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Poll: Who Is The Top Target On The Rental Market?

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When the NHL’s Holiday Roster Freeze comes to an end, attention will again turn to the trade market as many teams begin to address their weaknesses in the second half, leading up to the NHL Trade Deadline in late February. With Taylor Hall off the market, now a member of the Arizona Coyotes, it is no longer obvious who the top rental candidate is. There are many potential names and their values will depend on the suitor’s specific needs or the emphasis placed on certain abilities. But from an overall, objective perspective, who do you think the top rental target is?

Note: For the purposes of this poll, a rental player will be defined as an impending unrestricted free agent whose current team holds a points percentage below .550.

F Mikko Koivu, Minnesota Wild

2019-20: 28 games – 2 goals, 10 assists, 12 points, +2, 17:34 ATOI
2018-19: 48 games – 8 goals, 21 assists, 29 points, -2, 18:18 ATOI
Cap Hit: $5.5MM

Could this be the end for Koivu in Minnesota? The long-time Wild captain is arguably the biggest name on the rental market with Hall gone, but his best years are behind him. Last season was marked by injury for Koivu, but this year he has seen his production slip along with his ice time and has not looked the same. Even in decline though, Koivu is a good two-way center who can benefit a team on the penalty kill and at the face-off dot if not on the score sheet. His price may be hard to swallow and the Wild may be reluctant to move him, but teams will undoubtedly make calls on Koivu regardless.

D Mike Green, Detroit Red Wings

2019-20: 30 games – 2 goals, 5 assists, 7 points, -22, 21:23 ATOI
2018-19: 43 games – 5 goals, 21 assists, 26 points, -1, 21:41 ATOI
Cap Hit: $5.375MM

Like Koivu, Green’s value is more in name than production at this point in his career, especially given his injury concerns over the past couple of years. Yet, Green has quietly played in 30 games with Detroit already this season and is maintaining high ice time numbers. You can pin that jarring plus/minus on the overall struggles of the team too. His scoring isn’t what it once was, but a healthy Green could be a real asset to a playoff team, if they can afford to take on his cap hit. Fortunately, that may be all that is expensive about Green, as the already-dead Red Wings will be selling any and all rentals for whatever they can get in this throwaway season.

G Robin Lehner, Chicago Blackhawks

2019-20: 21 games – 9 wins, .924 save percentage, 2.86 goals against average
2018-19: 46 games – 25 wins, .930 save percentage, 2.13 goals against average
Cap Hit: $5MM

The name with most recent history of elite play on the rental market is also the one shrouded in the most mystery. Are the Blackhawks willing to move Lehner? Is he in their long-term plans? And is there a market for a goalie of his price? The reigning Jennings Trophy winner was one of the league’s best goalies last season with the Islanders and his strong play has continued with his new team. That fact alone could entice a team with needs in net to make a play for Lehner.

D Sami Vatanen, New Jersey Devils

2019-20: 32 games – 5 goals, 11 assists, 16 points, -4, 21:29 ATOI
2018-19: 50 games – 4 goals, 13 assists, 17 points, -17, 21:44 ATOI
Cap Hit: $4.875MM

Vatanen is another veteran defenseman who has dealt with recent injury issues. Yet, this season he has returned to form, even in the midst of a poor campaign by any measure for the Devils. Vatanen has already topped his goals mark from last season and will soon do the same in assists and points. Vatanen is the most productive rental defenseman available and the Devils have established themselves as sellers and will definitely be looking to move him. With a lesser cap hit and more points than Green and others, Vatanen should be a highly sought-after blue line piece, if teams feel they can trust his defense and overlook his inconsistency.

F Chris Kreider, New York Rangers

2019-20: 36 games – 10 goals, 11 assists, 21 points, +4, 17:35 ATOI
2018-19: 48 games – 28 goals, 24 assists, 52 points, +4, 17:24 ATOI
Cap Hit: $4.625MM

Kreider may be the closest thing to a Taylor Hall left on the rental market, although admittedly not that close. An established power forward with several 20-goal seasons under his belt, Kreider is a true 200-foot player who could play a top-nine role for any team in the league, if not top-six. The real question is whether Kreider will be worth the cost to acquire him? His track record as a scoring threat boosts his trade value, but his numbers so far this year suggest that he may be declining. Kreider is on pace to fall well below his goal total from last year, as well as his overall point total, despite logging more ice time and playing on a more talented Rangers roster. Kreider certainly has value, but it may be difficult for teams to determine just how much relative to a high asking price.

