Snapshots: Edler, Rangers, Kinkaid
The Vancouver Canucks have maintained all along that they would like to work out an extension with Alex Edler, and today GM Jim Benning said just that once again. Edler is on an expiring deal and could potentially provide some veteran defense for a contending team, but is so valuable to the Canucks as a legacy player and mentor for young Swedish star Elias Pettersson.
Edler, 32, has been effective when in the lineup this season but has had trouble staying healthy once again. The veteran of 796 NHL games has only played all 82 in a season once during his long career, and no more than 74 in a season since 2011-12. He is currently on injured reserve and carries a cap hit of $5MM.
- With Matt Duchene and potentially Artemi Panarin off the market after today’s trade, teams looking for offense will have to look elsewhere. The New York Rangers are one of the clubs with expiring assets that could be difference makers, and Darren Dreger of TSN tweets that several teams have expressed interest in acquiring both Kevin Hayes and Mats Zuccarello together. A package like that would certainly cost a lot, but bringing in two legitimate top-six options with familiarity and playoff experience could be seen as quite the answer to Duchene’s arrival in Columbus today.
- Andy Strickland of Fox Sports Midwest reports that the New Jersey Devils “would like to move” goaltender Keith Kinkaid, but there isn’t much of a market at this point. It wasn’t so long ago that Kinkaid looked to be stealing the starting job from Corey Schneider and setting himself up for a potential long-term contract, but the 29-year old has struggled immensely this season and provides little upside. With the emergence of MacKenzie Blackwood as a potential NHL goaltender next season, Kinkaid’s expiring contract will likely not be renewed by the Devils.
Trade Rumors: Ho-Sang, Simmonds, Bruins
While the trade deadline generally centers around the teams and the general managers making the big decisions, the players are usually well aware of what is going on and where they stand as well. New York Islanders prospect Josh Ho-Sang has been the odd man out this season and knows his time with the club could be be up. He spoke honestly with The Athletic’s Arthur Staple today, saying that he is open to being traded:
I don’t know what’s going to happen, I don’t know what they want to do with me. I’m not opposed to (being traded) if it helps the Islanders get better. For me, obviously I want to play in the NHL, that’s my main focus. For them, if they need to trade me for pieces to go further in the playoffs, improve the great team they have, then I’m all for it.
It’s a well-put statement by Ho-Sang, but one easily interpreted as being from a player ready for a change of scenery. The 2014 first-round pick has only played in ten games with the Islanders this season, after skating in 20+ in each of the past two years. Meanwhile, this has been his best AHL season, as he has scored at a near point-per-game clip through 39 games. Ho-Sang’s game can be streaky and frustrating at times, but his ability is undeniable. As the Islanders move toward adding a top rental ahead of the deadline, a seller will likely be interested in taking a waiver on Ho-Sang’s upside if his time in New York is truly over.
- It’s been pretty quiet around Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds of late, but TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that “interest has intensified” over the last couple of days. LeBrun speculates that the Flyers’ recent streak of success may have quelled the Simmonds market as the team became re-focused on a playoff push, but he feels the results of their next few games will ultimately determine if and when Simmonds is dealt. More likely than not, the impending free agent power forward will be playing elsewhere by Monday.
- Even after the Charlie Coyle acquisition, many believe that the Boston Bruins are not done. TSN’s Darren Dreger applauded the trade, but noted that the Bruins did not have to give up much and are likely still in the market for another scoring forward. The Bruins announced this evening that center Trent Frederic has been assigned to the AHL and winger Peter Cehlarik has been recalled, further enforcing the idea that Boston prefers to play Coyle at third-line center. That would still leave a hole on the second line next to David Krejci. Dreger names New York Rangers Mats Zuccarello and Kevin Hayes as among those the Bruins are targeting to further help out their secondary scoring.
New York Rangers Recall Lias Andersson
In a move that may signify more than just a reward for a young prospect, Lias Andersson has been recalled by the New York Rangers. The team has placed Brett Howden on injured reserve to make room on the roster, but it could point to the team preparing to sit out some of their high priced trade assets ahead of Monday’s deadline. The Rangers have three games in four nights before the deadline passes, and players like Kevin Hayes and Mats Zuccarello are drawing plenty of interest from around the league.
