Boston Bruins Recall Jesper Boqvist
The Boston Bruins have filled the open spot on their roster, recalling forward Jesper Boqvist from their AHL affiliate the Providence Bruins.
With Pavel Zacha out day-to-day, this recall gives the Bruins an extra forward option to work with in advance of their game against the New Jersey Devils tomorrow. Boqvist is actually a former Devil himself, as is Zacha.
Boqvist, 25, was the 36th overall pick at the 2017 draft who developed for a few years in Sweden before making it to the North American pro circuit. He actually got into 35 NHL games in his debut year in North America, 2019-20, but only managed four goals and no assists.
From that point, Boqvist would play mostly in the NHL for the Devils, including a career-best year in 2021-22 when he posted 10 goals and 23 points in 56 games. After scoring 10 goals and 21 points in 70 games last season, Boqvist was non-tendered by the Devils.
He ended up signing a league-minimum deal with the Bruins. Although the deal offers him just a $775k cap hit (lower than his cap hit last season), it’s a one-way contract meaning he’s paid that number regardless of if he’s in the NHL or AHL. Seeing as his minors salary was just $70k last year, the deal is an improvement in financial terms for Boqvist.
That’s especially relevant since Boqvist has spent most of the year in the AHL. He has scored 14 points in 25 games for the Providence Bruins, and his only NHL game was a late October loss to the Anaheim Ducks.
Although he’s unlikely to stick around on their NHL roster for very long, this recall provides Boqvist with the opportunity to inch closer to the 200 career NHL games played mark, assuming he can draw into the Bruins’ lineup for tomorrow’s game.
Arizona Coyotes Recall Zach Sanford
The Arizona Coyotes have recalled forward Zach Sanford from their AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners. In a corresponding move, the team has reassigned forward Ryan McGregor back to Tucson.
McGregor was recalled last week but did not end up skating in any games for the Coyotes. A 24-year-old 2017 sixth-round pick, McGregor is in his fourth season playing AHL hockey in Tucson and has yet to make his NHL debut. He has four points in 19 games to start this season.
Sanford, on the other hand, has done more than make a debut in the NHL: he’s a Stanley Cup champion and a veteran of over 300 games in hockey’s top league.
Sanford scored 16 goals and 30 points in 2019-20, but failed to build off of that breakout year in the following campaign. He was traded to the Ottawa Senators but couldn’t make an impact there, and has since bounced around the league a little bit. He was a depth forward for the Nashville Predators last season, scoring three points in 16 NHL games.
Sanford made more of an impact for Nashville’s AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, scoring 12 goals and 28 points in 45 games. Signed to a contract in the offseason to play a similar role for the Coyotes, Sanford has only managed four points in 16 AHL contests.
He has scored a point in his one NHL game for Arizona, though, and should provide the club with some experienced depth.
Washington Capitals Sign Clay Stevenson To Three-Year Extension
The Washington Capitals have signed netminder Clay Stevenson to a three-year, $775k AAV contract extension.
According to the team release, the financial structure of the contract is as follows:
2024-25: two-way, $775k NHL salary, $200k AHL Salary
2025-26: one-way, $775k salary
2026-27: one-way, $775k salary
This contract provides Stevenson, 24, with a significant amount of financial security as he enters his mid-twenties. The six-foot-four undrafted goaltender played one season of college hockey at Dartmouth, where he was named to the ECAC Third All-Star team and All-Rookie team, before joining the pro ranks with the Capitals organization.
The Capitals signed Stevenson to a two-year entry-level contract and then stashed him with their ECHL affiliate, the South Carolina Stingrays. He had a strong 2022-23 in South Carolina, posting a .916 save percentage in 36 games played. Stevenson also got into three AHL games last year, posting a 3-0-0 record and .924 save percentage.
That strong form in his debut pro year meant the Capitals could go into 2023-24 with confidence that Stevenson could be part of a strong tandem with their AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears.
He’s done more than form a strong tandem, though, he’s surged to the best start of any goalie in the AHL and has firmly supplanted Calder Cup-winning goalie Hunter Shepard as the team’s most reliable option, at least at this early point in the season.
In 13 AHL games, Stevenson has a 1.70 goals-against-average and a stellar .934 save percentage. He’s looked utterly dominant at times, and he has already posted four shutouts in his relatively small sample of games played.
