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Detroit Red Wings Owner Mike Ilitch Passes Away

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Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch has passed away at the age of 87. Like our MLBTR brothers, everyone here at PHR would like to extend our condolences to the Ilitch family and the entire Red Wings organization.

In a statement released by Gary Bettman, the NHL Commissioner puts it best:

With the passing of Mike Ilitch, the Red Wings have lost the consummate owner, the NHL has lost a cherished friend and passionate builder, Detroit sports has lost a legend and the city of Detroit has lost not only a devoted native son but a visionary and driving force in the rebirth of downtown. 

Ilitch bought the Red Wings in 1982, ten years before he would buy the Detroit Tigers. Under his leadership, the Red Wings would become one of the finest organizations in the NHL, grooming executives and coaches alike. Their current playoff streak of 25 straight seasons is thanks in no small part to the vision and ownership of Ilitch.

Teams, players and media members around the league are pouring out condolences with one common trait; Ilitch never did hold his success over anyone, and was willing to talk to just about everyone that wanted a moment. His dedication to the city of Detroit will likely never be duplicated or matched, though his family will try to continue his legacy.

His son Christopher, the current CEO of Ilitch Holdings, Inc said in a press release that he’s “honored to have had the opportunity to work with him to nurture and grow our businesses” and that he would do everything in his power to continue in his footsteps.

With the team leaving Joe Louis Arena this season, and now the passing of their legendary owner it has been a year of change for the Red Wings. The fact that they may miss the playoffs for the first time in a quarter of a century seems almost secondary in light of these recent events. Ilitch will go down as one of the greatest owners in sports history, and is deservedly already in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Friedman’s Latest: Julien, Ducks, Bolts, Avalanche, Vrbata

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Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet published his latest “30 Thoughts” column and like always it’s worth a read in its entirety. However, here’s a brief roundup of some of the column’s highlights.

  • Friedman reiterates what many others in the industry have said on Claude Julien, suggesting he “will be unemployed as long as he wants to be unemployed.” Julien of course joined Ken Hitchcock as former Stanley Cup winning head coaches now on the unemployment line this week when Boston decided to pull the plug after a nearly 10-year run behind the Bruins bench. Ultimately, while Julien’s tenure was mostly successful, Friedman argues that the relationship between the coach and ownership was never strong. While the Blues had already established a succession plan in anticipation of Hitchcock’s retirement at the end of the season, there are still three jobs potentially available to Julien – Vegas, New York Islanders and Florida. All three should be expected to show interest in hiring Julien to run their respective clubs. Additionally, with Julien available, it’s at least plausible other teams who may not be 100% sold on their current bench boss might reach out to the veteran head coach to gauge his interest in leading their program.
  • Joe Sakic and Steve Yzerman, the GM’s of Colorado and Tampa Bay respectively, both attended a recent Anaheim game, leading the scribe to conclude they were there to scout some of the Ducks defenders. Anaheim is blessed with excellent blue line talent, both at the NHL and minor league levels, and it’s been suggested the team could flip a defender to add scoring help up front. Of course Colorado and Tampa Bay each need defensemen but as Friedman notes, the two GM’s may have different preferences. Friedman writes that the Avalanche are looking for young blue liners with term remaining on their contracts while the Lightning need a more established, top-four presence. Speculatively, Colorado may prefer either Brandon Montour or Shea Theodore, two rookies with loads of upside, while Cam Fowler could represent an ideal fit for the Lightning, assuming they can find a way to make the cap hit work. It’s not clear to Friedman who the Ducks might be interested in from either potential trade partner.
  • Good news for any team that might have designs on acquiring veteran winger Radim Vrbata from the Arizona Coyotes. Vrbata’s one-year deal with Arizona contains a $500K bonus if the winger reaches either 20 goals or 40 points. With 35 points in 51 games, Vrbata is closing in on that bonus. His deal also provides for up to $1.25MM based on his team’s playoff success. Friedman had originally reported that Arizona would not be able to retain any bonus money not already earned by the player, meaning any team looking to trade for him would be on the hook for a significant chunk of change potentially. With the salary cap likely to remain flat next season, any interested suitor for Vrbata might be unwilling to chance assuming the balance of his contract since any bonuses earned would apply to next season’s salary cap. However Friedman provides an update and based on his understanding, if, for example, the Coyotes agree to retain 50% of Vrbata’s contract, that would apply not only to his remaining salary but also to any unearned bonuses as well. This is welcome news for any team tight against the cap ceiling and looking for scoring help on the wing as Vrbata now remains an intriguing option.