F Tyler Toffoli, Los Angeles Kings

2019-20: 38 games – 9 goals, 12 assists, 21 points, -4, 15:45 ATOI
2018-19: 82 games – 13 goals, 21 assists, 34 points, -16, 17:13 ATOI
Cap Hit: $4.6MM

Toffoli is somewhat of the opposite case of Kreider. He struggled last year but has shown some resurgence of late and could wind up as a great value addition at the deadline. Despite limited ice time and special teams responsibilities this year, Toffoli is already more than halfway to besting his offensive totals from last year, which had represented a major dip in his production. Toffoli, who has multiple 20-goal seasons to his credit and has been a deft penalty killer in the past, has the potential to continue his upward trajectory this season by joining a more talented team than the lowly Kings. At the right price and with the right fit, Toffoli could be a game-changer.

F Vladislav Namestnikov, Ottawa Senators

2019-20: 35 games – 8 goals, 10 assists, 18 points, -6, 15:37 ATOI
2018-19: 78 games – 11 goals, 20 assists, 31 points, -7, 15:48 ATOI
Cap Hit: $4MM

Namestnikov has already been traded once this season and it worked out nicely that time. Many speculated right away that the Senators were acquiring the UFA forward on the cheap only to flip him later for a profit, and judging by Namestnikov’s production since his arrival in Ottawa, that could very well be the case. A complimentary player whose production improves exponentially with the more talent he plays with and the greater role he is given, Namestnikov is the perfect hired gun. A dynamic asset in the right situation, Namestnikov could also flop if not placed in an ideal scenario. He could continue his 20-goal pace on one team, or completely disappear on another, as he did at times with the Rangers. How much a team is willing to pay to take a chance on Namestnikov will determine his market value.

F Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Ottawa Senators

2019-20: 38 games – 18 goals, 10 assists, 28 points, +21, 18:51 ATOI
2018-19: 39 games – 4 goals, 8 assists, 12 points, -12, 17:51 ATOI
Cap Hit: $3.1MM

On one hand, Pageau has the best production this season, total and per-game, of anyone on this list. On the other hand, he has no history of producing remotely near these levels in years past. His breakout could really be a product of his role in Ottawa, leading a club with few play-makers up front. Pageau has always been a good two-way forward, but he has more than doubled his scoring output from last year’s injury-shortened season. Much of that can be attributed to an increase in ice time and responsibility, but how much? Are interested teams acquiring a player on pace for nearly 40 goals this season or will Pageau revert to a role player on a new team? The other key questions is whether or not the Senators are willing to move the 27-year-old center. Given the exodus of core players from Ottawa in recent years, they may not make this season’s breakout star available.

D Erik Gustafsson, Chicago Blackhawks

2019-20: 37 games – 4 goals, 11 assists, 15 points, -4, 20:57 ATOI
2018-19: 79 games – 17 goals, 43 assists, 60 points, -6, 22:35 ATOI
Cap Hit: $1.2MM

The only player on this list whose cap hit can be considered a true “value” based on cap hit, it can safely be assumed that the 27-year-old Gustafsson will be made available by the Blackhawks, whose hopes of playoff contention have been sunk by inconsistency and injury. Gustafsson’s numbers from last season jump off the page, especially at his price point. While he will likely finish far from 60 points this year, that can be attributed to a sizeable drop-off in ice time due to a remodel of the Chicago back end this off-season. The offensive ability is there though, and as an affordable rental addition, Gustafsson has the chance to do some serious damage on another team’s blue line. Of course, he won’t come cheap and there is not a lot of NHL experience to look back on to see how he may perform with a change of scenery, especially making the transition to playoff pace.

What do you think? Who is the top target on the post-Taylor Hall rental market?

