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Oilers Notes: Puljujarvi, Niemelainen, Hall

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Some fans in Edmonton are probably wishing that Jesse Puljujarvi would just fade into irrelevance in Europe so that they can stop hearing about him. However, the reality is that Puljujarvi is excelling in his native Finland and it is only creating more buzz about his availability. The Oilers have been adamant that they will not rush into a trade for Puljujarvi and will wait for a fair return, but as he continues to put up points for Karpat in the Liiga, the more likely that offer will come. The Athletic’s Allan Mitchell tries to put Puljujarvi’s production into context rather than let the hype train run wild. He writes that there is some question as to the quality of a few of Puljujarvi’s six goals on the year and, more importantly, adds that his point-per-game pace in the Liiga is only equivalent to approximately 0.43 points per game in the NHL. Puljujarvi’s level of play in Finland lends itself to a projection of a third-line forward in the NHL in Mitchell’s estimation; however, given his upside and natural size and athleticism, the 22-year-old is worth more than your typical third-liner. The Oilers will eventually get an offer that they like for Puljujarvi and this story will go away, but the question is whether or not that deal occurs before the December 1st signing deadline for Puljujarvi, a restricted free agent, to play this season. Mitchell does not add any new names to the list of teams interested in Puljujarvi, but reiterates that the Carolina Hurricanes remain intrigued, as do the Oilers do in ’Canes prospect Julien Gauthier. Mitchell also posits that Dominik Bokk, a raw, but talented prospect recently acquired by the Hurricanes in the Justin Faulk trade, could be another target of Edmonton’s in a Puljujarvi trade. Carolina sought a regular NHL forward in exchange for Faulk, but settled for the upside of the young Bokk. Perhaps the team could be convinced to flip him for Puljujarvi. One way or another, the Hurricanes lead the pack when it comes to the most likely landing spot for Puljujarvi until new information emerges on the race to land the divisive young forward.

  • Another Edmonton prospect could also be looking at an extended stay in Finland. Defenseman Markus Niemelainen, the team’s third-round pick in 2016, has signed a one-year extension with Assat of the Liiga, the team announced. Niemelainen is in his first year with the Aces after growing up in the system of HPK, as well as two seasons with the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit. While the big defender has been held scoreless through 12 games, he brings a well-rounded game that balances checking ability and defensive awareness with mobility and play-making ability. Niemelainen has the makings of a player ready for the jump to North America, but claims in the team’s release that he is happy to continue developing with Assat. It seems likely that the Oilers will have to wait until 2021-22 to see Niemelainen cross the pond.
  • The “Taylor Hall-back-to-Edmonton” rumors were inevitable once the New Jersey Devils entered the season without an extension in place with their superstar and then subsequently got off to a rough start. Despite what many may think, Hall never requested a trade when he was with the Oilers, the team that selected him No. 1 overall in 2010, and actually enjoyed playing in Edmonton. It’s possible that Edmonton could continue to build off their hot start to the season and put themselves in position to be a real contender and a potential rental destination for Hall later this season. However, The Athletic’s Jonathan Willis all but rules out Hall as a possible free agency target and long-term fit. With the likes of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, James Neal, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins signed long-term on substantial contracts and a number of other top players in need of new contracts, there doesn’t appear to be space for Hall, who Willis expects to command a contract in the vicinity of $11MM per year. Even taking into account salary cap inflation, Willis feels that the Oilers would need to shed considerable salary to afford Hall and questions whether that would be the right play. Edmonton’s days as home to Hall are likely exclusively in the past.

Minor Transactions: 10/21/19

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It was another exciting night in the NHL on Sunday, with five games on the schedule. Perhaps most interesting was the Edmonton Oilers-Winnipeg Jets tilt, in which both Mike Smith and Connor Hellebuyck recorded shutouts. That’s right, both goaltenders shut the door on every shot in regulation and overtime, leading Smith to receive a shutout loss after Kyle Connor and Patrik Laine both scored in the shootout. Tonight should have more of the same excitement with four games on tap, including a Western Conference battle between the Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues. As teams prepare for the action, we’ll be right here keeping track of all the minor moves.

