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Snapshots: Sorokin, Bruins, Fines

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Some confusion erupted today when reports surfaced that New York Islanders draft pick Ilya Sorokin’s rights had been traded to the Chicago Blackhawks, but things were quickly cleared up. Igor Eronko of Sport-Express once again reported that Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello has met with Sorokin’s agent at gives it a “99% chance” that the young goaltender comes to the NHL next season.

Sorokin is considered by many to be the best goaltender outside of the NHL, after completely dominating the KHL since he was a teenager. Following his 28-6-4, .940 sv% season with CSKA Moscow in 2018-19, he has a 25-9-3 record this year with a .936. His deal in Russia expires at the end of April, so Islanders fans will have to wait a little longer to find out if he’s really planning on coming over.

  • With the big move today to acquire Ondrej Kase from the Anaheim Ducks, the Boston Bruins may be considered out of the running for some other names. Not so fast, according to several reporters around the league. Eric Engels of Sportsnet tweets that the Bruins are still in the running for Ilya Kovalchuk, while Joe McDonald of The Athletic (subscription required) suggests that when Boston GM Don Sweeney said he’s “in it to win it” today he could mean players like Brandon Saad or Joe Thornton are still a possibility. At any rate, the Bruins certainly aren’t a team to forget about now that they’ve moved David Backes’ contract off the books (well, at least 75% of it).
  • A pair of fines were handed out today from the Department of Player Safety, who are still working despite the deadline taking up most of the news cycle. Matt Niskanen was given a $5,000 fine for his vicious slash across the hands of Gustav Nyquist, while Scott Sabourin gets a $1,881.72 fine for unsportsmanlike. Sabourin squirted water from the Ottawa Senators bench. These fines are the maximum allowable and based on player salary.

Detroit Red Wings Claim Cody Goloubef Off Waivers

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The Detroit Red Wings have added some NHL experience today, claiming Cody Goloubef off waivers from the Ottawa Senators according to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet. Brian Lashoff will be returned to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins in a corresponding move.

Goloubef, 30, will at least give the Red Wings a body to use on the back end down the stretch, especially if they trade off some of their other expiring pieces. He won’t bring a lot of upside, but 158 games at the NHL level is more than some of the other players the team has run out there this season.

For Ottawa, the defensive cupboard is looking awfully thin. The team has just five healthy bodies at the NHL level and four players in the minor leagues eligible for recall. If things get really dire the team could bring Olle Alsing back from Sweden, but there may be other moves in the works in Ottawa.

Minor Transactions: 02/21/20

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You can bet that there will be more trade action in the next couple of days, but right now several teams are likely just focused on their results from a night ago. The Florida Panthers, a team scratching and clawing to keep pace in the Atlantic Division, lost in regulation to the worst team in the Western Conference, while the Arizona Coyotes couldn’t figure out how to score a single goal to keep their playoff hopes alive. While the NHL assesses and recalculates, we’ll be here to keep track of all the minor moves.

  • The New York Islanders have recalled Andrew Ladd and Otto Koivula, while sending Kieffer Bellows back to the AHL. Cal Clutterbuck has also been moved to long-term injured reserve, but it’s actually a good sign—he’ll also head to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers to begin a conditioning stint.
  • With another injury last night, the Columbus Blue Jackets have recalled Calvin Thurkauf under emergency conditions. Gabriel Carlsson has been sent back down. This time it is Oliver Bjorkstrand who suffered an injury when crashing into the boards, and Aaron Portzline of The Athletic spotted him leaving the arena on crutches.
  • With some forwards likely on their way out in the next few days, the Ottawa Senators have recalled Josh Norris from the minor leagues. A piece of the Erik Karlsson trade, Norris has excelled in his first season of professional hockey, recording 58 points in 51 games for the Belleville Senators in the AHL. He’ll likely get a chance to show what he can down down the stretch.

Trade Rumors: Barrie, Simmonds, Senators, Canadiens

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After years of mediocrity, the NHL’s Canadian teams have come to play in 2019-20 and are at the forefront of many of the trade deadline’s biggest story lines. However, perhaps the even bigger surprise than the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks being buyers is that the Toronto Maple Leafs could end up as sellers. In a very Canada-centric segment of TSN’s “Insider Trading”, Bob McKenzie reports that, following a difficult week, the Leafs have begun to receive calls on pending UFA defenseman Tyson Barrie, the team’s big off-season addition. McKenzie notes that this could have just as much to do with a suddenly barren defense market as it does with other teams doubting Toronto’s playoff chances, but regardless the team has not closed the door on a possible deal. Barrie has been a poor fit with the Maple Leafs but could benefit a number of other teams down the stretch and in the postseason. The team has seen the high prices that sellers have received so far and could be enticed to make a move of their own. However, McKenzie does note that Toronto is not expected to move Barrie without receiving a defenseman with term in exchange or without a second deal in place to flip picks and prospects for that elusive top-four right-shot defender.