Andersson, 20, was the seventh overall pick in the 2017 draft and made his NHL debut last season with the Rangers. He was given an even bigger chance this year by getting into 21 games, but failed to make much of an offensive impact and found himself back in the minor leagues. The talented Swedish center has 20 points in 36 games for the Hartford Wolf Pack, but still has immense upside and will likely be a huge part of the Rangers short rebuild.
The Rangers of course don’t have to pull players like Hayes and Zuccarello out of the lineup, but with the chance of trade over the next few days still exceedingly high it would benefit them to protect their assets. The trade market is being held hostage right now by the top names like Matt Duchene and Artemi Panarin, but Hayes and Zuccarello have already drawn plenty of interest from around the league.
Trade Rumors: Johansson, Canucks, Sharks, McQuaid
The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun writes that New Jersey Devils center Marcus Johansson could prove to be one of the best bargains at the trade deadline. LeBrun notes that Johansson’s stock has dropped due to his recent injury history, but has been back on the rise due to his recent production. Johansson has seven points in his past six games and buyers have taken notice. LeBrun reports that Johansson’s five-team no-trade list should not hinder a deal and Devils GM Ray Shero will pull the trigger, sooner rather than later, if he gets a fair offer. However, LeBrun believes there is a chance Shero will keep Johansson and try to re-sign him if he receives only low-ball offers. Sportsnet’s Elliott Friedman echoes that Johansson is for sale, but that Shero will be aggressive in the sale as he was with Brian Boyle. Friedman names the Columbus Blue Jackets, Edmonton Oilers, San Jose Sharks, and Vancouver Canucks as teams that have already checked in on Johansson, but that will hardly be the extent of the interest by the time the deadline rolls around.
- Friedman believes that the Canucks, who seem like an outlier among the buyers interested in Johansson, are looking to replace the production of the injured Sven Baertschi as they try to keep pace in the Western Conference playoff race. Although few expect Vancouver to be major buyers, they are still just one point out of the final wild card spot and could make some minor tweaks to stay involved. Friedman adds that Washington Capitals forward Andre Burakovsky is another forward that the Canucks have looked into. Burakovsky makes for an interesting fit in Vancouver, as the Capitals seek a replacement forward in return and the Canucks have their own talented, but underwhelming young forward on the block in Nikolay Goldobin. A deal centered around the duo seems like a possibility.
- As for the Sharks, Friedman believes that they intend to add forward depth before the deadline. While Johansson seems to be of interest, Friedman notes that a very different style of player could also be in their sights. He believes that a reunion with Eric Fehr, currently with the Minnesota Wild, could be in store. The Wild appear to be sellers now and Fehr, who fit in well as a deadline addition for the team last year, is a logical target for both the team’s cap situation and need to strengthen their defensive play up front. Meanwhile, The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz feels that San Jose needs to target a goaltender before the deadline. The Sharks have received poor results from Martin Jones and Aaron Dell this season – the team has the worst even strength save percentage in the league – and last nights’s game, in which Jones allowed six goals on 20 shots against the Boston Bruins could be the last straw. While Kurz comes to the conclusion that an addition in net is unlikely, he hopes the team considers all of their options.
- Appearing on TSN 1050 in Toronto yesterday, Bob McKenzie stated that New York Rangers defenseman Adam McQuaid is very likely to be moved before the deadline. The impending UFA defender was acquired from the Boston Bruins this off-season for a fourth-round and seventh-round pick, as well as fellow blue liner Steven Kampfer, and McKenzie feels that the Rangers will move him for any package wherein they can recoup those picks or better. Friedman says similar, writing that there has been “traction” on McQuaid move. The Toronto Maple Leafs have been frequently linked to McQuaid, but the tough, stay-at-home righty should have a significant market.
Blackhawks Acquire Peter Holland
The Blackhawks and Rangers have swung a minor deal as Chicago has acquired center Peter Holland from New York. Heading the other way is defenseman Darren Raddysh. Both teams have announced the swap.
