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Bruins, Jets Among Teams Interested In Mattias Ekholm

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One of the top prizes of the trade deadline – if he ultimately gets dealt – is Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm.  A top-four blueliner is hard to come by at this time of year, especially one that’s on an affordable contract for next season.  Accordingly, there will be no shortage of suitors, even in a salary cap environment where most contenders can’t afford to add anyone of consequence without offsetting money.  Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports in his latest 31 Thoughts column that the Jets and Bruins are among the teams that are interested in Ekholm’s services.

The 30-year-old has been a minutes-eater for several seasons now, logging more than 23 per night over each of the last four seasons, a number that hasn’t dipped much this year as Ekholm is at 22:18 per game in 2020-21.  He’s playing at a 33-point pace offensively, a mark that he has reached in four of the last five seasons as well.  Often matched against top lines from other teams, he’s someone that can conceivably slot onto the top pairing which will have many contenders intrigued.

The easy parallel to draw in terms of what the cost will be is Toronto’s acquisition of Jake Muzzin two years ago.  Muzzin’s contract situation was similar to Ekholm’s deal ($3.75MM this season and next before being UFA-eligible) and Friedman notes that Nashville is using Muzzin’s return as a template for these talks.  That would include a first-round pick plus a pair of quality prospects.

There is definitely a case to be made for both Boston and Winnipeg to pay that price.  The Bruins never replaced Torey Krug who left for St. Louis in free agency last summer which has left a vacancy in their top-four.  Their younger blueliners have held their own in that role but if they have eyes on contending, they’d be in better shape with a proven veteran in that spot.  Jarred Tinordi, a recent waiver claim to cover for some recent injuries, suffered an upper-body injury tonight against Pittsburgh as well.

As for the Jets, defense has been a considerable weakness for them the last couple of years with the exodus of talent they’ve had.  Two years ago, Dustin Byfuglien, Jacob Trouba, Tyler Myers, and Ben Chiarot were all fixtures on their back end but all four are gone now with Neal Pionk being the only impact blueliner added since then.  Ekholm would form a nice one-two punch on the left side with Josh Morrissey and give that unit some stability.  Of course, there is the quarantine period to contend with but GM Kevin Cheveldayoff indicated yesterday that it’s not a concern for him; they’ve already made one big move this season with that in place as it is.

Ekholm has made it known that his preference is to remain in Nashville but as Friedman puts it, the veteran may be the ‘belle of the trading ball’ at the moment.  If that’s the case, GM David Poile may eventually be offered an offer that’s too good to pass up on between now and next month’s trade deadline which means the defenseman may not get his wish.

Pekka Rinne Hoping To Retire A Predator

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If any goalie-needing contenders were watching today, Pekka Rinne put on quite a show. In a match that the Nashville Predators seemed destined to lose, down several key players against the defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning, Rinne stopped 38 of 39 shots en route to a 4-1 victory. The 38-year-old seemed to turn back the clock and showed why he was a Vezina winner not so long ago.

But if he has it his way, Rinne won’t be going anywhere at the deadline. The goaltender told Adam Vingan of The Athletic that despite a long Cup-less career to this point and Nashville struggling this season, he wants to retire a Predator. The veteran goaltender was listed as an “untouchable” by Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet last month and the team does not want to move him, according to Vingan.

Right now, they don’t really have a choice, given Juuse Saros is out dealing with an injury and there aren’t any other goaltenders in the system with real experience. But seeing Rinne go anywhere else before he hangs up his skates certainly wouldn’t seem right, given what he has accomplished for the Predators organization.

Debuting with the team in the 2005-06 season, Rinne’s rise to NHL starting goaltender is something of legend these days. GM David Poile spent an eighth-round pick on the goaltender after scout Janne Kekalainen convinced him of his upside, despite such few viewings. By the 2008-09 season, he was the team’s starter and never looked back. He now sits 32nd in all-time games played and 20th in wins.

All of those have come in a Predators uniform and that doesn’t appear to be changing.

Dante Fabbro Suspended Two Games

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The Department of Player Safety has come down on Dante Fabbro, ruling that the two-minute minor he received for elbowing Brock McGinn was not enough. The league has suspended the Nashville Predators defenseman two games for the incident. As the accompanying video explains:

It is important to note that players often hold their arms in front of their chest when delivering a hit to ensure that their chest does not absorb the full impact of the contact. However, on this hit, Fabbro does not keep his arm tight to his body, but instead extends it up and away from his chest, driving it directly into McGinn’s head. What causes this hit to rise to the level of supplementary discipline is Fabbro’s significant extension of his elbow upward and the direct head contact, combined with the force of the blow.

McGinn did leave the game initially but returned before it was over. Fabbro has not been fined or suspended in his NHL career, though that spans just 94 games so far.

