Bruins Notes: Bergeron, Krejčí, Steen
Conor Ryan of Boston.com tweeted out today that Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney told the media that Patrice Bergeron will skate with the Bruins tomorrow. Bergeron hasn’t dressed for Boston in these playoffs after suffering an injury in the team’s season finale against the Montreal Canadiens. Despite his absence, the team has jumped out to a 3-1 series lead over the Florida Panthers. Bergeron has taken more of an advisor role in the first four games of the series but would certainly welcome the opportunity to return to his main role of centering Boston’s first line.
In a separate interview with head coach Jim Montgomery, the first year Bruins head coach hinted that if Bergeron is cleared to play, he would dress in game 5. The Sports Hub writer Ty Anderson tweeted that the if Bergeron was ready to go, he would play and the Bruins wouldn’t prioritize rest, even with a two-game series lead.
Bergeron would bring a wealth of big game experience back into the Bruins lineup should he be cleared to play in game five. Not only that, but Boston would be getting back one of the best two-way centers in the game at a time when the team is dealing with multiple injuries to other key players.
In other Boston Bruins notes:
- Conor Ryan also tweeted that Don Sweeney doesn’t think David Krejčí will be able to skate with the Bruins tomorrow. Sweeney added that the center was undergoing further testing, which doesn’t point to an imminent return for the 36-year-old. Krejčí is dealing with an upper body injury, although not much more is known about the ailment. He played in the first two games in this series, notching a single assist, but Krejčí struggled badly in game two of the series going -3 in 19:26 of ice time and winning just 42% of the faceoffs he took.
- The Boston Bruins also announced that they’ve assigned Oskar Steen to Providence of the AHL. The 25-year-old Swede skated in just three games for the Bruins this season, notching a single goal. He hasn’t dressed in any of the Bruins four postseason games against the Florida Panthers. Steen looked like a possible candidate to secure a role in Boston’s bottom six this season, but with the depth in the Bruins forward rank, the numbers game appears to have pushed Steen back into the minors. Steen has been a solid but unspectacular option for Providence this season, putting up 14 goals and 31 points in 64 games.
Stars/Wild Notes: Wallstedt, Eriksson Ek, Pavelski
With the Iowa Wild’s quick elimination from the AHL’s Calder Cup Playoffs, The Athletic’s Michael Russo reports the Minnesota Wild are expected to call up their complement of Black Aces today to be around the team while their playoff run continues. While most won’t be called up after Iowa’s exit meetings, Russo said that top goalie prospect Jesper Wallstedt has already been recalled and will serve as the third goalie behind the team’s tandem of Filip Gustavsson and Marc-Andre Fleury.
Wallstedt, 20, didn’t have the playoff performance he wanted in Iowa, recording a .897 save percentage in two overtime losses as Iowa lost their best-of-three series against the Rockford IceHogs. It doesn’t diminish what was a promising stretch run to the season for him, wrapping up his first pro season in North America with a .908 save percentage and a shutout in 38 games for Iowa. Selected 20th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, Wallstedt remains one of the best goalie prospects in the league and should gain valuable experience from being around the Minnesota team for the rest of their postseason.
- After attempting to return from injury in Game 3 and skating just one shift, things aren’t looking up for the health of Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek. Head coach Dean Evason told reporters today Eriksson Ek hasn’t skated since his latest injury, as he’s still in the process of evaluation and “not close” to returning to the lineup. Eyes now turn to Sam Steel and Frédérick Gaudreau, who have both performed well so far in the series, to shoulder Eriksson Ek’s absence.
- On the flip side, Dallas Stars winger Joe Pavelski continues to progress in his recovery after a hit in Game 1 that caused him to enter concussion protocol. Pavelski skated with the team today for the first time since the injury, and head coach Peter DeBoer told reporters Pavelski’s progressed in his recovery each day. It remains unclear whether Pavelski will return this series.
Jets Injury Notes: Ehlers, Reichel, Rittich
The Winnipeg Jets need a strong effort at home tonight to avoid falling down 3-1 in their First Round series against the Vegas Golden Knights. Per The Athletic’s Murat Ates, they’ll again need to do it without forward Nikolaj Ehlers, who has still not been cleared to return to play by the team’s medical staff.
Ehlers hasn’t played in almost two weeks with an upper-body injury after registering 38 points in 45 regular season games. Depth pieces such as Adam Lowry, Nino Niederreiter, and Vladislav Namestnikov have stepped up in his absence against Vegas, but they haven’t gotten the most out of Mark Scheifele, who has just one goal in the series. They’ll need more strong performances from their secondary scorers in order to extend their season long enough for Ehlers to return.