Holland was a first round pick (15th overall) of Anaheim back in 2009 but has not lived up to his draft billing. Instead, he has become somewhat of a journeyman in recent years as this will be the fifth organization he has been with since December of 2016. He has been quite productive at the AHL level in 2018-19, tallying 49 points (20-29-49) in 52 games which puts him in a tie for sixth overall in league scoring. He’ll head to AHL Rockford where he will serve as a potential call-up for Chicago down the stretch; he last saw NHL action last season when he suited up in 23 games with New York. Holland carries a cap hit of $675K and will be an unrestricted free agent in July.
As for Raddysh, he’s in the first season of a two-year, entry-level contract after the Blackhawks upgraded his AHL deal to an NHL one back in May. He was a dominant offensive presence with OHL Erie back in 2016-17 with 81 points (16-65-81) in just 62 games and while he hasn’t come close to those numbers in the minors, he’s in the midst of a decent season offensively with eight goals and 18 assists in 54 games with AHL Rockford this season. With Chicago having several quality defensive prospects that will be turning pro in the near future, Raddysh will likely have a better shot at making it to the NHL with the Rangers although he will remain at the minor league level for now.
Metropolitan Notes: Duchene, Pionk, Talbot, Elliott
Now that the Matt Duchene sweepstakes have started up after it was announced Saturday night that the Senators have decided to trade their star center after they have failed to negotiate an extension. While the report suggested that the Nashville Predators and Columbus Blue Jackets were the two teams that have been in on acquiring the 26-year-old, The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta reports that the New York Islanders and general manager Lou Lamoriello are also very interested in bringing Duchene over to Long Island.
While no one is ever sure what Lamoriello plans to do, he is also well known for making an impact at the trade deadline and even though the Islanders are in first place in the Metropolitan Division, the team is still looking for an identity and has plenty of cap room and prospects to work out a potential blockbuster package if Lamoriello wants to do it. The team is still looking for a replacement for the loss of star John Tavares, who left for Toronto during the offseason. Duchene might be a solid No. 2 center for New York and could be viewed as a long-term piece in New York.
- The New York Rangers got some good news after defenseman Neal Pionk sat out the third period of Sunday’s game after taking a stick to the eye from Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby, which many felt was a sign that the injury was severe. However, Rangers’ head coach David Quinn said that Pionk was held out for precautionary reasons and is expected to play Tuesday against Carolina.
- Despite being acquired by the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday morning, the Philadelphia Flyers won’t have goaltender Cam Talbot available for their Sunday game against Detroit. The Athletic’s Charlie O’Connor (subscription required) writes that while no reason was given, it’s likely because Talbot is moving from Canada to the U.S. and with his primary employment being moved between countries, he likely will be dealing with visa issues for a little while.
- Sam Carchidi of Philly.com writes that the earliest Talbot could be ready will be Thursday, but the team could get back Brian Elliott even sooner. Depending on how he feels after his game Sunday, Elliott could be available to join Philadelphia on Tuesday and serve as a backup. Elliott has been out of the lineup since Nov. 15 with a lower-body injury. However, with Mike McKenna on the roster and Talbot soon to follow, the team will have four goaltenders and will be forced to make a move, most likely waiving McKenna.
Metropolitan Notes: Johansson, Zibanejad, Lamoriello
With so many names being bandied about before the trade deadline, no one know who will be the next domino to fall. One name that could be moved sooner than later will be New Jersey Devils winger Marcus Johansson, who according to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, has generated quite a bit of interest in the last couple of days.
Johansson, who was featured by Pro Hockey Rumors as a trade candidate here, was a key player for the Washington Capitals over the years, but the team traded him away the year before they won the Stanley Cup Finals. He’s struggled with injuries since arriving in New Jersey in 2017, scoring just five goals and 14 points last year in just 29 games. He has fared a little better this year as he has 11 goals and 25 point in 46 games, but the 28-year-old has been heating up more recently. He has scored five goals and 10 points in his last 11 games and could provide a team with a solid rental player for a playoff run.