 

Snapshots: Canadiens, Bjorkstrand, Avalanche

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The Montreal Canadiens are mired in a four-game losing streak and their grip on the top of the Atlantic Division is slipping. They need help down the middle and everyone knows it, making it tough for GM Marc Bergevin to make a deal. Darren Dreger of TSN  spoke today about their struggles recently and how broken up the schedule has been for them. He also mentions the defensive side of the ice and how the Habs would like to make incremental improvements there if possible.

He does give some good news on the injury front, telling us that Brendan Gallagher is travelling with the team and should be back in the lineup as soon as this weekend. There is a possibility he’ll return Saturday against the St. Louis Blues, but more likely in the second half of the back to back against Boston on Sunday.

  •  The Columbus Blue Jackets have made Oliver Bjorkstrand an emergency call up on Wednesday evening, bringing him back to the NHL for the third time this season. The 21-year old Bjorkstrand has played five games for the Jackets this season, registering just one point. Last season the Danish winger really shone in the AHL playoffs with 16 points in 17 games, helping the Monsters win a Calder Cup. He’s destined for the NHL in the long-run, but still needs some seasoning to unlock his full potential.
  • The Colorado Avalanche have made a goalie swap, sending Spencer Martin to the AHL while bringing Jeremy Smith up to the NHL squad. Martin has been shelled in his short time in the NHL, allowing 13 goals in three games. With Semyon Varlomov out, the team has been relying on Calvin Pickard and would like to have a little more depth behind him. Smith, selected in the second round a decade ago, has never made it into an NHL game. He does have a solid AHL resume, including a .934 save percentage last year for the Providence Bruins.

Western Conference Snapshots: DeBoer, Canucks, Spezza

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Player development is instrumental to a team’s success in today’s NHL. The salary cap forces teams to waive goodbye to key veterans every year and integrating young players on ELC’s is the most effective way to replace the talent lost. Having a coaching staff that can mold young talent into quality NHL players simplifies that process and speeds up the player’s development. Kevin Kurz of CSN Bay Area writes that Sharks bench boss Pete DeBoer has done an exemplary job of doing just that in San Jose, despite a reputation from his previous job that suggested otherwise.

One of the reasons DeBoer was fired in New Jersey was his apparent unwillingness to utilize the team’s younger players. However, as Kurz points out, Stefan Matteau, Mattias Tedenby and Eric Gelinas, prospects DeBoer was criticized for not developing while with the Devils, have managed little in the way of NHL success since the coach was let go by New Jersey. On the flip side, the way DeBoer has handled players like Tomas Hertl, Dylan DeMelo and Kevin Lebanc has demonstrated he knows which buttons to push and when to push them in order to further a prospect’s development. And as Kurz notes, when DeBoer recognizes a player is simply not ready for big league action, he has no problem shipping that player back to the minors even if the decision doesn’t sit well with fans.

Elsewhere in the Western Conference:

  • In a highly entertaining piece for The Province, Jason Botchford touches on a number of Canuck-related topics. Chief among them is his assertion that veteran defenseman Alex Edler would be a valuable addition to any contending team’s blue line. It’s an interesting notion as Edler certainly would add loads of experience and is still an effective second-pair defender at this stage of his career. He has been a top-pair blue liner for Vancouver this season, averaging better than 24 minutes a contest while registering 10 points in 39 games, but would certainly be better off with less ice time on a playoff contender. Teams may also be hesitant to absorb the remaining two years on his deal, which come with an AAV of $5MM each. Edler also owns a NTC as part of his contract but might be willing to waive that for the right situation. It’s not inconceivable that a contender desperate for a boost on the back end would give the Canucks a call to see what it would take to pry the veteran Swede away from Vancouver.
  • The Dallas Stars announced this afternoon that they have placed veteran center Jason Spezza on IR retroactive to February 2nd. The team has been ravaged by injuries to key contributors all season and Spezza is just the latest example of the Stars bad luck with health. Spezza has just eight goals on the season but is fifth on the team in points with 31. He will be eligible to be activated off of IR tomorrow. Mike Heika of The Dallas Morning News adds that the move might be procedural to allow the team to recall a player from the minors, either to practice with the club or for tomorrow’s game. The team was at the 23-man roster limit but now have an open spot should they decide to take that course of action.

Writers, Analysts React To Claude Julien’s Firing

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As the news sunk in around the NHL that Claude Julien was relieved of his duties, many have weighed in around the league. The general consensus from many is that Julien’s firing was done at the absolute wrong time, and seemed to be a way to soften the blow of the dismissal. Here are some thoughts from writers around the hockey world.