  • The Vancouver Canucks already made a big splash with the acquisition of Tyler Toffoli, but they remain interested in the New Jersey Devils’ Wayne Simmonds as well, a target of theirs since last summer. However, Pierre LeBrun reports that the two sides have not been able to work out the salary cap details in a way that would make the addition work for the strapped Canucks. He suspects that this due to the likelihood that Brock Boeser will return from injury prior to the end of the regular season and the team must account for that cap increase. Seemingly at an impasse, talks are dead for the time being. However, Vancouver could circle back closer to the deadline if Simmonds still has not been dealt and the Devils are willing to be more flexible.
  • Yet again, the Ottawa Senators are one of the primary sellers at the deadline. While their offerings this year pale in comparison to last, they could still turn a nice profit with their current pieces. The insiders note that Vladislav Namestnikov is a healthy scratch tonight (and for the foreseeable future), as the Senators have at least four concrete offers on the table for the versatile forward. Toronto, Winnipeg, Colorado, and Columbus are named as the teams known to have interest, but there are likely more in play. Additionally, value veteran Tyler Ennis could be a nice depth piece for a contender and Edmonton is reportedly the front runner for his services. However, the biggest trade chip in Ottawa is center Jean-Gabriel Pageau, and the news tonight is that the two sides have actually begun formal extension talks. While the Senators continue to field offers, it is believed that they have set a high asking price and would prefer to re-sign Pageau. LeBrun even wonders if they would risk keeping him past the deadline without a new deal if the camps are close, especially given the departure of homegrown talent at this time last year.
  • The Montreal Canadiens have a suspicious healthy scratch of their own tonight in Artturi Lehkonen, who has remained out of the trade deadline limelight until now. The 24-year-old winger can be streaky, but is on pace for a career high in points this season nonetheless and still has one year left on his contract before becoming a restricted free agent. It remains to be seen if this decision is even related to a possible deal and, if so, whether Lehkonen is for sale by himself or rather part of a bigger deal. Despite the newfound confusion surrounding Lehkonen, the focus in Montreal remains on Ilya Kovalchuk. The veteran scorer is definitely drawing interest, but LeBrun reports that a framework for a one-year, bonus-laden contract extension is also in place if the Habs opt to keep him. Kovalchuk has proven to be a tremendous fit in Montreal and the team may want to hold on to that positive note in an otherwise disappointing season.

Cody Goloubef Placed On Waivers

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Along with Louis Domingue, who is being held out by the New Jersey Devils, Cody Goloubef has been placed on waivers today. The Ottawa Senators defenseman has played fewer than ten minutes in three of his last four games.

Goloubef, 30, has played in 23 games this season with the Senators, averaging just over 15 minutes a night and recording two points. The former Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman is just depth at this point and given his expiring contract could potentially even be trade bait in the coming days.

Placing a player on waivers sometimes can increase their value at the deadline, as an acquiring team could immediately stash them in the minor leagues. Whether that is the plan with Goloubef isn’t clear, especially given that the Senators may want to just hand over some minutes to their young defense.

Maple Leafs Acquire Max Veronneau

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The Maple Leafs have swung their second trade of the day as they have acquired winger Max Veronneau from Ottawa in exchange for center Aaron Luchuk and a conditional 2021 sixth-round pick.  Both teams have confirmed the deal.  TSN’s Frank Seravalli adds (Twitter link) that the pick will be transferred to the Senators if Veronneau plays in ten NHL games this season or Toronto re-signs him this summer.

Veronneau was one of the most sought after players in last year’s college free agent market after a strong college career at Princeton but ultimately signed with his hometown team.  He played in a dozen games with Ottawa down the stretch that year, recording two goals and two assists but has spent the entirety of the season with AHL Belleville, recording just five goals and five assists in 33 games.  Ottawa had made him available earlier this month.  He’ll require a qualifying offer of just over $874K this summer.

As for Luchuk, he returns to the organization that originally signed him as an undrafted free agent out of the OHL.  However, his scoring prowess with Windsor and Barrie has failed to carry over to the pros and he has spent the bulk of his time this season with ECHL Newfoundland where he is averaging over a point per game.  His inclusion is likely almost solely for matching contracts (teams can carry a maximum of 50).  He’s a restricted free agent this offseason as well and at this point, is a strong non-tender candidate.

Moments after this trade was announced, their AHL affiliates announced a swap of players under AHL contracts as well that is likely part of this trade with the Marlies acquiring defenseman Trent Bourque from the Senators for winger Darren Archibald.  Bourque has spent most of the season with ECHL Brampton while Archibald, a veteran of 55 NHL games and more than 400 AHL contests, has a dozen points in 34 AHL contests this season.

Calls Coming On Vladislav Namestnikov

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  • Darren Dreger of TSN reports that the Ottawa Senators are getting calls on Vladislav Namestnikov, another one of their expiring contracts. The team already sent Dylan DeMelo to the Winnipeg Jets earlier today for a third-round pick and have several other potential trade pieces on the market. Namestnikov never really has fulfilled his potential as a top-line player, but does have 12 goals and 24 points since coming over from the Rangers in early October.

