Minnesota Wild Acquire Ian Cole
The Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche have swapped a pair of veteran defensemen. The Wild have acquired Ian Cole in exchange for Greg Pateryn, with CapFriendly also reporting that the Avalanche have retained $800K of Cole’s cap hit.
Cole, 31, carries a $4.25MM cap hit in the final season of a three-year, $12.75MM contract he signed with Colorado in 2018. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year and had recently seen his role on the Avalanche greatly reduced. Though he has experience on both sides of the ice, the left-handed defenseman was made somewhat redundant now after the team acquired Devon Toews from the New York Islanders in the offseason. Add in the smooth development of top prospect Bowen Byram who is pushing for a full-time role on the NHL roster, and you can see why the Avalanche had floated Cole’s name in recent weeks.
In Pateryn, 30, the Avalanche bring in a right-handed option that could be a better fit for the team in a depth role. Though he made his debut in 2012-13, Pateryn has still played just 270 games in the NHL and has never averaged more than 20 minutes a night. His cap hit is also quite a bit lower than Cole’s at just $2.25MM this season, though the retention does reduce the savings. In Colorado, it’s hard to see Pateryn even getting much more opportunity than the 12:36 he averaged through Minnesota’s first three games.
For the Wild though, upgrading from Pateryn to Cole could be a real difference-maker. Minnesota’s top four defensemen have all averaged more than 23 minutes a night through the early part of the season, with very little trust being placed in Pateryn and Carson Soucy. The two-time Stanley Cup winner Cole can take some of the pressure off those stars, while perhaps rejuvenating his own career. It was just last season that Cole recorded 26 points in 65 games for the Avalanche, nothing to sneeze at for a player without any powerplay time. His all-around ability will be a nice addition in Minnesota for a team racing for a playoff spot.
That new opportunity may also be exactly what Cole was looking for with free agency looming. Even though the Colorado prospect pipeline had pushed him down the depth chart, he seems likely to enter the offseason as a sought-after target at age-32. Adding to the 89 career playoff games he has suited up for would only improve his stock. That is of course if Wild GM Bill Guerin even lets him go that far; the two have a history from their days together in Pittsburgh and the Minnesota executive has shown a willingness to spend heavily on his defense.
Perhaps the biggest winner here though is Byram, who likely will be given a chance to jump into Colorado’s lineup on at least a part-time basis. The fourth-overall pick in 2019, the 19-year-old looked dominant during the World Junior Championship a few weeks ago and should quickly make the transition to the NHL. Though returning to junior would still technically be an option if and when the WHL starts up, there seems little more that Byram can learn from his time there after scoring 149 points in his last 139 games for the Vancouver Giants.
Michael Russo of The Athletic was first to report the deal.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Six Dallas Stars Players Test Positive For COVID-19
January 15: The Stars will begin their season on January 22 against the Nashville Predators. Games scheduled for January 14, 15, 17, and 19 have been rescheduled for later in the season, as the NHL details in today’s release. Several other games have been rescheduled as well, though they’re much further down the road.
The changes mean that Florida and Tampa Bay, the two opponents that were supposed to take on the Stars to start the season, will have substantial breaks. Tampa Bay for instance plays tonight and then will not play again until next Thursday, while the Panthers are still waiting until Sunday to start their year. The Stars will now play a 56-game schedule in just 108 days.
January 8: The Dallas Stars will not start the season on time. The team has released the following statement, explaining the sudden cancelation of practice today:
The National Hockey League announced today that six Dallas Stars players and two staff members have recently confirmed positive tests for the COVID-19 virus. Those individuals are self-isolating and following CDC and league protocols. As a result of the positive tests, and as an appropriate precaution, the team’s training facilities have been closed, effective immediately, and will remain closed for several days while further daily testing and contact tracing is conducted. The league is in the process of reviewing and revising the Stars’ regular season schedule with the expectation that the team will not open its 2020-21 season earlier than Tuesday, January 19.
The Stars organization has, and will continue to follow, all recommended guidelines aimed at protecting the health and safety of its players, staff and community at large as set by the NHL, local, state and national agencies.
The Stars were set to open the season against the Florida Panthers on January 14, a game that will obviously have to be postponed. Games on January 15 and 17 are also in jeopardy as well. The league did not release the names of the players that have tested positive.
If the other major professional sports are any indication, this is the first of many outbreaks this season. The league and teams will need to be flexible and adapt to changing schedules and protocols on a near-daily basis, leaving roster depth as arguably the most important thing in the NHL this year. It’s hard to imagine that the Stars will have their full contingent of players even by January 19, though no specifics have been released in regards to that.
