi Panarin and Ryan Johansen headline next summer’s RFAs.

By the numbers:

Chicago Blackhawks
Cap Space Remaining: $2,490,705
Greatest Cap Hit: Jonathan Toews/ Patrick Kane: $10.5MM
Colorado Avalanche
Cap Space Remaining: $1,534,405
Greatest Cap Hit: Nathan MacKinnon: $6.3MM
Dallas Stars
Cap Space Remaining: $7,984,167
Greatest Cap Hit: Jason Spezza: $7.5MM (Jamie Benn’s $9.5MM per year extension doesn’t begin until 2017-18)
Minnesota Wild
Cap Space Remaining: $2,168,909
Greatest Cap Hit: Zach Parise/ Ryan Suter: $7.54MM
Nashville Predators
Cap Space Remaining: $5,414,166
Greatest Cap Hit: P.K. Subban: $9MM
St. Louis Blues
Cap Space Remaining: $3,957,083
Greatest Cap Hit: Vladimir Tarasenko: $7.5MM
Winnipeg Jets
Cap Space Remaining: $10,018,333
Greatest Cap Hit: Dustin Byfuglien: $7.6MM

Also in the Salary Cap Report series: Atlantic Division, Metropolitan Division, and Pacific Division.

0 comments Chicago Blackhawks Colorado Avalanche Dallas Stars Minnesota Wild Nashville Predators St. Louis Blues Winnipeg Jets Alex Steen Artemi Panarin Jamie Benn Jonathan Toews P.K. Subban Patrick Kane Patrick Sharp Pekka Rinne Ryan Johansen

Snapshots: Predators, Strome, Athanasiou

By natebrown | at August 1, 2016 4:56 pm

The Nashville Predators are gearing up for an exciting season writes Adam Vingan of the Tennessean. Vingan makes his case for a trio of predictions as the season approaches. He writes that the over/under should be set at 35 goals for Filip Forsberg, but sees him falling short of 40. As for newly acquired defenseman P.K. Subban, Vingan bets that Subban will easily break 60 points. Vingan sees Pekka Rinne‘s as playing better than last season, but cautions that it may not be significant enough to warrant a dramatic improvement. He also points out that it was Rinne’s up and down play that made the Predators inconsistent.

In other NHL news:

Arizona Coyotes forward Dylan Strome says he’s done with junior hockey and the timing couldn’t be more impeccable. With the Coyotes buying out the contract of Antoine Vermette earlier today, the path seems clear for the 19-year-old forward. Craig Hagerman writes that the 2015 third overall pick is ready for the next step in his career after posting consecutive 100+ point seasons in the OHL. One of the final roster cuts last Fall, Hagerman reports that another year of seasoning and strong performance has Strome hopeful for a shot with the big club.
Speedy Detroit Red Wings forward Andreas Athanasiou isn’t concerned about his starting place this fall the Detroit Free Press’ Helene St. James reports. Despite dazzling when given some ice time late in the regular season and then the playoffs, Athanasiou might be an odd man out when the Red Wings head into the 2016-17 season. With the addition of forwards Thomas Vanek, Frans Nielsen, and Steve Ott, roster space is limited, but Athanasiou says that he won’t let if affect him. St. James writes that along with Anthony Mantha, Athanasiou cannot be claimed on waivers. While this may not prove popular with the Red Wings fanbase, Athanasiou seems more concerned about building on last year’s successes.

1 comment Detroit Red Wings Nashville Predators Snapshots Utah Mammoth Andreas Athanasiou Antoine Vermette Filip Forsberg Frans Nielsen P.K. Subban

Anaheim Ducks’ Defense Crunch

By Gavin Lee | at July 31, 2016 10:17 am

When the Anaheim Ducks were eliminated this spring by the Nashville Predators in seven games, many pointed fingers at the poor performance of some of the top offensive options. Corey Perry had not scored a single goal, registering a -7 rating in the series, completely erased by a stifling Predator defense group. The Ducks’ defense, even in losing, were just as spectacular, keeping the Predators to only 14 goals in the series and moving the puck with relative ease from their end.

It’s this defense group though, that may be giving the Ducks’ front office the most headaches this summer, as there are furiously tough decisions to make in the coming months. Currently, it has seven men deserving of NHL spots, to say nothing of up-and-comers Shea Theodore and Brandon Montour, and NCAA transplant Andy Welinski.

The group consists of Sami Vatanen, Cam Fowler, Kevin Bieksa, Clayton Stoner, Josh Manson, Simon Despres and Hampus Lindholm all solid NHLers, with contracts to prove it. The group, led by Vatanen, is set to earn $20.65MM next season, not even including Lindholm’s yet-to-be-signed deal that could push $6MM AAV.

While every team needs depth on the blueline, not many can afford to put millions of dollars in the press box every night, waiting for an injury to happen. While Fowler’s name has been bandied about since the Ducks were eliminated, nothing concrete has come out about Anaheim’s true desire to move him. Indeed, it would be a tough decision to move any member of the group, as each comes with their own strengths.

With Lindholm and Rickard Rakell still to sign, and under $8.5MM to do it, the Ducks will be tight to the cap if they head into the season with all seven blueliners under contract. They also risk losing one of their prized defensemen next offseason, when the Las Vegas TBAs get to pluck unprotected players from unsuspecting clubs in the expansion draft. Bieksa has a no-movement clause, and will therefor be automatically protected, leaving just two more defense slots (or three, if the Ducks choose to go with the eight-skater option and leave a young forward unprotected).

Fowler still seems like the most likely candidate for trade, but there is little doubt that teams would be more interested in the extremely cheap Josh Manson who, while earning only $825K per season, rates well at both ends of the rink and could become a building block for a new team on the right side.

With the pipeline that Anaheim has created, they would do well to leverage it into some help up front. Their current group is getting older, headlined by Perry, Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler who will all turn 32 in the next calendar year and are already starting to see cracks form in their production. Rakell and Jakob Silfverberg form a dynamic young duo, but represent the only two threats at forward under 26 years of age for the Ducks going forward.

(Anaheim Ducks’ Depth Chart via Roster Resource)

0 comments Anaheim Ducks Expansion Injury Nashville Predators Players Vegas Golden Knights Cam Fowler Hampus Lindholm

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