Who Is The Top Target On The NHL Rental Market?
Chris Kreider 29.46% (438 votes)
J-G Pageau 18.90% (281 votes)
Robin Lehner 11.03% (164 votes)
Erik Gustafsson 9.48% (141 votes)
Tyler Toffoli 9.21% (137 votes)
Mikko Koivu 6.93% (103 votes)
Mike Green 6.93% (103 votes)
Sami Vatanen 5.92% (88 votes)
Vladislav Namestnikov 2.15% (32 votes)
Total Votes: 1,487

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NHL Draft Picks Participating In The World Junior Championship

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The 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship is underway from Ostrava and Trinec in the Czech Republic. The tournament began today and will run through the championship game on January 5th. Each of the NHL’s 31 teams has at least one representative at the WJC. Five teams have only one draft pick participating, while the Los Angeles Kings (9) and Arizona Coyotes (7) each have more than those teams combined. However, it only takes one player and one moment to make history at the WJC. Check out which future NHLers will have that chance this year:

Anaheim Ducks (2):

G Lukas Dostal, Czech Republic
F Trevor Zegras, USA

Arizona Coyotes (7):

F Barrett Hayton, Canada
F Jan Jenik, Czech Republic
F Matias Maccelli, Finland
D Aku Raty, Finland
D Victor Soderstrom, Sweden
F Valentin Nussbaumer, Switzerland
D Ty Emberson, USA

Boston Bruins (3):

F Jakub Lauko, Czech Republic
F John Beecher, USA
F Curtis Hall, USA

Buffalo Sabres (4):

F Dylan Cozens, Canada
F Matej Pekar, Czech Republic
G Erik Portillo, Sweden
D Mattias Samuelsson, USA

Calgary Flames (1):

G Dustin Wolf, USA

Carolina Hurricanes (5):

D Anttoni Honka, Finland
F Lenni Killinen, Finland
F Patrik Puistola, Finland
F Dominik Bokk, Germany
F Jack Drury, USA

Chicago Blackhawks (2):

F Antti Saarela, Finland
F Michal Teply, Czech Republic

Colorado Avalanche (4):

D Bowen Byram, Canada
G Justus Annunen, Finland
F Sampo Ranta, Finland
D Daniil Zhuravlyov, Russia

Columbus Blue Jackets (4):

F Liam Foudy, Canada
F Kirill Marchenko, Russia
F Dmitri Voronkov, Russia
D Tim Berni, Switzerland

Dallas Stars (3):

F Ty Dellandrea, Canada
F Oskar Back, Sweden
F Albin Eriksson, Sweden

Detroit Red Wings (5):

D Jared McIsaac, Canada
F Joseph Veleno, Canada
D Moritz Seider, Germany
F Jonatan Berggren, Sweden
F Jesper Eliasson, Sweden

Edmonton Oilers (4):

F Raphael Lavoie, Canada
G Olivier Rodrigue, Canada
F Matej Blumel, Czech Republic
D Philip Broberg, Sweden

Florida Panthers (3):

Justin Schutz, Germany
F Grigori Denisenko, Russia
G Spencer Knight, USA

Los Angeles Kings (9):

F Aidan Dudas, Canada
F Akil Thomas, Canada
F Lukas Parik, Czech Republic
F Rasmus Kupari, Finland
D Kim Nousiainen, Finland
D Tobias Bjornfot, Sweden
F Samuel Fagemo, Sweden
F Arthur Kaliyev, USA
F Alex Turcotte, USA

Minnesota Wild (1):

F Alexander Khovanov, Russia

Montreal Canadiens (4):

D Alexander Romanov, Russia
D Mattias Norlinder, Sweden
F Cole Caufield, USA
D Jordan Harris, USA

Nashville Predators (1):

D Spencer Stastney, USA

New Jersey Devils (5):

D Kevin Bahl, Canada
D Ty Smith, Canada
D Daniil Misyul, Russia
F Nikola Pasic, Sweden
G Akira Schmid, Switzerland

New York Islanders (2):

F Jacob Pivonka, USA
F Oliver Wahlstrom, USA

New York Rangers (5):