Marcus Foligno Signs Three-Year Extension
Moose isn’t going anywhere for a while. The Minnesota Wild have signed Marcus Foligno to a three-year extension that will keep him under contract through the 2023-24 season. The deal carries an average annual value of $3.1MM. Foligno currently carries a cap hit of $2.875MM on the final season of his four-year, $11.5MM deal signed in 2017.
The 29-year-old Foligno may not contribute a ton at the offensive end of the rink, but he is one of the few rare players in the NHL that doesn’t really need to. Standing 6’3″ and close to 230-lbs, the power forward combines speed, power, and fearlessness to create a valuable middle-six winger that punishes defenders constantly while limiting chances against. Foligno posts strong possession numbers every year, averages around 200 hits per season, and even received Selke Trophy consideration in 2019. He’s well-liked by management in Minnesota and this early extension only confirms how committed they are to him.
Interestingly, Foligno actually experienced something of a breakout offensively last season, scoring 11 goals and a career-high 25 points in just 59 games. That’s nice, but it’s not what he’s paid for. Expected to line up beside Jordan Greenway and Joel Eriksson Ek on the Minnesota third line, he’ll hunt down defenders, cause havoc in the corners, and backcheck relentlessly.
Still, and it’s important to note this even if you’re a Minnesota fan happy to keep Foligno around, the Wild have made a habit of committing early to their core players and this new deal only locks up more cap space moving forward. The team now has nearly $58MM on the books for 2021-22 with just 13 players signed, seven of which (including Foligno) will be at least 30 when that season begins. For a franchise that hasn’t experienced any real playoff success in its history, sticking with the same core may not be the best strategy.
Of course, as Michael Russo of The Athletic points out, this new extension for Foligno does not include trade protection of any sort. He’s not guaranteed to stay in Minnesota throughout the deal and in fact, easily could become a target for the Seattle Kraken in the upcoming expansion draft. The Wild have a lot of tough decisions to make before that expansion process is completed, given all of the no-move clauses they’ve handed out over the years.
For now, Foligno has some financial security in hand and a season to play with the team he has known since 2017. Minnesota kicks things off on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings.
Jeremy Colliton Agrees To Extension With Chicago Blackhawks
Earlier this morning, the Chicago Blackhawks decided their young coach deserved an extension, signing Jeremy Colliton through the 2022-23 season. Colliton is heading into his third year behind the bench in Chicago. Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman released a statement explaining why the team felt an extension was warranted:
Jeremy has shown an innate ability to develop young talent throughout his two seasons as head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks. This, coupled with his vast knowledge of the game, exceptional communication skills and determination to win, makes us extremely confident Jeremy has what it takes to lead our team back to an elite level as we continue to build a roster that can compete year in and year out.
That first sentence is perhaps the most important, given that the Blackhawks are inching towards an existence without any of their Stanley Cup-winning core. Jonathan Toews is already absent as he deals with a health issue, Brent Seabrook is desperately trying to get back on the ice to continue his career and Duncan Keith will turn 38 in a few months. Even Patrick Kane, who is still 32, healthy, and ready to lead the Blackhawks this season has just three seasons left on his contract and will be soon entering a decline phase whether he likes it or not. Colliton’s ability to develop the next wave of Blackhawks stars is perhaps the most important task for the organization right now.
Of course, that doesn’t mean winning isn’t important. The 35-year-old coach led the Blackhawks to a playoff appearance last season, shocking the Edmonton Oilers in a qualification round before bowing out quickly to the Vegas Golden Knights. Colliton’s overall record since taking over from legendary coach Joel Quenneville is 62-58-17 and it’s not expected to improve very much this season. Chicago heads into the year with a completely unproven goaltending tandem, plenty of questions on defense and several key forwards out due to injury. It will be a challenge to be sure.
Corey Crawford Announces Retirement
It turns out that Corey Crawford’s indefinite personal leave of absence will be a permanent one as the veteran netminder has decided to retire, as announced by the NHLPA. He released the following statement:
I have been fortunate to have had a long career playing professional hockey for a living. I wanted to continue my career, but believe I’ve given all I can to the game of hockey, and I have decided that it is time to retire. I would like to thank the New Jersey Devils organization for understanding and supporting my decision. I would like to thank the Chicago Blackhawks organization for giving me the chance to live my childhood dream. I am proud to have been part of winning two Stanley Cups in Chicago. Thank you to all of my teammates and coaches throughout the years. Also, thank you to the fans who make this great game what it is. I am happy and excited to move on to the next chapter of my life with my family.
