How Will The Expansion Draft Impact Canadian Teams?
Continuing our look at different expansion draft angles, CBC’s Amy Cleveland examines how the draft will affect the seven teams in Canada. Laying out the rules for the draft, Cleveland looks further and prognosticates who she sees as “potentially protected” versus those players who would be “intriguing” in being exposed. She further writes that all seven Canadian teams will be able to protect the bulk of their important players. The Flames sit prettiest without any non-movement clauses in contracts while the Leafs and Senators have only one player with an NMC (Nathan Horton, and Dion Phaneuf respectively).
Below are Cleveland’s picks for each team. Going to CBC’s page with the story includes in depth reasoning behind each of Cleveland’s choices.
Calgary Flames
NMC protected players: None.
Potentially protected:
- Forwards Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, Troy Brouwer, Michael Frolik, Mikael Backlund, Sam Bennett, Micheal Ferland
- Defencemen Dougie Hamilton, T.J. Brodie, Mark Giordano
- Goalie Chad Johnson
Intriguing exposed:
- Matt Stajan (F), Lance Bouma (F), Brett Kulak (D)
Edmonton Oilers
NMC protected players: Milan Lucic (F), Andrej Sekera (D), Cam Talbot (G)
Potentially protected:
- Forwards: Lucic, Leon Draisaitl, Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Patrick Maroon, Tyler Pitlick, Zack Kassian
- Defencemen: Sekera, Oscar Klefbom, Adam Larsson
- Goalie: Talbot
Intriguing exposed:
- Benoit Pouliot (F), Mark Letestu (F)
Montreal Canadiens
NMC protected players: Carey Price (G), Jeff Petry (D)
Potentially protected:
- Forwards Alex Galchenyuk, Brendan Gallagher, Alexander Radulov, Max Pacioretty, Paul Byron, Andrew Shaw, Phillip Danault
- Defencemen Petry, Shea Weber, Nathan Beaulieu
- Goalie: Price
Intriguing exposed:
- Tomas Plekanec (F), Jacob De la Rose (F- RFA), Alexei Emelin (D), Greg Pateryn (D)
Ottawa Senators
NMC protected players: Dion Phaneuf (D)
Potentially protected:
- Forwards: Kyle Turris, Mark Stone, Mike Hoffman, Derick Brassard, Ryan Dzingel, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Curtis Lazar
- Defencemen: Phaneuf, Erik Karlsson, Cody Ceci
- Goalie: Craig Anderson
Intriguing exposed:
- Bobby Ryan (F), Marc Methot (D)
Toronto Maple Leafs
NMC protected players: Nathan Horton (F)
Potentially protected:
- Forwards Nazem Kadri, James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak, Leo Komarov, Matt Martin, Connor Brown
- Defencemen Morgan Rielly, Jake Gardiner, Connor Carrick
- Goalie Frederik Andersen
Vancouver Canucks
NMC protected players: Loui Eriksson (F), Daniel Sedin (F), Henrik Sedin (F)
Potentially protected:
- Forwards: Eriksson, Sedin twins, Brandon Sutter, Bo Horvat, Markus Granlund, Jannik Hansen
- Defencemen Alexander Edler, Christopher Tanev, Erik Gudbranson
- Goalie Jacob Markstrom
Intriguing exposed:
- Sven Baertschi (F), Derek Dorsett (F), Luca Sbisa (D)
Winnipeg Jets
NMC protected players: Dustin Byfuglien (D), Toby Enstrom (D)
Potentially protected:
- Forwards: Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler, Bryan Little, Adam Lowry
- Defencemen: Byfuglien, Enstrom, Tyler Myers, Jacob Trouba
- Goalie Connor Hellebuyck
Intriguing exposed:
- Mathieu Perreault (F), Marko Dano (F), Mark Stuart (D)
Roster Moves: Kuraly, Shaw
The Boston Bruins have decided to change things up, after their 4-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday. Mark Divver of the Providence Journal reports that Sean Kuraly has been returned to the AHL after just four games. In five total this season, the 23-year old has yet to record a point, playing just eight minutes a night.
