Canucks Acquire Vitali Kravtsov
The Canucks are expected to be adding a young forward to their lineup as they’ve acquired winger Vitali Kravtsov from the Rangers. Going to New York is winger William Lockwood and a 2026 seventh-round draft pick. Both teams have announced the deal.
Kravtsov was the ninth-overall pick in 2018 but has struggled in limited NHL action and has just three goals and three assists in 28 games this season. He also played in 20 games back in 2020-21 and produced at a similar rate, notching two goals and two helpers in 20 contests.
Last season, Kravtsov opted to return to the KHL instead of reporting to New York, picking up 13 points in 17 games with Traktor Chelyabinsk during the regular season before adding seven goals in 15 playoff contests. That was enough for New York to give him a one-year, one-way $875K contract for this season. He’ll be arbitration-eligible this summer and will be owed a $840K qualifying offer.
To make room for Kravtsov on the roster, the Canucks announced (Twitter link) that center Curtis Lazar has been placed on injured reserve. It’s the second trip to the IR for the 28-year-old who has five goals and 124 hits in 45 games this season.
As for Lockwood, the 24-year-old has been up and down this season, getting into 13 games with Vancouver where he picked up an assist along with 37 hits while averaging just over 10 minutes per game. He has been more productive with AHL Abbotsford though, collecting a dozen goals and six assists in 26 contests. He’s on a one-year, two-way deal with $750K in the NHL and should remain in the minors with his new team.
It’s certainly an underwhelming return for Kravtsov, once viewed as a key piece of the future for the Rangers. However, his struggles in the NHL and the potential for him to return to the KHL certainly deflated his value. But this move, coupled with the waiving of Jake Leschyshyn earlier today, will open up some extra cap space for New York to try to add another piece down the stretch; Chicago winger Patrick Kane has been speculatively linked to them recently and these deletions would be enough to squeak him in at 25% of his AAV. Meanwhile, it’s about as low-risk an acquisition as possible for Vancouver who will now try to see if Kravtsov can become more of an impact player with a new organization.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was the first to report that Kravtsov was being traded to Vancouver.
Bruins Acquire Shane Bowers
The Bruins and Avalanche have swapped depth players as Colorado has traded forward Shane Bowers to Boston in exchange for goaltender Keith Kinkaid. Both teams have announced the move and have confirmed that the players have been sent down to their respective minor league clubs.
Bowers made his NHL debut this season but it was a short-lived one as he was injured in the first period. The 2017 first-round pick has spent the bulk of the year in the minors, picking up 14 points in 37 games with AHL Colorado. Bowers is on a one-year, two-way contract that pays $750K in the NHL and just $100K in the minors and he’ll be a restricted free agent with arbitration eligibility this summer. The subtraction of Kinkaid partially clears up a logjam between the pipes with AHL Providence who are now down to two goalies on the roster plus Michael DiPietro playing at the ECHL level.
As for Kinkaid, the 33-year-old is a veteran of 168 career NHL appearances over parts of 10 seasons. However, he has just 11 of those over the past three years as he has settled in as a veteran third-stringer. He has a 3.10 GAA with a .909 SV% in 20 games at the AHL level so far and will give the Avs some extra insurance between the pipes with Pavel Francouz currently out with a lower-body injury. He’s also on a one-year, two-way deal worth the minimum in the NHL although his AHL pay is considerably higher at $450K. Kinkaid will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Golden Knights Assign Michael Hutchinson And Daniil Miromanov To AHL
The Golden Knights have made a pair of roster moves in advance of their game tonight against Dallas, announcing (Twitter link) that goaltender Michael Hutchinson and defenseman Daniil Miromanov have been assigned to Henderson of the AHL.
Hutchinson was on recall with both Logan Thompson and Adin Hill dealing with injuries. While Thompson is on injured reserve, this move suggests that Hill will be available to dress tonight against the Stars. Hutchinson didn’t play for Vegas on this recall and hasn’t suited up much overall. He has only made seven appearances with the Silver Knights, posting a 2.74 GAA along with a .897 SV%. He also played twice for Canada at the Spengler Cup back in December. With Laurent Brossoit still up covering for Thompson’s injury, however, Hutchinson should be in line for more playing time in the short term.
