Colorado Avalanche Recall Keith Kinkaid
The Colorado Avalanche recalled Keith Kinkaid from the AHL Colorado Eagles to serve as the team’s emergency backup goaltender during the playoffs, the team said Tuesday.
Kinkaid, 33, spent most of this season in the minors with the Providence Bruins but got into some action with the Eagles after Colorado acquired him from Boston on February 25. In 27 games with the Bruins and Eagles, Kinkaid had a 12-10-4 record with a 2.92 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage.
In his lone action with Colorado this season, Kinkaid made eight saves on nine shots in relief in a March 4 game against the Dallas Stars.
Kinkaid has NHL experience, having played in 169 games over the course of his career with the New Jersey Devils, Montreal Canadiens, and New York Rangers, including one appearance each this season with Boston and Colorado. He has a career record of 70-58-21 with a 2.91 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage.
For the time being, Kinkaid will be Colorado’s third option in goal behind starter Alexandar Georgiev and backup Pavel Francouz, who was cleared to play last week after missing nearly two months with a lower-body injury.
The Eagles are in the AHL’s Calder Cup Playoffs and begin their First Round series against the Ontario Reign tomorrow night. Kinkaid will likely stay up with the NHL club for the time being, as he’s been outperformed in the minors by both Jonas Johansson and Justus Annunen this season.
PHR Playoff Primer: Colorado Avalanche vs. Seattle Kraken
With the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs now underway, PHR makes its first foray into playoff series analysis with our 2023 Playoff Primers. Where does each team stand in their series, and what storylines could dominate on and off the ice? We wrap up our First Round coverage with the Central Division matchup between the Colorado Avalanche and Seattle Kraken.
Some in NHL circles had optimistic expectations for the initial Seattle Kraken roster after their expansion draft and free agency period. While there were notable names general manager Ron Francis opted not to add to his lineup, the team he constructed was analytically sound and, if their transition game held up, could be competitive in a weak Western Conference.
Needless to say, it didn’t turn out that way. A finish near the bottom of the league gave Seattle two high-end center prospects in their first two drafts, with one of them the frontrunner for this year’s Calder Trophy. Slightly improved goaltending and high-end depth scoring have positioned the Kraken as the most-improved expansion team from year 1 to 2 in NHL history, but their first foray into the postseason won’t be easy.
Despite finishing with 100 points, Seattle failed to clinch a divisional playoff spot thanks to other divisional rivals going on massive winning streaks at the right time. Unfortunately, that means they face off against the Colorado Avalanche, who finished third in the conference despite significant injuries and, if you happened to forget, are the defending Stanley Cup champions.
Regular Season Performance
Colorado: 51-24-7, 109 points, +54 goal differential
Seattle: 46-28-8, 100 points, +33 goal differential
Head-To-Head
October 21, 2022: Seattle 3, Colorado 2
January 21, 2023: Colorado 2, Seattle 1 (SO)
March 5, 2023: Seattle 3, Colorado 2 (OT)
Seattle takes the season series 2-0-1
Team Storylines
Seattle will need all hands on deck if they’re to win their first-ever playoff series against Colorado. The Avalanche are as healthy as they’re going to get to start the postseason, and they finished the regular season on an 8-1-1 tear.
That means a lot of pressure on rookie Matthew Beniers, the presumptive Calder Trophy winner who centers the team’s top line between Jared McCann and Jordan Eberle. He finished fourth on the team in scoring with 57 points in 80 games, but it’s his strong two-way game that grabbed the attention of most this season, especially for such a young player.
It begs the question — will Beniers see matchups against Nathan MacKinnon? If so, can his promising defensive analytics yield success for the Kraken in helping to slow down one of the best playoff performers in recent memory? Few would be surprised to see coach Dave Hakstol utilize a more experienced option at center against MacKinnon, such as Alexander Wennberg or Yanni Gourde, but Beniers’ all-around play in the regular season has earned him a chance at heavy usage in the playoffs.
The larger factor that could lead to a Kraken upset, though, is their well-balanced attack. Seattle had six 20-goal scorers this season, including bottom-six talents Oliver Bjorkstrand and Daniel Sprong. While goals from your bottom six are generally a key to success in the playoffs, some numbers suggest the Kraken have scored more goals than they’ve earned. The Kraken scored 32.6 goals above expected at even-strength this season, per MoneyPuck, leading the league by a wide margin. If their elite finishing runs dry, it could be a quick exit for Seattle.
In net for Seattle will be Philipp Grubauer, who had some decent playoff outings in past years while a member of the Avalanche. He’s seemed to regain some of his former touch after an incredibly disappointing first year with the Kraken, posting a 14-7-3 record and .902 save percentage in 26 games since the calendar turned to 2023.