D Nico Gross, Switzerland
F Karl Henriksson, Sweden
D Nils Lundkvist, Sweden
D Zachary Jones, USA

D K’Andre Miller, USA

Ottawa Senators (3):

D Jacob Bernard-Docker, Canada
D Lassi Thomson, Finland
F Shane Pinto, USA

Philadelphia Flyers (4):

F Egor Zamula, Russia
D Adam Ginning, Sweden
F Bobby Brink, USA
D Cameron York, USA

Pittsburgh Penguins (1):

D Calen Addison, Canada

San Jose Sharks (1):

Santeri Hatakka, Finland

St. Louis Blues (2):

G Joel Hofer, Canada
F Nikita Alexandrov, Russia

Tampa Bay Lightning (3):

F Nolan Foote, Canada
F Maxim Cajkovic, Czech Republic
G Hugo Alnefelt, Sweden

Toronto Maple Leafs (3):

D Mikko Kokkonen, Finland
D Rasmus Sandin, Sweden
F Nicholas Robertson, USA

Vancouver Canucks (4):

F Karel Plasek, Czech Republic
D Toni Utunen, Finland
F Vasily Podkolzin, Russia
F Nils Hoglander, Sweden

Vegas Golden Knights (3):

F Pavel Dorofeyev, Russia
F Ivan Morozov, Russia
G Isaiah Saville, USA

Washington Capitals (2):

F Connor McMichael, Canada
D Martin Has, Czech Republic

Winnipeg Jets (2):

F David Gustafsson, Sweden
D Ville Heinola, Finland

What Your Team Is Thankful For: New Jersey Devils

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As the holiday season is upon us, PHR will continue its look at what teams are thankful for as we get closer to the halfway point. There also might be a few things your team would like down the road. We’ll examine what’s gone well in the early going and what could improve as the season rolls on for the New Jersey Devils.

What are the Devils most thankful for?

A promising young core down the middle.  Jack Hughes, the top pick in June, has shown flashes of the raw offensive upside he showed at the lower levels.  While his numbers aren’t the greatest this season, he is making the unprecedented jump from the USHL; much brighter days are on the horizon for sure.  Nico Hischier, the 2017 top selection, may not be a top-line producer in the end but his all-around game continues to improve.  He’s also under contract through 2026-27 after signing an extension back in October so he’s a piece for the long haul as well.  Pavel Zacha has held down more of a regular role this season as well and at 22, he could still be part of the long-term future.

They also have some other youngsters that aren’t far away from making an impact.  2016 first-rounder Michael McLeod has shown some early promise while the Devils are fond of Nate Schnarr, one of the prospects they added in the recent Taylor Hall deal.

The center position is a tough one to fill outside of the organization.  It’s unlikely the Devils will be dealing with that problem anytime soon.

Who are the Devils most thankful for?

While it would be easy to pick Hughes given his upside, they’re also quite thankful for Kyle Palmieri.  The winger has been a model of consistency since being acquired from Anaheim back in 2015 for a second and third-round pick.  Since then, he has scored at least 24 goals in each season (and he missed 18 games the year he had 24) and is on pace for over 30 this season despite New Jersey being among the lowest-scoring teams in the NHL.  While other players have garnered more attention along the way, he just has been steadily productive for a bargain price tag of $4.65MM.  It’s safe to say that GM Ray Shero will be looking to get a contract extension done when the window to do so opens up in July.

What would the Devils be even more thankful for?

Better performances from their high-paid veterans.  P.K. Subban’s acquisition seemed like a great fit but he has struggled mightily this season and has just seven points in 36 games.  They’re expecting a lot more for someone making $9MM per year.  Veteran goalie Cory Schneider was unable to build upon his good finish to last year and strong showing at the Worlds and is even languishing in the minors, posting a .853 SV% in five AHL games.  They’re expecting a lot more for $6MM.  Wingers Wayne Simmonds (four goals in 36 games for $5MM) and Nikita Gusev (five goals in 33 games for $4.75MM) aren’t getting the job done either.  If any of them could get on track, they’d be thrilled.

What should be on the Devils’ Holiday Wish List?