As for Miromanov, he had been on injured reserve dating back to February 20th so this move indicates that he has been cleared to return. The 25-year-old had actually been up with the Golden Knights since the end of November but still has seen more action with Henderson than Vegas this season. In 17 games with the Silver Knights, Miromanov has 13 points while he picked up two goals and four helpers in 14 contests with Vegas. It’s quite possible that he’ll be back up before long but having been out since the end of December, he needs to get some playing time under his belt first.
Blues Claim Kasperi Kapanen Off Waivers From Penguins
Kasperi Kapanen is on the move as Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reports (Twitter link) that the Blues have claimed the winger off waivers from the Penguins.
The 26-year-old is in the midst of a tough season that has seen him record just seven goals and 13 assists in 43 games while being a healthy scratch on multiple occasions. When he has been in the lineup, Kapanen is averaging just over 12 minutes a night which is a career low. However, prior to this season, he has been a capable middle-six winger, ranging between 11 and 20 goals over the last four seasons between Pittsburgh and Toronto while he is one of the faster players in the league as well.
With that track record, it’s understandable that St. Louis would want to take a flyer on Kapanen to try to restore some value. However, it does come with a somewhat notable salary commitment as the winger is in the first season of a two-year contract that carries a $3.2MM cap hit. As a result of that claim, the Blues will take the entirety of that contract on. Prior to the claim, they had nearly $71MM of commitments on the books for next season per CapFriendly with this claim pushing that number up to nearly $74MM for 16 players. That won’t leave them with a lot of wiggle room to add to the back of their roster.
To make room for Kapanen (who won’t play today against his now-former team) on their roster, the Blues announced (Twitter link) that forward Nikita Alexandrov has been sent down to AHL Springfield. The 22-year-old has five points in 20 games with St. Louis in his first taste of NHL action while he has done well in the minors, picking up 12 goals and 10 helpers in 28 contests with the Thunderbirds.
Meanwhile, it’s a disappointing end to Kapanen’s tenure with Pittsburgh with the team moving a first-round pick to reacquire him from Toronto less than two and a half years ago. However, the move gives them some much-needed financial flexibility. Being claimed allowed the Penguins to activate Jan Rutta from LTIR without needing to make any other roster moves while they will now have a bit more space to try to add another piece before the trade deadline.
Salary Cap Deep Dive: Toronto Maple Leafs
Navigating the salary cap is one of the more important tasks for any GM. Teams that can avoid total cap chaos by walking the tightrope of inking players to deals that match their value (or compensate for future value without breaking the bank) remain successful. Those that don’t see struggles and front office changes.
Over the past several months, PHR has looked at every NHL team and given a thorough look at their cap situation for the 2022-23 season and beyond. This is the final piece of the series. This will focus more on players who are regulars on the roster versus those who may find themselves shuttling between the AHL and NHL. All cap figures are courtesy of CapFriendly.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Current Cap Hit: $88,851,650 (over the $82.5MM Upper Limit)
Entry-Level Contracts
F Pontus Holmberg (one year, $827.5K)
F Nicholas Robertson (two years, $796.7K)
Potential Bonuses
None
Robertson has been viewed as one of Toronto’s top prospects for a few years now. However, injuries have limited him significantly in the pros and he’s out for the rest of this season after undergoing shoulder surgery. The Maple Leafs frequently use bridge contracts and he’s a very strong candidate to get one. If he returns to health and produces, it could be around the $1.5MM mark but it’s likely to come in below that. Holmberg fit in nicely in Toronto’s bottom six and is playing his way into consideration for a full-time spot beyond this season although he’s back in the minors for the time being. Even so, with their cap situation and Holmberg’s limited NHL experience, a short-term bridge deal around the $1MM range is where his next deal should fall.