- While the Jets are in the thick of their playoff battle, the postseason for their AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, won’t start until next Friday. They’ll be playing without the services of forward Kristian Reichel, who the team confirmed today is out for the season after sustaining an upper-body injury on April 11. Reichel recorded 24 points in 61 games for the Moose this year and made two appearances for Winnipeg, registering an assist.
- Scott Billeck of the Winnipeg Sun confirms that David Rittich will be unavailable to back up tonight due to a lower-body injury, paving the way for Arvid Holm to sit on the bench. Holm was recalled earlier today on an emergency basis. Rittich has played just one game since March 14, with Connor Hellebuyck taking the majority of starts to keep the Jets in playoff position.
Winnipeg Jets Recall Arvid Holm On Emergency Basis
The Winnipeg Jets recalled goaltender Arvid Holm from the AHL’s Manitoba Moose on an emergency basis, the team said today. With David Rittich absent from practice for undisclosed reasons this morning, per Scott Billeck of the Winnipeg Sun, Holm could serve as the backup to Connor Hellebuyck for tonight’s Game 4.
Holm, 24, has been the third netminder on Winnipeg’s depth chart this season, but a lack of injuries to the Winnipeg crease kept him out of action during the regular season. Holm finished his AHL regular-season campaign with a 2.67 goals-against average, a .911 save percentage, and an 18-11-4 record in 35 games.
It was a solid development step this season for the 6-foot-5 netminder, who Winnipeg selected in the sixth round of the 2017 NHL Draft. He was expected to serve as the starter when Manitoba began their AHL playoff run next Friday, but pending the result of the Jets’ series and Rittich’s availability, he could remain with the NHL club past that date.
Holm’s recall gives Winnipeg four goalies on their active roster, although the younger Oskari Salminen is there to serve as a Black Ace. If Hellebuyck or Holm also becomes unavailable, however, Salminen would then be the team’s backup netminder.
Already down 2-1 in the series, the Jets hope they won’t have to utilize Holm or Salminen to try and keep their season alive.
Justin Braun Announces Retirement
Veteran defenseman Justin Braun has officially announced his retirement from the NHL after 13 seasons, the NHL Alumni Association said today.
A seventh-round draft pick of the San Jose Sharks in 2007, Braun would go on to play over 800 games, 607 of which came in a Sharks uniform. Braun would spend nine seasons with the Sharks, where he established himself as a reliable stay-at-home defenseman. He was then traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in 2019, where he spent the next three seasons before a short stint with the New York Rangers in the 2021-22 season. However, Braun would return to Philadelphia to finish his career.
Over his 13-year career, Braun scored 199 points and played in over 100 playoff games with San Jose. He was known for his strong defensive play, physicality, and leadership qualities, which made him a valuable asset during his time in San Jose.
Braun would routinely average over 20 minutes per game in San Jose but saw a decreased role during his time in Philadelphia. Things evaporated for Braun this season, unfortunately, as he registered just two assists in 51 games and played under 15 minutes per game. With his role decreasing quickly, the writing was on the wall for the 36-year-old Minnesota product.
His best season undoubtedly came at the age of 30 in 2017-18, recording career highs in assists (28), points (33), average time on ice (21:20), and hits (143).
Despite his late selection, Braun currently ranks third in games played among defensemen from the 2007 draft, sitting only behind Kevin Shattenkirk and Ryan McDonagh. He provided incredible value for the Sharks throughout his career and would likely go in the first round of most redrafts.
Matthew Tkachuk Avoids Suspension, Fined For Cross-Checking
Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk has been fined the maximum allowable amount of $5,000 under the Collective Bargaining Agreement for a cross-checking incident involving Boston Bruins forward Garnet Hathaway, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced today.
The incident occurred at the end of the first period during yesterday’s Game 4 when Tkachuk was assessed a minor penalty for cross-checking Hathaway. Given the strength of the check and its placement in a sensitive area on the side of Hathaway’s torso, some felt the play warranted a suspension. Hathaway returned to the game but stayed on the ice in pain after the incident.
It wasn’t the only penalty Tkachuk racked up in what was a physical game. He added another minor penalty for slashing midway through the third period before he was given a 10-minute misconduct for his actions in a scrum with just over three minutes remaining in the game.
