Morning Snapshots: Stamkos, McDonagh, Sherwood, Panarin, Quenneville
News and notes from around the NHL this morning:
- Despite reports that Steven Stamkos may return to the Tampa Bay Lightning, Tampa Bay Times writer Joe Smith reports that Stamkos will not play tonight against the Dallas Stars. Stamkos took part in the morning skate but confirmed that he will not lace up the skates this weekend. The Lightning have four games left on the schedule, including one each against the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs—two teams the Lightning are chasing for the East’s final wildcard spot. If Stamkos returns from his knee injury, expect him to play in those high-stakes games.
- The New York Rangers will most likely be without captain Ryan McDonagh for a second straight game. NHL.com’s Dan Rosen reports that McDonagh did not skate with the team this morning ahead of its game against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Rangers captain suffered an undisclosed injury this week and missed Friday’s game. Coach Alain Vigneault did not expand on McDonagh’s injury, but assured reporters that it is day-to-day rather than something serious. Leaving McDonagh out may be nothing more than precautionary as the Rangers have all but locked up the first wild card slot in the East.
- The Columbus Blue Jackets have assigned forward Kole Sherwood to the AHL Cleveland Monsters this morning. The Blue Jackets signed the undrafted free agent in July 2015, and the Ohio native lit up the OHL with the Flint Firebirds this season. Sherwood scored 33G and 52A in 60 games, and an additional 4G and 1A in 5 playoff games. The Blue Jackets prospect may make his professional debut today against the Iowa Wild.
- According to TheAthletic’s Scott Powers, Chicago Blackhawks forward Artemi Panarin would hit his $1.75MM Schedule B bonus as of today. Panarin can trigger that bonus by finishing in the top-ten forward in scoring this season. If the season ended today, Panarin would sit 11th overall, but because Brent Burns is a defenseman, Panarin remains the tenth highest-scoring forward this season. Panarin may be looking over his shoulder, however, as both Winnipeg Jets’ Blake Wheeler and Dallas Stars’ Tyler Seguin are only one point behind.
- The New Jersey Devils have reassigned forward John Quenneville to the AHL Albany Devils. The Devils rookie has 1G and 3A in 12 NHL games, but 12G and 29A in 53 AHL games this season. With the New Jersey Devils well outside the NHL playoff picture, the organization now focuses on Albany, where the Devils hold a playoff spot by only two points.
Patrik Elias Announces His Retirement After 21 Years
Just a day before April Fools comes a headline that is hard to believe. Patrik Elias has retired from the NHL after 21 years. Though he hadn’t played at all this season, he had been skating with the New Jersey Devils and was considering a comeback should the team need him at some point. The Czech winger played his entire career for the Devils after being drafted 51st overall in 1994. 
Making his debut as a 19-year old in early December 1995, Elias would go on to be an important player on the Devils for the next two decades. Suiting up in 1240 games during his career, he held every role imaginable at one point or another, including captain for one season in 2006-07. His 1025 points place him second all-time among Czech-born players behind only Jaromir Jagr and easily first among New Jersey players. He sits more than 300 points ahead of John MacLean for the franchise lead.
Elias won two Stanley Cups with the Devils (00, 03) and played in an amazing 162 playoff games throughout his career. He increased his play when it mattered most, scoring 125 points in those games and helped fuel the New Jersey machine through the early 2000s. It wasn’t all goal-scoring though, as Elias was an excellent defensive forward, receiving Selke trophy votes four times in his career. He never did win a major trophy, but was selected to the all-star team four times.
His best season would come in 2000-01 when he scored 40 goals and registered 96 points, finishing sixth in Hart trophy voting and leading New Jersey to their second Stanley Cup final in two years. They would lose in seven games to the Colorado Avalanche, but not because of Elias; his 23 points in 25 games led the team.