Signed Through 2022-23, Non-Entry-Level
F Noel Acciari ($1.25MM, UFA)
F Joey Anderson ($750K, RFA)
F Zach Aston-Reese ($840.6K, UFA)
D Jordie Benn ($750K, UFA)
F Michael Bunting ($950K, UFA)
F Pierre Engvall ($2.25MM, UFA)
D Justin Holl ($2MM, UFA)
F David Kampf ($1.5MM, UFA)
F Alex Kerfoot ($3.5MM, UFA)
D Victor Mete ($750K, RFA)
F Ryan O’Reilly ($1.875MM, UFA)*
G Ilya Samsonov ($1.8MM, RFA)
F Wayne Simmonds ($900K, UFA)
*-St. Louis is retaining 50% of O’Reilly’s cap hit ($3.75MM) and Minnesota is retaining an additional 25% ($1.875MM).
Kerfoot’s hold of a roster spot in Toronto has seemingly been in question for about three of his four years with the team but it’s not because he has a bad contract by any stretch. He’s on pace to push for 40 points again which, coupled with his ability to play center and the wing, should have him earning another million or so on his next deal, one that’s likely to be for more years than this four-year agreement he’s finishing now. Engvall is a capable depth forward but hasn’t shown the ability to produce consistently. Since he doesn’t kill penalties too frequently either, his market might not be the strongest. He could get something close to this amount but not considerably higher. Kampf isn’t much of a scorer himself but with him being good on faceoffs and killing penalties, there should be a market for him that should land him a multi-year deal closer to the $2MM (or even $2.5MM if enough teams show interest.).
Then there are the newcomers. O’Reilly has had a tough year this season but has a long and proven track record as a key two-way player. At 32, he still should be able to land a sizable agreement on a multi-year deal but it’s likely to be for at least a couple million less than his base $7.5MM AAV unless he has a big finish to his season with Toronto; he’s off to a good start on that front. As for Acciari, he had a nice bounce-back showing in the bottom six with St. Louis before the swap and, as a player who can hold his own on the third line or anchor the fourth, can kill penalties, plays with an edge, and win faceoffs, he’ll have a stronger market than he did last summer which should lead to a multi-year agreement and an AAV closer to the $2MM mark at least.
Bunting is going to be a particularly intriguing case to follow. He has been one of the top bargains in the NHL these last two years, providing top-six production for depth forward money. Even with what’s still a limited track record, there are enough comparable deals that could realistically push his asking price past the $5MM mark on a long-term agreement. Is that one Toronto will be able to fit into their salary structure? That’s one of the questions they’ll certainly be pondering. Aston-Reese didn’t have a strong market last summer and likely hasn’t done enough to change that so he should stay in this price range. Simmonds, if he plays another year, will be at the league minimum while Anderson should wind up there as well.
Holl might not be a top-end defender but he has held his own while logging around 21 minutes a night this season. He’s also a right-shot player, the handedness that’s always in high demand. While he was a depth defender early on in his time with the Leafs, that’s not the case now and he could add at least $1MM on his next contract which could very well price his way out of Toronto. Benn and Mete both signed minimum deals back in July and their markets haven’t changed significantly since then. Mete is arbitration-eligible once more but because he has 247 career games under his belt, he’s likely to be non-tendered to avoid that risk.
Samsonov chose to sign with Toronto in the hopes of rebuilding his value. That decision has worked out rather well so far as he is staking claim to the starting role. We’ve seen the price tag for young goalies with limited experience go up considerably lately (Samsonov has less than 130 NHL appearances even including the playoffs) and it’s plausible that his next deal could push past the $5MM mark.
Signed Through 2023-24
D T.J. Brodie ($5MM, UFA)
D Mark Giordano ($800K, UFA)
D Timothy Liljegren ($1.4MM, RFA)
F Auston Matthews ($11.64MM, UFA)
G Matt Murray ($4.688MM, UFA)*
D Jake Muzzin ($5.625MM, UFA)
F William Nylander ($6.962MM, UFA)
D Rasmus Sandin ($1.4MM, RFA)
*-Ottawa is retaining an additional $1.5625MM (25%) on Murray’s deal.