It’s a lucky break for the Panthers, who need everything on their side in Game 5 to stave off another early playoff exit. They’ll need Tkachuk’s services to have any hope of doing so, as his physicality and two-way dominance almost single-handedly dragged Florida to a playoff spot this season.
He leads Florida in scoring during the series, registering two goals and three assists in four games.
Brayden Point Likely To Play In Game 4
Tampa Bay Lightning fans can breathe a sigh of relief as head coach Jon Cooper has indicated that Brayden Point may suit up for tonight’s pivotal Game 4 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. In a tweet Monday, David Alter of The Hockey News reported Cooper stated Point “should be in tonight” after he was shaken up from a collision with Maple Leafs defender Morgan Rielly in the third period of Saturday’s overtime loss.
While Cooper did note that Point’s status was still a game-time decision, his optimistic tone suggests the talented forward may be able to take the ice tonight. Point did return to Game 3 despite looking extremely uncomfortable immediately after the collision, skating 12 shifts and not showing any signs of decreased usage.
Injuries have affected Tampa significantly in this series, with a pair of key defenders, Victor Hedman and Erik Černák, both missing games. For a Lightning team not as deep as they’ve been in past seasons, it’s been a tough battle to overcome, although they outplayed Toronto for most of Game 3 despite the loss.
Point is one of three Lightning skaters with multiple goals thus far in the series, and they’ll rely on his historically clutch offense to help tie the series if he can play tonight. The 27-year-old has 40 goals and 81 points in 79 career playoff games for Tampa.
Martin Frk Inks Two-Year Deal In Switzerland
Earlier this month, we covered reports that talented minor-league forward Martin Frk would head overseas to Switzerland next season. That move is now official, as NL team SC Bern announced the signing of Frk to a two-year contract Monday morning.
The move to Europe comes after Frk’s impressive AHL performance in recent seasons, which no doubt caught the attention of overseas suitors. The 29-year-old forward will now bring his skills and experience to Switzerland‘s premier ice hockey competition, attempting to help SC Bern improve on last season’s eighth-place finish and quarterfinal loss.
Frk, born in Pelhrimov, Czechia, was a second-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft and has since spent time in the Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues organizations. Known for his powerful shot and goal-scoring ability, Frk has consistently hovered around a point per game in the minors and notched back-to-back 30-goal seasons in 2022 and 2023.
SC Bern is one of the most successful clubs in Swiss history, capturing five league championships since 2010 and six consecutive Champions Hockey League appearances from 2015 to 2020. They haven’t advanced in the NL playoffs since winning the championship in 2019, however, and they’ll look to Frk’s electric offense to guide them back to contention.
The two-year contract offers Frk some stability, allowing him to settle into a more high-stakes role in European pro hockey. At this stage of his career, a full-time NHL role seems unlikely despite his enticing game.
Frk finished his 2022-23 campaign with 64 points in 67 games for the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds, failing to earn any NHL ice time with the Blues. He joins former NHL skaters Dominik Kahun, Éric Gélinas, Joel Vermin, Julius Honka, Oscar Lindberg, and Sven Baertschi on next year’s Bern roster.
Five Key Stories: 4/17/23 – 4/23/23
The playoffs are well underway and while there has been some notable news from on the ice, there has also been some key news off it. We recap the most prominent ones in our key stories.
More Changes In Calgary: Last summer, the Flames were quite busy reshaping their roster following the departures of Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk. However, they came up short of reaching the playoffs and now, it’ll be up to a new GM to reshape their roster this summer following the departure of GM Brad Treliving. Officially, it’s being termed as a mutual departure although there has been speculation that it was Treliving’s choice to go. He had been at the helm in Calgary for the past nine seasons with the team making five trips to the playoffs although they were never able to get past the second round. Don Maloney will serve as Calgary’s interim GM until a permanent replacement is found.
Three For Bunting: It didn’t take long for there to be a suspension in the playoffs as Maple Leafs winger Michael Bunting received a three-game ban for his hit on Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak in the opening game of the series. It’s the first suspension of his career and it certainly didn’t come at an opportune time as the 27-year-old has been part of Toronto’s top six all season long. Bunting also happens to be an unrestricted free agent this summer and will be hoping for some positive playoff moments before testing the open market.
