Austin Czarnik, Olli Juolevi Claimed On Waivers
Per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, both players on waivers today were claimed. Austin Czarnik, who was placed on waivers by the Seattle Kraken, was claimed by the New York Islanders. After being placed on waivers by the Florida Panthers yesterday, Olli Juolevi will be headed to the Detroit Red Wings, having been claimed as well.
For Czarnik, this will mark his second stint with the Islanders organization, having only departed after being claimed on waivers by the Kraken back on February 8th. In his time with Seattle, Czarnik played in just six games, recording two assists. Prior to being placed on waivers by the Islanders, Czarnik had a fairly impressive two goals and three assists in 11 games for the Islanders, to go along with 15 points in 20 games with the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders this season. Speaking of Bridgeport, the Islanders announced that Czarnik will be assigned to Bridgeport. The organization is able to assign Czarnik directly to the AHL without waivers, as they were the only team to put a claim in on the forward.
Juolevi will go to his third organization in two years after being traded by the Vancouver Canucks to Florida back in October. It has been a struggle for the once top prospect, bouncing between injured-reserve and the Panthers, playing in only 10 games, failing to record a point, and averaging just 12:27 time-on-ice. Perhaps a fresh start with a new organization more suited to give him extra minutes could be what Juolevi needs.
Minnesota Wild Activate Mathew Dumba
2:27 pm: Per The Athletic’s Michael Russo, Mathew Dumba has officially been activated in advance of this afternoon’s game against the Dallas Stars. To make room, forward Jordan Greenway has been placed on injured-reserve retroactively (Tweet).
12:43 pm: The Minnesota Wild are expected to activate defenseman Dumba off of injured-reserve in time for today’s game against the Dallas Stars, reports The Athletic’s Michael Russo (tweet). Dumba last played for the Wild on February 12th before being placed on injured-reserve.
The defenseman has been a mainstay on the Minnesota blue-line for years and this year is no exception. Currently, he leads the Minnesota Wild in average time-on-ice at 23:37, along with four goals and 16 assists in 40 games this season. Even though the Wild have a strong defensive core, the loss of their leading defenseman has not been welcomed.
Dumba’s return could not come any sooner for the Wild, with the team struggling greatly as of late, going 3-7-0 in 10 games since the injury. The team also begins a stretch of four games in six days tonight at home against the Dallas Stars. Minnesota sits in third place in the Central Division, but is only two points ahead of the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, which belongs to those Dallas Stars. Wild GM Bill Guerin has reiterated his confidence in the team heading into the trade deadline, and Dumba’s return to the lineup could play as an addition in itself, potentially sparking the team and getting it back on track.
Arizona Coyotes Extend Liam O’Brien
The Arizona Coyotes announced that they have signed forward Liam O’Brien to a two-year contract extension (link). As per club policy, the terms of the contract have not been made available at this time. O’Brien had signed a one-year deal with the Coyotes back on July 28, 2021, and would have become a UFA after this season. PuckPedia reports that the contract will carry a cap hit of $775K.
O’Brien has been a bright spot for the Coyotes and their fans this year. While he has just two goals and one assist in 37 games for Arizona this season, he does lead the NHL in penalty minutes with 106 and is second on the team with 131 hits. Coyotes’ GM Bill Armstrong described O’Brien as a “hard-working player with great character who is always there to support his teammates.”
The O’Brien extension is the second handed out by the Coyotes this weekend, having extended forward Travis Boyd yesterday. While these players may not be the building blocks of the Coyotes rebuild, the club has made clear that they want to keep parts of their veteran core in place, presumably to help develop and move along the future young core of this team, especially as it transitions to its temporary home at Arizona State University. The extensions also represent a willingness of current Coyotes players who are comfortable signing on to continue their stay in Arizona despite the many changes ahead of them.
Snapshots: Capitals, Comtois, UFA Extension Discussions
With the March 21st trade deadline approaching, and the Washington Capitals currently in the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, the organization is looking at different trade deadline scenarios. The Athletic’s Tarik El-Bashir shared his thoughts on the team’s deadline approach (subscription required). Perhaps most notably, the Capitals could look for an upgrade at the goaltender position, as the team is currently running a tandem of Vitek Vanecek and the struggling Ilya Samsonov. While Vanecek has impressed as of late, El-Bashir mentions the desire for the Capitals to add a veteran goaltender who would be a “significant or legitimate” upgrade over their current goaltenders.