The Predators will now be without Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis and Fabbro for the next two games, leaving Mattias Ekholm as the only true top-four option on the roster. That means younger players like Jeremy Davies and Alexandre Carrier, both up on emergency loans, will likely be asked to play significant roles.

Dante Fabbro To Have Hearing With Department Of Player Safety

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The Department of Player Safety has some more work to do and the Nashville Predators are about to lose another key player. Dante Fabbro has a hearing today for his elbow on Carolina Hurricanes forward Brock McGinn. The incident happened midway through the second period last night and Fabbro was issued a two-minute minor penalty. McGinn initially left the game but did return in the third period.

Fabbro appears to be destined to miss at least one game since the league will be holding a hearing, meaning Nashville is down another defenseman. They’re already missing Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis, and Luca Sbisa due to injury, forcing Fabbro into an increased role. The young defenseman played nearly 23 minutes last night including nearly five shorthanded and recorded an assist. With him out, Mattias Ekholm will likely have an even bigger load dropped on his plate after logging nearly 29 minutes last night.

The Predators’ next game is tomorrow against the same Hurricanes for traveling to Tampa Bay for a two-game series against the Lightning.

Mattias Ekholm Hoping To Remain With Predators

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With the Predators struggling in the standings (sixth in the Central Division) and a rapidly-growing list of injuries to key players, defenseman Mattias Ekholm has emerged as a potential trade piece.  But if the 30-year-old has his way, he’ll be staying with Nashville as he told Adam Vingan of The Athletic (subscription link) that his preference is to remain with the team that drafted back in the fourth round (102nd overall) in 2009.

It’s quite understandable as to why he’ll be highly sought-after.  Top-four blueliners are hard to come by at this time of year and Ekholm is certainly that.  He has logged heavy minutes, playing more than 23 per game in each of the last four seasons and over 21 this year.  Offensively, he has been quietly consistent, picking up 33 points or more in four of the last five years and with four goals and five assists in 18 games this season, he’d be above that pace if this was a full schedule.  And of course, in his own end, he has been one of Nashville’s top defensive weapons, often spending time against opposing top players.

At a time where teams are having even more difficulty fitting extra money on the books, Ekholm is certainly quite affordable.  Carrying just a $3.75MM AAV for this season and next, he’s on a below-market deal although in this environment, it’s worth noting that his price tag in salary dollars jumps to $5MM next season.

The obvious comparable in terms of a trade would be the Kings-Maple Leafs swap involving Jake Muzzin in 2019 with the blueliner going to Toronto for a first-round pick and a pair of prospects.  Muzzin carried a similar price tag ($4MM), was the same age, and had the same amount of term remaining on the deal.

However, there are a couple of different factors at play.  More teams could afford Muzzin then than can afford Ekholm now unless Nashville shows a desire to take a sizable contract back as part of the return.  Of course, there is also expansion to consider.  Ekholm would almost certainly be a must-protect player so the acquiring team would have to be comfortable with not only losing the elements required for any trade but also the opportunity cost of not protecting a different defender has to also be taken into consideration.

While the 2020-21 season is going up in smoke in a hurry for the Preds, this isn’t a situation where GM David Poile is going to be forced into making a move.  Nashville can safely protect Ekholm from Seattle and because he has another year on his deal, Poile can wait until the summer to see what the offers look like when teams more have financial flexibility.  Of course, Ekholm’s preference appears to be that no move is made at all.

Roman Josi Out Week-To-Week

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The Nashville Predators have struggled on the ice even when healthy, but now healthy they are not. The team’s injured reserve is already filled with important names like Matt Duchene, Ryan Ellis, Luke Kunin, and Juuse Saros, but now the final blow has been dealt. Captain Roman Josi has been listed as “week-to-week” by the team with a lower-body injury despite playing more than 25 minutes and scoring the shootout winner on Sunday night.

The team has recalled Mathieu Olivier, Rem Pitlick, and Jeremy Davies from the taxi squad for tonight’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes. Erik Haula will also not be available to the team after appearing on the COVID Protocol Related Absences list.

If there was any hope still left in Nashville that the Predators could turn things around, losing Josi for any length of time should kill it. The team is 11-14-0 on the season but carries a -21 goal differential, one of the worst marks in the entire NHL. Their best two defensemen, younger goaltender and top-line center are all sidelined by injury for the time being and the team has to play the Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Florida Panthers for the next six games.

There’s no doubt that Josi, the reigning Norris Trophy winner, is still the team’s most important player (even if Filip Forsberg has been carrying the entire offensive load on his back this season). The 30-year-old captain is averaging more than 25 minutes a night once again and is second in team scoring, with 16 points in 25 games. Losing Josi and Ellis in quick succession suddenly leaves a Predators blueline looking awfully thin, especially when considering that Mattias Ekholm is apparently available for trade. Perhaps this is the push that GM David Poile needed to really embrace the firesale that seems inevitable in Nashville.