LeBrun adds that Johansson has a five-team no-trade list, but none of the teams on his list are teams that would be interested in trading for him. A trade could come quickly as New Jersey general manager Ray Shero is well known to make his trades long before the trade deadline. The team has already moved Brian Boyle.
- Colin Stephenson of Newsday writes that despite a breakout season by New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad, the 25-year-old isn’t enjoying it as he is having trouble coping with the team’s compounding losses. Zibanejad has 25 goals already this season with his career high being 27, which he scored last year. He currently projects to post 36 goals and 82 points, potentially making him a point-a-game player and giving the Rangers the No. 1 center they hoped for and a key piece to their rebuilding project. However, Zibanejad isn’t dealing with his success well. “Of course I’d be lying if I say I don’t know that it’s my career numbers,” Zibanejad said. “But at the same time, you don’t enjoy it if your team is not benefiting from it, and we’re not winning. That’s what we’re in this business for — winning. And if you don’t do that, good or bad, you don’t really care.’’
- New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said he’d be fine if the Islanders stand pat at the trade deadline despite having plenty of prospects, picks and pending unrestricted free agents it could deal if needed, according to Newsday’s Andrew Gross. “I am very comfortable with this hockey team,” Lamoriello said. “Our coaching staff has done an outstanding job and the players have done an outstanding job buying into what’s been asked. You have to be very, very careful. There are so many factors involved, whether it’s the chemistry of your team, needs and making sure that it doesn’t get in the way of what’s transpiring.” Of course, Lamoriello is known to be secretive in nature, however, and could easily pull off the biggest surprise at the trade deadline as he’s has been known to do when with both Toronto and New Jersey.
Minor Transactions: 02/14/2019
Although there were only two games yesterday, it was a notable night as the Ducks got back in the win column for the first time in almost a month. The Canucks have the unfortunate designation of being the team on the other side of that result and are right back in action tonight against the Kings as one of eleven games on the schedule. Valentine’s Day or not, there will be no love lost between several competitors tonight, as the surging Blue Jackets host the Metro Division-leading Islanders, Shea Weber and the Canadiens visit P.K. Subban and the Predators, and the Avalanche look to right the ship versus the Jets, who are now atop the Western Conference. With 22 teams in play, including many impact match-ups, today should be another busy day for minor moves. Keep track right here:
- The Colorado Avalanche announced that they have recalled forward Dominic Toninato from the AHL. After skating in 37 games with the Avs as a first-year pro last season, Toninato has yet to see NHL ice this year through several call-ups. He continues to be an effective two-way forward for the Colorado Eagles, but his production at both levels simply hasn’t justified further play time on an Avalanche team that is desperate for secondary scoring. Perhaps he will finally get another look on this recall opportunity.
- Connor Brickley has earned his first call-up of the season, now on his second team of the campaign. Brickley, a veteran of 67 games with the Florida Panthers over the past three seasons, signed as a free agent with the Nashville Predators this off-season. However, the Preds flipped him to the New York Rangers last month for Cole Schneider before Brickley ever played a game for the club. Now, the Rangers have announced that they are willing to give the center a shot to get back to the top level, promoting him from the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. Brickley has six points in 13 games since joining Hartford and the Rangers hope he can bring more of a spark to their offense than frequent recall Vinni Lettieri has been able to this season.
- Another day, another Darren Archibald transaction. The veteran grinder has again been recalled by the Ottawa Senators, the team announced. This time he’s joined by defenseman Cody Goloubef, acquired from the Boston Bruins earlier this season. Head coach Guy Boucher stated that both Archibald and Goloubef are being considered for a spot in the lineup tonight when the Sens visit the Detroit Red Wings.
- The Los Angeles Kings have assigned forward Jonny Brodzinski to the AHL’s Ontario Reign for the purpose of a conditioning stint. Brodzinski was hurt in training camp and has been on the season-opening injured reserve with an upper-body injury. Brodzinski played in 35 games as a rookie last year and recorded six points, but the Kings hope he can show more of the offensive touch he displayed in the minors and at the college level once he is fully healthy.
