Erik Gudbranson Traded To Nashville Predators
The Ottawa Senators have flipped another depth defenseman, trading Erik Gudbranson to the Nashville Predators for a 2023 seventh-round pick and minor league defenseman Brandon Fortunato according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.
It wouldn’t have been a trade deadline if Gudbranson didn’t move. The 29-year-old defender has now been dealt for the fifth time, including four times since his current contract began at the start of the 2018-19 season. With that deal about to expire, it was all but certain that the Senators would move Gudbranson before the deadline, the second such time he has been moved on the last day to do so.
Unfortunately, Gudbranson’s play this season didn’t warrant much of a return. Gudbranson has just three points and is a -13 so far this season, looking slow and ineffective on the ice. While he started to show signs of slowing down last season in Anaheim, it was very apparent in Ottawa this season. As a result, a player who was traded straight up for Tanner Pearson just two years ago and cost a fifth-round pick for Ottawa to acquire this summer, the Senators were only able to land a seventh-rounder and an unheralded prospect for a short stretch of Gudbranson. Fortunato, 24, has done little in the pros since signing with Nashville in 2019 and does not appear to be a legitimate NHL prospect.
Perhaps the low cost is why the Predators took a shot at the veteran. Nashville was expected to be a major seller not long ago and even after climbing back into the Central Division playoff picture, they were not thought to be a buyer. However, adding some depth and experience on the blue line for next to nothing is not a bad move for GM David Poile and company if they do indeed qualify for the postseason.
Nashville’s Michael McCarron Suspended Two Games For Illegal Check
The Department of Player Safety announced that Nashville Predators forward Michael McCarron has been suspended two games for an illegal check to the head of Tampa Bay Lightning forward Yanni Gourde. The suspension will cost him $12,068.96.
The incident (video here) happened with just 25 seconds left in the third period of Saturday’s 3-0 loss against Tampa Bay when McCarron nailed Gourde with his shoulder in open ice, sending the forward to his knees. McCarron was given a two-minute penalty and then received a match penalty.
McCarron was playing his first game in almost a month and will not be missed in their lineup. The forward has appeared in just five games for the Predators this year with no points, while averaging under 10 minutes per game.
Nashville Predators Sign Josh Healey To One-Year Deal
The Nashville Predators have signed defenseman Josh Healey to a one-year, two-way contract worth $700K at the NHL level. The 26-year-old has been playing with an AHL contract with the Chicago Wolves.
After a solid four-year career at Ohio State University, signed with the Calgary Flames as an undrafted free agent, playing two years with the Stockton Heat. However, he never received a promotion to the NHL. He became an unrestricted free agent after the 2018-19 season, signing an AHL deal with the Milwaukee Admirals where he has stayed other than the fact that he is now playing with the Wolves since the Admirals shut down for the 2020-21 season, forcing Predators’ prospects to join Chicago.
The defenseman has a goal and an assist in 20 games to go with 36 penalty minutes, which could be a reason for the NHL deal. He has 108 penalty minutes in 50 games with the Predators’ AHL organization. With numerous injuries on defense, Healey might be a good choice to add depth to the organization. On top of that, while Nashville has been winning of late, that doesn’t mean they won’t move a defenseman before the trade deadline and the team might want some depth at that position just in case, hence why the team signed him for the rest of this season.
Nashville Predators Activate Ryan Ellis
The Nashville Predators are one of the most impressive stories of the season so far. After a brutal first half where they went 11-16-1, there were questions about GM David Poile‘s job security and many were wondering just how many of their core pieces they would sell at the deadline. Since then, the Predators are 11-2-0 and now securely in a playoff spot in the Central Division.
Still, there are questions about whether they can hold that playoff spot given how many injuries they are dealing with. Today at least was a good day in that respect, as Ryan Ellis has been activated from injured reserve and will make his return to the lineup. Ellis hasn’t played since February 28 and has just nine points through 21 games this season.
Ellis is one of the most important players Nashville has though and his return is certainly a welcome one. The team tweeted out the long list of scratches that now includes Tyler Lewington, Filip Forsberg, Brad Richardson, David Farrance, Mathieu Olivier, Eeli Tolvanen, Alexandre Carrier, Luca Sbisa, Dante Fabbro, Kasimir Kaskisuo, Tommy Novak, Mark Borowiecki, and Matt Duchene.
Given all those unavailable, the team recalled Michael McCarron and Rem Pitlick from the taxi squad.
Nashville Predators Issue Injury Updates
A few weeks ago the Nashville Predators were being written off as deadline sellers with no chance at the postseason. Now, after an incredible 11-2 run since the middle of March, the team holds the final playoff spot in the Central Division. GM David Poile’s confidence in his group has paid off, but his resolve to hold onto his deadline chips will be tested once again.