Long term, another starting goalie is something they’re going to need with Schneider not likely being part of their future plans anymore.  That’s likely an offseason move, however.

In terms of what they should be wishing for between now and the trade deadline, it’s more of what they got for Hall – picks and prospects.  Blueliner Sami Vatanen could yield a strong return if he’s not extended while defenseman Andy Greene could attract some interest as well if he’s willing to waive his no-trade clause.  Simmonds struggled down the stretch and in the playoffs a year ago but he could bring back a draft pick as well.  It’s not overly exciting but having cashed in their top trade chip already, New Jersey’s shopping is going to be quieter between now and late February.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Minor Transactions: 12/24/19

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Even though the roster freeze is in full effect and no hockey is scheduled for the next two days, there are still a handful of transactions coming through the AHL wire. As always we’ll keep you caught up on all the minor moves.

  • The St. Louis Blues sent Niko Mikkola down to the AHL without getting him into a single game. Mikkola was recalled on December 14th, but is still waiting to suit up for his first NHL contest. The 23-year old could very well be recalled again later this week.
  • Maxime Lajoie and J.C. Beaudin have been sent to the minor leagues by the Ottawa Senators, as they save some money over the holidays. Ottawa has been decimated by injuries on the blueline, meaning Lajoie is likely coming back as soon as they’re ready to play again.
  • The New Jersey Devils have returned Michael McLeod to the AHL, where he’ll continue to try and get his offensive game on track. The 21-year old is still without a single goal in 25 NHL games and has just four in 24 games with the Binghamton Devils this season.
  • Jordan Gross has been returned to the AHL by the Arizona Coyotes, after playing in his first two NHL games. The 24-year old had an assist but is still looking for his first point at the highest level.
  • Martin Frk and Kale Clague have been sent back to the Ontario Reign, but their stay will likely be short. Clague played nearly 18 minutes in his NHL debut on Saturday and looked like he fit in quite well, even if the boxscore did have him as a -2.

Five Key Stories: 12/16/19 – 12/22/19

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The days leading up to the NHL’s Holiday Roster Freeze are always full of potential for big moves by teams looking to make a change before a stretch of mandatory inactivity. This year did not disappoint, as the biggest target on the rental market was dealt, highlighting a busy week. Here are the five biggest stories of the past week:

Taylor Hall Traded To Arizona: The week started with a bang, as the Taylor Hall saga came to an end with a trade to Arizona. The Coyotes sent a 2020 first-round pick, a conditional 2021 third-round pick, and prospects Nate Schnarr, Nick Merkley and Kevin Bahl to the Devils. New Jersey retained half of Hall’s $6MM cap as well. Hall was the top name in the rental market this season, but many were left underwhelmed by the trade return. The asking price may have been affected by Hall’s reluctance to negotiate an extension in-season, which he has maintained since arriving in the desert. Nevertheless, the Coyotes’ acquisition could make them the favorite to win the Pacific Division this year as they pursue the franchise’s first Stanley Cup.

Ilya Kovalchuk Leaves Kings: Veteran Ilya Kovalchuk is on the move as well, but his destination is yet to be determined. He and the Los Angeles Kings came to a mutual agreement on a contract termination on Monday, with Kovalchuk clearing unconditional waivers on Tuesday. The former superstar never fit with the Kings after returning from the KHL and could be tempted to return to Russia after this failure. However, he is reportedly willing to sign a minimum deal to remain in the NHL as he too is pursuing his first Stanley Cup, without much time left in his lengthy career.

Eric Comrie, Stefan Noesen Claimed: Three players entered the waiver wire on Wednesday and two emerged on new teams. Both goaltender Eric Comrie and forward Stefan Noesen were claimed on waivers. For Comrie, he returns to the Winnipeg Jets, the team with which he began the season, after making stops with the Arizona Coyotes and Detroit Red Wings. Meanwhile, Noesen only signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins a few weeks ago, but is already on the move to the San Jose Sharks. Austin Czarnik, the most accomplished player waived on Wednesday, but also the most expensive, was not claimed and remains with the Calgary Flames.

