Snapshots: Avalanche Depth, Senators, Weegar
In an article today from Peter Baugh of The Athletic, he takes a look at some of the internal options available to the Colorado Avalanche in terms of their bottom-sixth depth. Baugh argues, that when the season begins, given a clean bill of health, there are 10 forwards that should already have their names penciled in for opening night of 2023-24.
The most oft-mentioned names that Baugh believes will fill out the depth of the Avalanche will be forwards Fredrik Olofsson, who was acquired in a mid-June trade with the Dallas Stars, and Ben Meyers, who was signed out of the University of Minnesota during the 2021-22 regular season. Given the overall youth of some of the players that Colorado could use to fill out their roster, both Olofsson and Meyers seem to be solid projections.
Unfortunately for the Avalanche, and albeit holding a very small sample size, neither player has played particularly well in their short careers. The team still has just over $2MM available in cap space when factoring in the LTIR placement of captain Gabriel Landeskog, and could seek other relatively cheap options still left in unrestricted free agency to fill out their roster. Players such as Paul Stastny, Phil Kessel, Josh Bailey, and Nick Ritchie are still without homes for the 2023-24 regular season, and would likely be seeking contracts that would fit in nicely with Colorado’s current cap situation.
Other snapshots:
- Adam Proteau of The Hockey News writes that he believes both D.J. Smith and Pierre Dorion are on the hot seat for the Ottawa Senators heading into the 2023-24 NHL season. Over the last several years, the Senators have made a serious attempt in transitioning out of their relatively short rebuild, looking to compete at the game’s highest level once again. With aggressive trading, wise approaches at multiple drafts, and bringing in marquee free agents such as Claude Giroux and Vladimir Tarasenko, the team has only inched toward the playoffs, rather than leaped. As the organization transitions to a new principal owner in September, the pressure might be increased on the head coach and General Manager this season.
- Speaking on ‘Flames Talk’ with Pat Steinberg and Ryan Pike, Calgary Flames defenseman, MacKenzie Weegar spoke in great length on the importance of having a captain heading into next season, and that he would even be thrilled to accept the role if presented with the opportunity. Calgary has some other solid options for the role, such as Mikael Backlund and Elias Lindholm, but with being one of only three members in the organization signed beyond 2026-27, Weegar would be a solid choice to wear the much colder ‘C’ on his jersey with the Flames.
San Jose Sharks Make Hockey Operation Hires
General Manager of the San Jose Sharks, Mike Grier, announced that the team has hired five different individuals to add to their hockey operations department, with a couple of notable names on the list. Jack Anderson has been hired as the team’s strength and conditioning coach, Jaren Burke as a Canadian scout, Igor Eronko as a Russian scout, as well as former player Thomas Vanek as an amateur scout, and former goaltender Ryan Miller as a goalie scout.
Grier also mentioned that Miller would be working closely with Evgeni Nabokov, the team’s current goalie development coach, in a similar role. Although neither Miller nor Vanek played for the Sharks during their professional careers on the ice, the two did play with Grier with the Buffalo Sabres back during the 2005-06 season, as well as the last two seasons in Grier’s career from 2009-11.
For Vanek, this will be his first position in an NHL organization outside of his career as a player. Drafted fifth overall by the Sabres in the 2003 NHL Draft, Vanek would become one of the better goal-scorers in the league during his time in Buffalo. After a midseason trade sent him to the New York Islanders in 2013, Vanek became more of a secondary scoring option on most of the teams he played for, still producing solid offensive numbers until the conclusion of his career. Vanek’s last year in the NHL came during his second stint with the Detroit Red Wings in the 2018-19 season, officially retiring in 2020.
Much like Vanek, Miller’s best years of his career came during his time with the Sabres organization. Highlighted by a Vezina Trophy win during the 2009-10 season, Miller became one of, if not the greatest American-born goalie of all time. During the 2013-14 trade deadline season, Miller became one of the most sought-after prizes for contending teams and landed with the St.Louis Blues to finish out the regular season. After his time in St.Louis, Miller would conclude his career after the 2021-21 NHL season, after moderately lengthy stays with both the Vancouver Canucks and Anaheim Ducks. Now almost a year ago, it was announced that Miller would be inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.
For the most part, it does appear to be a mostly personal hire from Grier’s perspective, since neither Vanek nor Miller have any professional coaching experience off the ice. However, given the career success of both of these players and their relationships having played together for so long, should become a success for the Sharks organization and the overall development of the team.