The Predators have issued several injury updates today. Eeli Tolvanen and Dante Fabbro are now both considered week-to-week with their respective injuries, while Mathieu Olivier will be out four to six weeks with a lower-body injury. The team has placed Filip Forsberg on injured reserve after also being listed as week-to-week recently.
As Adam Vingan of The Athletic points out, the list of injured for the Predators has grown quite long. Forsberg, Fabbro, Tolvanen, Matt Duchene, Mark Borowiecki, Brad Richardson, Ryan Ellis, and Luca Sbisa are all week-to-week, while Alexandre Carrier (3-5 weeks) and Olivier are out even longer. That’s an incredible amount of talent watching from the trainer’s table while the team tries to hold onto this newly found playoff position.
Things won’t get easier down the stretch for Nashville either. The team will take on the Tampa Bay Lightning tomorrow and still have seven games after that against the top three teams in the division. With the Chicago Blackhawks still close on their heels and the Dallas Stars starting to show signs of life, the Predators can’t afford any type of stumble down the stretch.
Trade Rumors: Florida, Chicago, Toronto, Hall, Iafallo
The Florida Panthers’ trade of Brett Connolly earlier today was seemingly a precursor to something more, perhaps even a lot more. The trade opens up even more cap room for a Panthers’ team that already had substantial space, seemingly allowing them to do whatever they want at the trade deadline. With an estimated $16.4MM in full-season cap space per CapFriendly, no one is off limits to the Cats, who are looking to make the most of their firm playoff position in the Central Division. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports during the latest edition of “Insider Trading” that Florida is seeking both a top-six forward and top-four defenseman and with this additional space, there is no reason why they can’t address both if they can find reasonable trades. LeBrun notes that the Panthers were one of the teams discussing Kyle Palmieri with the New Jersey Devils prior to yesterday’s deal and will have to look elsewhere for help up front. On the blue line, LeBrun believes that rookie GM Bill Zito could look to reunite with David Savard, one of his former players in Columbus and a player heavily expected to be dealt before the deadline. One way or another, the Panthers are absolutely a buyer and a team to watch as Monday’s deadline approaches.
- As for the other side of this morning’s trade, the Chicago Blackhawks are expected to continue to use their cap room in hopes of adding other assets, LeBrun reports. Today’s deal not only landed a serviceable forward in Connolly, but also two nice young assets in Riley Stillman and Henrik Borgstrom. GM Stan Bowman would like to make as many of these types of deals as he can before the deadline. With so many teams across the league struggling with cap space, the Blackhawks could net several other pieces by offering up their financial flexibility. Specifically, LeBrun notes that Bowman has been talking to the Maple Leafs about a trade that would free up some space in Toronto.
- The Maple Leafs have been searching for a forward for some time, but it has not been going well. Not only are the Leafs dealing with a cap crunch, but their targets keep disappearing from the market too. Frank Seravalli reports that Toronto had previously shown strong interest in both Palmieri and Nashville’s Mikael Granlund; Palmieri is now an Islander and the Predators are in playoff position. The team will have to look elsewhere, but don’t expect them to turn to Taylor Hall. While Darren Dreger notes that interest in Hall is picking up with Palmieri off the market, Seravalli notes that the Leafs are not a suitor. Both Hall’s cap cost and the asking price to acquire him are thought to be too much for GM Kyle Dubas. That could change if Toronto finds a way to open up cap space and the bidding war for Hall fizzles out, but it seems unlikely that a deal will come together by Monday if the Leafs have shown no interest thus far.
- Tanner Pearson has finally signed a new contract with the Vancouver Canucks, but don’t worry a new extension-or-trade drama has already rose up to take it’s place. Seravalli reports that the Los Angeles Kings have been working hard to re-sign impending UFA forward Alex Iafallo and have previously turned away trade offers. However, the two sides have not been able to reach an agreement and time is running out. L.A. is now finally listening to offers for Iafallo, though extension talks continue. The Kings still hope to re-sign the 27-year-old scorer, but will have no choice but to trade him if a deal is not in place by Monday. L.A. is too far outside of a playoff spot right now to justify keeping Iafallo only to watch him walk for nothing as a free agent.
Nashville Predators Sign Grant Mismash
The Nashville Predators have signed Grant Mismash to a two-year entry-level contract that will begin in the 2021-22 season, following his senior season at the University of North Dakota. Mismash actually could have become an unrestricted free agent had he waited until August, but will sign with the team that picked him back in 2017.
Mismash, 22, was a second-round pick back then, coming out of the U.S. National Team Development Program where he played alongside names like Josh Norris, Quinn Hughes, and Brady Tkachuk. Instead of turning pro at any point, he spent all four years at UND, developing his game and becoming a leader for the program. This season, he scored 10 goals and 19 points in 20 games on a team loaded with future NHL talent and joins several teammates in signing his ELC.
