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Jacob Trouba Suspended Two Games For Illegal Check

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The Department of Player Safety has come down on Jacob Trouba today, suspending him two games for his illegal check to the head of Mark Stone last night.

Trouba hit Stone in the head at the end of the game against the Ottawa Senators, and was given just a two-minute minor for the check. Immediately, those watching the game knew that it would get a look from the DPS and possibly a suspension. Winnipeg fans will be upset with the decision as just a few days earlier Evgeni Malkin was not given any supplementary discipline for his high check on Blake Wheeler that had him clearly leaving his feet. Bob McKenzie of TSN wrote about the difference between the two hits today, mostly stating that because Malkin delivered a full-body check, instead of just catching the head, he wasn’t given a suspension.

In the middle of a playoff race, losing Trouba—who is arguably their second most important defenseman—is a tough blow to the Winnipeg hopes. He’ll miss games against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night, and Minnesota Wild a week later after their mandated bye-week. Just one point behind the Calgary Flames for the final playoff spot, every game counts as the Jets try to overcome their sluggish start.

Trouba is the 12th player suspended since the start of the regular season, and the third in the recent days following Gustav Nyquist and Antoine Vermette. Trouba’s two-game ban is the first of his career, but he will be under increased scrutiny going forward.

Ottawa Senators Sign Fredrik Claesson To One-Year Extension

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While Arizona and Calgary finish the details on a trade featuring a free agent defenseman, the Ottawa Senators have re-signed one of their own. The team announced today that they’ve signed Fredrik Claesson to a one-year extension worth $650,000.

Claesson has played just 19 games for the Senators this season, and was still a restricted free agent at the end of the season, making the timing of the extension interesting. Claesson would need to play at least 21 of the remaining 25 games this season to qualify as the 40/70 defenseman Ottawa needs to expose at the draft, but it looks like they’ll have plenty of options to fill that requirement. They already have some interesting decisions to make on their back end.

A former fifth-round pick, Claesson has been dressing as a seventh defenseman recently for the Senators, playing just a few minutes a game. After possibly losing four forwards in two days, perhaps the team will stay with that plan for the immediate future.

Ottawa Senators Recall Casey Bailey, Max McCormick From AHL

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After losing several forwards to injury last night against the Winnipeg Jets, the Ottawa Senators have recalled two players from Binghamton to help fill the gaps. Casey Bailey and Max McCormick will both come up and likely see playing time right away, as the Senators will face New Jersey tomorrow night. Mike Hoffman, Mark Stone and Tommy Wingels all left the game last night after suffering injuries, and though there hasn’t been an official update on their status, the call-ups likely mean that at least two of them will miss some time. This comes on the heels of the news that Bobby Ryan will miss several weeks with a fractured wrist.

Bailey came over from the Toronto Maple Leafs last season in the Dion Phaneuf trade, and has played just five games with the big club this season. For the baby-Sens though, he’s been an effective scoring threat if not the dominant power forward some had hoped he could become when the Leafs signed him out of college in 2015. He has 14 goals in 44 games in the AHL this season, though he hasn’t scored for Ottawa.

McCormick is much of the same, scoring at a solid pace in the AHL but held pointless in a five game stint for Ottawa. Another NCAA import, McCormick is smaller than Bailey but a much more physical presence on the ice. Willing to drop his gloves if the need arises, his hard forecheck is the signature of his game.

Neither of these players are capable replacements for Stone or Hoffman, who lead the team in goals with 22 and 19 respectively. If the Senators are without either or both for a considerable amount of time, perhaps they’ll look even harder at players available on the trade market as we get close to the deadline. With the Montreal Canadiens within striking distance, the Senators could easily take over first place in the Atlantic Division by the end of the season and guarantee themselves home ice advantage throughout the first few rounds. On the other hand, the Bruins, Maple Leafs and now Panthers are all nipping at their heels for the second spot, and time without their top offensive threats would put them at risk of even securing a playoff spot. Welcome to the Eastern Conference, where everyone is still in it.

Jacob Trouba To Have Disciplinary Hearing

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After a hit last night that knocked Ottawa Senators Mark Stone out of the game last night, Winnipeg’s Jacob Trouba will have a hearing this afternoon with the NHL Department of Player Safety to determine if there will be any further disciplinary action.

Trouba hit Stone’s head on the check, which happened midway through the third period. Stone suffered a concussion at the beginning of the season, making this at least the second just this season should he fail the protocol today. Trouba does seem to extend his arm to hit the head.

The Jets can’t afford to lose Trouba for the next several games at least, as they have pulled themselves into the playoff race once again. Since Trouba’s lockout following a long contract negotiation this summer, he’s become perhaps the second most important defenseman on the Jets. Logging close to 25 minutes a night, Tyler Myers injury opened the door for Trouba to step into the starring role he had looked for.