It has been widely expected for several years now that Matthews will set the new standard for the highest AAV in the NHL when he signs his next contract. It’s not a matter of if he’ll pass Nathan MacKinnon ($12.6MM starting next season) but by how much. He has been the top goal-scorer in the NHL in the past two seasons and even in a bit of a down year this season, he’s still averaging over a point per game. Matthews will hit the open market at the age of 26 when he’s clearly in the prime of his career. Top centers rarely make it to free agency and if he’s going to be the rare exception, there will be plenty of interest, even at a record-setting price tag.
What happens with Matthews could very well dictate if Toronto can afford to re-sign Nylander as well. He cracked the 80-point mark last season for the first time and is playing at a 95-point pace this year. One more season around that type of production and it’s quite possible that the AAV on a max-term deal for him will push past the $10MM plateau as well. Even if there’s a jump in the Upper Limit by then, keeping both players will be tricky.
Muzzin has spent most of the season on the injured list and there are questions about his ability to return, not only this year but beyond that. He has been ruled out for the rest of 2022-23 as expected, but unless they know that Muzzin isn’t coming back period, any other moves they make will also be limited to rentals. At this point, it doesn’t seem likely that the veteran will be able to command anywhere near this type of money if he is able to come back. As for Brodie, he continues to be a mobile and steady veteran that can kill penalties, log big minutes, play on both sides, and chip in with a few points. Nothing flashy but that type of role is one that’s always in demand. He’ll be 34 when he hits the open market but even so, a deal similar to his current one (four years at $5MM per season) could be doable.
Sandin showed a fair bit of offensive upside in the past and slowly but surely, he’s starting to produce a little more in Toronto. He’s on his bridge deal now, one that carries a $1.6MM qualifying offer. Assuming he continues to develop and starts to push his way into more playing time, he should be able to more than double that with arbitration rights. Liljegren is in a very similar situation although his offensive upside hasn’t been viewed as high as Sandin’s. But otherwise, both players are gradually improving and are trending toward eventual top-four roles. Liljegren’s qualifier checks in at $1.5MM next summer and he, too, should double that at least if he continues to progress. Giordano accepted a contract that was well below market value to stay with his hometown team. If he was to sign another deal, it’d be for his age-41 season and at that point, he’s likely to be around the minimum salary once again.
Murray has had flashes of dominance mixed in with struggles and injuries which is what happened in his previous stops with Ottawa and Pittsburgh as well. When he’s on his game, he’s a capable starting goaltender but the inconsistency will hurt him. When he signed this contract, Murray was viewed as a goalie on the rise. That shouldn’t be the case in 2024 where he’s likely to be viewed as more of a mid-tier netminder. The market rate for those types of players is closer to the $4MM range.
Signed Through 2024-25
F Mitch Marner ($10.903MM, UFA)
F John Tavares ($11MM, UFA)
D Conor Timmins ($850K in 2022-23, $1.1MM in 2023-24 and 2024-25)
G Joseph Woll ($767K, RFA)
Tavares certainly hasn’t played poorly since joining Toronto as he’s averaging just under a point per game in his five seasons with the team but that’s not a great return on one of the priciest UFA deals in NHL history either. The flattened salary cap – something that couldn’t have been foreseen at the time this deal was signed – has also exacerbated the effect of this contract on their cap situation. That all said, he’s still a very important piece for the Maple Leafs but if he’s going to sign a second contract with the team, it will need to be for considerably less than this to fit what their financial outlook is likely to be if they keep their other core pieces.
Marner has been one of the top-scoring wingers in the league for the last several seasons. Over the last five years, only one – Artemi Panarin – has more points than he does. With the cap set to be higher in 2025, it stands to reason that he could take aim at setting the new benchmark for a contract for a winger; Panarin checks in at $11.643MM. Marner will be 28 when this contract kicks in so it’s pretty much a lock that he’ll be securing a max-term agreement if he wants it on the open market.
Timmins was picked up early in the season from Arizona and has done quite well in a limited role which earned him the extension earlier this month. If he can lock down a full-time spot and continues to produce, his next contract could be more than double what he’ll start getting next season.
