With the Senators being committed to Anders Nilsson for another season after this one and having multiple young goaltenders in the pipeline that could benefit from some NHL playing time, some expect Ottawa to try and move veteran netminder Craig Anderson. With that in mind, Postmedia’s Ken Warren suggests that the Panthers could be a team to watch for as a possible trade suitor.
Senators Rumors
Latest On Anthony Duclair
There has been no bigger story on the Ottawa Senators this season than Anthony Duclair (Thomas Chabot’s heavy usage might be a close second). The 24-year old forward was acquired as part of the return for Ryan Dzingel, but frustrating stints with four teams already in his young career made it hard to expect much of him in Ottawa. Instead, Duclair has completely turned things around and now sits with 21 goals through his first 38 games of 2019-20.
That kind of production is an incredible leap for the young forward, but on a one-year $1.65MM deal it also places a ton of intrigue on his future. The Senators are in an obvious rebuild, but Duclair now represents arguably their best offensive weapon and could be a huge part of their future.
When he got off to his hot start this season, many speculated that Duclair could be another trade chip for the Senators to use for future assets. Not so fast says Darren Dreger of TSN, who examined the situation yesterday:
I supposed there could be the threat of trade–again the Ottawa Senators are still very much in a rebuild format, so they could dangle Anthony Duclair out there. But again, given the offensive production of Anthony Duclair this year it makes sense that the Ottawa Senators will do everything they can up to January 1st, maybe soon after January 1st, to get a contract done.
Earlier in the segment, Dreger suggests that a three-year contract extension could work for both sides given that Duclair is two years away from unrestricted free agency. That would buy out a year of open market value on the young sniper, but also provide him with some security that he hasn’t had so far in his young career.
January 1st is the threshold for anything to get done, as Duclair can’t sign an extension until then given he is currently on a one-year contract. That gives him two more games to continue his torrid scoring pace and provide even more leverage, though you can’t get much hotter than 21 goals in 38 games. That is a full-season pace of 45, nearly equaling the entire rest of his career—Duclair had scored 48 goals before coming to Ottawa, and now has 29 in 59 games between this season and the end of last.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Minor Transactions: 12/24/19
Even though the roster freeze is in full effect and no hockey is scheduled for the next two days, there are still a handful of transactions coming through the AHL wire. As always we’ll keep you caught up on all the minor moves.
- The St. Louis Blues sent Niko Mikkola down to the AHL without getting him into a single game. Mikkola was recalled on December 14th, but is still waiting to suit up for his first NHL contest. The 23-year old could very well be recalled again later this week.
- Maxime Lajoie and J.C. Beaudin have been sent to the minor leagues by the Ottawa Senators, as they save some money over the holidays. Ottawa has been decimated by injuries on the blueline, meaning Lajoie is likely coming back as soon as they’re ready to play again.
- The New Jersey Devils have returned Michael McLeod to the AHL, where he’ll continue to try and get his offensive game on track. The 21-year old is still without a single goal in 25 NHL games and has just four in 24 games with the Binghamton Devils this season.
- Jordan Gross has been returned to the AHL by the Arizona Coyotes, after playing in his first two NHL games. The 24-year old had an assist but is still looking for his first point at the highest level.
- Martin Frk and Kale Clague have been sent back to the Ontario Reign, but their stay will likely be short. Clague played nearly 18 minutes in his NHL debut on Saturday and looked like he fit in quite well, even if the boxscore did have him as a -2.
Atlantic Notes: Fabbri, Chara, Sabourin, Anderson
The Department of Player Safety revealed that while Detroit Red Wings forward Robby Fabbri will not be suspended for spearing Toronto Maple Leafs forward Alexander Kerfoot. However, they did announce that they have fined Fabbri $2,419.35, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for the incident.
The incident happened during the second period of Saturday’s game with both Fabbri and Kerfoot receiving offsetting minor penalties on the play. This is Fabbri’s first run-in with the Department of Player Safety. Fabbri has turned his career around since being traded to Detroit where he has eight goals and 16 points in 20 games for them.