Winnipeg Jets Acquire Dylan DeMelo

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The Ottawa Senators have traded Dylan DeMelo to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for a 2020 third-round draft pick. This begins the selling season for the Senators, who are expected to move several players before the upcoming deadline. Winnipeg immediately moved Luca Sbisa to injured reserve, while Ottawa recalled Andreas Englund.

After the New York Islanders spent a second-round selection to acquire Andy Greene recently, the market for rental defensemen seemed to be set fairly high. That bar won’t be hit by the Senators who have settled for a lower pick, though they’ll happily add it to a huge number of selections they have over the next two years.

In this year’s draft the Senators now own two first-round selections (their own and San Jose’s, both headed for the lottery), three second-round selections and two third-round selections. That’s seven picks in the top hundred, and when you consider that they have three seconds again next year there will be plenty of talent infused into the Senators’ prospect system over the next while.

DeMelo is likely also just the first name that Ottawa will move this month. Mikkel Boedker, Vladislav Namestnikov, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Tyler Ennis, Ron Hainsey, Mark Borowiecki and Craig Anderson are all set to become unrestricted free agents at the end of the year, while younger players like Chris Tierney, Connor Brown and Anthony Duclair are all pending restricted free agents that could bring back value as well. That’s a ton of options for GM Pierre Dorion to move, though the team does need someone to keep playing for them down the stretch.

The 26-year old DeMelo is actually quite a shrewd pickup for the Jets, who have had trouble finding much stability on the blueline all season. The former San Jose Sharks defenseman carries just a $900K cap hit on his expiring deal and has actually been excellent for the Senators. With ten points in 49 games he isn’t going to light up the scoresheet on a regular basis, but DeMelo consistently recovers pucks in his own end and sends play the other way. His versatility will come in handy for a Jets team trying to scrape their way into the playoffs, and a third-round pick is a more than reasonable return for GM Kevin Cheveldayoff to give up.

If the Jets decide to try and re-sign DeMelo, it would be the first time this season that he receives a contract offer. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reports that though the defenseman’s representatives did discuss an extension with the Senators, they never received an official offer.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Senators And Dylan DeMelo Far Apart In Extension Talks

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The Senators are currently in the process of trying to get some of their pending unrestricted free agents signed in advance of the trade deadline.  One of the players they’ve identified as worthy of keeping around is defenseman Dylan DeMelo.  However, talks don’t appear to be going too well as Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch reports that the two sides are not in the same ballpark in discussions which increases the likelihood of him being traded over the next week.

The 26-year-old has been an important part of Ottawa’s back end this season, logging a career-high 19:55 per night which is fourth among their defensemen.  He also has chipped in with ten assists in 49 games while averaging nearly two hits per night.  That’s a pretty good return for someone that carries a salary just $200K above the league minimum.  It also has him well-positioned to land a notable raise on his next contract, especially as a right-shot defender, a spot that is often in short supply.

It’s that low price tag that will have many teams interested as even most cap-strapped squads have the ability to bring in someone with a $900K AAV.  Garrioch notes that Calgary, Tampa Bay, Vegas, and Winnipeg are among the teams looking for help on the back end and points out that the Golden Knights could make sense as a landing spot for DeMelo as they are coached by Peter DeBoer who had the blueliner when both were with San Jose.

Beyond center Jean-Gabriel Pageau, DeMelo is arguably Ottawa’s next best trade chip so if the two sides can’t make significant progress on a new deal over the next few days, he will likely be on the move by next Monday’s deadline.

Ottawa Senators Claim Jayce Hawryluk Off Waivers

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There seemed to be a fair amount of anticipation that now-former Florida Panthers forward Jayce Hawryluk would be claimed off waivers today. The 24-year-old has struggled with injury setbacks this season and has been unable to carve out a role for himself in Florida, but was a point-per-game player in the AHL last season before being called up an playing at a 24-point pace in the second half of the season with the Panthers. It seems that the expectations that teams would look beyond this season and grab Hawryluk for his previous displays of potential were well-founded. The young forward only lasted until the No. 3 waiver priority, as the Ottawa Senators announced that they have claimed Hawryluk.

The Senators are again heading toward a trade deadline in which they are expected to move a number of roster players. By claiming Hawryluk, the team adds a young player who can move into a regular role in the place of some of those absences. An increase in ice time should also give Ottawa a better idea of Hawryluk’s identity at the NHL level. A dynamic scorer in his junior days, Hawryluk has flashed that ability briefly in the minors but it has yet to show at the top level. Perhaps an expanded role could help him to re-discover that scoring touch. On the other hand, Ottawa may also be looking toward next year as the true test for Hawryluk, as he is an impending restricted free agent with arbitration rights and the cost-sensitive Senators may be hoping to re-sign him at a low cost before trying to inflate his stats.

Joining the waiver wire today are the Sabre’s Taylor Leier, who just signed a two-way NHL contract with the team today, and the Islanders’ Cole Bardreau, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Neither is expected to be claimed, but Bardreau has at least seen NHL action this year. The 26-year-old has skated in ten games with New York and another 29 with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, but has five points combined and is not likely a threat to be claimed. His waiving does indicate that the Islanders are opening up a roster spot for some other corresponding move, however.

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