For Seattle to pull off the upset, he’ll need to match his Colorado counterpart. Alexandar Georgiev has quietly given the Avalanche high-end goaltending in his first season with the team. The 27-year-old silenced all doubts by starting 62 games, leading the league with 40 wins, and stopping 21.9 goals above expected (MoneyPuck). He’ll be making his first career playoff start tonight, though, only appearing in two games in relief during last year’s playoff run with the New York Rangers.
Colorado’s secondary objective in this series, other than continuing their championship defense, will be to escape without another significant injury. They’ll be without captain Gabriel Landeskog for the entire postseason, and all of their right-side defenders (Cale Makar, Bowen Byram, and Josh Manson) have missed significant periods of time.
Staying healthy allows Colorado to match Seattle at their strength — scoring from the middle six. Colorado’s top talent obviously overtakes that of Seattle, and while only Artturi Lehkonen registered 20 goals this year outside of MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, a healthy group of depth forwards can still score enough to give Colorado a series win.
Prediction
There’s no question the Kraken will come out excited, especially given their opponent. But hoping for some expansion team magic in the style of the Vegas Golden Knights’ first playoff appearance may be a little misguided.
Questions about consistency in goal still plague the Kraken, and, if Georgiev maintains his regular season performance, are enough to be the difference in this series alone. Colorado’s healthy top four on defense still remains the best in the West and are a viable antidote to Seattle’s consistent offense.
The prediction: Colorado wins in five games.
Snapshots: Wolanin, Dawes, Svechnikov
The AHL continues its award week by handing out the Eddie Shore Award to Christian Wolanin, the league’s most outstanding defenseman for 2022-23. The Abbotsford Canucks defender scored six goals and 55 points in 49 games.
Wolanin, 28, has been on the fringe of the NHL for years, moving up and down but rarely seeing any extended action at the highest level. Since debuting in the 2017-18 season, he has appeared in 86 career NHL games, recording 23 points.
- It’s been years since Nigel Dawes was a regular in the NHL, so fans in North America may not know about his overseas exploits. The 38-year-old finally called it a career today, after spending the last 12 years playing in the KHL and DEL. One of the most prolific offensive players in KHL history, he scored 84 points in 212 NHL games before leaving for international opportunities in 2011.
- While he won’t be able to help the Carolina Hurricanes this postseason, Andrei Svechnikov hopes to be ready for training camp. Svechnikov tore his ACL and underwent surgery on March 16, and was given a six to nine-month recovery timeline. The talented forward is well into his rehab, working out every day in preparation for his return in 2023-24. Even though he can’t help them on the ice, Svechnikov is still part of the team, winding the siren to excite the home crowd before last night’s game.
Florida Panthers Sign Uvis Balinskis
The Florida Panthers have made an interesting free agent addition, signing Uvis Balinskis to a one-year entry-level contract. The deal is for the 2023-24 season, since he would not be eligible to play for them this year.
General manager Bill Zito released the following:
Uvis is a productive defenseman who has proven his impressive two-way skillset at an elite level in Europe. We look forward having a player of his caliber in our system.
Balinskis, 26, has been linked to the NHL for years now. In 2017, when Dan Milstein was hired as his agent, he said that the “NHL is next” for the Latvian defenseman after an impressive performance at the World Championships.
A contract in North America never materialized, and he kept playing in the KHL and then the Czech pro league for the next several years. While suiting up for Liberec Bili Tygri HC this season, he scored 35 points in 50 games. He also took part in the Olympics last year for Latvia, and is a very experienced puck-mover.
Whether he can crack an NHL lineup remains to be seen. The undersized defenseman will have his work cut out for him, though there will be some opportunity in Florida. Radko Gudas, Anthony Bitetto, and Marc Staal are all scheduled for unrestricted free agency, impacting the team’s depth chart.
It seems like a longshot, although it is a very low-risk one. The Panthers will lose a contract slot and a few hundred thousand dollars for the chance to see if Balinskis can make a smooth transition to North America.
Danila Yurov Signs KHL Extension
Minnesota Wild fans are all too familiar with the struggle of getting Russian players to North America can be. They had to wait years for Kirill Kaprizov to finally make his way to the NHL, despite everyone knowing he was talented enough to excel there. The current political climate affecting relationships between the two leagues could prove even more difficult. You can understand why there was trepidation, then, when they picked Danila Yurov 24th overall last year.
After spending the full 2022-23 season in the KHL, the 19-year-old forward has re-signed with Magnitogorsk. Michael Russo of The Athletic reports it is just a one-year extension, however, which is rather unusual for young players and potentially good news for the Wild. That means Yurov’s deal will expire at the end of 2023-24, and provide him with another opportunity to come to Minnesota, if he feels that’s best for his development.