While Kuraly isn’t a core piece, the Bruins were hoping to get just a bit more from the former fifth-round pick. His big body and physical style may eventually slot into the bottom six, but for now he’ll return to Providence to play in the AHL. The Bruins expect David Pastrnak to return tonight against the Ottawa Senators.
In Anaheim, the team has recalled Logan Shaw from the San Diego Gulls. This will mark Shaw’s debut in Anaheim after being acquired from Florida earlier this month. The team dealt Michael Sgarbossa for the 24-year old winger, hoping that he can slide into the fourth line for the majority of the season.
Playing in 53 NHL games last year, Shaw contributed 7 points. He also dressed for three of the Panthers’ playoff matches, but was held without a point. At the time of his acquisition, Ducks’ head coach Randy Carlyle said that he could “play right side or center”.
Snapshots: Senators, Bruins
News and notes from around the NHL this morning:
- The Ottawa Senators have recalled defenseman Fredrik Claesson from Binghamton ahead of tonight’s game against the Boston Bruins, reports Ken Warren of the Ottawa Citizen. The stay-at-home defenseman has one assist in nine games with Binghamton this season, and zero points in his six games with Ottawa. Claesson’s recall initially pointed to Sens defenseman Dion Phaneuf not playing tonight, but Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun expects the Phaneuf to play after he left Ottawa’s optional skate early.
- Continuing with the Senators, the Ottawa Citizen’s Don Butler reports that owner Eugene Melnyk’s development group RendezVous LeBreton can now negotiate with the National Capital Commission’s board on placing an arena in downtown Ottawa. The Commission was considering Melnyk’s bid alongside a competing bid from Decore Canderel DLS. Melnyk’s venture plans to create an arena, practice center, and sports and recreation community center in the heart of downtown Ottawa on 21 hectares. The Senators currently play in Kanata, Ontario, which is about a thirty minute drive without traffic from the city center.
- Staying with the Senators, Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reports that forward Bobby Ryan will return to the lineup tonight. Ryan missed the past two games with a severe bone bruise on his finger. The forward has struggled so far this season, scoring only 3G and 3A in 17 games. Garrioch expects Ryan to play on a line with Kyle Turris and Ryan Dzingel.
- Boston Bruins backup goaltender Anton Khudobin may return from his conditioning stint with the Providence Bruins, reports Mark Divver. Khudobin did not travel with the AHL team to St. John’s today, which indicates that he might join Boston tonight against the Ottawa Senators. The goalie had a rough time in the AHL, posting a 3.49 GAA and a .874 SV% in three games.
Bruins Notes: Chara, Pastrnak, Miller
The Boston Bruins are off to a solid 11-8-0 start to the year, and much of the success has to be attributed to the tight defensive hockey the team is playing. That might take a hit over the next two games, as the team has officially announced that Zdeno Chara will miss tomorrow’s game against the Ottawa Senators, and is questionable for Friday’s matchup. Without Chara, the Bruins’ and their 6th place ranking with 44 goals against is in jeopardy. Even at his advanced age (39), the Solvakian defender is a monster on the ice, limiting goal opportunities and dominating puck battles.
- The team will get David Pastrnak back though, in a hope that his added offense will equal out the defensive loss. The Bruins’ leading goal scorer this season was out for two games this weekend before returning to practice today. Skating alongside Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, the former first-round pick has 10 goals in 14 games, on pace to shatter his career-high of 15. At just 20-years old Pastrnak looks like he’s developing into a top-line winger, capable of skating opposite Marchand for many years. Coach Claude Julien says he’s likely to play “unless there’s a setback tomorrow”.
- Kevan Miller was also cleared to return to practice today, and took a regular turn alongside Joe Morrow among Boston’s defense pairings. While Julien wouldn’t say whether Miller would get back into the lineup, his return obviously lines up fairly well with Chara’s absence. “We’re going to have some decisions to make before tomorrow’s game” is all the coach would say. Miller has yet to suit up for a game this year after breaking his left hand and needing surgery prior to the season opener. The 29-year old played in 71 games for the club a season ago, notching 18 points and 53 penalty minutes.