Ryan Merkley Signs In KHL
Former San Jose Sharks first-round pick defenseman Ryan Merkley is taking his services overseas at just 23 years old, as the KHL’s Kunlun Red Star has signed him to a one-year contract.
Merkley’s transition to pro hockey has been rocky, to say the least. The Sharks signed him to his entry-level contract just days after the 2018 Draft, but his contract slid for two seasons as he was returned to the OHL’s Guelph Storm for both seasons. Turning pro in 2020, Merkley registered 11 points in 31 games during his first outing with the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda, sticking in the minors throughout and looking to round out his game, which had well-documented defensive concerns.
His production never really took off from there, however, limiting his effectiveness in the area the Sharks hoped he could excel. He did get an extended NHL look in 2021-22, though, playing in 39 games with the Sharks but registering just a goal and six points. That could very well be the only NHL ice he ever sees.
Merkley didn’t make San Jose out of camp last season and was assigned to the minors, where he played out the entire 2022-23 season, posting 22 points in 58 games. In January, the Sharks dealt Merkley to the Colorado Avalanche for another disgruntled prospect, Martin Kaut, who also didn’t register much of an impact in the Sharks organization. After Merkley didn’t gain much of a significant role in Colorado’s system with the Eagles in the AHL, they opted not to qualify him in June and let him become an unrestricted free agent.
With no rumored NHL offers, Merkley heads to the KHL, where he could very well play out his pro career, including some other destinations in Europe. Signing in China, Merkley joins a Kunlun team captained by former NHLer Brandon Yip. He’ll need to show significant strides overseas in order to potentially regain an NHL contract some point down the line.
Colorado Avalanche Sign Matt Stienburg
The Colorado Avalanche have signed forward Matt Stienburg to a two-year, entry-level contract, per a team post on X. Stienburg was a draft pick of the Avalanche but briefly became a free agent on August 15 when his exclusive signing rights expired.
The 22-year-old center prospect was a third-round draft pick in 2019, heading off the board to Colorado at 63rd overall. He just completed a four-year collegiate stint at Cornell, although his sophomore season was wiped out entirely due to COVID. At Cornell, Stienburg finished with 20 goals, 26 assists and 46 points in 73 games and a +21 rating.
Stienburg stands out as a center with good size at 6-foot-1 and 183 pounds, with some aggressiveness in his game, although he’ll need to work on his offensive consistency to play a middle-six role in the NHL. He ended last season in the AHL on a tryout with the Colorado Eagles, recording two assists in eight games combined across the regular season and playoffs.
The Avalanche did not release the financial terms of Stienburg’s contract. However, he will be a restricted free agent upon the deal’s expiration in 2025. Over the next two years, he’ll look to make enough of an impact in the minors to warrant receiving a qualifying offer from Colorado at that point.
Minor Transactions: 08/18/23
Signings involving former NHL draft picks and other notable players continue to flow in as August marches on. Teams overseas and in North America are still finalizing their rosters, and action is once again ramping up in the AHL as their NHL affiliates mostly have their rosters set at this stage. We’re keeping tabs on all of today’s significant non-NHL deals here:
- 2017 Nashville Predators pick Tomas Vomacka is heading back home, signing a one-year deal with an option for one more with HC Dynamo Pardubice B in the 1. liga, Czechia’s second-tier pro league. The 24-year-old netminder signed his entry-level deal with the Predators after finishing a collegiate career at the University of Connecticut in 2021 but has been relegated exclusively to the ECHL since with the Florida Everblades and Norfolk Admirals, never getting an appearance with Nashville’s top minor-league affiliate in AHL Milwaukee. He struggled heavily in 34 games with Norfolk last season, posting an eye-popping 4.36 goals-against average and .868 save percentage. He’ll look to regain his game against easier competition in Czech second-tier pro hockey.
- The AHL’s Charlotte Checkers have signed forward Sean Josling to a one-year, two-way contract, per a team release. Josling, 24, is entering his fourth pro season and has spent most of that pro career so far in the ECHL with the Wheeling Nailers. He played primarily in the ECHL again last season, recording 21 goals and seven assists for 28 points in 47 games split between Wheeling and the Kelly Cup champion Florida Everblades. He’s a likely candidate for ECHL assignment again next season, returning to Florida as they’re the ECHL affiliate of the Checkers and Florida Panthers.