This season, Yurov averaged just over eight minutes a game during the regular season, and even less in the playoffs. While that’s not totally unusual for a young player just trying to break in, the KHL also has a habit of limiting the exposure for players they expect to leave Russia in the coming years. It is often only when a new contract is signed that they receive a boost in ice time.
Whether this new one-year deal will result in more playing time for Yurov isn’t clear, but the talented forward showed he could still produce even in limited action. He had six goals and 12 points, and Metallurg outscored opponents 20-12 when he was on the ice. While Minnesota focuses on their current team and chasing a Stanley Cup, the front office will keep an eye on Yurov’s development overseas. He could be a significant piece, should they be able to bring him over in the coming years.
NHL Central Scouting Releases Final 2023 Rankings
The final rankings from NHL Central Scouting are out, and surprise, surprise, Connor Bedard is the top-ranked player for the 2023 draft. Bedard will almost certainly be the first-overall selection at this summer’s draft. Central Scouting vice president Dan Marr says this about the talented forward:
Bedard has the elite skills and attributes that elite NHL players have, and it’s the precision in which he reads the play, is always in the right place and how he executes and capitalizes on plays.
What places him in that Connor McDavid-special category is his natural presence of mind and instincts that allow him to channel all these attributes to dominate when the opportunity is there and when it’s needed most by his team.
Second place goes to Adam Fantilli, as expected, who recently won the Hobey Baker as college hockey’s top player. The 6’2″ power forward would lead the way in many draft classes, and will be a very nice consolation prize for the second lottery winner.
Notably, the North American list is dominated by forwards. The top-ranked defenseman, Lukas Dragicevic, doesn’t appear until no. 18.
The top ten North America skaters are:
- Connor Bedard, Regina Pats (WHL)
- Adam Fantilli, Michigan (NCAA)
- William Smith, USNTDP
- Matthew Wood, UConn (NCAA)
- Ryan Leonard, USNTDP
- Zach Benson, Winnipeg Ice (WHL)
- Nate Danielson, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
- Oliver Moore, USNTDP
- Samuel Honzek, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
- Gabriel Perreault, USNTDP
On the international side, Swedish center Leo Carlsson comes in at the top of the list, ahead of Russian sniper Matvei Michkov, whose path to the NHL is still unclear. The European group is much more positionally balanced, too, with three defensemen coming in the top ten, led by Swiss pro David Reinbacher.
The top ten international skaters are:
- Leo Carlsson, Orebro (SHL)
- Matvei Michkov, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)
- Dalibor Dvorsky, AIK (Allsvenskan)
- Eduard Sale, Brno (Czech)
- David Reinbacher, Kloten (NL)
- Otto Stenberg, Frolunda (Sweden Jr.)
- Axel Sandin Pellikka, Skelleftea (Sweden Jr.)
- Lenni Hameenaho, Assat (Liiga)
- Daniil But, Yaroslavl (Russia Jr.)
- Mikhail Gulyayev, Omsk (Russia Jr.)
The NHL draft lottery will be held on May 8, with the Anaheim Ducks holding the best chance to land the first pick. The draft itself starts on June 28, with rounds 2-7 the following day.
No Supplemental Discipline Coming For Matt Dumba
The Minnesota Wild scored an impressive overtime victory over the Dallas Stars last night, but some wondered whether they would lose a key defenseman for the next matchup. Matt Dumba‘s huge hit on Joe Pavelski caused a ton of chatter across the hockey world, with some believing it was a clear suspension and others seeing it as a legal hit.
Greg Wyshynski of ESPN reports that the league falls in the latter category. There will be no supplemental discipline for Dumba, with Wyshynski’s NHL source saying it was “close to being late, but within [the] allowable window.”
Dumba earned a two-minute roughing penalty on the play after a review from the on-ice officials deemed it not worthy of a five-minute penalty.
Pavelski would play just over ten minutes, recording an assist before exiting with a head injury.
This is not the first time that the veteran forward has been involved in a controversial (and scary) playoff incident. In 2019, while still with the San Jose Sharks, he landed awkwardly on the ice after a faceoff against the Vegas Golden Knights as blood pooled under his head. The Sharks received a five-minute powerplay for that event, a decision that even Pavelski didn’t agree with in the light of day.
The Stars are now down a game and potentially without one of their leaders for a little while. Head coach Peter DeBoer explained last night that Pavelski was doing okay, but that he wasn’t confident about his status for game two.