By signing him to this contract extension, the Capitals have accomplished a few things. First and foremost, they now have assured cost certainty for Stevenson for the next three seasons after this one.
Should he continue to play like one of the top goalies in the AHL, Stevenson could very well become the Capitals’ number-two goalie by the time Charlie Lindgren hits unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2025. He’s slated to cost the bare minimum cap hit for the next three seasons, meaning if he can reach the NHL he’ll likely provide the Capitals with a solid bargain.
So given how many positives there are in this extension for Washington from a salary cap perspective, it’s fair to question why Stevenson, such a fast-rising goalie, would lock himself into such an affordable deal for the next three years after this one.
Just as the Capitals have gotten financial certainty, so has Stevenson. Although his NHL cap hit on his entry-level deal was $855k, Stevenson has not yet made the NHL. His salary in the minors has been $80k, meaning a $200k minors salary as soon as next season and then $775k for the following two years, regardless of what level he plays at, is an attractive financial package.
For as strong as Stevenson has played so far, his resume of AHL success consists of just 16 total games. While Stevenson is surely confident that he’ll continue being a strong AHL netminder, sustaining his push towards NHL call-up consideration, it’s also worth noting that sports can be extremely fickle.
By signing this contract, Stevenson financially protects himself in the case that he suffers an injury or some unforeseen steep decline in form. Could he have risked things, signed only a one-year extension, and then been in a strong position to cash in if he sustained league-best statistics for a full AHL campaign? Probably, but that’s an immense risk to take.
And in any case, if Stevenson can continue his rise he’ll nonetheless be in a position to cash in when he’s still in his twenties, which is far from old for a goaltender.
Morning Notes: Tanev, Wild, Czechia
Calgary Flames defenseman Chris Tanev did not return to last night’s loss to the Colorado Avalanche after taking a hit into the boards from Avalanche forward Ross Colton. No update on Tanev’s status was issued after the contest.
The hit appeared to drive Tanev’s upper body into the boards in a somewhat awkward fashion, which naturally leads to questions as to whether Tanev has suffered an upper-body injury. Any significant Tanev absence would come as a major blow to the Flames: not only do they rely heavily on him on the ice, but the pending UFA is also among the team’s most important trade chips should they decide to take up a seller’s posture in advance of the 2024 trade deadline.
- Although we’re far away from the 2024 NHL draft, recent reporting has given some interesting insight into the draft strategy of one NHL team. The Minnesota Wild raised some eyebrows at the 2023 NHL Draft when they spent the 21st overall selection on divisive center Charlie Stramel, passing on more consensus picks such as the USNTDP’s Gabriel Perreault. With Perreault now setting college hockey ablaze at Boston College and Stramel struggling mightily at the University of Wisconsin, the Wild’s decision is under increased scrutiny. The Athletic’s Michael Russo reported that the Wild “team skipped somebody on its list in the first round in order to fill a need,” and has more recently asked Wild scouting director Judd Brackett about the team’s draft strategy. (subscription link) Brackett said, “It’s no secret that we’ve continued to draft at that position for the last couple of years,” indicating that the club may continue to prioritize drafting centers over other positions. That shouldn’t come as a huge surprise, of course, as the Wild have never had a truly elite center at any point in franchise history, and the team’s current center depth is generally considered below average.
- Czechia has announced its selections for its 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship team, and its roster has a few notable NHL prospects to speak of. Arizona Coyotes second-rounder Michael Hrabal could end up the team’s starter, while a pair of first-rounders in Eduard Šalé and Jiří Kulich appear set to anchor the team’s forward corps.
Snapshots: Kuzmenko, Strome, Connor, Pearson, Capitals Arena
It has been a rough start to Andrei Kuzmenko’s sophomore season. The 27-year-old had 39 goals last season but has been limited to just four in his first 25 games of the year. He has been a healthy scratch at times and has lined up recently on the fourth line as well, fueling trade speculation. Speaking with Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre, Canucks president Jim Rutherford indicated that they’re keeping an open mind with Kuzmenko and not locking themselves into just one answer when asked about their willingness to let the winger play his way out of his struggles. Kuzmenko is in the first season of a two-year contract that carries a $5.5MM AAV; Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported over the weekend (video link) that teams had started calling Vancouver to gauge Kuzmenko’s availability.