The 36-year-old was unable to come to terms on an agreement with Chicago over the offseason and hit the open market. He was able to secure the multi-year deal he had been seeking from the Blackhawks with New Jersey as they gave him a two-year, $7.8MM contract to serve as a veteran mentor and platoon partner for youngster Mackenzie Blackwood. After putting up a 2.77 GAA with a .917 SV% in 40 games last season, it seemed like a good fit for both sides.
Instead, Crawford will retire without ever officially suiting up for New Jersey. His playing days come to an end with 488 career NHL games under his belt – all with Chicago over parts of 13 seasons. He worked his way up the depth chart, eventually beginning as a minor-league option and working his way up to the number one role. He’ll hang up his skates with a 260-162-53 record with a 2.45 GAA, .918 SV%, and 26 shutouts along with a pair of Stanley Cup titles in 2013 and 2015.
New Jersey will now be faced with a challenge as they look to fill their backup spot on short notice. Jimmy Howard is the top unrestricted free agent still available but he is coming off a season to forget with Detroit. At this point, their best bet may be to wait for teams to make their surplus netminders available on waivers over the next couple of days and take their pick from there. While Scott Wedgewood has some NHL experience and could conceivably begin the year as Blackwood’s backup, it seems all but a certainty that GM Tom Fitzgerald will look to add another goalie in the coming days.
While the contract is technically a 35-plus contract, the new CBA MOU provisions allow for the cap hit to not count against the books as long as it’s a back-loaded or evenly-distributed deal and doesn’t contain signing bonuses beyond the first year. As that is the case for Crawford, New Jersey won’t face any lingering cap penalty.
Radio-Canada’s Martin Leclerc was the first to report that Crawford would be retiring.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Islanders Agree To Terms With Mathew Barzal On Three-Year Contract
The biggest restricted free agent is unsigned no longer as the Islanders have agreed to terms on a three-year deal with center Mathew Barzal, reports David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period (Twitter link). Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed but Newsday’s Andrew Gross adds (Twitter link) that the AAV should be $7MM which ties him with Anders Lee as their highest-paid player. Darren Dreger adds (via Twitter) that the breakdown of the deal is as follows:
2020-21: $4MM ($3MM salary, $1MM signing bonus)
2021-22: $7MM
2022-23: $10MM
Under the terms of the CBA extension, the qualifying offer required is the lower of the final-year salary or 120% of the AAV. In this case, 120% of the AAV is $8.4MM so that will represent his qualifier in the 2023 offseason.
The 23-year-old burst onto the scene in 2017-18 and made an immediate impact, leading the team in scoring with 85 points (22-63-85) in 82 games. While his production has tapered off a little bit since then, Barzal has still led the Isles in scoring the last two seasons and put up 19 goals and 41 assists in 69 games in 2019-20 before the pandemic hit. He also had a strong showing offensively in New York’s run to the Eastern Conference Final with five goals and a dozen helpers in 22 contests.
So why did it take so long for this to get done? The salary cap, of course. Even after moving Devon Toews to Colorado and defenseman Johnny Boychuk’s career coming to an end (making him LTIR-eligible), GM Lou Lamoriello didn’t have much in the way in salary cap flexibility. Even in this marketplace and without arbitration eligibility, Barzal had a case to push for something similar to the eight-year, $80MM deal that Buffalo center Jack Eichel signed two years into his entry-level deal. That’s a price tag that they simply couldn’t afford.
Going the short-term bridge route has been the expected outcome for quite a while to the point where it’s a bit surprising that it took this long to complete although Dreger reports (Twitter link) that focus until recently had been on a six-year pact. This approach will allow the Islanders to stay cap-compliant much easier and eventually complete a series of pending transactions that will involve contracts for wingers Matt Martin and Tom Kuhnhackl, defenseman Andy Greene, and goaltender Cory Schneider. Meanwhile, from Barzal’s point of view, the term will put him one year away from unrestricted free agency with a guaranteed raise of $1.4MM via the qualifying offer while he’ll be arbitration-eligible as well. That will give him a lot more leverage at that time as if he doesn’t get the terms he’s looking for, he can simply file for arbitration and position himself to hit the open market in 2024.