  • The Boston Globe’s Dan Shaughnessy used a number of descriptors to label the firing: cowardly, disrespectful, disgraceful, and embarrassing. While Shaughnessy realizes that Julien’s time was up in Boston, it’s how they fired the coach that irritates him. He openly challenges Boston management, wondering if they believe backers and reporters are stupid when choosing to fire him during the Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots’ parade.
  • Puck Daddy’s Greg Wyshynski reports that Boston management was “roasted” by reporters for its decision to sack Julien during the parade. Though Wyshynski writes that general manager Don Sweeney defended his decision to fire Julien, it was met with skepticism and noted that the timing was specific to “dull” the firing. He also lists Sweeney’s litany of excuses for the firing, while picking apart several of those very reasons.
  • Boston.com’s Eric Wilbur believes it was time for Julien to go, but like other writers, felt the timing was horribly planned. Wilbur also adds his own adjectives much like Shaughnessy, saying that Julien leaves a franchise just as dysfunctional as when he arrived. Specifically, Wilbur calls them gutless, disrespectful, and exploitable. Wilbur does concede, however, that it was time for Julien to go. He adds that it now remains to be seen if those who defend Julien will be vindicated for their belief that the bench boss was hampered by a weakened roster. Should the bottom fall out, Sweeney will probably find himself on the bread line next.

Anton Rodin Undergoes Knee Surgery, Out Six Months

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After being shut down earlier in January because he re-injured his knee, Vancouver Canucks forward Anton Rodin underwent successful surgery today to repair it, but will be out for at least six months. He should be ready for the start of the 2018 season, though he’s still a long way from knowing for certain.

Rodin has had a nightmare season in his first year back from Sweden. After scoring 37 points in 35 games for Brynas last season in his home country, he returned to North America to try to make an impact for the Canucks. He has only played in three games for the NHL club this season, adding another three down with the Utica Comets of the AHL. Injury has stolen basically his entire year, as he’ll now miss the remainder of the season.

The 26-year old winger signed a one-year deal with the Canucks for $950,000 which they could now move to LTIR to get a little additional cap relief if they needed. He’ll still be a restricted free agent this offseason, but it is still to be seen if he decides to stay in North America. After being drafted in the second round in 2009, he has only played two seasons in the AHL before this. He made his NHL debut for the team this season.

Travis Konecny To Miss 4-6 Weeks With Lower-Body Injury

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After suffering a lower-body injury last night against the St. Louis Blues, Philadelphia Flyers rookie Travis Konecny will be out 4-6 weeks. At minimum, that would mean missing the next eleven Flyers games, a team that is in a dogfight for the final wildcard spot. Konecny left the game before the third period last night, and was ruled out by GM Ron Hextall earlier today.

Konecny was a member of this year’s famed teenage class, making an impact at the NHL level at the tender age of 19 years old. Along with fellow rookie Ivan Provorov, Konecny had been making a huge impact for the Flyers and showed a glimpse at what the future holds for the team. His 22 points in 51 games put him 14th in all rookie scoring and fifth on his team. It’s a big loss despite his young age, as he played almost 15 minutes a night for the club.

If he takes the whole six weeks, Konecny would return with just ten games remaining in the Flyers season. For a team that looks like it will be in a struggle for the playoffs right down to the wire, having a winger of Konecny’s skill down the stretch is imperative. It’s not clear who will be moving up in the lineup to fill his spot, as he has been skating on one of the team’s top two lines.

Central Division Snapshots: Preds, Wild, Fabbri

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Nashville Predators GM David Poile is no stranger to making major trades. In the last 13 months alone, the veteran executive has completed two blockbuster one-for-one swaps, first acquiring center Ryan Johansen for defenseman Seth Jones then dealing longtime team captain Shea Weber to Montreal for fellow blue liner P.K. Subban. This propensity for making big moves leads Adam Vingan of The Tennessean to wonder whether Nashville will make another headline deal before the trade deadline.

Poile already picked up veteran fourth-line center Vernon Fiddler in a deal from New Jersey and the team has been linked to Colorado center Matt Duchene. But while the Predators could use more offensive flair at the pivot position, Poile is hesitant to sacrifice the one asset just about everyone else wants from him at this point: young defensemen. Poile already sacrificed Jones, who is enjoying a breakout campaign with Columbus, doesn’t seem interested in depleting his defense corps further: “We can’t be doing that all the time, or you won’t have one of the best defenses.” As Vingan notes, Poile will be listening but major trades are tough to pull off in-season so any moves the Preds do make are likely to be similar to the recent acquisitions of Fiddler and Cody McLeod.