Bob McKenzie on TSN1260 said that it would be “games for sure” for Trouba today. He doesn’t think Trouba picked out Stone’s head on purpose, but since there was almost no body-on-body contact, the book will be thrown at the Jets defenseman.

Senators Lose Hoffman, Stone, And Wingels To Injuries

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The past 24 hours have not been good for the Ottawa Senators when it comes to injuries.  After learning they’ll be without winger Bobby Ryan for potentially up to six weeks earlier on Sunday, they lost wingers Mike Hoffman, Mark Stone, and Tommy Wingels all to separate injuries in a loss to the Jets.

Hoffman suffered a lower body injury in the second period while Stone left the game near the midway mark of the third following a hit to the head from Winnipeg blueliner Jacob Trouba.  As for Wingels, he was injured with just under three minutes to go in a collision with Dustin Byfuglien.

While no updates were publicly available following the game, head coach Guy Boucher didn’t sound too optimistic in his postgame press comments (via Darren Desaulniers of the Canadian Press):

“It doesn’t look good. We have to wait until tomorrow to be clear and precise but right now we could be losing quite a few guys.”

Stone leads the Senators in goals and sits second in points behind only Erik Karlsson while Hoffman slots in fourth in team scoring.  As for Wingels, he hasn’t been too active on the scoreboard but has provided the Sens with a physical presence in their bottom six.

In the short-term, this would seemingly provide an opportunity for Curtis Lazar to see a bigger role.  Senators GM Pierre Dorion met with Lazar’s agent earlier this weekend and there were suggestions earlier in the week that his name had been popping up more frequently in trade talks.  The former first round pick (17th overall in 2013) has had a nightmarish season so far with just a single assist in 31 games.  Chris Neil, who was a healthy scratch on Sunday, also should be in line for more regular playing time if at least some of the injured trio will miss some time.

In the meantime, it seems likely that Dorion will be working the phones in the coming days to see what the cost might be to bring in some more depth up front as the Sens try to push for top spot in the Atlantic Division; they sit two points behind Montreal but have two games in hand.

Trade Candidates: Patrick Eaves

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With the trade deadline quickly approaching, we will be profiling several players in the weeks ahead that are likely to be dealt by March 1st.

Patrick Eaves is having the best season of his career, and it’s not even close. The Dallas Stars have had the opposite luck, though. The Stars are eight points behind the Predators for the final wild card spot in the Western Conference, and Nashville has three games in hand on them as well. For all intents and purposes, Dallas’ season is over. Their playoff hopes are all but dead and they should be major sellers at the deadline with a plethora of talented expiring contracts. Yet, a team that can move Patrick Sharp, Jiri Hudler, and Johnny Oduya may actually get the best return from the career grinder Eaves; he’s been that effective this season.

Contract

Eaves is on a one-year, $1MM contract. It is the third year in a row that he has signed on for one season at a time with Dallas. By the Trade Deadline, Eaves’ pro-rated cap hit will be only about $250K.

2016-17

To say that Eaves is having the best season of his career is an understatement. Despite several major offensive contributors missing extensive time due to injury in 2016-17, Eaves has emerged, seemingly out of nowhere, as the top goal-scoring threat in Dallas this season. Prior to this year, Eaves’ career-high in points was 32, during his sophomore season with the Ottawa Senators, and his career best in goals was 14, during the same campaign. With 23 games remaining this year, he has topped the former and shattered the latter. Eaves is tied with All-Star Tyler Seguin in goals and behind just he and captain Jamie Benn in points. He has scored 50% more goals than his career-high already and has done so as a sniper, with a shooting percentage in the top 25 in the NHL. Eaves is also averaging about four more minutes of ice time than his career average, in a season where he has transformed from a serviceable bottom-six forward to a relied-upon top-six scorer. After a career that to this point had largely been defined by durability problems, only modest offense, and a dependence on high-energy, checking play, Eaves has capitalized on his impending free agency in a week free agent class by playing like he never has before. The only question now is whether he can keep it up on whichever team trades for him.

Season Stats

57 GP: 21 goals, 14 assists, 35 points, -12 rating, 147 shots, 14.3% shooting, 16:33 ATOIP

Suitors

Eaves would be the perfect addition this season for cap-strapped teams in need of some forward depth. As always, the Chicago Blackhawks meet that description to the letter. The dynastic franchise has made it through this season so far with a couple of questionable pieces in the top nine, but would jump at the chance to add a 20-goal scorer at a $250K cost. One major concern about Eaves is that his numbers will drop off outside of the Dallas system, but if he’s playing alongside Jonathan Toews, there’s far less risk. Chicago has ten picks in the draft this season, including their own picks in rounds one, two, and three, and some nice forward prospects in the pipeline. GM Stan Bowman can put together a package worth Eaves and will probably enjoy the returns.