Elsewhere around the hockey world:
- There will be no supplemental discipline coming to Ducks center Ryan Strome from his hit on Jets winger Kyle Connor, reports Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press (Twitter link). Strome received a major penalty on the play, one that was upheld after review. Meanwhile, Connor was slated to undergo an MRI today to determine the extent of the injury. Connor is off to a great start to his season with 17 goals and 11 assists in 26 games, leading Winnipeg in scoring while being tied for fourth in the NHL in goals.
- Following their loss to Nashville last night, the Canadiens announced that winger Tanner Pearson will miss the next four to six weeks with an upper-body injury that was sustained on Saturday against Buffalo. The 31-year-old is in his first season with Montreal after missing almost of all 2022-23 with a hand injury that required several surgeries. Pearson has four goals and four assists in 27 games so far this year.
- A group of Virginia state lawmakers voted Monday for a deal that would bring the Capitals and NBA Wizards to a new arena in Northern Virginia, report Teo Armus, Laura Vozzella, Sam Fortier, and Gregory S. Schneider of the Washington Post. If the plan received approval from the General Assembly and other local officials, the two teams would play in an arena in Alexandria’s Potomac Yard neighborhood. Monumental Sports and Entertainment, the group that owns the Caps and Wizards, would lease the new facility under this plan. Capital One Arena, where the team plays now, is one of the older buildings in the NHL having been built back in 1997.
Minor Transactions: 12/11/23
With a fairly light night on the NHL schedule with just four games on the books, let’s turn our focus to some of the recent minor transactions with an NHL connection.
- Veteran netminder Jussi Olkinuora is on the move as Geneve-Servette of the Swiss league announced that they’ve signed him for the rest of the season. The 33-year-old signed with Detroit for last season but wound up playing exclusively with AHL Grand Rapids before leaving to play in Sweden in early February.
- The Sharks’ farm team has added some depth as the Barracuda have signed winger Kyle Rau for the remainder of the season, per a team release. The 31-year-old has played in 61 career NHL games over parts of six years, most recently in 2021-22 when he suited up in five games with Minnesota. Rau spent last season with Vancouver’s AHL affiliate in Abbotsford, notching 16 goals and 19 assists in 68 games.
- It didn’t take long for Jackson Cates to find a new place to play as AHL Rockford announced they’ve inked the winger to a PTO. The 26-year-old played in five games with the Flyers last season but had to settle for a training camp tryout, eventually turning into an AHL PTO with the Islanders’ affiliate. He was released from that deal last week after recording just one goal in 12 games.
- That wasn’t the only move Rockford made today as they also acquired blueliner Austin Strand from AHL Chicago. The 26-year-old has seen NHL action in each of the last three seasons, spanning 26 games in total. After becoming a Group Six free agent in the summer, he wound up settling for an AHL contract.
- Flames RFA Carl-Johan Lerby has joined IF Bjorkloven in Sweden’s Allsvenskan, per a team release. The blueliner spent the 2020-21 campaign in Calgary’s system, getting into 22 games with AHL Stockton before returning overseas for 2021-22. Calgary will hold his NHL rights through the 2024-25 season.
Penguins Notes: Sullivan, Rust, Eller, Acciari
With the Penguins struggling through the first two months of the season, some have wondered if a coaching change could be on the horizon. Speaking with reporters today including Seth Rorabaugh of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, GM Kyle Dubas tried to downplay the idea that one could be coming, giving head coach Mike Sullivan a vote of confidence:
Being with him every day and not only seeing his attention to detail on the systems but his attention to detail with the players and coaching them individually and personally, I think we’re very fortunate to have Mike. Do I think that he’s the right person for this job now and far to the future? I absolutely do. It’s on me to help support the coaching staff as best I can to help us get going in the right direction.
Sullivan is in his ninth season behind the Penguins bench with the team posting a .621 points percentage in that stretch, certainly in the upper echelon. However, they enter play tonight sitting seventh in the Metropolitan Division with a record of 11-12-3, putting them six points out of a playoff spot already.