Woll doesn’t have much NHL action under his belt but with two years left at an AAV that will be below the league minimum next season, he’s the odds-on favorite to be the backup at some point during that stretch. Exactly when that permanent promotion comes will go a long way toward determining how much his next contract will be. If he’s established by then, it could be as high as the $3MM range.
Flyers Recall Elliot Desnoyers
The Flyers are giving one of their more promising prospects his first taste of NHL action as the team announced (Twitter link) that they’ve recalled winger Elliot Desnoyers from Lehigh Valley of the AHL. He will make his NHL debut tonight against New Jersey.
The 21-year-old was a fifth-round pick by Philadelphia back in 2020 (135th overall) but has certainly outperformed his draft stock since then. He became an impact scorer at the major junior level after being drafted, recording 137 points in 108 games with Halifax of the QMJHL after being selected which helped him earn a spot on Canada’s entry into the World Juniors last summer.
This season, Desnoyers has made the adjustment to playing in the pros and has done quite well, leading the Phantoms in scoring with 19 goals and 17 assists in 48 games. He’ll now get a chance to see if that scoring touch can translate to the NHL level.
To make room for Desnoyers on the roster, the Flyers placed winger Travis Konecny on injured reserve. He suffered an upper-body injury on Monday against Calgary and there’s no timeline for how long he’ll be out.
Avalanche Assign Jonas Johansson To AHL, Recall Justus Annunen
Following last night’s victory over Winnipeg where he dressed as the backup goaltender, the Avalanche returned goaltender Jonas Johansson to AHL Colorado, per the AHL’s transactions log. In a corresponding move, Justus Annunen has been recalled from the Eagles.
Johansson has spent the majority of the season in the minors, posting an impressive 2.50 GAA along with a .915 SV% in 23 games. The 27-year-old also has made one appearance with the Avs, kicking aside all seven shots he faced in 23 minutes while extending his streak to four years of seeing NHL action.
Annunen, meanwhile, saw his first NHL action of the season last Saturday against St. Louis, stopping 19 of 20 shots for the victory. The 22-year-old has put up similar numbers to Johansson with the Eagles with a 2.53 GAA and a .913 SV% in 29 contests. Still a prospect, it has made sense for the Avs to keep him in the minors and the older Johansson up with the big club to serve as the backup so this move suggests that Annunen might get the start tonight against Calgary.
Senators Recall Mark Kastelic, Assign Ridly Greig To AHL
The Senators have made a pair of roster moves in advance of their game tonight against Montreal, announcing (Twitter link) that they have recalled center Mark Kastelic from AHL Belleville while assigning rookie middleman Ridly Greig back to the minors.
Kastelic has spent the majority of the season with Ottawa, getting into 43 games with the big club. However, he only collected four goals and a single assist in that stretch in a little over nine minutes per night so following the All-Star break, the team elected to have him spend some time with Belleville. The decision worked as Kastelic picked up a goal and four assist in just seven contests with the Baby Sens.
As for Greig, the 20-year-old held his own in his first taste of NHL action, picking up a goal and three helpers in 11 games while averaging 13:29 per night. However, for the time being, they’ve decided that Greig should play a bigger role with Belleville for the time being who is trying to get back into the AHL playoff picture. He has done well at that level this season as a first-year pro, tallying 12 goals and 11 assists in 28 games so far. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Greig back up with Ottawa at some point in the next few weeks, especially if the Sens wind up seeing some more veterans over the next few days.
Danis Zaripov Announces Retirement
After a long and illustrious KHL career, Danis Zaripov has announced his retirement. Zaripov famously flirted with the idea of coming to the NHL in 2017 when the IIHF suspended him for two years after testing positive for pseudoephedrine, an ingredient commonly found in allergy medicine. Zaripov ultimately had his suspension reduced to just six months and returned to the KHL.
Zaripov is a KHL legend, having won five Gagarin Cup championships and finishing third all-time in KHL scoring. He is also a decorated international player having won five World Championship medals.