He’ll likely be remembered by raising his #26 to the rafters at some point next season, as though he may be just outside the Hall of Fame, he goes down as the greatest New Jersey Devils forward of all-time. PHR wishes you luck Patrik, in whatever you choose to do now.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Minor Transactions: Pietila, Hinostroza, Pelletier, Iacopelli
With Mike Cammalleri returning to the lineup tonight, the New Jersey Devils announced that they have reassigned forward Blake Pietila to the AHL’s Albany Devils. The 24-year-old left winger is in his second season with the Devils organization, but has yet to really make an impact at the pro level. A 2011 fifth-round pick, Pietila was a consistent contributor at Michigan Tech for four seasons before signing with New Jersey prior to last season. In 17 NHL games thus far, Pietila has just one goal and two assists, with just a lone point in in 2016-17. Down in the AHL, Pietila has put up modest offense, scoring 17 points in 58 games last season to go with 29 points through 42 games so far this season. Pietila has seen an uptick in his two-way play this season though and, armed with great hockey intelligence and instincts, could be working toward a future as a bottom-six forward in the NHL. With New Jersey sitting in the basement of the Eastern Conference with no shot at the playoffs, they can afford to give project players like Pietila some play time down the stretch.
- Another AHL player on the move, now on his way back up to the big leagues after a short stint in the minors, is the Chicago Blackhawks’ Vinnie Hinostroza. As The Chicago Tribune’s Chris Kuc reports, the young forward has been called up from the Rockford Ice Hogs. Hinostroza has skated in a majority of the Blackhawks’ games this season, recording six goals and eight assists in 48 games. Though Hinostroza has been averaging less than twelve minutes of ice time per game while playing a bottom-six role in Chicago this season, he is a strong skater, an accurate shooter, and a versatile player who can line up at all three forward spots and succeed. Hinostroza has a bright future with the Blackhawks and will be a useful contributor down the stretch.
- Perhaps filling the hole left by Hinostoza in Rockford could be Matheson Iacopelli or William Pelletier. The AHL squad announced today that they had signed the pair to amateur tryout agreements for the remainder of the season. Iacopelli, a 2014 third-round pick of the Blackhawks, decided to leave Western Michigan University early, turning pro after just two seasons. The big winger was nearly a point-per-game player this year for the Broncos. Pelletier is a more intriguing story though, jumping right from Division III Norwich University to the American Hockey League. Pelletier just finished up his fourth season season at Norwich, where he scored two points per game, with 18 goals and 28 assists in 23 contests, and led the Cadets to a DIII National Championship and claimed tournament MVP honors as well. At just 5’7″, 172 lbs., Pelletier is small and speedy with clear offensive instincts, but faces an uphill battle to reach his NHL goals given his stature and lack of experience against strong competition. However, if Norwich alum Keith Aucoin could have an NHL career, there is hope for Pelletier as well, and it all starts in Rockford this weekend.
New Jersey Devils Sign Michael Kapla To ELC
The New Jersey Devils have brought in some young leadership, signing University of Massachusetts-Lowell captain Michael Kapla to a two-year, entry-level contract. Unlike most of the other college free agent signings, Kapla’s contract will kick in right away for the 2016-17 season, and the defenseman will report to New Jersey for the rest of the season.
Kapla, 22, has put together four solid seasons for U. Mass-Lowell, but broke out this season with 30 points in 41 games. His 27 assists put him first among defenders on his team, and he logged big minutes as part of their top pairing. Though he’s slightly undersized for the NHL, his puck moving ability and positioning in the defensive zone are both already at a professional level and should translate well to the league. Whether he can defend well enough against bigger, faster players is still a question mark, one he’ll get to answer down the stretch.
In burning a year of his two-year ELC, Kapla is now on pace to become a restricted free agent after just next season. He’ll try to make enough of an impression in the last handful of games to prove he deserves a spot on the roster for next year.
Metro Division Notes: Shattenkirk, Provorov, Konecny, Ryan
Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, in the midst of a career season offensively, is poised to become one of, if not the most sought after free agent of the 2017 offseason. We ranked the Capitals blue liner #1 in our mid-season free agent power rankings in January and since moving to Washington from St. Louis at the trade deadline, the 28-year-old has only helped his cause, tallying six assists in 10 games for his new employer. Shattenkirk reportedly rebuffed overtures from three different clubs since the 2016 entry draft who were interested in acquiring the seven year veteran on the condition they could lock him up to a contract extension. With nearly every team in the league looking for skilled, puck-moving defensemen, particularly those that happen to shoot right-handed, there figures to be a robust market for Shattenkirk’s services in July.