- The AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals are adding forward Kevin Wall on a two-year contract, according to the team. Wall, a 2019 sixth-round pick of the Carolina Hurricanes, became a free agent on August 15th after the Hurricanes opted not to sign him to an entry-level contract, forfeiting his exclusive NHL signing rights. The 23-year-old right wing recorded 17 goals and 14 assists for 31 points in 39 games last season at Penn State, his fourth and final season there. There’s still a potential pro future in the cards for Wall if he can make a smooth transition to pro hockey in Milwaukee, looking to earn an entry-level contract from their parent club, the Nashville Predators, or someone else.
This page will be updated throughout the day.
Examining The Philadelphia Flyers’ Goalie Depth
The Philadelphia Flyers have had their moments over the past decade-plus, but even throughout their periods of championship contention recently, the team has lacked an elite, long-term starting netminder. Steve Mason, who played just four full seasons in a Flyers uniform from 2013 to 2017, was the closest thing they had to one since the new millennium.
Even during their most recent Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2010, goaltending was their major weakness. They were backstopped by a tandem of Brian Boucher and Michael Leighton, neither of whom had any recent or successful experience as a true starter. They’ve likely found their next one in 25-year-old Carter Hart, who already sits ninth all-time in wins in franchise history despite playing just five seasons for the Flyers during a period of mediocrity.
Behind Hart, though, new general manager Daniel Brière has made a number of interesting moves to fill out the team’s goalie depth. They arguably have a four-way battle for the backup job heading into next season, although some options are likelier than others. Two players split the backup role for them last season – Felix Sandström and Samuel Ersson, the latter of whom played less but posted far better numbers with a 6-3-0 record and .899 save percentage compared to Sandström’s abysmal .880 mark.
The Flyers are just a handful of years removed from the 2018-19 campaign, where they set an NHL record for most goalies used in a season with eight. Hart, Brian Elliott, Anthony Stolarz, Calvin Pickard, Cam Talbot, Michal Neuvirth, Mike McKenna, and Alex Lyon all got some action in the crease in a Philadelphia jersey that season. Next season, they hope someone impresses enough (and stays healthy enough) to break out and bring that number back down to two.
Now, it’s time to see who exactly that could be:
Samuel Ersson
The Flyers think (hope?) they have a late-round gem in Ersson, who they selected 143rd overall in the 2018 NHL Draft. The 23-year-old made his NHL debut just last season and also took over the starting role for the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms, recording a .900 save percentage and 2.87 goals-against average in 42 games. It was a huge rebound campaign for him after injuries limited him to just five appearances with Lehigh Valley in 2021-22. The team obviously believes in him, handing him a two-year, $2.9MM extension earlier this month set to start in the 2024-25 season.
Of all the names here, Ersson’s the one the Flyers hope commands the backup role come opening night and, ideally, remains in the NHL by the time the 2023-24 season draws to a close. He is still waiver-exempt and isn’t terribly close to requiring them, either. He needs to play 48 more NHL games (or two more NHL seasons, whichever comes first) before he’ll need to clear waivers to head to the minors, per CapFriendly. That being said, from an asset management standpoint, Sandström does require waivers and is a potential claim candidate. Ersson will need to clearly demonstrate Sandström is potentially expendable from the organization with a strong camp.
Ivan Fedotov
There is a fair amount of intrigue in Fedotov’s on-ice potential. The question looms, however, if he’ll actually be at training camp. The IIHF sided with Philadelphia regarding a contract dispute between them, Fedotov and KHL club CSKA Moskva after Fedotov had two technically active contracts for 2023-24. CSKA and the KHL are likely to appeal the ruling, however, and it’s unclear whether Fedotov will travel to the United States and suit up for the Flyers.
Fedotov didn’t play at all last season after completing required military service in Russia, an unforeseen complication that occurred after the Flyers had signed him to an entry-level contract and penciled him into their backup role last season. Given the murky contractual situation and the breakout of Ersson, however, he’s lost the edge on the role. There’s no denying he’s the highest-ceiling option available, however. The 26-year-old stands at an absolutely massive 6-foot-8 and 212 pounds and won the KHL’s Best Goaltender award, an All-Star team nod, a Gagarin Cup championship, and an Olympic silver medal – all during the 2021-22 season. The year prior, he still posted spectacular numbers, recording a .925 save percentage in 26 games with CSKA.
Cal Petersen
The Flyers acquired Petersen, 28, via trade from the Los Angeles Kings to provide some cap relief in the three-way deal that sent Ivan Provorov to Columbus. Briefly viewed as Los Angeles’ long-term goalie option post-Jonathan Quick, Petersen had a disastrous 2022-23 campaign which saw him post a .868 save percentage in nine starts before the Kings waived him (and his $5MM cap hit) and assigned him to the AHL.