- Similarly, the Philadelphia Flyers have activated forward Pascal Laberge from the season-opening injured reserve and have assigned him to the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Laberge was injured in training camp and underwent hip surgery this fall, delaying the start to his first pro season. A second-round pick in 2016, Laberge is a hard-working two-way center who should challenge for a bottom-six role for the Flyers down the line.
Could The Rangers Be Better Off Keeping Adam McQuaid?
- While Rangers defenseman Adam McQuaid has been viewed as a likely trade candidate given that the team is out of playoff contention and has an expiring contract, Greg Joyce of the New York Post makes a case for New York to keep him around. Brady Skjei, who has struggled this season, has played a lot better alongside the 32-year-old and considering that they have a lot tied into Skjei (he’s signed through 2023-24), would they be better off keeping McQuaid if it helps with his development compared to what they’d get from the mid-round draft pick they’d likely fetch for McQuaid as a rental?
Pacific Notes: Canucks, Silfverberg, Ferguson, Coyotes
After trading for New York Rangers third-string keeper Marek Mazanec yesterday, the Vancouver Canucks are returning to some semblance of a normal situation in net. The team announced that starter Jacob Markstrom has been cleared to play and will get the start tonight against the Anaheim Ducks. Mazanec will be the backup, and if Markstrom can’t hold up, could make his first NHL appearance since 2016-17 after exclusively playing in the AHL the past two years. As for Michael DiPietro, the young prospect is on his way back to the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s, as his emergency loan has come to an end. DiPietro allowed seven goals on 24 shots in his NHL debut on Monday, a forgettable performance that he’s unlikely to forget. Meanwhile, the team did not issue an update on backup Thatcher Demko, Vancouver’s other top young goalie, who is currently on the injured reserve with a knee injury. If the Canucks hope to sneak into the playoffs, they’ll likely need both Markstrom and Demko to get healthy for the stretch run.
- As usual, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman provided plenty of insider information in his latest edition of “31 Thoughts”. An encouraging note for Ducks fans, especially during a stretch without much good news in Anaheim, is that Friedman claims term is the only thing separating the team and winger Jakob Silfverberg from agreeing to a contract extension. While that means the two sides are still apart, it was cap hit that was the major roadblock to a new deal. Due to Anaheim’s overall lack of cap space and the restrictions of “tagging”, many speculated that Silfverberg’s desired salary would be too difficult for the Ducks to manage. The fact that term remains “the final hurdle”, as Friedman puts it, would seem to indicate that the dollars have been agreed upon and a the odds of a new contract getting done are better than not.
- Friedman adds a new name to the list of Edmonton Oilers GM candidates. While he maintains that Vegas Golden Knights AGM Kelly McCrimmon and former Toronto Maple Leafs executive Mark Hunter remain popular options, he also adds Boston Bruins AGM John Ferguson Jr. to the mix. Friedman notes that interim GM Keith Gretzky, who appears to have some job insurance moving forward even if it isn’t at his current position, has experience working with Ferguson from his own time with the Bruins. Ferguson is a well-respected NHL executive who previously served as the Toronto Maple Leafs GM from 2003 to 2008 and has been with the Bruins for the better part of this decade. This also isn’t the first time that his name has come up in regards to an opening; Ferguson was considered a candidate to run the Vegas Golden Knights and has already been considered a candidate to do the same with the Seattle expansion team. However, GM jobs don’t come around very often and, like McCrimmon, if Ferguson is offered the Edmonton job, is unlikely to pass in favor of waiting on Seattle.
- One last interesting note comes in regards to the Arizona Coyotes. Friedman points out that the Coyotes are struggling with so many injuries that their AHL affiliate, the Tuscon Roadrunners, could only ice a lineup of 17 skaters last night, playing a man down. CapFriendly’s depth chart shows that only 15 skaters under contract with the ‘Yotes, including just nine forwards, are currently in Tuscon, as Arizona needs all the help they can get at the NHL level. Fortunately, Mario Kempe, Brad Richardson, and Christian Dvorak are all getting close to a return, while Michael Grabner and Jason Demers returned to practice today writes The Athletic’s Catherine Silverman. The closer the Coyotes get to full health this season, the better their chances are to push for a playoff spot in the tight Western Conference race.