Elliotte Friedman, appearing on Toronto’s Sportsnet 590 Friday morning (H/T to Chris Nichols of Fan Rag Sports for the transcription), speculated that one team who may go all-in on Shattenkirk this summer is the New Jersey Devils. The Devils currently rank 28th overall in the NHL in scoring and have just one blue liner, Damon Severson, who has tallied at least 20 points on the season. Clearly they could use a point-producing defender and Shattenkirk will far and away be the top free agent option. Friedman notes that New Jersey will have the cap space ($19.5MM in projected cap space with 17 players under contract for 2017-18 according to Cap Friendly) to essentially outbid any other interested suitor if they so choose.
“I don’t know if Kevin Shattenkirk is going to go there – I still think he wants to be a Ranger. But I could see them throwing a big number at him. They’ve got a lot of cap room. They’ve got a spot for him on their blueline. He’s exactly what they need. It would not surprise me in the least if New Jersey is a team that goes out there and just throws bags of money at him and says, ‘Turn us down.’”
It’s interesting to note that Friedman also believes that Shattenkirk has his sights set on joining the Rangers. The Blue Shirts were among the teams that spoke to the Blues about dealing for the blue liner at the deadline but simply had no desire to meet St. Louis’ high asking price. The thought then was that they were content waiting for the summer when they can add the skilled blue liner without sacrificing any assets to do so. However, given the Rangers heavy, long term commitments to Marc Staal and Dan Girardi, it stands to reason they will have to be creative in fitting a projected Shattenkirk contract under the salary cap. That may mean trading or buying out one of the aforementioned duo.
Elsewhere in the Metro Division:
- While the Philadelphia Flyers are a likely bet to miss the playoffs this season, the development of Ivan Provorov and Travis Konecny has been a bright spot, as Sam Carchidi of Philly.com writes. Provorov, just 20, has recorded 28 points as a rookie blue liner and has shown the potential to be a top-pair defender for years to come. Konecny, meanwhile, has registered 11 goals with 16 assists and has the elusiveness and creativity the Flyers sorely lack on their roster, according to Carchidi. Flyers GM Ron Hextall wisely avoided the temptation to be a buyer at the trade deadline and instead chose to remain patient with his retooling. The continued development of Provorov and Konecny demonstrate that Hextall’s decision was the correct one.
- Carolina center Derek Ryan has taken an unusual route to becoming a NHL regular, playing professionally in both Austria and Sweden prior to joining the Hurricanes organization. Ryan, who played for current Hurricane head coach Bill peters for the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs, went undrafted and spent four seasons playing collegiate hockey at the University of Alberta before turning pro. Now the 30-year-old rookie is Carolina’s nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey, writes Chip Alexander of The News & Observer. Playing on a one-year, two-way contract this season, Ryan has registered 11 goals and 24 points while playing all over the Hurricanes lineup and has likely earned a raise on his $600K salary when he reaches free agency this summer. While he doesn’t qualify as a game-breaking talent, Ryan has proven he belongs in the NHL and is a solid, bottom-six contributor.
East Notes: Crouse, Lappin, Addison
When the Florida Panthers shipped Lawson Crouse off to Arizona in exchange for a pair of draft picks and the Coyotes taking on Dave Bolland‘s cap hit, many people were shocked. Bolland was (and remains) on long-term injured reserve, without a clear picture on whether he’ll ever play hockey again. Crouse on the other hand was a 19-year old blue-chip prospect who looked like he had a long NHL career ahead of him as a prototypical power forward. Speaking to George Richards of the Miami Herald, Panthers GM Tom Rowe admitted it was tough to lose him:
We got criticized for giving up on a great young prospect but we had to. That contract was strangling us, cap-wise. When we traded him, our scouts were furious. I’m not going to lie. But we had to do something and that was trade Lawson.
Crouse has just 11 points this season for the Coyotes, but he’s gaining valuable experience as a teenager and still has a bright future ahead of him. Meanwhile the Panthers have already essentially used that cap space, as extensions for Aaron Ekblad, Vincent Trocheck, Jonathan Huberdeau and Derek MacKenzie kick in next year.