The Anaheim Ducks have very little wiggle room against the cap ceiling, but even they can afford a quarter-million accommodation. Anaheim was having trouble balancing their offensive lines, and that even before Antoine Vermette landed a long-term suspension. The Ducks are loaded with promising prospects at forward and defense and can afford to peddle away some players in a deal with Dallas. Eaves would provide a much-needed veteran scoring presence, especially on a team that has just one 20-goal scorer so far.

Cap space might not be a problem for the Ottawa Senators, but they’ll still have interest in acquiring the affordable Eaves and he may enjoy the idea of a return to his NHL roots. The Senators are surprisingly very much in the Cup hunt and adding another goal-scorer is at the top of their deadline wish list. Eaves would bring a veteran presence and some energy to a young forward corps than could sometimes use a bit more intensity.

Likelihood Of A Trade

The Dallas Stars have no reason not to trade Eaves. Yes, he may be a product of the system in Dallas and they may want to bring him back next season on a multi-year deal. No one is stopping them. Traded or not, Eaves is not foolish enough to not test the market after the season he’s had, even at age 32. By trading him, the Stars can get a good return to help make up for what has been a huge disappointment of a season, and could still join the bidding for his services this summer if they so choose. As much as GM Jim Nill might look at his roster and think it’s a contender, he’s missing some major pieces in all areas of the ice, including a true starting-caliber goaltender, a reliable top-four defenseman, and some youthful depth at forward. All of those problems won’t be solved by whether or not the team can re-sign Eaves, but adding some trade capital could.

Mikhail Grigorenko, Patrick Wiercioch In Play As Deadline Approaches

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On the latest installment of Insider Trading on TSN, the panel—which includes Darren Dreger, Bob McKenzie and Pierre LeBrun—discussed several topics going into the last two weeks before the NHL Trade Deadline. While LeBrun relays that some front office members around the league believe that Colorado GM Joe Sakic will wait until the summer for any possible Matt Duchene move, Dreger reports that there are other names in play.

Both Mikhail Grigorenko and Patrick Wiercioch are mentioned by name, the first we’ve heard one these two directly. The two weren’t listed in Sakic’s “untouchables” recently, and come as little surprise as the team looks to rebuild from the disaster that has been this season.

Grigorenko especially will come with some interest, due to his young age—he turns 23 on May 16th—and former first-round pick status. Since going 12th overall in 2012 though, Grigorenko has failed to deliver on his promise of a big top-six center. Instead, he’s recorded just 18 goals and 59 points in 193 games.

Wiercioch signed a one-year deal with the Avalanche after not receiving a qualifying offer from the Ottawa Senators last summer, and has put up numbers similar to those he did in Ottawa between 2012-15. While he only plays 17 minutes a night, he does have 11 points in 43 games (all at even strength) and has a bit of upside for a team needing a depth defenseman for a playoff run. Both players are restricted free agents at the end of the season and eligible for arbitration.

McKenzie also mentioned that Duchene is seen as a winger by many teams around the league, who think he can perform better there than in the middle. It will be interesting to see if his market develops as a center or a winger as we get closer to the deadline, or if Sakic will have to wait until the summer to deal him to a team willing to slot him into the middle for 2017-18.

Snapshots: Hurricanes, Lazar, NHL In Sweden

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The Carolina Hurricanes could be in a position to make some noise in the trade market.

Young and skilled defensemen are often key pieces in making trades, and the Hurricanes have stocked their system with them over the past few drafts. The club’s last three first round picks have been highly-ranked defenders: Haydn Fleury, Noah Hanifin, and Jake Bean. They have also selected Justin Faulk, Brett Pesce, and Jaccob Slavin in lower rounds.

Because of this depth of solid defensemen, GM Ron Francis told ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun that he’s willing to deal from a position of strength to build up other parts of his roster. That could place the Hurricanes as a possible destination for either Matt Duchene or Gabriel Landeskog, seeing as the Avalanche desperately need to improve their defensive core. LeBrun also speculated that Francis could try pry William Nylander out of Toronto, but doubted that the Maple Leafs would have any interest in moving Nylander to improve their blue line.

In addition to the Avalanche and Maple Leafs, LeBrun suggests the Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames, Detroit Red Wings, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Winnipeg Jets could all have interest in the Hurricanes’ young blue-liners.

Regardless of whether or not the Hurricanes can land a stud offensive player at the deadline, they’re well-placed to make moves over the summer as other teams look to improve their defense.