- The Boston Bruins will be without defenseman Zdeno Chara as the team announced that the 42-year-old will miss Monday’s game against Washington to undergo a follow-up procedure on his surgically-repaired jaw that he sustained during the playoffs last season. The Athletic’s Joe McDonald adds that an infection has developed within the plates and screws in his jaw and must be replaced. With the three-day break coming up, that should give the veteran some time to recover from the procedure without missing much playing time.
- Ottawa Citizen’s Ken Warren revealed that injured forward Scott Sabourin is expected to return for Monday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres. Sabourin hasn’t appeared in a game since Nov. 2 after a scary collision with Boston Bruins forward David Backes. Sabourin fell face-first into the ice and suffered a concussion. He’s been skating with the team for several weeks now, but looks finally ready to suit up. The 27-year-old was faring well with Ottawa’s fourth line, posting two points and 26 hits over 11 games.
- Sticking with Senators, Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch reports that the team will also be getting back starting goaltender Craig Anderson. It might come at the perfect time with Anders Nilsson out with a concussion and on injured reserve. Anderson has been out with a knee injury since Dec. 7, but is expected to serve as the backup to Marcus Hogberg on Monday against Buffalo. Anderson has a 3.01 GAA in 16 games and a .901 save percentage.
WJC Notes: Groulx, Thomson, Ford
Team Canada has finalized its roster for the upcoming U-20 World Junior Championship, hosted this year by the Czech Republic. The team has made one last cut, and TSN’s Mark Masters reports that it is Anaheim Ducks prospect Benoit-Olivier Groulx. Groulx, a 2018 second-round pick, has been having yet another strong season in the QMJHL and doing so on a poor Halifax Mooseheads team. The two-way pivot is likely a victim of a roster chock full of centers, with many already slated to line up on the wing. With “Bo” heading home, Masters has also shared Team Canada’s practice lines with their roster finalized, which is likely the way that they will line up to begin the tournament.
- Team Finland, looking to defend their championship performance from last year, has announced their leadership group for the WJC. Ottawa Senators 2019 first-round pick Lassi Thomson has been named captain, leading the team as their top defenseman. Thomson brings an array of experience to the squad, having played professionally in Finland this year, recording ten points in 23 games on loan with Ilves of the Liiga, as well as the junior level with the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets last season. Given the Senators’ issues on the blue line, Thomson is a strong candidate to join the NHL ranks next season and his WJC performance could be telling of where he stands versus other elite prospects. Los Angeles Kings forward prospect Rasmus Kupari and Vancouver Canucks defensive prospect Toni Utunen will sere as alternates.
- Even after making a trio of cuts on Wednesday, Team USA still has a few tough decisions to make. For now, a few surprises remain on the roster, hopeful that they will get a chance to shine on the international stage. Overage prospect Parker Ford headlines that group, looking to make a name for himself after getting passed over in the NHL Draft. The Providence College freshman forward was a good if unspectacular player in the USHL, but has gotten off to a strong start in his NCAA career with 14 points in 17 games. Ford would be an intriguing name to watch for the Americans if he does in fact make the final roster. Other potential surprise inclusions on the roster include New York Islanders seventh-round defenseman Christian Krygier of Michigan State, Boston Bruins fourth-round center Curtis Hall of Yale, and Notre Dame teammates Jacob Pivonka and Trevor Janicke, late picks of the Islanders and Anaheim Ducks respectively.
Senators Notes: Nilsson, Hainsey, Prospects
The Ottawa Senators will be without Anders Nilsson for a while, as GM Pierre Dorion told TSN radio that the goaltender has suffered a concussion. Nilsson has been excellent for the the Senators this season even with a leaky defense corps, putting up a .909 save percentage and 9-9-2 record.
Craig Anderson will be back in the net for the Senators, but Nilsson is going on injured reserve.