- The New Jersey Devils have assigned Nick Lappin to the AHL today, after their loss last night to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The team is headed home for the next three games, as they continue to battle for position in the draft lottery. The team now sits 28th in the league, meaning they’ll have a solid shot at a top-5 pick in the draft this year.
- Montreal has signed Jeremiah Addison to a three-year, entry-level contract. The Windsor Spitfires forward is still in the OHL playoffs and will be playing at the Memorial Cup this year regardless of the outcome. Windsor hosts the tournament, and therefor gets an entry even without winning the OHL championship.
- The Buffalo Sabres will lose Rasmus Ristolainen for three games following his suspension, but as John Vogl of the Buffalo News writes, won’t actually be shorthanded in their next game. That’s because Kyle Okposo, William Carrier and Dmitry Kulikov are all ready to enter the lineup after being held out with various injuries. The Sabres take on the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night.
Morning Notes: Crosby, Patrick, Cangelosi
Last night, during the Pittsburgh Penguins-Ottawa Senators game, Sidney Crosby delivered a hard slash across the hands of Marc Methot resulting in one of the nastiest injuries this season in the NHL (*WARNING: GRAPHIC*). Senators’ head coach Guy Boucher said after the game that Methot would be out “weeks” with a “destroyed” and “shattered” finger, and owner Eugene Melnyk was upset about it this morning on TSN 1200 (via Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia and Frank Seravalli of TSN):
You hammer these [players who slash], you take away their money, and you say you know what? You are done for 10 games. We all know who [Crosby] is. The guy is a whiner beyond belief. You do this kind of stuff—I don’t care who you are in the league, I don’t care if you’re the number one player in the league—you should sit out a long time for this kind of crap.
Melnyk said that he was sure the league would be looking at it, but Pierre LeBrun of ESPN reports Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly will not be evaluating it further. Crosby will receive no discipline for this incident, just as he faced no penalty for his spear in an unfortunate area of Ryan O’Reilly‘s lower body.
- For anyone hoping to catch Nolan Patrick in the first round of the WHL playoffs, you might have to wait a few days. Mike Morreale of NHL.com reports that the projected top pick in the upcoming entry draft won’t play in game one due to a lower-body injury. The Brandon Wheat Kings take on the Medicine Hat Tigers in the first round of the WHL playoffs.
- The Calgary Flames have sent Garnet Hathaway back down to the Stockton Heat. The 25-year old forward didn’t play in his most recent call up, after Micheal Ferland returned earlier from his mumps quarantine. With Matthew Tkachuk now eligible to play after serving his two-game suspension, the need for Hathaway has lifted. Playing in 26 games for Calgary this season, Hathaway registered five points in under 10 minutes a night.
- Similarly, the Minnesota Wild have sent Gustav Olofsson down to the minors, liking meaning Christian Folin is ready to return to game action. Olofsson has played in 13 games for the Wild this season, but will have to wait until next year to really make his mark at the NHL level. The 22-year old will try to help the Iowa Wild make the postseason for the first time in their short history.
- Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports that the Albany Devils have signed Austin Cangelosi to a two-year AHL contract. The 22-year old forward just graduated from Boston College where he had back-to-back 20-goal seasons the past two years. The 5’7″ forward will try to prove that his size won’t stop his skill from shining through at the professional level, as he moves up to the next challenge in his hockey career.
Snapshots: Kurker, Hunlak, Stone
The Albany Devils have signed one of the most interesting college names in the country to an amateur tryout according to Mark Divver of the Providence Journal. Sam Kurker of Northeastern was originally drafted in 2012 by the St. Louis Blues and headed to Boston University to begin his college career. After a frustrating season and a half at BU, Kurker decided to take his talents elsewhere and headed back to the USHL to play for the Indiana Ice. Upon finishing the 2013-14 season with Indiana—and winning a championship—the team closed its doors and Kurker headed to the Sioux City Musketeers.
After an outstanding season for Sioux City Kurker went back to the NCAA ranks, this time at Northeastern. In two years at the school Kurker had similar frustrations as during his time for BU, and finished this season with just six points in 28 games. The former top prospect was overshadowed by other names like Zach Aston-Reese and Adam Gaudette, and will now try to continue his hockey career in Albany.