  • The Ottawa Senators have recalled J.C. Beaudin for their game tonight against the Dallas Stars. Beaudin was acquired in February from the Colorado Avalanche and has yet to make his NHL debut.
  • The New Jersey Devils have recalled Matt Tennyson from the minor leagues once again, after only being assigned yesterday. Tennyson has played in three games for the Devils this season, actually recording two points. Though that total wouldn’t be notable for many players, Tennyson actually hadn’t registered an NHL point since March of 2017.
  • The San Jose Sharks have recalled Jonny Brodzinski and Trevor Carrick from the minor leagues, continuing their pattern of bouncing players back and forth between game days. Carrick has already been involved in seven transactions since the start of the month, while playing three times for the Sharks.

Five Key Stories: 10/14/19 – 10/20/19

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While there was a consistent flow of trade rumors this week, no team pulled the trigger on a big move. That’s not to say there weren’t several additions, as well as subtractions, this week, as a big extension, a free agent signing, a suspension, an injury, and a coaching staff change are the stories of the week:

Hischier Extended Seven Years: The New Jersey Devils may be off to a surprisingly rough start to the season, but young centerpiece Nico Hischier remains a bright spot for the team. A timely source of good news for a disappointed fan base, the Devils announced a seven-year, $50.75MM extension. The new $7.25MM cap hit for the 2017 first overall pick is hardly an overpay so long as the talented center continues to develop. Especially in light of a increasingly higher salary cap ceiling, the new deal could be a bargain for New Jersey, particularly toward the end of the contract.

Panthers Add Boyle: Respected veteran forward Brian Boyle was a surprise omission from this summer’s list of free agent signings, but the Florida Panthers recognized a need in their bottom six and addressed it with a one-year deal for the two-way ace. Boyle actually enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career last year and has been a highly valuable hired gun late in his career. An affordable addition of experience and ability, Boyle could prove to be a key signing by Florida. The Philadelphia Flyers made a similar addition, signing Chris Stewart to a one-year deal.

Zykov Suspended 20 Games: Young Vegas Golden Knights forward Valentin Zykov will be out of the lineup for some time, as the NHL announced a 20-game suspension as a result of a failed drug test. Zykov reportedly violated the joint Performance Enhancing Substances Program and as a result will sit until late November. While the Golden Knights claim Zykov admitted to taking an illegal substance, the player continues to state that he is unaware of how he failed the drug test.

Hjarlmarsson Out Three Months: Niklas Hjalmarsson’s penchant for shot blocking has cost him, as the Arizona Coyotes defenseman will miss an anticipated three months with a cracked fibula in his left leg. One of the more dependable defensive blue liners in the NHL, Hjalmarsson’s loss is a major blow for the ‘Yotes. The injury has sparked trade rumors in the desert, as Arizona was already off to a shaky start before losing one of their top players. Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares was another big-name injury this week, out two weeks with a broken finger.

Fitzgerald Joins Devils’ Bench: Considered by many to be the most improved team in the league heading into this season, the New Jersey Devils have not gotten off to the start than most expected. Head coach John Hynes is on the hot seat and the organization wants a closer look at the situation in the locker room. Assistant GM Tom Fitzgerald will add assistant coach to his list of responsibilities for the time being, joining Hynes’ staff. It could be a sign of things to come for New Jersey if they don’t turn things around soon.

Metropolitan Notes: Hischier, Barzal, Murray

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Nico Hischier has been impressive in his first two years in the league since being drafted first-overall in 2017. However, while those numbers have been solid, they haven’t been exceptional either with a 20-goal rookie season the highlight of his career so far. That might make it look like the New Jersey Devils would have preferred to sign a bridge deal with their young prospect, which might give the team more flexibility in the short-term.

However, Chris Ryan of NJ.com writes that both sides made it clear to each other they both wanted a long-term deal, which is what he got in the end when Hischier signed a seven-year, $50.75MM contract on Friday. The 20-year-old made it quite clear that he wanted to stay in a Devils’ uniform and made it clear that signing an extension was a top priority.

“I felt really welcomed since day one here. I was really happy, was treated well,” Hischier said. “They give me the confidence a player needs. So I had no reason why I wouldn’t want to stay here. I was happy they felt the same way, so there wasn’t a lot of back and forth.”

Obviously, if Hischier continues to improve on his game, the $7.25MM AAV could end up being a bargain.