  • Despite rumors to the contrary, Curtis Lazar has not asked for a trade from the Ottawa Senators. Lazar’s agent met with GM Pierre Dorion last weekend, after which the player re-iterated that he wants to stay in Ottawa. After Dorion suggested that Lazar needs to “sink a few ’four foot putts’,” Ken Warren of the Ottawa Citizen quoted Lazar as saying even those “almost feel like a home run right now.” The struggling young forward feels that he needs to get back in the lineup and start “feeling good about [him]self.” Lazar has just one assist in 29 NHL games this season, and four points in 13 AHL games.
  • Speaking of Ottawa, the Senators will be spending some time outdoors next season, according to Sportsnet’s John Shannon. Pending NHL and PA approval, the Senators will face off against Colorado in Stockholm twice this coming November. It’s been widely speculated that those could be outdoors. Even if those end up being indoors, Shannon reports that the Senators owner has confirmed that the club has an agreement to host an outdoor game in December 2017. It remains to be seen if that will played at Parliament Hill as part of the celebration for Canada’s 150th anniversary.

Snapshots: Therrien, Enstrom, Lazar, Varlamov

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Following his sudden firing from the Canadiens earlier this week, former head coach Michel Therrien released a statement (via the Montreal Gazette):

I would first like to thank the Montreal Canadiens organization, especially Geoff Molson and Marc Bergevin, for the experience of five remarkable years. The Montreal Canadiens have always been a great organization, and recent events in no way change my perception of the team and its management.

Being an NHL coach is a tough job: it is gratifying on many levels but it can also quickly become a thankless task. When a team is experiencing difficulties, any head coach knows his job is on the line. I understand and accept this reality.

I would like to thank fans in Montreal and across Quebec, as well as members of the media. I also salute the coaches and staff I have worked with over the years and, above all, the many players whom I had the privilege of coaching.

I leave with my head held high: I am very proud of the work accomplished over the past five years. The current team can aspire to great honours, and I wish my colleague Claude Julien every success in the future.”

Let’s take a look at some other notes from around the NHL:

  • The Jets announced (via Twitter) that defenseman Toby Enstrom had surgery yesterday on “an existing lower body injury.” The 32-year-old is expected to be sidelined for two-to-three weeks. In 55 games this season, the 10-year veteran has collected one goal and 13 assists.
  • Curtis Lazar is set to return to the Senators lineup tonight, and Mike Halford of Pro Hockey Talk writes that the return could help boost the forward’s trade value. The 22-year-old’s agent is set to meet with the team’s front office, and Ken Warren of the Ottawa Citizen believes the player could ask for a trade. In 29 games this season, the former first-round pick has compiled a single assist.
  • Following reports that Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov was set to miss the rest of the season, general manager Joe Sakic said the organization is hoping the 28-year-old will return to full strength for next season. “I expect him to be fully healthy next year,” Sakic said (via Terry Frei of the Denver Post). “He’s had the problems with his groin the last couple of years, and this year, but he’s a worker, he cares, he’s a guy who puts a lot of pressure on that area the way he plays.” In 24 games (23 starts) this season, Varlamov has gone 6-17 with a .898 save percentage.

Snapshots: Setoguchi, Lazar, Howard, Tropp

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News and notes from around the NHL this evening:

  • The Los Angeles Kings assigned forward Devin Setoguchi to the AHL Ontario Reign today, reports Elliott Teaford of the Los Angeles Daily News. This is in concert with the Kings’ previous recalls of Adrian Kempe and Paul Ladue. Setoguchi cleared waivers on the 13th but was not immediately sent down to the AHL. Rumors buzzed that Setoguchi would not report to Ontario, but the forward told the Ontario Reign’s web reporter that the story was pure conjecture.
  • The Ottawa Senators plan to meet with Curtis Lazar’s agent J.P. Barry this Saturday, reports the Ottawa Citizen’s Ken Warren. Lazar becomes an RFA at the end of the season but both sides hope that a deal comes together before then. The Senators are reportedly listening to teams interested in Lazar, but the asking price is high. The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch reported that Ottawa is asking for at least a 1st or 2nd for the young forward.
  • Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard suffered a set back two days ago, reports MLive’s Ansar Khan. He will need at least another week of recovery followed by a few games with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins to get up to speed. Howard puts the Red Wings in the precarious position of determining which goaltender the team protects in the NHL Expansion Draft. Before this season, the clear answer was Petr Mrazek. Howard had lost the net and his contract did not align with his performance. This season, however, has Howard performing better than Mrazek, and Detroit now has a much more difficult decision to make.
  • The Anaheim Ducks announced that they’ve recalled forward Corey Tropp from the San Diego Gulls. Tropp replaces Antoine Vermette who is expected—but not yet confirmed—to receive a 10 game suspension for hitting an official with his stick. Tropp leads the San Diego Gulls in scoring with 12G and 25A in 42 games, and should adequately replace Vermette’s offence.

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