- The team also is dealing with a minor injury to Ron Hainsey, after the 38-year old logged at least 24 minutes in each of his last four games. Hainsey is going to be out until after Christmas, a tough break for a Senators group that is already missing Nikita Zaitsev and Dylan DeMelo. Maxime Lajoie will be recalled to give them another option on the roster.
- Still, that leaves the Senators without many healthy defensemen on NHL contracts in the organization. With that in mind, Dorion admitted that they are considering recalling Lassi Thomson or Olle Alsing, who are both playing in Europe. While the team obviously doesn’t want to give up future assets for NHL players right now, they may be forced to if the injuries continue.
Minor Transactions: 12/18/19
Taylor Hall’s debut with the Arizona Coyotes went according to plan as the star winger set up Oliver Ekman-Larsson for the game-winner, but it wasn’t so easy for several other Western Conference hopefuls last night. Not only were the Winnipeg Jets defeated easily by the Carolina Hurricanes, but Andrei Svechnikov scored his second lacrosse-style goal of the season to rub it in. As six teams prepare for tonight’s action, we’ll keep track of all the minor moves right here.
- The Ottawa Senators have sent Maxime Lajoie to the minor leagues as they get ready for their game tomorrow against the Nashville Predators. Who needs depth defensemen anyway when you have Thomas Chabot playing more than 37 minutes a night?
- Kole Sherwood has been activated from injured reserve by the Columbus Blue Jackets and sent to the minor leagues. The 22-year old suffered an oblique tear earlier in the year but is approaching a return to action.
- Robbie Russo has been returned to the AHL by the Coyotes, with Jordan Gross replacing him on the roster. Gross, 24, has 15 points in 26 games with the Tucson Roadrunners this season and has never been recalled previously.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs have sent all three emergency call-ups, Adam Brooks, Timothy Liljegren and Martin Marincin to the minor leagues. Brooks and Liljegren are both waiting to make their NHL debuts, but will have to patiently bide their time in the AHL.
- Noah Gregor has been sent to the AHL by the San Jose Sharks after spending the last month in the NHL. The 22-year old has played in 18 games, scoring his first career NHL goal at the end of November. Also headed to the Barracuda are Dylan Gambrell and Jacob Middleton. The move leaves the Sharks with just 20 active skaters, as they both looked to save some cap space and get their young players some extra minutes in the AHL.
- The back-and-forth continues for Gerald Mayhew, who today was reassigned to the minors by Minnesota, the Iowa Wild announced. Mayhew’s 14 AHL goals lead the team and are tied for third in the league even though he has spent considerable time in the NHL as well.
- Veteran enforcer Zac Rinaldo is on his way to the AHL’s Stockton Heat, the team announced, after he was demoted today by the Calgary Flames. Rinaldo has actually carried his weight offensively in the minors so far this season, recording seven points in 14 games, not to mention three points in five games with Calgary as well.
- The Boston Bruins have activated winger Zachary Senyshyn from the injured reserve and have sent him down to AHL Providence. Senyshyn continues to be an enigmatic player for the Bruins, playing well in the NHL but disappointing in the AHL. Right now there is no room for him in Boston, though.
- With Mathieu Perreault and Andrew Copp both hitting the injured reserve, the Winnipeg Jets have called up reinforcements in the form of Mason Appleton and Jansen Harkins. While Appleton is the frequent member of the Jets, playing in nine games with the team this year, Jansen may have the higher upside of the two. Harkins’ 24 assists lead the AHL while his 31 points are best on the team and third in the AHL. Harkins was even named the AHL Player of the Month for November. The 22-year-old is more than deserving of making his NHL debut.
- The Anaheim Ducks have promoted two of their top young forwards, announcing that Isac Lundestrom and Max Jones have re-joined the team. The pair of first-round picks are not having huge years at either level, but still present tremendous NHL upside.
Nikita Zaitsev Likely Out Until After Christmas Break
- Senators defenseman Nikita Zaitsev is expected to be out until after the Christmas break, notes Postmedia’s Ken Warren. Head coach D.J. Smith noted that the blueliner was banged up after blocking several shots over the past few games so it appears that they’re opting to give Zaitsev some rest over him trying to play through a lot of pain.