Matt Puempel Claimed Off Waivers By Rangers
The New York Rangers have claimed Matt Puempel off waiver from the Ottawa Senators, according to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston.
Puempel was the Senators first round pick in 2011, but has not been able to find consistent scoring in the NHL. He has played 13 games this season, but has not scored a point. He has six points in 52 NHL games over the last three seasons. Puempel has been a prolific scorer in the OHL and AHL, so perhaps a change of scenery will do him good. His contract is worth $900K and expires after this season.
Read more: Senators Place Matt Puempel On Waivers, Andrew Hammond Clears
The Rangers received some bad injury news on Monday morning, with former Senator Mika Zibanejad out for 6-8 weeks after breaking his fibula on Sunday night. New York will be hoping that Puempel can re-discover his scoring touch to help replace some of Zibanejad’s offence.
Senators Place Matt Puempel On Waivers, Andrew Hammond Clears
Another day, another Ottawa Senator on waivers.
After goaltender Andrew Hammond cleared waivers on Sunday morning, the team placed forward Matt Puempel on waivers, according to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston. Puempel has played 13 games this season, but has not scored a point. Overall, he has six points in 52 NHL games over the last three seasons.
This is a disappointing development for Puempel, who was a prolific goal scorer in the OHL. He scored 119 goals in 195 games with the Peterborough Petes and Kitchener Rangers. Puempel was selected 24th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Since turning pro, he’s also been a consistent scorer at the AHL level, with 111 points in 170 games. Unfortunately for him and the Senators, Puempel has been unable to find success at the NHL level.
Teams with scoring troubles, like the Vancouver Canucks or the New York Islanders, could take a look at Puempel, who will be a restricted free agent at season’s end. He makes $900K, which can easily be sent to the minors should he not work out.
Meanwhile, The Hamburglar cleared waivers. Hammond has only played two games this season, with an 0-1-0 record. He has a brutal 0.793 SV% and a 4.5 GAA to show for his work this season.
No word yet on whether or not he’ll be assigned to the AHL, though Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch believes that’s likely to happen sometime on Sunday. Hammond had been hurt in late October, in the game right after Craig Anderson first left the team. The team acquired Matt Condon from the Penguins shortly thereafter. He hasn’t played since, and recently refused to go to Binghamton on a conditioning stint. Hammond makes $1.35MM, so he’ll still count against the Senators’ salary cap to the tune of $400K, should he be sent down.
Bobby Ryan Out With Broken Finger
The Senators will be without the services of Bobby Ryan, one of their top offensive threats at least for tonight’s game against Florida due to a broken finger, according to the team’s official Twitter account. The team also described the likelihood of Mike Hoffman suiting up tonight as “less than likely,” suggesting it’s probable that two of the Sens best forwards will be out of the lineup tonight.
Curtis Lazar, who was recalled from Binghamton of the AHL this morning, will be in the lineup.
Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun adds that this is the third broken finger over the last three years for Ryan.
Ryan has struggled at the outset of the 2016-17 campaign, scoring just three goals and recording six points in 17 games to date. The native of Cherry Hill, New Jersey and former second overall draft choice in 2005 – selected only after Sidney Crosby – tallied four straight 30-goal campaigns from 2008-09 through 2011-12 while a member of the Anaheim Ducks. Since being acquired by the Senators in a blockbuster deal which saw Jakob Silfverberg, Stefan Noesen and a first-round pick going to Anaheim, Ryan has failed to to reach the 30-goal mark. His best season came last year with a scoring line of 22G – 34A – 56Pts.
One of the reasons the Senators traded for Derick Brassard was to give Ryan a skilled, left-handed pivot who could more easily get the puck to the right-handed right wing on the rush. The two have failed to click as hoped and were recently moved to different lines in an attempt to jump start the offense.