  • Speaking of Hischier’s contract, one person who took note of the deal was New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal, who has been watching numerous pending restricted free agents already sign long-term deals. Barzal, represented by CAA’s Pat Brisson, will be a restricted free agent this summer, but so far has not signed an extension yet. Barzal says that while he’s noted the RFA signings, he isn’t worried about his contract, according to Newsday’s Andrew Gross. “At this point, it’s really just between my agent and Lou [Lamoriello] right now,” Barzal said. “I don’t talk to Lou about contract stuff. If it happens in the next two months or if it happens in June, it doesn’t really matter to me. I’m just focused on the season right now. “It’s something that eventually is going to happen,” Barzal added. I’m pretty good at just kind of pushing that stuff aside and just worrying about what’s going on right now.” While Hischier walked out with a $7.25MM AAV, Barzal could be getting something even higher, with Gross suggesting he could command a comparable contract to the one that Colorado Avalanche’s Mikko Rantanen signed this summer (six years at $55.5MM, a $9.25MM AAV).
  • The Columbus Blue Jackets were without defenseman Ryan Murray Saturday and will remain day-to-day with an upper-body injury after being injured in Friday’s loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, according to the team. Murray left the game in the third period, playing only one shift and missing the final 17 minutes of the game. The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline reports it’s not considered to be a serious injury. Dean Kukan came in to replace him in the lineup.

Devils Had Recent Discussions With Taylor Hall's Agent

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  • Devils GM Ray Shero acknowledged to reporters, including Corey Masisak of The Athletic (Twitter link), that he spoke with Taylor Hall’s agent over the last few days but stopped short of indicating if any discussions were held regarding a potential contract extension. Hall’s future with New Jersey is one of the big storylines around the league in the early going of the season and their slow start to 2019-20 has only increased the spotlight.  He has a $6MM cap hit but could come close to doubling that on his next deal if he has a strong performance this season and stays healthy.

Andy Greene Nearing A Return, Will Butcher Out Saturday

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The Devils received some good news and bad news on the injury front when it comes to their back end.  Andy Greene told Amanda Stein (Twitter link) that he’s nearing a return after suffering an upper-body injury in the third game of their season.  He skated at practice but still needs to meet with team doctors before getting the green light to return.

Meanwhile, they’ll be down another blueliner for Saturday’s contest against Vancouver as the Devils announced (via Twitter) that Will Butcher has been ruled out after sustaining an undisclosed injury on Thursday night.  The 24-year-old is off to a quiet start to his season offensively with just a single goal in seven games.  Connor Carrick will likely return in Butcher’s absence.

New Jersey Devils Extend Nico Hischier

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The New Jersey Devils have extended one of their key forwards, but unfortunately it’s not Taylor Hall. The team has reached a seven-year extension with Nico Hischier that will carry an average annual value of $7.25MM. Hischier is in the final year of his entry-level contract and scheduled for restricted free agency next summer. Chris Johnston of Sportsnet and PuckPedia provide the full breakdown:

  • 2020-21: $4.0MM salary + $3.0MM signing bonus
  • 2021-22: $7.25MM salary
  • 2022-23: $4.5MM salary
  • 2023-24: $7.75MM salary
  • 2024-25: $7.75MM salary + 10-team no-trade clause
  • 2025-26: $8.0MM salary +10-team no-trade clause
  • 2026-27: $8.5MM salary +10-team no-trade clause

The first-overall pick from 2017, Hischier stepped directly into the NHL and had immediate success on a Devils team that shocked many by making the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. Scoring 52 points he trailed only Hart Trophy-winner Taylor Hall for the team lead, but actually finished seventh in Calder Trophy voting thanks to an impressive rookie class (Mathew Barzal and his 85-point season took home the award).

While his sophomore season was marred by injury and he’s already been banged up this year, Hischier hasn’t disappointed fans in New Jersey that saw him as a rock-solid two-way center in his draft class. Slotting him in along with Jack Hughes as the team’s top-two pivots for years is the basis of a very good forward group, even if it’s not paying off so far this season.

After a summer which saw several star restricted free agents miss part of training camp and the preseason, teams are locking up their young names even quicker this time around. Hischier joins names like Alex DeBrincat, Clayton Keller and Thomas Chabot signing long-term deals well before they hit the open market.

Because he hit the NHL so young, a seven-year extension actually buys out three UFA seasons for Hischier, keeping him at a reasonable price for the Devils to work with. While his offensive totals haven’t quite popped off the page so far, his underlying numbers and defensive ability make for a very valuable player.

For the Devils, who desperately want to extend Hall if they can before he hits unrestricted free agency, getting Hischier done now gives them a ton of cost-certainty moving forward. Hughes won’t need an extension for another few seasons, while P.K. Subban and Damon Severson are locked in through at least the 2021-22 season.

Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic was first to break news of the deal.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Snapshots: Bruins, Clarke, Helm

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The Boston Bruins are set to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs this weekend in a rematch of their first round playoff series, but it appears both teams will be without a star center. Not only will the Maple Leafs be missing John Tavares from the lineup, but the Bruins will also be without David Krejci who will not travel with the team.

Krejci missed last night’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning after suffering an upper-body injury earlier in the week. Joakim Nordstrom will also not play against the Maple Leafs, but Patrice Bergeron is expected to after missing practice with a lower-body injury. The Bruins may call someone up from the AHL before tomorrow night’s tilt.

  • New Jersey Devils prospect Graeme Clarke will undergo shoulder surgery and is expected to miss four months according to Kenny Walls of TSN. Clarke was picked in the 2019 third round and is an important piece of the Ottawa 67’s in the OHL. He was recently named to that league’s roster for the upcoming Canada-Russia series, which he will obviously miss.
  • The NHL has fined Detroit Red Wings forward Darren Helm $5,000 for his slash last night on Elias Lindholm. This was the maximum allowable fine under the CBA.

Latest On Taylor Hall, New Jersey Devils

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The New Jersey Devils are one of the most interesting teams in the league right now, with immense pressure on their coaching staff to get things turned around after their early season struggles. Those struggles go beyond just the immediate future of John Hynes though, as the team continues to try to convince Taylor Hall to sign a long-term extension. Elliotte Friedman starts off his latest 31 Thoughts column for Sportsnet with an examination of the situation, and then explained himself further on the Tim and Sid show:

The Devils know that if they’re not looking like a consistent playoff team, the chances of him staying are extremely unlikely. So they know they have to get going. They made a pretty interesting move today behind the bench. They realize if it doesn’t change they’re going to have to start having these [trade] conversations with other clubs.

Friedman even went on to speculate about a potential suitor, noting that the Edmonton Oilers have wanted to “correct” the previous trade for a long time. The Oilers obviously have a new front office in place now, but the simple fact that it is getting to the point of speculation like this is not the way the Devils hoped this season would go.

After selecting Jack Hughes first overall, adding P.K. Subban, Wayne Simmonds and Nikita Gusev, New Jersey was supposed to be not only improved but competing for a playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division. They’ve now gotten off to an 0-4-2 start to the season and can’t seem to find their way in either end of the rink, allowing more than twice as many goals as they have scored to this point.

It is too early for the Devils to throw in the towel—after all, it’s just six games—but after watching their rival New York Islanders lose captain John Tavares for nothing as an unrestricted free agent (a decision by the forward that Hall has said “took a lot of guts”) they’ll need to make a tough decision before the trade deadline on whether their future includes the 2018 Hart Trophy winner if he doesn’t yet have a contract in hand.

Hall will turn 28 next month and has five points through six games.

Hynes, Boudreau Not In “Imminent” Danger

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Both the Minnesota Wild and New Jersey Devils have started slowly this season, leading to much speculation regarding their head coaching situations. In Minnesota, Bruce Boudreau was inherited, not hired, by new GM Bill Guerin and has his team off to a 1-4 record to start the year. John Hynes and the New Jersey Devils are off to an even worse 0-4-2 record even with all of the hype surrounding the team after big offseason changes. Despite the struggles, Pierre LeBrun and Bob McKenzie report that neither is in imminent danger of being fired on the latest edition of Insider Trading for TSN.

In fact, LeBrun notes that Guerin will be patient with the entire Wild organization, taking full stock of what he has before making any major changes. Minnesota made Kevin Fiala a healthy scratch tonight in Toronto, sending a message to the young forward that no job is secure at the moment.

The Wild made sweeping changes to their core under former GM Paul Fenton, trading away Nino Niederreiter, Mikael Granlund and Charlie Coyle while adding Mats Zuccarello to a lengthy free agent deal. None of those moves have really panned out as of yet, meaning Guerin still has lots of work to do in Minnesota.

The Devils are in a much different situation. The team has made the playoffs just once in the last seven years, missing it three times under Hynes since he was hired in 2015. An 0-4-2 start may have been acceptable in some of those other years as they worked through a rebuild, but after adding Jack Hughes, P.K. Subban, Wayne Simmonds and Nikita Gusev in one summer the team had big expectations.

Even if GM Ray Shero isn’t ready to make a change behind the bench right now, it’s hard to imagine that it wouldn’t happen at some point if the Devils continue to struggle. Hynes has just a 141-150-43 record as head coach of the team.

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