Snapshots: Three Stars, Hall, Kucherov
The NHL has released their Three Stars for last week, handing out the top spot to Vegas Golden Knights forward Max Pacioretty. In four games the former Montreal Canadiens’ captain had five goals and eight points last week and leads the Golden Knights in both categories on the season.
While Jack Eichel’s continued MVP-level performance has landed him the third star, a new face finds himself in the second spot. Anthony Duclair has risen from the ashes to become a star with the Ottawa Senators and now has 18 goals on the season. The 24-year old has scored 26 goals in 54 games since arriving in Ottawa and now looks ready to land a long-term deal as a restricted free agent this summer.
- There is still no concrete news on New Jersey Devils forward Taylor Hall and where he’ll end up after the inevitable trade, but Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic (subscription required) is ruling out one team (for the time being). The Florida Panthers have pulled back their pursuit of the scoring winger according to LeBrun—though he notes that things can obviously change at any moment—because the winger doesn’t seem ready to sign an extension with whatever team acquires him. Hall hasn’t played in the Devils’ last two games as the team tries to protect their asset.
- Nikita Kucherov has been listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury after blocking a John Carlson slapshot over the weekend. Kucherov was forced from the game but seems to have avoided major injury. Head coach Jon Cooper told reporters including Joe Smith of The Athletic that Kucherov will likely be back before Christmas.
Minor Transactions: 12/16/19
Another week begins in the NHL with five games this evening, including two top tier Western Conference matchups. The St. Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche battle for the top seed in the Central Division, while the Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars try to keep pace with the rest of their divisions. As always we’ll keep track of all the minor moves right here.
- The Ottawa Senators have recalled J.C. Beaudin and Erik Brannstrom from the minor leagues, as they prepare for action against the Florida Panthers tonight. Brannstrom, the big return for Mark Stone last season, has now played in 23 games this season with the Senators and has two points.
- Martin Marincin and Timothy Liljregren have both been recalled by the Toronto Maple Leafs, raising concern about the injury Tyson Barrie sustained over the weekend. X-rays on Barrie’s ankle were negative, but both defensemen have been recalled under emergency conditions. Liljegren, 20, would be playing in his first NHL game if he suits up for the Maple Leafs.
- Tom Kuhnhackl has been recalled by the New York Islanders, after playing in four games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The veteran forward is still looking for his first NHL point of the season after playing in six games earlier this year.
- The Vancouver Canucks have swapped Guillaume Brisebois for Jalen Chatfield again, with the latter coming to the NHL today. Chatfield has still not made his debut with the Canucks yet, despite being recalled every few days this month.
- Sam Carrick and Jacob Larsson have both been recalled by the Anaheim Ducks, while Josh Mahura is on his way back to the AHL. The 22-year old Larsson has played 25 games with the Ducks this season, but found himself demoted to the minor leagues at the beginning of the month.
- The Minnesota Wild have announced a flurry of moves, highlighted by the placement of Joel Eriksson Ek on injured reserve. The young center has been sidelined recently, but he will officially take a seat for the next ten days or more as he nurses an upper-body injury. Fortunately, the Wild have been getting healthier elsewhere in the lineup, with starting goalie Devan Dubnyk among those slated for a return. As a result, young Kaapo Kahkonen has been reassigned to AHL Iowa. Filling the two newly vacated roster spots are forwards Nico Sturm and Luke Johnson. Sturm, a highly sought-after college free agent last year, has been a solid two-way contributor in the AHL this season. Johnson has been limited by injury to just ten AHL games this year, but returns to Minnesota after playing in 15 games with the Wild last season.
- In one of the more common moves of this season so far, Brian Gibbons is on the move again, this time going to Carolina from AHL Charlotte. The veteran forward has been back and forth all year, logging 13 games wth the Hurricanes and 14 with the Checkers.