Detroit Red Wings Sit Nick Leddy For Asset Protection
The Detroit Red Wings will scratch defenseman Nick Leddy for the purpose of asset and injury protection tonight in Vancouver and potentially again on Saturday in Seattle, per Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli. Leddy joins other defensemen like Ben Chiarot and Mark Giordano who have been scratched precautiously by their teams in anticipation of a trade prior to Monday’s trade deadline.
In Detroit this season, Leddy has been a valuable mentor to their duo of young right-shot defensemen on the rise in Moritz Seider and Filip Hronek. After general manager Steve Yzerman acquired him this offseason from the New York Islanders, he’s netted a goal and 15 assists for 16 points in 55 games, averaging 21:33 per game.
With that stat-line and the reputation that precedes him, Detroit should likely be able to at least recoup the second-round pick they gave up to acquire him, especially if they retain half of his $5.5MM cap hit. Still a skilled passer at this point in his career, he can be used more effectively in a sheltered, third-pairing role, potentially with limited power-play time as well. Leddy’s defensive metrics took a nosedive in Detroit this season, although that could very well just be a byproduct of the entire team’s struggles in that regard.
Recent waiver claim Olli Juolevi, now on his third NHL organization after the Vancouver Canucks drafted him fifth overall in 2016, will continue to get what could be his last real chance to impress in an NHL top-four setting in Detroit.
Golden Knights Sign Derrick Pouliot To NHL Contract
There’s a new addition to the Vegas Golden Knights’ list of players under NHL contract, but likely not as big a splash as some fans hope for right now. The team has signed veteran defenseman Derrick Pouliot to a one-year NHL deal after he spent the first part of the 2021-22 season on an AHL deal with their affiliate in Henderson.
Per CapFriendly, Pouliot’s two-way deal pays him a $750,000 salary at the NHL level and a $350,000 salary at the AHL level.
Pouliot, the eighth overall selection in 2012 by Pittsburgh, hasn’t been an NHL regular since 2018-19 with the Vancouver Canucks. He does have over 200 games of NHL experience, though, and the Knights likely hope a combination of that and his offensively-minded game can provide a limited boost to their defense core, which just hasn’t jived well this season.
This is his first year in the Golden Knights organization.
Additionally, the team also sent down Brayden Pachal back to Henderson, giving Daniil Miromanov another call-up in his place. They also activated forwards Mattias Janmark and Brett Howden from injured reserve, allowing for them to return to the lineup tonight.
Injury Notes: Lehner, Jenner, Oilers
Multiple reports over the past day suggest that Vegas Golden Knights netminder Robin Lehner could be in danger of missing the rest of the regular season with a knee injury, adding to the laundry list of injuries that Lehner’s had to deal with this season. Backup goalie Laurent Brossoit has gone into a free fall since Lehner’s injury, with his save percentage dipping all the way down to .895 after a solid start to the season. Third-stringer Logan Thompson has also really struggled in his few starts this season, so there seems to be no clear answer within the organization at the moment. It’s likely going to force Vegas’ hand to trade for a goaltender at the deadline, as the team is eighth in the Western Conference and out of the playoff picture in terms of points percentage.
Other injury-related notes from around the league today:
- Columbus Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner remains week-to-week, per head coach Brad Larsen. Jenner suffered a lower-body injury nearly a week ago now, putting a stop to what’s been a career season for him. His 23 goals through 59 games are tied for the team lead, he’s third on the team in points with 44, and he’s averaged over 20 minutes a night as the team’s best center.
- Jesse Puljujarvi and Kris Russell are both making their returns to the Edmonton Oilers lineup tonight against the Sabres, per the team. The return of Russell signals a fully healthy blue line in Edmonton, allowing youngsters Philip Broberg and Markus Niemelainen to return to the AHL for additional development time. Puljujarvi returns to his normal office in the team’s top-six, where he had 28 points in 46 games prior to his injury.