The deal currently puts New York roughly $3MM over the Upper Limit of the salary cap before taking Boychuk’s eventual LTIR placement into consideration. It would be beneficial for them to try to get into compliance without needing to put Boychuk on LTIR right away as that would help maximize their in-season spending flexibility. To that end, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Isles continue to try to clear out a contract as they’ve been trying to do in recent days and if that doesn’t happen, several of those underachieving veterans could be on waivers in the next couple of days to start another sequence of cap-related transactions. Alternatively, they could sign some of the pending deals to get close to the Upper Limit, place Boychuk on LTIR to start the season, send some of their surplus roster down, and then announce Barzal’s contract. Clearly, there is still some cap management to come.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Corey Crawford To Take Indefinite Leave
The New Jersey Devils have announced that goaltender Corey Crawford, who had already been absent from the last several days of training camp, will take an indefinite leave of absence from the club due to personal reasons.
Crawford, 36, signed a two-year, $7.8MM deal with the Devils in the offseason to become the partner and mentor for young Mackenzie Blackwood, who has shown starter-level promise in his short NHL career. The veteran netminder has spent his entire career to this point with the Chicago Blackhawks and actually had a nice bounce-back campaign in 2019-20. After dealing with lingering concussion issues, Crawford returned to post a .917 save percentage in 40 appearances last season.
There’s no information on why he is taking the leave or how long Crawford is expected to be away from the team. About as beloved of a teammate as you can find in the NHL, the entire hockey world is wishing him well.
The Devils will need to find a replacement goaltender for the time being and their depth chart isn’t exactly bursting with NHL options. Scott Wedgewood holds the most experience of the group with 24 NHL games, but hasn’t seen any time at that level since 2017-18. One suggestion from David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period is Scott Darling, who is expected to be released from his professional tryout with the Florida Panthers and would be an unrestricted free agent.
Columbus Blue Jackets Extend Oliver Bjorkstrand
At least one player has committed to Columbus. The Blue Jackets have announced a five-year extension for budding star Oliver Bjorkstrand, signing him through the 2025-26 season. Bjorkstrand will earn $2.5MM this season on the final year of a three-year deal signed in 2018, but gets quite the bump in 2021-22. The new deal will carry an average annual value of $5.4MM. Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen released a statement on his young forward:
Oliver is a gifted player that has shown steady improvement throughout career to this point and we couldn’t be happier that he will be a Blue Jacket for a very long time. He is a dangerous offensive player, and we believe he will be an even more impactful player for us as he continues to develop and mature in this league.
The price goes up each year for Bjorkstrand, as Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports the full salary breakdown:
- 2021-22: $4.5MM
- 2022-23: $5.25MM
- 2023-24: $5.35MM
- 2024-25: $5.9MM
- 2025-26: $6.0MM
The deal buys out four years of unrestricted free agency for Bjorkstrand, who actually made his NHL debut back in the 2015-16 season. While it took him a little while to establish himself, last season was a real breakout with 21 goals and 36 points in just 49 games. It was Bjorkstrand’s second straight 20+ goal season and that increased offense is exactly what the Blue Jackets are buying into with this early extension.
It’s been such a struggle for the Blue Jackets to get players to commit long-term to the franchise, with Pierre-Luc Dubois the latest star player to hint that he wants out. In the wake of that news, the announcement that Bjorkstrand will be staying right through his prime years is nothing but a godsend for Columbus fans. While he may not have quite the same impact as Dubois, there’s a lot to love about the 25-year-old’s game.
Importantly, Columbus is also expected to be without Gustav Nyquist for the majority of the season, meaning Bjorkstrand will be even more important to the attack. He’s been lining up on the team’s first unit at training camp next to Dubois and Alexandre Texier, leading one to believe that the 18-minutes-a-night that he received in 2019-20 isn’t likely to decrease.
For the Blue Jackets financially, this deal is more than acceptable given the amount of money that is set to come off after this season. Brandon Dubinsky, Nick Foligno, Riley Nash, and David Savard are all scheduled to become unrestricted free agents, with depth additions like Mikko Koivu and Mikhail Grigorenko only on one-year deals to begin with. With Bjorkstrand now locked up for a reasonable amount, the team can focus on their other dwindling deals, which include Seth Jones and his 2022 UFA status.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
NHL Announces Full 2020-21 Schedule
Jan 4: The league has added start times to the entire schedule, including that Pittsburgh-Philadelphia opener that will begin at 4:30pm CT on January 13. Two other games were moved, but the schedule has for the most part maintained its original integrity. Just over a week remains until the games matter and the race through a shortened season commences.