With two years remaining on his deal, Petersen hasn’t looked like himself since posting a 9-18-5 record but a sparkling .911 save percentage and 2.89 goals-against average for the Kings in 2020-21. He’s the most experienced option available to the Flyers for the backup role with 94 NHL starts under his belt, and he may enter next season with some renewed confidence after a strong performance for the United States at the World Championships. That being said, he’s a non-candidate to get claimed on waivers given his albatross contract, and he’ll need to significantly outplay the trio of younger, higher-upside netminders here in order to return to a full-time NHL role in a Flyers uniform.
Felix Sandström
Selected 70th overall in 2015, Sandström didn’t take the step forward that Philadelphia wished he would have last season. The 26-year-old started the season as Hart’s backup but won just three out of 18 starts, posting poor advanced and standard stats in the process. He has posted good enough numbers when given the chance in the minors, but he hasn’t shown anything at the NHL level to suggest it can translate.
That being said, he’s still relatively young in goalie years at 26, and if he shows enough strides in camp, it could be enough to earn him the nod over Ersson (or Fedotov) to avoid exposing him to waivers or to make the Flyers consider carrying three netminders. Either way, he likely won’t receive more than the 20 games he played overall for the Flyers last season, save for a significant injury to Hart.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Buffalo Sabres Broadcaster Rick Jeanneret Passes Away
The Buffalo Sabres announced late last night that Hall-of-Fame broadcaster Rick Jeanneret passed away yesterday at the age of 81. Jeanneret began his career with the franchise when it was just one year old, joining their broadcasting crew for the 1971-72 campaign and working for the team for 50 years. He retired after the end of the 2021-22 campaign.
Sabres owner Terry Pegula offered a statement on Jeanneret’s passing:
Rick was indeed a very special and very loved man, to and by all, who knew him and listened to him, his magic, and his command. How glad I am to have known him. How lucky were we all to have been around him and to have listened to him. [His] mark on Sabres history extends far beyond the broadcast booth and we will miss him dearly. I extend my deepest condolences to Sandra, Rick’s family, friends, and all that were loved by him.
His body of work with the Sabres made Jeanneret one of the most respected broadcasters in sports history, let alone just Buffalo or the NHL. The longest-tenured play-by-play announcer in league history, Jeanneret had a banner raised in the Sabres’ KeyBank Center at the end of the 2021-22 season, putting his name alongside the team’s retired numbers such as Gilbert Perreault, Pat LaFontaine, Dominik Hasek, and Ryan Miller.
General manager Kevyn Adams also spoke on Jeanneret’s legacy:
Growing up in Buffalo, Rick Jeanneret was not just the voice of the Sabres, he was the voice for our city. He helped foster my love of hockey, along with so many others. Beyond the booth, Rick was an incredible man that was loved by all. His wit and humor was unmatched and we are all lucky to have known him. I am heartbroken by his passing and send my condolences to his wife, Sandra, and all of his family and friends. May he rest in peace.
All of us at PHR also extend our utmost condolences to the Jeanneret family and join the hockey community in honoring one of the most legendary off-ice careers in the sport.
Poll: Which Team Will Acquire Brett Pesce?
Now that the trade market for defensemen has been set after the blockbuster trade landing defending Norris Trophy winner, Erik Karlsson, with the Pittsburgh Penguins, one of the most oft-rumored names on the market headed into next season is Brett Pesce of the Carolina Hurricanes. Already carrying a rather deep defensive core, the Hurricanes added to it even more, bringing in Dmitry Orlov, Anthony DeAngelo, and Caleb Jones via free agency this summer.
For the 2023-24 NHL season, Pesce will be starting his ninth in Carolina, becoming one of the mainstays on their blue line during the team’s rise to stardom in recent years. However, with players such as Teuvo Teravainen, Martin Necas, and more than half their defensemen needing contracts beyond this season, the Hurricanes dollar may be better spent somewhere else.
In June, Cory Lavalette of The Athletic theorized that Pesce’s next contract would be in the eight-year, $52MM ($6.5MM) range, which seems fair factoring in comparable players and Pesce’s age. This is not a massive increase on Pesce’s current $4.025MM AAV, but with an extension already kicking in for Sebastian Aho next summer, Carolina will need all the wiggle room they can to keep their other talent.