The Predators are dying for a little more homegrown offensive firepower, but it likely won’t come from Mismash. His role in the NHL is likely as an agitating bottom-six option that will only chip in a goal every now and again. That can still be a valuable piece, especially if his penalty-killing skills can continue to develop, but the young forward is unlikely to be an impact offensive player at the next level. Last summer, Scott Wheeler of The Athletic suggested a player like Scott Laughton would be Mismash’s ceiling but noted that he would have to prove himself in the AHL first.
Alexandre Carrier To Miss Three To Five Weeks, Mark Borowiecki Placed On IR
- Nashville’s long injury list has been expanded once again as the Predators announced (Twitter link) that defenseman Alexandre Carrier will miss three to five weeks with a lower-body injury. The 24-year-old has logged more than 20 minutes a night over 15 games on an injury-riddled back end after playing in just five career NHL games heading into this season. The Preds have also transferred Mark Borowiecki (upper body) to injured reserve; he was previously listed as being out week-to-week. Luca Sbisa and Ryan Ellis are Nashville’s other rearguards that are out of the lineup.
Filip Forsberg Listed As Week-To-Week
The Predators have made plenty of progress in the Central Division standings in recent weeks despite a long list of injuries. That list has grown as the team announced (Twitter link) that winger Filip Forsberg is now listed as week-to-week due to the upper-body injury that has caused him to miss the last three games. Forsberg leads Nashville in scoring with 29 points (11-18-29) in 34 games and on a team that isn’t scoring much, his absence will be felt. Forsberg joins Brad Richardson, Matt Duchene, Ryan Ellis, Mark Borowiecki, and Luca Sbisa as players that are listed as being out week-to-week.
Snapshots: Bowman, Kiersted, OHL
As expected, accomplished Chicago Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman will be the next leader of Team USA. Sportsnet’s Frank Seravalli reports that USA Hockey has scheduled a press conference for Wednesday where they will officially name Bowman as the GM for the U.S. entry into the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Given the NHL’s absence at the most recent Olympics paired with the quality of American players who have blossomed into superstars over the past eight years, expectations are high for Team USA. A two-time Stanley Cup winning GM, whose current rebuild seems to be moving along nicely as well, Bowman has found great success in his career and appears ready for the challenge. With a familiar face in Chicago icon Patrick Kane leading the way, Bowman’s Team USA could be legitimate contenders for gold. He won’t be alone in the decision-making, either; Seravalli notes that Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin will be named an assistant of Bowman’s as well. Nashville’s David Poile and Carolina’s Don Waddell are also likely to be considered for the brain trust, among others.
- North Dakota defenseman Matt Kiersted, considered by many to be the top college free agent available this year, is already having to chip away at his list of suitors. The Athletic’s Michael Russo reports that 20+ NHL clubs have already shown interest in the dependable puck-mover, and he has begun to whittle that down to a “workable” number. What criteria Kiersted is using to choose between what are virtually identical entry-level offers is unknown and there has been few whispers of which teams might remain in the running. However, Russo notes that the Elk River, Minnesota native will definitely keep his hometown Minnesota Wild in consideration. Russo adds that the impending Expansion Draft could strip the Wild of one of their starting defensemen and there could be NHL opportunity right away for the local product. Among other likely landing spots, it is hard to ignore the immense North Dakota presence in the Ottawa Senators’ pipeline, which could link the team to Kiersted and fellow premiere UFA Jordan Kawaguchi.
- The OHL’s shortened season is expected to begin soon and teams would prefer that their players return as soon as possible. However, the league has yet to set a firm date, seemingly dragging its feet with actually opening up play as opposed to merely discussing it. This is posing quite a conundrum for some top prospects, writes Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Many top junior-age draft picks in recent years have been playing in the AHL this season with the OHL out of commission. This includes Washington’s Connor McMichael, Los Angeles’s Quinton Byfield, Montreal’s Jan Mysak and Carolina’s Ryan Suzuki, while Anaheim’s Jamie Drysdale would have to stay put with the Ducks. Per the CHL Transfer Agreement, these players must return to the OHL once the season begins if they are not on NHL rosters. However, without a solid start date and facing a quarantine period, it is a difficult ask to suggest that these talented young players leave their AHL clubs and head for the unknown. McMichael has been outspoken on the subject, stating “I honestly want to stay here and just play pro hockey. I think it would be best for my development” and Friedman feels the others likely share in that sentiment. Will there be an exception made to allow this group to stay put to close out the season? Or will they be forced to take yet another break from hockey to quarantine only to return to a junior game that they have outgrown?