Dec 23: The NHL has announced the full schedule for the upcoming season, kicking things off with a five-game slate on January 13. Things will start with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers renewing an old rivalry in game one of the 2020-21 season while the Tampa Bay Lightning will also raise the Stanley Cup banner against the Chicago Blackhawks on opening night. Montreal-Toronto, Vancouver-Edmonton, and St. Louis-Colorado make up the rest of an explosive return for NHL hockey.
The full schedule can be seen here, but below is every team’s season opener:
North Division:
Calgary Flames (@ WPG) – January 14
Edmonton Oilers (vs VAN) – January 13
Montreal Canadiens (@ TOR) – January 13
Ottawa Senators (vs TOR) – January 15
Toronto Maple Leafs (vs MTL) – January 13
Vancouver Canucks (@ EDM) – January 13
Winnipeg Jets (vs CGY) – January 14
West Division:
Anaheim Ducks (@ VGK) – January 14
Arizona Coyotes (vs SJS) – January 14
Colorado Avalanche (vs STL) – January 13
Los Angeles Kings (vs MIN) – January 14
Minnesota Wild (@ LAK) – January 14
San Jose Sharks (@ ARI) – January 14
St. Louis Blues (@ COL) – January 13
Vegas Golden Knights (vs ANA) – January 14
Central Division:
Carolina Hurricanes (@ DET) – January 14
Chicago Blackhawks (@ TBL) – January 13
Columbus Blue Jackets (@NSH) – January 14
Dallas Stars (@ FLA) – January 14
Detroit Red Wings (vs CAR) – January 14
Florida Panthers (vs DAL) – January 14
Nashville Predators (vs CBJ) – January 14
Tampa Bay Lightning (vs CHI) – January 13
East Division:
Boston Bruins (@ NJD) – January 14
Buffalo Sabres (vs WSH) – January 14
New Jersy Devils (vs BOS) – January 14
New York Islanders (@ NYR) – January 14
New York Rangers (vs NYI) – January 14
Philadelphia Flyers (vs PIT) – January 13
Pittsburgh Penguins (@ PHI) – January 13
Washington Capitals (@ BUF) – January 14
The schedule does not include game times; those are expected to be assigned next week. The 56-game schedule is littered with back-to-back situations for all the teams in the league, meaning just as expected, depth (especially at the goaltending position) will be extremely important this season.
Penguins Sign John Marino To Six-Year Extension
Always cash-strapped, the Pittsburgh Penguins chose to lock up one of their young defenseman to a long-term deal at a reasonable deal in what they hope will be a bargain down the road. The team announced they have signed John Marino to a six-year, $26.4MM contract extension with a $4.4MM AAV.
Here is a breakdown of the deal (via TSN’s Pierre LeBrun):
2021-22: $1.75MM base salary
2022-23: $3.5MM base salary
2023-24: $5.25MM base salary
2024-25: $6.15MM base salary
2025-26: $5.3MM base salary
2026-27: $4.45MM base salary
While the Penguins are well known as a team that trades away future draft picks, general manager Jim Rutherford has become quite adept at bringing in collegiate talent to supplant some of those lost picks. Marino was one of those acquisitions as the GM picked him up from the Edmonton Oilers for a 2021 sixth-round pick as he refused to sign with the Oilers. The defenseman played three years at Harvard University. Marino subsequently signed with Pittsburgh, made the NHL squad out of training camp and very quickly worked his way into the team’s top-four, offering the team hope for the future. The 23-year-old scored six goals and 26 points in 56 games and looks to have a future.
With the team pushing for one more Stanley Cup run with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin getting older, salary cap space will be more and more critical for Pittsburgh over the next few years. Rutherford has been heavily criticized in recent years with his constant trading of top draft picks (the team has traded away their first rounder in six of the last eight years) as well as overpaying for defenseman Jack Johnson, who they team bought out this offseason. However, Rutherford has made up for those moves in other ways. While it can be risky to hand a six-year pact to player who has just one year of work in the NHL, Rutherford has made quite a living with signing good players to affordable NHL deals, including Brian Dumoulin, Bryan Rust and Jake Guentzel. The hope is that Marino outplays his contract quickly and gives the team a star blueliner at a reasonable deal, something that is quite possible with him.
Marino will be counted on to play a significant role, especially with Rutherford having shaken up the blueline during the offseason. The team still has Kris Letang and Dumoulin on the top line, but the team moved on from Justin Schultz and Johnson, while bringing in Mike Matheson and Cody Ceci.
LeBrun was the first to report the deal.