Toronto Maple Leafs Recall Erik Kallgren
As the playoffs begin, every team in the league has added a third goaltender to serve as an emergency backup. In Toronto, things are no different, as Erik Kallgren has been brought up from the minor leagues. This recall though, sheds some light on another situation.
Kallgren’s addition means that Matt Murray, who missed the end of the season with a head injury, cannot yet play for the team. Joseph Woll will move into the backup role behind Ilya Samsonov, with no clear timeline on the injured netminder’s return.
This wasn’t the plan when the Maple Leafs acquired Murray, but it is a scenario that shouldn’t surprise anyone. The two-time Stanley Cup-winning goaltender has been unable to stay healthy for the last few years. That was part of why the Ottawa Senators were willing to eat some of his contract to send him down the road to Toronto.
Murray played in just 26 games this season with the Maple Leafs, posting a .903 save percentage and 3.01 goals-against average. With another year left on his contract, it’s unclear how Toronto will sort out the goaltending for 2023-24. Samsonov is a pending RFA with a great arbitration case, and Woll has shown he is ready for the NHL.
For now, the club is focused on the Tampa Bay Lightning and the first-round series that starts tonight. Samsonov and Woll is the tandem they’ll go with, as they try to finally get over the disappointments of the past.
East Notes: Capitals Coaches, Red Wings, Karmanos
The Washington Capitals had a disappointing season, and it has resulted in some changes behind the bench. Peter Laviolette was already let go by the club and the team announced earlier today that his two assistant coaches would be leaving the organization as well. The Capitals finished the season with 80 points and missed the playoffs for just the second time since 2008, resulting in assistant coaches Kevin McCarthy and Blaine Forsythe losing their positions.
McCarthy was behind the Capitals bench for three seasons and has a lengthy resume on NHL benches. He has worked for the Capitals, Nashville Predators, Philadelphia Flyers, Carolina Hurricanes and Hartford Whalers in a coaching career that dates back to 1992. Forsythe has been with the Capitals his entire professional career, which dates back to 2006. He worked as a video coach before moving into a scouting role and then stepping behind the bench as an assistant in 2009. He has served in that role for the past 14 seasons, now the Capitals will look to shuffle the deck on the bench going forward.
- With the Detroit Red Wings season ended, a couple of players have already committed to the upcoming World Championships. Lucas Raymond will suit up for Sweden, according to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press. The 21 year old Raymond scored 17 goals and 45 points in 74 games for the Red Wings, following up his 57-point rookie season. The World Championships are set to take place in Finland and Latvia in May.
- Also heading to the World Championships from the Red Wings is Olli Maatta, Seth Rorabaugh of Tribune-Review Sports reports. Maatta is a veteran defenseman who scored 23 points in 78 games for the Red Wings. The native of Jyvaskyla, Finland has a chance to perform in his home country and compete for a medal.
- Also of note, Darren Dreger of TSN reports Jason Karmanos is a sought after general manager candidate. Karmanos is currently the assistant general manager of the Buffalo Sabres and has a long history of working in NHL front office roles, dating back to 1998 when he held the same position with the Carolina Hurricanes. Dreger mentions Karmanos could be an option to replace recently-fired Ron Hextall who was the GM with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Karmanos held roles as the VP of Hockey Operations as well as assistant general manager in Pittsburgh between 2014 and 2021.
Patrice Bergeron Out For Game 1
The Boston Bruins set several regular season records with their tremendous play this season including the most wins (65) ever in a single season and the most points (135) in the standings in NHL history as well. The Bruins have a deep roster at every position, and are poised for a long playoff run that begins tonight when they host the Florida Panthers. Unfortunately, the Bruins will be without a key member of the team for Game 1.
Patrice Bergeron will miss the opening night of the playoffs, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. Bergeron is dealing with an illness that is going around the Bruins locker room, and was unable to suit up for the opening game of the playoffs. It is impossible to overstate Bergeron’s importance to the Bruins success as he is arguably the best defensive center in the league, and also scored 27 goals and 58 points in 78 games this season.
The Bruins are deep down the middle of the ice, and will move Pavel Zacha, who had 21 goals and 57 points this season to center on the top line. David Krejci scored 16 goals and 56 points in 70 games this season, Charlie Coyle and Tomas Nosek give the Bruins impressive depth down the middle even without their top center.
Bergeron left the Bruins final regular season game after playing just five minutes, though it was said to be for precautionary reasons. An illness would signal a shorter-term absence and nothing to worry about as the playoffs progress. But, the 37-year-old missed a little time late in the season with nagging injuries and left their final game quickly just four days ago.
While the Bruins just won more regular season games than anyone, getting Bergeron back at 100% in short order would go a long way toward them reaching their ultimate goal for this season.