Trade Rumors: Lindholm, Chychrun, Barabanov, De Haan
With just four days remaining before the Trade Deadline, Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reports that there hasn’t been much progress made on an extension between the Anaheim Ducks and defenseman Hampus Lindholm, and it’s unclear at this point whether general manager Pat Verbeek will circle back to try and work out a deal. Seravalli also relays that the current asking price for Lindholm is a first-round pick, a top prospect, and another asset. While Lindholm is still a quality defenseman after battling back from injury trouble the last few seasons, that’s an exorbitant asking price for a rental player with just 22 points in 61 games on the season. He’s second among Ducks blueliners in terms of ice time per game, being eclipsed by almost two minutes per game by Cam Fowler. Verbeek is playing a dangerous game here, and will likely have to up his extension offer or lower his asking price in order to retain value for Lindholm either way.
As the Trade Deadline creeps closer, some more notes from the trade market:
- Bally Sports Midwest’s Andy Strickland says it’s “looking more and more like” the Arizona Coyotes won’t be dealing defenseman Jakob Chychrun prior to the Trade Deadline. The much-talked-about defenseman is currently on the shelf with an ankle injury, which originally put his availability in question. Strickland says it doesn’t mean that the team is going to hang onto him long-term, though, as there’s still a high potential for Chychrun to get moved over the summer, potentially prior to the 2022 NHL Draft.
- The San Jose Sharks haven’t had any talks on a new deal for pending unrestricted free agent Alexander Barabanov, per The Mercury News’ Curtis Pashelka. Assistant general manager Joe Will, who’s in effect the team’s interim GM while Doug Wilson is away on a medical leave of absence, knows that “[the team] is trying to replenish” and is listening to offers on many other pending UFAs as well. Barabanov’s continued a strong end to the 2020-21 campaign after being acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs, posting 30 points in 51 games while receiving top-six minutes. It could be a bit of buyer beware in this case, though, as many advanced metrics suggest the 27-year-old’s production can be strongly attributed to playing with Tomas Hertl.
- The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta reports conversation surrounding Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Calvin de Haan is heating up, and specifically names the Toronto Maple Leafs as a team in the mix to acquire him. De Haan has just five points on the year, but he’s still an extremely capable two-way defenseman who’s helped stop the bleeding defensively this year in Chicago. He’s a solid case of a buy-low candidate who could flourish on a better team, which is exactly the type of player the Maple Leafs have targeted in recent months.
Mathieu Perreault, Tyler Benson Placed Clear Waivers
March 17: Both players have cleared waivers; Benson has already been loaned to the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors.
March 16: The Montreal Canadiens have placed Mathieu Perreault on waivers, as several players currently on injured reserve get closer to returning. He won’t be alone though, as the Edmonton Oilers have also waived Tyler Benson.
Perreault, 34, actually cleared waivers last season as well, though at that point it was more about his expensive cap hit than anything else. This time the veteran forward is signed for just $950K but has found himself out of the lineup for most of the year, due to injury or inconsistent on-ice play. In 18 games he has just three goals and five points, though that does include an assist in last night’s match against the Arizona Coyotes.
While he may intrigue some teams because of the 700 games of NHL experience, Perreault is long past the point of being a top-six contributor and would likely only fit as a depth piece on a contending squad. Even in Montreal he hasn’t been a regular and is averaging fewer than 12 minutes when he does get into the lineup.
Benson meanwhile is sort of on the other end of his career, unable to break into the league in the first place. The 24-year-old has been outstanding in the minors for several years, was the 32nd overall pick in 2016, and yet can’t seem to make an impact at the NHL level. In 29 games this season he has just two points, and is likely headed back to the AHL to make room for Jesse Puljujarvi should he clear tomorrow.
While Benson does have youth on his side, it’s very unclear at this point whether another team wants to give him a chance through the waivers process. Interestingly enough, clearing waivers actually could potentially raise his trade value for any deadline dealing the Oilers have in mind, as he would then be able to move up and down for any acquiring team instead of sitting on the NHL roster.
Prospect Notes: Helleson, Vlasic, Smilanic
When Drew Helleson was signed by the Anaheim Ducks just after they acquired his rights, they could have had the entry-level contract kick in right away. That would have meant burning the first season of the three-year deal though, something that the team avoided by having it start in 2022-23. With the deal not kicking in just yet, Helleson will be signing an amateur tryout contract with the San Diego Gulls for the rest of this season, according to Elliott Teaford of the OC Register.