The Injury Bug Bites: Injuries are not exactly an uncommon occurrence in the NHL, but this week in particular took a heavy toll across the league. Just how bad was it? Here is the list of players who were announced this week as being out long-term: Josh Anderson, Danny DeKeyser, Troy Terry, Derek Grant, Andrew Peeke, Ryan Murray, Darcy Kuemper, Jason Zucker, Josh Leivo, Brandon Saad, Cal Clutterbuck, Anthony Mantha, and Oliver Bjorkstrand. 

Chris Snow Diagnosed With ALS: Calgary Flames Assistant General Manager Chris Snow has been diagnosed with ALS, as disclosed by his wife in a public letter. As Snow begins this difficult battle, we here at PHR wish he and his family the best this holiday season.

 

Anaheim’s Derek Grant, Troy Terry Out Long-Term

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Tuesday night’s game between the Anaheim Ducks and Philadelphia Flyers proved costly for the Quack Attack. Forward’s Troy Terry and Derek Grant left the game with injuries and did not return. When the Ducks recalled Isac Lundestrom and Max Jones from the AHL ahead of Wednesday’s match-up with the New Jersey Devils, it did not bode well for a quick comeback for either player. However, the extent of both injuries is beyond what anyone had expected. Anaheim announced that Terry suffered a broken leg and will miss about ten weeks, while Grant suffered an AC sprain in his shoulder and will miss four to six weeks.

The loss of both players hurts the Ducks, especially with Nick Ritchie already sidelined long-term. However, Grant’s absence will be felt the most, as the veteran defensive forward is enjoying a career year. The 29-year-old center’s nine goals and twelve points in 34 games had him on pace to shatter his previous career highs of 12 goals and 24 points. Grant is also tied for third in the NHL with short-handed goals and is an integral piece to the Anaheim penalty kill. The Ducks will have to make do without him until at least mid-January, if not through to February. Meanwhile Terry is expected to be sidelined until the end of February at the earliest and then will likely find himself rehabbing in the AHL. Terry has not produced as expected so far in his young pro career, but still provides the offensive spark that so often eludes the Ducks. This injury will be a further setback to his development.

The third member of the injury update was defenseman Jacob Larsson. Listed as a scratch for Wednesday’s game, Larsson is in fact considered day-to-day with an undisclosed upper-body injury. Larsson has been the least productive of the Ducks’ defenders this year and continues to struggle with the offensive and puck-moving aspects of the game at the NHL level. A good defensive blue liner, Larsson’s absence will nevertheless not hurt as much as the losses up front for an Anaheim team that allows fewer than three goals per game, but scores only two-and-a-half.

 

Minor Transactions: 12/17/19

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Eleven games on the schedule for this evening make this a busy and important night in the NHL. One of those games will feature the Arizona Coyotes with their newest star Taylor Hall take on the San Jose Sharks. As they and others prepare for tonight’s action, we’ll keep track of all the minor moves.

  • The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled Mitchell Stephens from the minor leagues as they deal with a minor injury to Nikita Kucherov. Stephens made his NHL debut this season and has played in four games for the Lightning.
  • The New Jersey Devils have sent Evan Cormier back to the minor leagues, bringing up Gilles Senn in his place. Senn, 23, is in his first season in North America after signing out of Switzerland and currently carries an .896 save percentage through 13 AHL games. Neither Cormier nor Senn have made an appearance at the NHL level.
  • Brian Lashoff has been recalled by the Detroit Red Wings, as they place Jonathan Ericsson on injured reserve. The team also placed Jimmy Howard on long-term injured reserve in order to send him on a conditioning stint to the AHL. Howard, injured last month against the Toronto Maple Leafs, is getting closer to a return and will get in some game action in the minors.
  • The Philadelphia Flyers have swapped Carsen Twarynski and Andy Andreoff, with the latter coming up to the NHL. Twarynski has played in 15 games with the Flyers this season but will have to spend some more time in the minor leagues.
  • Though Trevor Moore was originally expected to return for the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight, he suffered a slight setback after being bumped in practice. Instead, the Maple Leafs have recalled Adam Brooks from the minor leagues under emergency conditions to serve as some insurance for the forward group.
  • Similarly, Adin Hill has been recalled by the Arizona Coyotes under emergency conditions to fill in for Antti Raanta, who is sick. Hill will backup Darcy Kuemper tonight, but likely won’t see any action on this recall.
  • The San Jose Sharks have sent Joachim Blichfeld back to the minor leagues, recalling Jacob Middleton in the process. Blichfeld played in two games with the Sharks but didn’t score, and will have to wait for his next NHL opportunity.