Stone Activated: The Golden Knights welcomed back a key part of their attack prior to their series opener against Winnipeg when they activated winger Mark Stone off LTIR. The veteran had missed more than three months with a back injury that required surgery. Vegas wasn’t in a financial position to be able to activate him late in the season as they used his LTIR-created cap space to add Ivan Barbashev, Teddy Blueger, and Jonathan Quick at the trade deadline but since there’s no salary cap in the playoffs, they were able to activate Stone without having to do any roster juggling. The captain has certainly made an early impact in the series, picking up two goals and two assists through the first three games.
Texier Returns: After missing the entire 2022-23 campaign citing personal issues and a desire to be closer to his family, Blue Jackets winger Alexandre Texier will return to the NHL next season. The 23-year-old has 123 career NHL games under his belt over parts of four years and has shown flashes of being a potential top-six forward down the road. He had a productive season with Zurich of the Swiss NLA, picking up 13 goals and 22 assists in 46 games to finish third on the Lions in scoring. Texier had one year left on his deal heading into this season and that will still be the case next year as the contract, which carries a $1.525MM AAV, will toll and roll over to 2023-24.
Playoff Injuries: A pair of key players are already out for the rest of their respective first-round series, if not longer. Hurricanes winger Teuvo Teravainen suffered a broken hand and has already undergone surgery. There’s no word for how long he’ll be out but Carolina will likely need a long postseason run for him to be able to return. Teravainen was a key part of their playoff run last year, picking up 11 points to tie for the team lead in scoring. Meanwhile, the Jets will have to try to come back against the Golden Knights without their top defenseman as Josh Morrissey suffered a lower-body injury and has been ruled out for the rest of the series. The 28-year-old had a breakout year, picking up 76 points in 78 games to finish tied for second in the NHL for points by a defenseman.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
PHR Mailbag: Kuznetsov, Sabres, Predators, Maple Leafs, Coaches
Topics in this edition of the PHR Mailbag include Evgeny Kuznetsov’s future with Washington, Toronto’s recent history of first-round exits, and much more. If your question doesn’t appear here, watch for it in next weekend’s mailbag.
2012orioles: Do the Capitals look to shop Kuznetsov?
First, GM Brian MacLellan needs to sit down with Kuznetsov’s new agents at Newport to see what the center’s preference is. It’s no secret that they were listening to offers on him a couple of years ago although nothing came to fruition in terms of a deal. Since then, the 30-year-old has had one strong season (78 points in 79 games in 2021-22) and one underwhelming campaign (55 points in 81 games this season).
Kuznetsov only has two years left on his deal after this one which actually helps Washington a bit if they do look to move him. Yes, his price tag of $7.8MM is on the high end, especially if he keeps hovering in the 50-60-point range but a team that’s looking for a short-term stopgap until a prospect is ready for that role could find him more desirable than someone who’s signed long-term, even if that player has a lesser AAV. I’m not saying they’d get a premium return or anything but I think there would be a decent trade market.
But at the end of the day, the answer to this question is likely dictated by MacLellan’s intentions for next season. If they’re rebuilding, he probably goes. If they’re looking for a quick retool and to get back in the playoff picture next season, I think Kuznetsov stays, barring a public trade request that might force their hand. With Nicklas Backstrom no longer the player he once was and their young middlemen (Connor McMichael and Hendrix Lapierre) not ready for tough NHL minutes yet, they need Kuznetsov if they’re aiming for a Wild Card spot or better next season.
joebad34: Do the Sabres move on from Okposo and Girgensons? What defenseman would they potentially look to pursue in a trade or free agency to fill a top-four spot? Is Dumba a fit?
Let’s start with the forwards. If Kyle Okposo wants to come back, I think Buffalo will have a spot for him. It might not be particularly high on the depth chart but I suspect they’d like to keep their captain in the fold as this is still a pretty young roster overall. This is a group that will have playoff aspirations next season so having a veteran that has the respect of the team wouldn’t hurt. Plus, Okposo can still be effective in a limited role.
I don’t expect Zemgus Girgensons to be back though. If they want to make a push for a postseason spot, they’ll need to upgrade their roster this summer and that’s one roster spot they can upgrade on. Girgensons is a capable fourth-line pivot but after nine years with Buffalo, a change of scenery wouldn’t hurt.
As for the defensemen, Mathew Dumba is a logical target on the free agent market. He’s capable of logging big minutes and plays on the right side which is where their depth is a bit weak. I also think there’s a bit of an upside play in signing him if he can get back to his old form. The one question I have though is how much does Buffalo want to spend long-term on the back end? Rasmus Dahlin is going to be very expensive in 2024-25 as will Owen Power. Mattias Samuelsson is already on a long-term deal. You’re probably looking at well over $20MM for those three at that time; can they afford another bigger-ticket deal in their salary structure and if they can, do they want to?