More from Pittsburgh:
- Rorabaugh also relayed some injury updates in a separate column. Winger Bryan Rust is listed as week-to-week with an undisclosed injury. He last played on Wednesday, leaving that game early. The 31-year-old has been a go-to piece for the Penguins through the first couple of months, notching 10 goals and 10 assists in 22 games, good for fourth on the team in scoring. With Rickard Rakell currently on LTIR (though eligible to return this weekend), Pittsburgh’s depth on the right wing is certainly going to be tested.
- Center Lars Eller didn’t take part in practice today due to an illness but Sullivan indicated that the veteran is expected to be available for Tuesday’s game against Arizona. The 34-year-old is in his first season with Pittsburgh after signing a two-year, $4.9MM contract early in free agency. Eller has three goals and five assists in 26 games so far while logging a little under 15 minutes a night.
- Meanwhile, fellow middleman Noel Acciari took to the ice before practice as he works his way back from a lower-body injury. The veteran has been out for a little more than a week with the issue and is currently on injured reserve but will be eligible to be activated as soon as he’s cleared to return. Acciari has three points and 44 hits in 22 games so far this season.
Erik Gudbranson Receives One-Game Suspension
The NHL has handed down its second suspension within the last hour, announcing (video link) that Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson has received a one-game ban for acting as the aggressor with Panthers winger Nick Cousins on Sunday.
While chasing a loose puck in the third period, Cousins hit Gudbranson from behind, sending Gudbranson face-first into the boards. Cousins was initially given a major penalty for his hit but it was dropped to a minor after review, keeping him in the game. Six minutes later, Gudbranson responded by going after Cousins, throwing him to the ice following a zone entry and then throwing several punches. He received a minor penalty on the play for instigating along with a five-minute fighting major, and a game misconduct.
Gudbranson will miss Thursday’s game against Toronto and will forfeit $20.8K. The money will go to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
David Perron Receives Six-Game Suspension
The Department of Player Safety has reached its verdict on Red Wings winger David Perron, announcing (video link) that they have handed him a six-game suspension for his cross-check on Senators defenseman Artem Zub on Saturday. The video explains why the suspension was well beyond the norm for a standard cross-check:
This is not a hockey play. This is an intentional strike with a stick made with the purpose of exacting retribution on an opponent. Perron takes several strides toward Zub, and, with sufficient time to choose to engage Zub in a different manner, or at the very least ensure that the cross-check is delivered directly to the body, comes up excessively high with his stick and delivers a shot to Zub’s head with force.
The video also acknowledged that Detroit tried to make the claim that this was not a direct blow to the head but that the league disagrees, saying that “the brunt of the impact of this blow was clearly absorbed by Zub’s head due directly to the actions and choices made by Perron”.
Perron is eligible to appeal the suspension. It would first be heard by Commissioner Gary Bettman. If he was to uphold the suspension, Perron would then be eligible to appeal to an independent arbitrator since the suspension is for more than five games.
Perron will forfeit $148.4K as a result of the suspension with the money going to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund. Barring the suspension being reduced on appeal, he will be eligible to return on December 22nd against Philadelphia.
Wild Assign Dakota Mermis To AHL
The Wild reassigned defenseman Dakota Mermis to AHL Iowa on Monday night, according to The Athletic’s Michael Russo. As Russo articulates, the move allows the Wild to bank some cap space as the team doesn’t play again until Thursday. While they no longer have an extra healthy skater on the active roster, the Wild now have a few days to decide whether they want to bring Mermis back up or recall the younger Daemon Hunt to serve as the team’s seventh defenseman in Jonas Brodin‘s weeks-long absence.
Mermis can be assigned directly to Iowa because he’s been on the NHL roster for less than 30 days and played in less than 10 games since last clearing waivers in mid-November. Assigning Mermis to Iowa also extends his waiver-exempt clock, providing Wild GM Bill Guerin with some added roster flexibility.
Minnesota acquired Mermis in free agency in October 2020, and he’s since served as a valuable farmhand who can rather seamlessly step into NHL play. He’s played in a career-high 14 games this season, recording five points and a 48.5% Corsi share at even strength while averaging 15:29 per game. He has one assist in four games with Iowa, although he’s never been a considerable scoring threat at the minor-league level. The nine-year pro has 472 career professional games under his belt – 430 in the AHL, 41 in the NHL and one in the ECHL.