Coyotes Notes: Hall Extension, Burke, Soderstrom

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Taylor Hall stated in his conference call with the media this afternoon that he was excited to be joining the Arizona Coyotes and would be open to an extension with the team prior to July 1st. Of course, no one would’ve expected any less from the blockbuster acquisition. In reality, there is likely some work to be done before Hall would agree to a long-term deal in the desert. In fact, he stated outright that he and Coyotes GM John Chayka have a mutual understanding that they will let things play out before beginning contract talks. First and foremost, the team’s playoff pursuit will play a major role in how Hall enjoys his time with the team this season and how he views their Stanley Cup odds moving forward. Hall mentioned several times in his call that he was looking forward to the prospect of getting back to the playoffs and was excited by the jump from the basement-dwelling Devils to the Pacific-leading Coyotes. The star winger has played in just five postseason games in his NHL career and joining a club that looks destined not only to make the playoffs, but potentially even win a round, could be enough to hook Hall in to a longer stay. However, how Arizona makes the playoffs will matter as well. While the ’Yotes have held their own so far this season, if Hall feels like he had to carry the team into the playoffs as he did the 2017-18 Devils, he could look to move elsewhere to a more balanced roster. For what it’s worth, ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski says that the vibe he got from Hall on the conference call was that Arizona was not going to be a long-term stay, but Wyshynski acknowledges that there is still plenty of time for him to change his mind. “It’s always nice to feel wanted,” Hall stated, which is a sentiment that will likely only grow as Hall finds his place on an upstart Coyotes franchise that, like himself, is lacking in playoff experience and excited at the potential of this season, especially after swinging this deal.

  • CapFriendly was quick to point out after the Hall trade was consummated that, even with New Jersey retaining 50% of his salary, the team was over the salary cap ceiling as currently constituted. The team resolved that situation shortly thereafter, announcing that forward Brayden Burke has been reassigned to the AHL’s Tuscon Roadrunners. Burke, 22, had been on a tear in the minors with 24 points in 24 games to open the season. He had only just earned his first NHL call-up on Friday and had yet to make his Coyotes debut. But when a star like Taylor Hall is available, plans change and Burke will have to wait to show what he can do at the top level.
  • With many not so impressed by the return the Devils received for Hall, several sources have stated that the Coyotes top prospects, Barrett Hayton and Victor Soderstrom, were never even on the table. Soderstrom, the team’s 2019 first-round pick, is likely even more untouchable after today’s trade. Having dealt Pierre-Olivier Joseph to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Phil Kessel trade and now Kevin Bahl to New Jersey, the team’s defensive pipeline has lost two of its biggest names. Soderstrom and Filip Westerlund now sit atop a list that otherwise counts long-term collegiate projects as its top talent. In all likelihood, Arizona will not be looking to make a major deal including prospects of Soderstrom’s caliber any time soon, but you can be sure that the young Swedish defender isn’t going anywhere regardless.

 

Arizona Coyotes Acquire Taylor Hall

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When the New Jersey Devils decided to remove Taylor Hall from the lineup for the last two games, it became clear that a trade was inevitable. That deal has finally happened, with Hall and Blake Speers heading to the Arizona Coyotes. The Devils will receive a 2020 first-round pick (top-three protected), a conditional 2021 third-round pick, Nate Schnarr, Nick Merkley and Kevin Bahl in exchange for the star forward. The third-round pick will be upgraded to a first should the Coyotes re-sign Hall and win a playoff round, or a second if only one of those two things happen. New Jersey will retain half of Hall’s $6MM cap hit this season.