As for other free agent targets, Damon Severson is also in Dumba’s tier but the same questions exist. If they want to go for a shorter-term pickup, Kevin Shattenkirk and John Klingberg are veteran right-shot players that could give them an offensive boost, take a regular shift, and balance out the lineup without being a long-term commitment on the books. If they’re shopping in the short-term tier, Anthony DeAngelo could be a trade target and if Nashville sticks with the rebuild, Tyson Barrie should be available as well. They’re both on expiring deals which might be appealing.
Gbear: Does new Preds GM Barry Trotz keep John Hynes behind the bench or move on from him?
Jakeattack: Do you think Trotz will try to move either Ryan Johansen or Matt Duchene this summer?
Let’s combine the Nashville queries. Two months ago, I would have leaned toward a coaching change. The fire sale was on and if a new era was beginning, why not do so with a new coach? But then the Predators had quite a run down the stretch with the team coming to life. If Trotz thinks there’s any chance of that being sustainable, it’d be hard to move on from Hynes.
He has one year left on his deal which gives Trotz an easy option to kick the can down the road. Let him start on an expiring contract and if things go sideways early on, make an in-season change for an interim option and at that point, it’s probably heading toward a rebuild. If things go well, let the season play out and re-assess 12 months from now. I think he stays but I will say this, I am not doing well at predicting what happens in Nashville this season and if recent history repeats itself, this prediction might not hold up for long.
Unlike that coaching prediction, I’m actually confident in this next one. Yes, Trotz will try to move those two, Johansen especially. At $8MM apiece for at least two more years (Johansen is signed through 2024-25, Duchene 2025-26), they’re not getting a great return on those deals. Neither has emerged as a capable top center and while Duchene’s a capable number two, that’s a big price tag for someone in that role. That money could likely be more efficiently spent elsewhere.
Of course, 31 other teams around the league know that. The time to move Duchene was probably a year ago when he had 43 goals and 86 points. His performance this season only dipped his value. Johansen, meanwhile, is coming off a 28-point campaign, albeit one that saw him miss 27 games due to injuries. Unless they’re swapping a bad contract for another bad contract (and in a market where so many teams are capped out, that can’t entirely be ruled out), I don’t expect there to be any interest in him. Trotz I’m sure will try to move these contracts but it’ll be much easier said than done.
W H Twittle: Is there a rational explanation for the Leafs’ playoff successes?
Assuming you mean their lack of playoff success, I think there is. In those series, they lost the goaltending battle. In 2017, it was Braden Holtby allowing two goals or fewer in three games, all Toronto losses. In 2018, Tuukka Rask wasn’t great in that series but he outplayed Frederik Andersen. The next year, Rask was much better.
In the bubble, Columbus’ goalies picked two shutouts in five games. A year later, Carey Price did just enough to outduel Jack Campbell to kickstart Montreal’s improbable run to the Final. And last season, Andrei Vasilevskiy was between the pipes. All in all, three future Hall of Famers, another goalie who led his team to the Stanley Cup, and Columbus’ netminders shining.
One can discuss the coaching and the underachieving stars and that’s fine. But if you’re looking for a quick, simple, rational explanation, Toronto got ‘goalied’ in several of their recent quick playoff exits.
Gmm8811: Who do you see as up-and-coming AHL coaches? Have you heard of any recent former players that want to make the jump to coaching?
If you’re asking about up-and-coming AHL coaches that could soon make the jump to the NHL, Mitch Love (Calgary) should be the first to come to mind. He just won Coach of the Year there for the second season in a row and had a good run with WHL Saskatoon before that. Just 38, he’s the type of young coach that someone should take a chance on. I’d also put Marco Sturm in that mix. He’s the coach of the Kings’ affiliate in Ontario. With his experience there plus internationally as a coach, I think he’ll get a chance at some point.
As for recent former players, those that want to coach somewhere typically are able to do so, either at the junior or minor league level. Accordingly, I don’t really have a list of former players that are looking to join those ranks; if they want to, they’re probably already there. I’ll give you one name to keep an eye on though in Marc Savard, head coach with OHL Windsor. While they were a surprisingly quick exit in the playoffs this year, that franchise has done pretty well in his limited time there and it wouldn’t surprise me if someone offers him an AHL head coaching job or an assistant spot on an NHL bench for next season.