While Zaripov is not a name that is well known in North America, he hangs up his skates as one of the most admired players in Russian hockey history after completing a professional career that spans over two decades.
Trade Deadline Primer: Ottawa Senators
The trade deadline looms and is now just a week away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Ottawa Senators.
After a flurry of high-profile acquisitions in the summer of 2022, expectations were that the Ottawa Senators would compete for a playoff spot. This didn’t look very likely as the calendar flipped to 2023, but a 7-2-1 run in their last ten games has brought them back to life. The Senators haven’t made the playoffs since their miracle run in 2017, but now sit within six points of the final wildcard spot in the jam-packed Eastern Conference.
While the fans in Ottawa have reason to be excited about the future, the team’s recent success has put GM Pierre Dorion in a precarious position as he enters the final week before the NHL trade deadline.
Record
27-25-4, 7th in the Atlantic
Deadline Status
Unclear
Deadline Cap Space
Current cap space $17.89MM, Deadline cap space $20.87MM, 1/3 retention slots used, 44/50 Contracts used, per CapFriendly.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2023: OTT 1st, OTT 4th, OTT 5th, OTT 6th, OTT 7th, NSH 7th, NYR 7th
2024: OTT 1st, OTT 2nd, WSH 2nd, OTT 4th, TB 4th, OTT 5th, OTT 6th
Trade Chips
The biggest asset the Senators have at the trade deadline is cap space. Ottawa is one of the few teams who can add significant salary this season. This opens up endless possibilities for Dorion to get creative to facilitate a blockbuster trade, take on bad contracts, or act as a middleman and retain salary to acquire more assets.
In terms of on-ice assets, the Senators do have a few UFA veterans who could be of interest to teams that are looking to shore up their depth.
Cam Talbot has had a forgettable first season in Ottawa. Between injuries and poor play, he has significantly hurt his stock as he heads to free agency this summer. He was acquired last July from the Minnesota Wild in a goalie swap for Filip Gustavsson. Since the trade, Gustavsson has flourished in the Twin Cities, while Talbot has failed to find his game. This has led to Talbot being mentioned on trade rumor boards for over a month. Talbot may not fetch the Senators much more than a late-round pick, but could be of interest to teams looking to add a veteran backup.
On the backend, Travis Hamonic could interest teams looking for a depth defenseman who can kill penalties. Hamonic has averaged over 19 minutes of ice time per game this season, and while he won’t chip in much offensively, he can be a steadying force for a young defenseman. Hamonic is a pending UFA and could likely be had for a mid-round pick should GM Pierre Dorion opt to sell in the final days before the trade deadline.
One last piece that could be of interest to teams looking to add toughness is Austin Watson. The former Nashville Predator has just six points this season in 52 games, but any acquiring team wouldn’t be adding the former first-round pick for his offensive game. Watson has 63 PIMs this season and has been one of a handful of veterans tasked with mentoring a young Ottawa Senators forward group. Watson could likely be had for a late-round pick should a team look to add toughness.
Other potential trade chips: D Nick Holden, F Derick Brassard
Team Needs
1) Top-four Defenseman: Ottawa has long sought a right-shot top-four defenseman to pair with Thomas Chabot or Jake Sanderson. It was rumored last summer that Dorion inquired about Pittsburgh defenseman John Marino before he was dealt to New Jersey. Although he is not a right-shot defender, Jakob Chychrun is a name that has long been rumored to be on Dorion’s radar. But a move has yet to be made as Arizona has held onto the player in hopes of having their high price tag met.
2) Starting Goaltender: Ottawa hasn’t had stability between the pipes since Craig Anderson took them to within a goal of the Stanley Cup Finals in 2017. While Anton Forsberg had a career year last year, his numbers fell off a cliff this season, leading to another year of instability in the Ottawa crease. The Senators do see 22-year-old Mads Sogaard as their goaltender of the future, however injuries and uneven play have stunted his young career. The 6-7 netminder has shown promise in limited NHL action, but with the Senators moving out of the rebuilding phase, it may be time to acquire a stable NHL-ready starting goaltender.