John Chayka, general manager of the Coyotes, released a short statement on the deal:

Hall is one of the elite talents in the game today; a Hart Trophy winner, a high-end playmaker and one of the NHL’s most talented forwards. We are beyond thrilled to add Taylor to our team as we continue in our mission of bringing a Stanley Cup home to Arizona.

The Coyotes were able to bring Hall into the fold without trading away a single player from their active roster, one that already had them in first place in the Pacific Division. That’s an incredible feat given he is less than two years removed from winning a Hart Trophy as the league MVP after scoring 93 points in 76 games and carrying the Devils to a playoff berth. Hall immediately becomes the most dangerous offensive weapon on an Arizona team that has only scored 97 goals this season.

In fact, Hall’s 25 points in 30 games this season would make him the leading scorer on the Coyotes, who are currently topped by Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz with 23 each. Adding that kind of a talent this far before the trade deadline is impressive, and gives the Coyotes even more time to try and convince him to sign an extension before he hits free agency.

Even though the Devils aren’t getting anything off the Arizona roster, they do add a pile of assets to help them in their current rebuild. The draft picks are obviously valuable currency to either select young players or trade for others, but most will focus on the three prospects headed to New Jersey.

Merkley comes with the most name recognition after being selected 30th overall in 2015, but is also the oldest of the three. The 22-year old forward has played just a single NHL game so far in his young career, and has seen his development stagnate in the minor leagues. A talented offensive player, he has 16 points in 26 games for the powerhouse Tucson Roadrunners this year but will have to take significant steps to become a real impact player for the Devils. His entry-level contract expires after this season, making him a restricted free agent in the summer.

Schnarr too was playing for the Roadrunners this season, his first professional year after an excellent junior career. First used as a checking forward by the Guelph Storm, he broke out in a more offensive role in 2018-19 and scored 102 points in 65 games. Selected 75th overall in 2017 he too needs some more time before he can really contribute at the NHL level.

It’s Bahl who may end up being the most important prospect in the deal for New Jersey. The 6’7″ defenseman is currently overseas with the Canadian World Junior team where he is expected to take on a shutdown role, one he is used to filling in the OHL. The 19-year old can skate and move the puck but is an excellent defensive player that uses his long reach to routinely break up rushes before they even cross his blue line. Selected 55th overall in 2018 he would likely be taken higher if it were done again today.

Though the Devils aren’t really getting any elite prospects in the deal, it’s hard to criticize them for accepting a package as large and diverse as this. Hall has expressed his desire to test free agency in the past, and with the history of his agent Darren Ferris it would have been difficult to justify keeping him beyond the trade deadline without a deal in hand. Given that, and the fact that the team is bottom-dwelling again this year despite several headline-grabbing moves in the offseason, they’ll take the package and move on to a rebuild focused around Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Snapshots: Three Stars, Hall, Kucherov

at CDT | by 2 Comments

The NHL has released their Three Stars for last week, handing out the top spot to Vegas Golden Knights forward Max Pacioretty. In four games the former Montreal Canadiens’ captain had five goals and eight points last week and leads the Golden Knights in both categories on the season.

While Jack Eichel’s continued MVP-level performance has landed him the third star, a new face finds himself in the second spot. Anthony Duclair has risen from the ashes to become a star with the Ottawa Senators and now has 18 goals on the season. The 24-year old has scored 26 goals in 54 games since arriving in Ottawa and now looks ready to land a long-term deal as a restricted free agent this summer.

  • There is still no concrete news on New Jersey Devils forward Taylor Hall and where he’ll end up after the inevitable trade, but Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic (subscription required) is ruling out one team (for the time being). The Florida Panthers have pulled back their pursuit of the scoring winger according to LeBrun—though he notes that things can obviously change at any moment—because the winger doesn’t seem ready to sign an extension with whatever team acquires him. Hall hasn’t played in the Devils’ last two games as the team tries to protect their asset.
  • Nikita Kucherov has been listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury after blocking a John Carlson slapshot over the weekend. Kucherov was forced from the game but seems to have avoided major injury. Head coach Jon Cooper told reporters including Joe Smith of The Athletic that Kucherov will likely be back before Christmas.

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