In analyzing the market for Pesce, it would be wise to start with the two teams that reportedly missed out on Karlsson. Both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Seattle Kraken had an interest in Karlsson, and both could use some longer-term answers to the right side of their blue lines. Toronto currently has John Klingberg and T.J. Brodie at the top of their hierarchy on the right side and should consider Pesce to be an improvement to both of those players. Similarly, in Seattle, Pesce would be a solid long-term answer on the right side once Justin Schultz‘s contract comes to an end next summer.
Even if it is not in the Hurricanes’ best interest to hold onto Pesce long-term, it seems to be the most appropriate option to hold onto him for the entirety of next season, given the team’s popularity as a Stanley Cup favorite. Much like how the New Jersey Devils handled the pending unrestricted free agency of Damon Severson, the team may be better spent employing Pesce for the upcoming season and recouping some value for him via a sign-and-trade before July 1, 2024.
Click here to vote if you can’t access the poll above.
Snapshots: Schneider, Bally Sports, Stienburg
Frank Seravalli of the Daily Faceoff is reporting that the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) and Mathieu Schneider are parting ways after 12 years. Since his retirement after the 2009-10 NHL season, Schneider originally started as a Special Assistant in the NHLPA and had been working as the direct Special Assistant to the now-former head of the NHLPA, Don Fehr.
Seravalli also pointed out that the dismissal had been pushed by the new Executive Director of the NHLPA, Marty Walsh. Some of the most significant projects in the league that Schneider had been directly involved in, were changes to the ‘head-shot’ and boarding rules across the NHL, working directly with the league’s Senior Vice President at the time, Brendan Shanahan.
Even after his dismissal, it shouldn’t be difficult for Schneider to find employment elsewhere, either with an individual team, or the league itself. A veteran of 21 years in the NHL spanning from 1987-2010, Schneider spent time with Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings, New York Islanders, and New York Rangers, as well as four other teams for short spells.
Other snapshots:
- In an ongoing legal battle with Diamond Sports Group, the parent company to Bally Sports, the NHL is reportedly seeking emergency relief funds if negotiations are not settled quickly. Currently, 12 organizations have their media rights held by Bally Sports, and with a Texas judge extending DSG’s reorganization deadline to September 30th, the NHL is seeking a contract break well before that date. On March 14, 2023, DSG filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, holding responsibility for a reported $9B in debt, with the inability to pay.
- Seeing his exclusive draft rights expire only 48 hours ago, Peter Baugh of The Athletic is reporting that center Matt Stienburg and the Colorado Avalanche organization are still in contact about a possible contract. Stienburg was the team’s 63rd overall pick from the 2019 NHL Draft and had spent the last four seasons playing for the Cornell University of the NCAA, earning a four-game tryout with the Colorado Eagles at the conclusion of last year’s AHL season.
Jonathan Toews Will Not Play In 2023-24
Former Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews has announced he won’t play during the 2023-24 NHL season but is not ruling out a return to NHL action later. Toews made a statement confirming the news on his Instagram account Thursday afternoon.
Toews, 35, is currently an unrestricted free agent. Chicago confirmed they wouldn’t be re-signing the three-time Stanley Cup champion before their last game of the 2022-23 campaign.
“My focus is to give myself the time and space to fully heal and enjoy life to the fullest once again,” Toews said. “Along the way, I have met several people who have struggled with health issues pertaining to long COVID, chronic immune response syndrome, and other similar cases that are quite complex. I now recognize the importance of one day sharing the details of my health journey with you all.”
Toews was diagnosed with chronic immune response syndrome prior to the shortened 2020-21 campaign. He missed all 56 games that season. He made a return to the Blackhawks in 2021-22 but was added to the league’s COVID protocol list just weeks into the season. While he didn’t miss significant time, he has since developed symptoms of long COVID, which, in combination with his CIRS, contributed to him playing 53 out of 82 games in 2022-23.
This move is far from unexpected – in fact, it’s more surprising Toews isn’t announcing his retirement outright. Notably, Toews’ agency reportedly left his name off the list of pending free agents when teams inquired.
On the ice, Toews had averaged under 18 minutes per game over the last two seasons for the first time in his career. Since returning from his season-long absence in 2021, he’s posted 27 goals, 41 assists, 68 points, and a -45 rating in 124 games played. He still carried immense value as a faceoff specialist, however, winning draws at a 60.7% rate.
The 2013 Selke Trophy winner will likely face long odds to get back to playing shape after missing two out of four seasons heading into the 2024-25 campaign.