The 20-year-old defenseman is coming off an outstanding season with Boston College and could very well be in the NHL as soon as next year, depending on how his transition to professional hockey goes. He’ll get an early chance to test that transition, and the Gulls need him. At 22-25-2 with 19 games remaining, the team is currently occupying the very last postseason spot in the Pacific Division.
- Another young defenseman who signed recently is in a very different situation. Alex Vlasic‘s entry-level deal kicks in right away, meaning he can get into the Chicago Blackhawks lineup whenever the coaching staff deems him ready. That could even be this weekend, according to head coach Derek King, who spoke to reporters including Scott Powers of The Athletic after today’s practice. Vlasic, who stands 6’6″ and spent the last few seasons as a rock-solid defender for Boston University, was the 43rd overall pick in 2019 and figures to step into a full-time role with the Blackhawks before long.
- Ty Smilanic, who was part of the Ben Chiarot trade yesterday, is very familiar to the front office of the Montreal Canadiens. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet writes how Jeff Gorton, Kent Hughes, and Martin St. Louis all have kids who played against the Quinnipiac star at one point and pushed hard for him in the trade talks. The 20-year-old Smilanic still needs to be signed before he officially joins the Canadiens’ organization.
Owen Tippett To Be Held Out Of AHL Lineup
The Florida Panthers, or more specifically the Charlotte Checkers, will be holding Owen Tippett out of the lineup tonight according to Darren Dreger of TSN, as trade rumors continue to swirl. Tippett has been linked directly to the Philadelphia Flyers in the past and Dreger once again notes the speculation surrounding Claude Giroux.
Tippett, 23, continues to be a dominant player at the AHL level, with points in 11 of his 12 games with the Checkers and eight in his last five appearances. That minor league success hasn’t really translated to the NHL to this point though, with the young forward racking up just 14 goals and 33 points in 94 career games. Important to remember when considering those numbers though is the role that Tippett has played for the Panthers, rarely seeing anywhere close to top-six minutes given their glut of other talented options. In fact, in his 42 appearances this season he’s broken the 15-minute mark just five times and averages 12:32 on the year.
There is reason to believe that Tippett can produce at a higher level if he’s given the chance. A brilliant goal scorer in the OHL, he was picked tenth overall in 2017. Because of his situation so far, there is actually an interesting opportunity for any acquiring team. Tippett will be a restricted free agent this summer but is still not arbitration-eligible. With his depressed NHL statistics, he won’t be able to negotiate much of a raise over his entry-level salary and perhaps would even be open to a multi-year bridge deal at a relatively low cost. If someone believes that he can take a big step forward quickly–and a team like the Flyers is known to want players that can make an impact right away as they try to avoid a rebuild–he could provide quite a bit of excess value.
An injury at this point would certainly throw a wrench in those plans, meaning Tippett will likely be held out through Monday or until a trade is completed. Giroux meanwhile is set to play in his 1,000th game with the Flyers tonight, a threshold that needed to happen before any deal was possible.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
New York Rangers Have Shown Interest In Alexander Radulov
In most trade speculation about the Dallas Stars, the big names being thrown around are John Klingberg and Braden Holtby. Both players are unlikely to be moved by Monday’s deadline according to general manager Jim Nill, but there is another name on an expiring contract that has drawn at least some interest. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet writes in his latest 32 Thoughts column that the New York Rangers have shown interest in Alexander Radulov.
Whether that interest remains after the Rangers acquired Frank Vatrano from the Florida Panthers this week is unclear, though Radulov’s name is an interesting one that hasn’t been brought up much. The 35-year-old forward is on the final season of a five-year, $31.25MM contract he signed in 2017 and holds a 15-team no-trade clause. He’s also been almost entirely irrelevant this season for the Stars, registering just three goals and 18 points in 52 games.
As team reporter Mike Heika tweets, Radulov is once again expected to play on the fourth line when the Stars take on his old team the Montreal Canadiens this evening. The veteran forward has been seeing less and less ice time as the season progresses, averaging just over 11 min since the start of February (16 games). That’s a far cry from the player who was over 20 minutes a night in his first year with Dallas, one of the two consecutive 72-point campaigns he put up after arriving in Texas. Since that 2018-19 season though, he’s appeared to be in a steep decline, and has just 22 goals and 64 points in the 123 games since.