Hoffman, like Ryan, is off to a slow start with just three goals and seven points in 16 games. He is considered day-to-day with a lower-body-injury. Hoffman inked a massive four-year contract extension worth a total of $20.75MM this summer on the heels of a 29-goal, 59-point performance in 2015-16.
The Senators currently rank 27th in the NHL in goals scored and losing Ryan for what could be a lengthy period won’t help matters. Lazar has been considered one of Ottawa’s better prospects and the hope is he is ready to contribute some offense.
Senators Place Andrew Hammond On Waivers
The Ottawa Senators have placed goaltender Andrew Hammond on waivers today, reports Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston. Hammond is the odd man out in Ottawa after the Senators acquired goaltender Mike Condon from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Hammond has struggled so far this season in Ottawa. In his short two game stint with the big club he’s earned a .793 SV% and a 4.50 GAA. His numbers are a far cry from two seasons ago when he put up an astounding .941 SV% and a 1.79 GAA in 23 starts, going 20-1 down the stretch for Ottawa.
The club’s decision to waive Hammond indicates that Craig Anderson will be returning to the team for good. Anderson has taken personal time away from the team to tend to his wife after her recent cancer diagnosis.
It is uncertain, however, whether Hammond would report to Binghamton if he clears waivers. The goaltender previously declined to consent to a conditioning stint in the AHL after returning from a groin injury this week. The Sens attempted to trade Hammond this week, but this waiver addition implies that there were no takers.
Recalls and Reassignments: Senators, Sabres, Canadiens
News and notes from around the NHL this morning:
- The Ottawa Senators recalled forward Curtis Lazar from the Binghamton Senators this morning, first reported by the Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch and then confirmed by the team. The Senators have been hit hard by the injury bug lately, and have been without Bobby Ryan (hand), Clarke MacArthur (concussion), and Mike Hoffman (lower body). Bruce Garrioch reported that the Sens would wait until Friday night—after Binghamton played the Albany Devils—to see who would be called up. Lazar scored last night and must’ve impressed team brass enough to earn a recall. He currently has 3G and 1A in 13 games for Binghamton.
- The Buffalo Sabres have called up forwards Cal O’Reilly and Cole Schneider from the Rochester Americans (Amerks) this morning, reports Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News. The Sabres are hoping that the callups spark the team’s scoring woes—Schneider has 7G and 10A in 13 games and O’Reilly 3G and 15A in 15 games—as they’ve scored a mere 6 goals in six games. The two forwards lead the Amerks in scoring.
- The Montreal Canadiens have reassigned forward Sven Andrighetto back to the St. John IceCaps, reports TSN 690’s Amanda Stein. The Swiss forward has 5G and 6A in 10 games for St. Johns, but went scoreless in 4 games with the Canadiens. He averaged under 12 minutes a night for those four games.
Senators Notes: Claesson, Anderson, Injuries
After being called up two weeks ago, Fredrik Claesson will be sent back to Binghamton of the AHL according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun. The team, facing a handful of nagging injuries up front, needs the roster spot to bring up another forward for tomorrow’s game. Claesson got into six games with the big club this year, barely playing much at all as Erik Karlsson continues to log huge minutes (27 per game).
A fifth-round pick, Claesson has progressed nicely into a solid depth defenseman for the club. Recently, GM Pierre Dorion specifically mentioned him as impressive in his development, saying he doesn’t really need to go out and get another blueliner now.
- Craig Anderson will again be in net tomorrow night after returning to the club. His season-long battle continues as he pops in and out of the dressing room whenever he can. Two nights ago marked Hockey Fights Cancer night in the NHL, where players and teams around the league donned lavender sweaters and the names of loved ones for warm up. Multiple players wore the name of Anderson’s wife Nicholle, honoring their peer in the only way they could. Today, the Anderson’s announced through a Sens press release that Nicholle has been diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
- The team is fighting a number of small injuries, as Garrioch reports. Bobby Ryan, Mike Hoffman and Chris Neil are all day-to-day and will be game-time decisions for tomorrow night’s matchup. The team will have to call up replacements for each of them if they miss, as they’re currently only carrying one extra forward.