Predators’ Arvidsson Could Be Nashville’s Best Trade Chip

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While there has been speculation that the Nashville Predators will be sellers this year with another disappointing season as the team stands at 10-14, sixth in the Central Division, many experts are pointing fingers at  Filip Forsberg, who has just one more year remaining after this one. The 26-year-old forward is one of the few bright spots this year with 10 goals and 24 points in 24 games and there are many questions regarding his asking price (potentially in the $9MM AAV range) and interest in remaining on a team ready to begin a full rebuild. However, there is also speculation that the Predators asking price for Forsberg is incredibly high, making it less likely they will deal him when the trade deadline rolls around on April 12.

On the other hand, The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta writes that a more likely candidate to be moved will be forward Viktor Arvidsson. The 27-year-old is in the fourth year of a seven-year, $29.75MM deal and for a three year period (from 2016-17 through the 2018-19 seasons) averaged more than 30 goals per season. However, Arvidsson’s play like much of his team, has dropped in the last two years. He scored just 15 goals last season and currently has just three goals and 12 points in 24 games so far.

Regardless, it makes sense that a possible revival in Arvidsson’s offense could easily happen on a contender. Add in that fact that almost everyone in Nashville is struggling would suggest that he can turn his game around. Throw in that Arvidsson makes a reasonable $4.25MM per year and is locked up for another three years, giving teams some security could make him an attractive commodity for many playoff contenders.

Of course Nashville has plenty of other candidates it wouldn’t mind moving, including pending UFA’s Mikael Granlund and Erik Haula. It might even consider discussing some of their top defensemen. The team also wouldn’t minding ridding themselves of centers Matt Duchene or Ryan Johansen, but both have contracts that might prove difficult to move.

Predators Place Matt Duchene On Injured Reserve

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Things continue to go from bad to worse in the injury front for the Predators as the team announced (Twitter link) that Matt Duchene has been placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury in advance of their game today against Florida.  The center is expected to miss the next three-to-five weeks.

As has been the case for many of Nashville’s players this season, it hasn’t been a good year so far for the 30-year-old.  Duchene has just three goals and five assists in 23 games which is hardly the type of production they’re expecting from a player that’s tied for the highest cap hit on the team at $8MM (along with fellow underachieving center Ryan Johansen).

Nonetheless, Duchene’s absence adds to their quickly-growing list of impact players out of the lineup; he now joins defenseman Ryan Ellis, goalie Juuse Saros, and Luke Kunin as regulars that are out while Luca Sbisa has been out since the season-opener.  For a team that isn’t the deepest, it’s a tough spot to fill but in the meantime, Erik Haula – who looks like a possible trade candidate over the next few weeks – should be in line for a bigger role at some point although Mikael Granlund (another candidate to be moved) will move down the middle for now.

COVID Protocol Related Absences: 03/04/21

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Each day, the NHL will publicly release the list of players that are unavailable to their respective teams due to being in COVID-19 Protocol. Here is today’s updated list:

Boston – Charlie Coyle
Philadelphia – Joel Farabee*
San Jose – Tomas Hertl

As a reminder, inclusion on this list does not mean that a player has tested positive for Coronavirus or even that they have been confirmed as a close contact to another positive person. Included in the NHL’s list of possible reasons for someone being on the list is are the following:

(1) an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (2) mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (3) required quarantine as a high-risk close contact in accordance with the Positive Test Protocol; (4) isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or; (5) quarantine for travel or other reasons as outlined in the COVID-19 Protocol

Players removed today: Ryan Johansen, Nashville Predators; Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins.

While Penguins superstar Crosby, as well as Pittsburgh assistant coach Todd Reirden, are a welcome subtraction from the CRPA list, it is one step forward and one step back as the league continues to get agonizingly close to a blank list. The Philadelphia Flyers are back on COVID watch, as Farabee makes his first appearance of the season less than a week after many of his teammates were finally removed. Boston Bruins forward Coyle, a late addition on Wednesday night, also does not seem to be a fluke, as he was not at practice this morning and remains on today’s list.

UPDATE: Nashville’s late report showed that that they too are no longer carrying any protocol players. Johansen has been activated from the CPRA list, making this a net positive day in the league’s battle against COVID.

*denotes new addition

Juuse Saros Day-To-Day With Upper-Body Injury

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The Predators aren’t getting much good fortune on the injury front.  Just a day after losing a pair of core players to injury and Ryan Johansen to the CPRA list, Nashville is now without one of their goaltenders.  The team announced (Twitter link) that Juuse Saros is day-to-day with an upper-body injury that was sustained in yesterday’s game in a collision with Nino Niederreiter, one that netted the winger a fine.  Saros earned the starting role last season but has struggled this year, posting a .895 SV%, the lowest of his career.  Veteran Pekka Rinne has been the better goalie statistically this year and will hold down the fort while Saros is out while Kasimir Kaskisuo will likely be recalled from the taxi squad on Thursday.

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