Of course, what kind of return could Radulov even bring, given his steep cap hit? The Stars could retain up to 50 percent, though even at that number an acquiring team would likely need him to play more than fourth-line minutes. New York in particular does have a bit of an imbalance when it comes to wingers, with more talent on the left side than Radulov’s natural right, but it’s extremely unclear where he would fit into the regular lineup after Vatrano’s addition.
Still, it’s another name to be cognizant of as the deadline approaches and teams look to try to find any underutilized talent around the league. If Radulov could even bring a few weeks of his former self, he could help a playoff team add some punch to the bottom of their lineup.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Morning Notes: PHF/PWHPA, Chabot, 3ICE
The NHL has requested a meeting between the PHF and PWHPA–the two feuding women’s hockey factions–to attempt to bring the two sides together. Jeff Marek of Sportsnet reports that details of the proposed meeting are still being worked out, but the PWHPA was informed recently of a multi-million dollar funding deal, one that would be an 8-10 year commitment, that would allow their proposed league to move forward. Marek doesn’t specify where the funding is coming from.
The PHF meanwhile recently announced their own massive investment, a $25MM guarantee from several private donors. That led to a huge increase in the salary cap for each team, added health benefits for the players, and other increases throughout the financial landscape of the league. It also recently saw a group of high-profile investors purchase the Toronto Six, bringing more name recognition to the ownership group. The two leagues are currently splitting the player base, with the vast majority of the U.S. and Canadian Olympians on the side of the PWHPA.
- Bad news for the Ottawa Senators, as Thomas Chabot is expected to be out long-term with a hand injury. Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia notes that the team will have more information in the coming days, but Darren Dreger of TSN was told it is a broken hand. This comes after Jake Sanderson, the team’s top defense prospect, was also ruled out for at least a few weeks, which could put his late-season rendezvous with the Senators in jeopardy. After a midseason hot streak, the Senators are back to their losing ways of late, dropping their last three and eight of ten. Without Chabot, things certainly will be more difficult down the stretch. (UPDATE: Senators head coach D.J. Smith confirmed today that Chabot has suffered a broken hand and will miss the rest of the season.)
- Back in 2020, a new 3-on-3 league called 3ICE was announced with many recognizable NHL players and coaches attached to the product. While the COVID-19 pandemic put many of the league’s plans on pause, it didn’t kill it completely. 3ICE will be back this summer and today they announced some of their first few signings. Sean Shapiro of The Athletic tweets that David Booth, Chris Bourque, Chris Conner, T.J. Hensick, and Aaron Palushaj are the first five players that will be drafted into what will be a six-team league. All five played in the NHL, with Booth even scoring 31 goals and 60 points during the 2008-09 season with the Florida Panthers.
AHL Shuffle: 03/17/22
Teams are beginning to make big changes as the NHL trade deadline is just a few days away, but while management focuses on improving the roster, the players must focus on the task at hand. Ten games are on the schedule for this evening, including the struggling Vegas Golden Knights taking on one of the league’s best teams when the Florida Panthers come to town. Vegas has lost five in a row and are slipping down the standings, now just one point ahead of the Vancouver Canucks, a team written off just a few months ago. As those teams and others prepare, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling right here.
Atlantic Division
- The Buffalo Sabres have reassigned Lukas Rousek to the AHL, meaning he’s on his way over from Europe now that his Czech season is over. The sixth-round pick scored 38 points in 49 games for Sparta Praha after signing his entry-level contract last spring. Already 22, he’s signed through next season.
- The Montreal Canadiens have loaned Cayden Primeau and Jesse Ylonen back to the AHL, making room to activate Jake Allen and Christian Dvorak. Allen hasn’t played in over two months, but should give the Canadiens a little boost down the stretch as he returns from injury.
Metropolitan Division
Central Division
- The yo-yo season continues for Ville Heinola, who is back up with the Winnipeg Jets on an emergency basis. Heinola, 21, has played eight games for the Jets and 32 for the Manitoba Moose so far.
Pacific Division
- With Jesse Puljujarvi and Kris Russell returning to the Oilers lineup today, the team announced that they’ve loaned forward Brad Malone back to the Bakersfield Condors. Malone, a veteran forward, had two points in six games during his callup.
This page will be updated throughout the day