- Any Toronto Maple Leafs fans that are hoping the pairing of Roman Polak and Matt Hunwick—affectionately nicknamed “Hunlack”—will be broken up should quit holding their breath, as a new article from Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston relays that Mike Babcock is very happy with the way they’re playing. Despite being horrendous weights on the team’s possession numbers, Babcock goes by other evaluation tools like “knowing where to stand”. While younger players often get caught chasing the puck in their own zone, the Leafs coach is happy to deploy a more veteran pair on defense.
- Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen writes that Mark Stone is getting closer to returning to the Ottawa Senators lineup and has taken a “major” step towards that goal by getting back on the ice today. With the Senators losing their last four games, they’ve slipped down far enough to allow Boston and Toronto just a sliver of hope in the Atlantic race, and could use Stone’s help to slam that door shut for the final time. If they’re to do any damage in the playoffs, they’ll need their top forward healthy enough to contribute; they’ve scored just six goals in those four recent losses.
Tyler Kelleher Signs With Milwaukee Admirals
Despite being tied to the New Jersey Devils in recent days, Tyler Kelleher of the University of New Hampshire has signed an AHL contract with the Milwaukee Admirals—Nashville’s AHL affiliate—for the remainder of the season and all of 2017-18. The Predators seem to have swooped in and stolen the 22-year old forward right out from under the rest of the league’s noses. 
A finalist for the Hobey Baker award for the nation’s top player, Kelleher scored 63 points in 40 games for New Hampshire this season. The extremely small winger has been more than a point-per-game player during his college career, and will go down as one of the all-time great offensive weapons to come out of the school.
It is that size though, that will be his biggest obstacle at the professional level. Listed at just 5’6″ 160-lbs, Kelleher has always been one of the smallest players at whatever level he’s played. It’s likely why he wasn’t drafted despite a successful stint on the US Development Team, and likely why he couldn’t lock down an entry-level contract this spring.
This doesn’t mean that the Predators are the only destination for the young sniper, but it will give them a leg up if he proves that he deserves an NHL deal eventually. If he can bring that dynamic offensive game to the next level, they could easily have found another exceptional talent that was overlooked because of his height.
College Notes: Hayden, Doherty, Kelleher
Fresh off inking his entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday, former Yale center John Hayden will make his NHL debut tonight when the ‘Hawks take on the Ottawa Senators. Hayden, Chicago’s third-round pick in 2013, recorded 21 goals and 13 assists in his 2016-17 senior season. The Blackhawks clearly believe that he is ready to continue scoring, as they’ll throw him into the fire of NHL action less than a week removed from NCAA game play. Regardless of Hayden’s participation level for Chicago down the stretch and in the postseason, playing in just this one game tonight will effectively use up the first of his two-year deal, so the ‘Hawks certainly hope that his play will justify their decision.
- Hayden’s Yale teammate, winger Mike Doherty, has also joined the pro ranks, but not the NHL just yet. Doherty has reportedly agreed to a deal with the AHL’s Providence Bruins. For the Reading, Mass. native, the move gives him the chance to show his ability at the next level for the remainder of this season in hopes of earning a contract with his hometown Boston Bruins as a result. A four-year starter at Yale, Doherty is a two-way forward, capable of contributing modest offense, but in need of further development if he hopes to make it to the NHL one day. He’ll get the chance to continue that growing process in Providence, where Boston youngsters Frank Vatrano, Austin Czarnik, Peter Cehlarik, and more recently found their way.
- Another New England collegiate prospect is soon to be on his way to the big leagues as well. University of New Hampshire speedster Tyler Kelleher is expected to sign with the New Jersey Devils, who have long been rumored to be the leading suitor for his services. Prior to the 2016-17 season, Kelleher was not on many NHL radars, as his size – just 5’6″, 161 lbs. – limited his potential. However, after scoring 63 points in 40 games this year, his explosive offense is now overshadowing his miniature stature. If the Devils can find a way to work Kelleher into their lineup without his size becoming a liability, they could be the beneficiaries of one of the best offensive skill sets in all of college hockey.