Elsewhere in the Central Division:

  • As it stands, the Minnesota Wild are in a comfortable spot in the division, holding a four-point lead over second place Chicago and 15 points ahead of third-place Nashville. Barring an epic collapse, the team is virtually assured of hosting at least a first-round playoff series. As Michael Russo of the Star Tribune writes, this cushion will allow Wild bench boss Bruce Boudreau to experiment with his forward lines and defense pairs in order to help GM Chuck Fletcher better identify what the team’s needs are ahead of the deadline. For instance, Boudreau will slot Charlie Coyle, who has spent much of the season riding shotgun on Eric Staal’s line, at center for tonight’s game against Winnipeg with Alex Tuch moving into the lineup at wing. He’ll also have room to give Mike Reilly and Gustav Olofsson more playing time and if they perform well, it may give Fletcher the confidence needed to move one of the team’s top blue liners in a deal to both save cap space and to acquire help at other positions.
  • According to Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the St. Louis Blues will for the time being look to internal options to replace Robby Fabbri, who the team just learned will miss the rest of the season with an ACL injury. In the wake of the injury, the team recalled forwards Kenny Agostino, who tallied just the second goal of his NHL career and the first in almost three years yesterday, and Magnus Paajarvi from Chicago of the AHL. The team will have three-plus weeks to figure out whether those two can adequately fill in before investigating the options available on the trade market. Regardless of how the ultimately choose to do so, replacing Fabbri won’t be easy. While he’s had an up-and-down season in 2016-17, the 21-year-old winger is an extremely skilled player and a key part of the team’s top-nine forward group.

Bryan Bickell Nearing Return For Carolina

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Carolina Hurricanes winger Bryan Bickell, out since late October with what was later revealed to be Multiple Sclerosis, plans to be ready to return following the team’s bye week, according to Tom Gulitti of NHL.com. The ’Canes begin a five-game homestand on February 17th and barring a setback, Bickell could be in the lineup for Carolina when they host the Colorado Avalanche.

As Gulitti writes, Bickell has made tremendous progress since starting treatments of Tysarbi, a drug given monthly to “limit the debilitating effects of MS.” He began taking the medication in December and has been skating since early January.

“I feel good,” Bickell said after a conditioning skate at Verizon Center, where the Hurricanes face the Washington Capitals on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET: CSN-DC, FS-CR, NHL.TV). “I obviously don’t feel good right now, I just got skated pretty hard, but it’s going to help me down the long run. I think we’re getting there and getting close to getting back in the rotation. We’re shooting for probably after the bye week and then kind of day by day from there.”

Of course just because Bickell may be cleared for action doesn’t mean the Hurricanes will insert the veteran winger into the lineup. As the player himself notes, much of the decision will have to do with how other players are performing.

“It all depends too on what other guys are doing if they’re going on a huge streak,” Bickell said. “I like to see them win. If they need me, I’m sure an extra week of me skating is not going to hurt me. We’re just going to wait until after the next treatment and after the bye week and go from there.”

It’s also possible the team will seek to send Bickell down to Charlotte of the AHL on a conditioning assignment to help prepare him to return to the lineup.

Bickell was acquired last summer in a trade with Chicago that also brought winger Teuvo Teravainen to Raleigh in exchange for draft picks. The Blackhawks were forced to part with the talented, young Teravainen as a means to extricate themselves from the final year of Bickell’s $4MM cap charge.

With 58 points, the Hurricanes are currently on the outside looking in at a playoff berth but are just four points behind Philadelphia for the second wild card spot and have three games in hand on the Flyers. Carolina will likely hold onto their prospects but if the right opportunity arises, they could find themselves buying at the deadline. However, if Bickell returns and is effective, it reduces the team’s need to add.

Minor Transactions: 2/7/2017

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It’s shaping up to be a quiet day overall with no new additions to the waiver wire the last couple of days. But as always, there are still some minor league recalls and reassignments to note. We’ll track all of the day’s transactions in this post.

  • The Nashville Predators have announced (via Twitter) that they have placed winger Harry Zolnierczyk on IR and in a corresponding move have recalled center Pontus Aberg from the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL. Zolnierczyk, who spent all but three games combined over the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons in the minors, has earned a regular spot on Nashville’s fourth line and contributed three points in 15 contests. Aberg has seen action in 11 games for Nashville this season with one goal and two points.
  • Boston has called up forward Peter Cehlarik from Providence and have placed fellow forward Austin Czarnik on IR, the team revealed today. Cehlarik, in his first professional season, leads Providence with 18 goals. He was originally selected by the Bruins in the third round of the 2013 entry draft, 90th overall. Czarnik has recorded five goals and 13 points in 47 contests during his rookie NHL campaign.
  • Brandon Tanev has been reassigned by the Winnipeg Jets to their AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, reports Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun via Twitter. The 25-year-old winger has appeared in 39 games with the Jets, netting two goals and four points. Winnipeg inked Tanev late last season after the left wing completed his senior season at Providence College.
  • According to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet, the Maple Leafs have released Karri Ramo from his AHL PTO to continue his rehab in Finland. The netminder played in three games for the Marlies, allowing 11 goals and recording an .880 save percentage.

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