Also mentioned was the Capitals’ possible desire to add a forward. While an addition such as Filip Forsberg or Claude Giroux has not been ruled out, it is unlikely. El-Bashir suggests Seattle forwards Calle Jarnkrok and Marcus Johansson as potential options for depth scoring. Both players are unrestricted free agents after this season, Jarnkrok carrying a $2MM cap hit and Johansson a $1.5MM cap hit. In addition to those two, the Capitals could also call on the Detroit Red Wings’ Vladislav Namestnikov, as well as New York Islanders’ forwards Cal Clutterbuck and Zach Parise. While none of these players would bring the excitement of a Giroux or a Forsberg, they can certainly provide the low-cost, depth scoring the Capitals need.
- Last night on Hockey Night in Canada, SportsNet’s Jeff Marek added a new name to the list of trade deadline candidates: Max Comtois. The young forward has struggled to stay in the lineup this year, and has struggled when he is in the lineup. Comtois has just six points in 31 games this season, missing time with a hand injury and COVID-19 earlier in the year, and has been scratched lately as well. It certainly has been a turn this year for Comtois, after leading the Ducks with 33 points in 55 games last season.
- Also on Hockey Night in Canada yesterday, SportsNet’s Elliotte Friedman touched on several notable pending UFAs, including Forsberg, Johnny Gaudreau, Tomas Hertl, and Hampus Lindholm. Friedman mentions that their teams are pushing hard to extend them prior to the trade deadline, and of course before the free agency period. While the Calgary Flames are quite unlikely to try and move Gaudreau, with the team poised to make a playoff run, rumors about Forsberg, Hertl and Lindholm continue to swirl, especially with San Jose and Anaheim on the outside of the playoff picture. Nashville on the other hand, is in a tricky position, as they currently sit in a playoff spot, but holding on to a major trade chip in Forsberg. Friedman also adds that while the contract talks have really heated up on Hertl and Lindholm, word around Forsberg and Gaudreau is notably quiet.
Injury Updates: Wood, Smith, Domingue, Kase
Positive news on the New Jersey Devils injury front, as head coach Lindy Ruff said this morning that he hopes forward Miles Wood can return to the lineup sometime in the next seven to ten days (link). It has been a rough stretch for the Devils and for Wood, the Devils sitting in last place in the Metropolitan and Wood not having played a game yet this season due to injury. While Wood certainly won’t turn the season around in New Jersey, his grit and speed could certainly spark the team’s young core as they try to end the season on a positive note heading into 2022-23.
- The Hurricanes could be close to getting defenseman Brendan Smith back in the lineup (link). Smith had not played since suffering an injury in a game against Pittsburgh on February 20th. Adding Smith back into the lineup would certainly be a welcomed defensive depth addition for the Hurricanes.
- Goaltender Louis Domingue is back at practice for the Penguins today (link). Domingue has only played one game this season for Pittsburgh, a win on January 15th in San Jose, and has been working his way back from a foot injury. It still remains unclear what the timetable is for the goaltender.
- Yesterday evening, the Toronto Maple Leafs placed forward Ondrej Kase on injured reserve. Kase has not played since Toronto’s 10-7 win over the Detroit Red Wings on February 26th. While Toronto has plenty of quality depth, losing Kase, who has 23 points in 44 games this season, is still a tough blow.
Montreal Canadiens Could Move Shea Weber’s Contract
Earlier tonight on the 32 Thoughts segment of Hockey Night in Canada, Elliotte Friedman added another name to the list of potential Montreal Canadiens defensemen to be moved: Shea Weber (link). Friedman believes Montreal will look to move Weber’s contract to a team that either needs long-term injured reserve room or who needs to get to the cap floor and prefers not to spend much over the next few years.
The 36-year-old Weber has not played this year, having had his playing career likely come to an end due to injury. Weber last played in the Stanley Cup Finals for Montreal against the Tampa Bay Lightning last season before being placed on long-term injured reserve this season.
What is most notable about Weber’s situation is his remaining contract terms. While he has another four years left on his contract, carrying a $7.9MM cap hit each season, he is only owed $6MM total over those four years. In other words, a team that acquires Weber would only have to pay him $6MM, despite his contract having four years at $7.9MM each year. This would be an intriguing option for a team that is looking to take on cap for their own benefit or to alleviate another team’s salary cap concerns.
Montreal may not be inclined to move Weber, however, unless the terms were in its best interests. If the Canadiens are committed to a rebuild, then they might be the exact team that could benefit from having Weber’s contract on the books in the first place. Still, this idea has only thus far been reported and a market for Weber has yet to establish itself, and could carry on into the offseason potentially.
Latest On Philadelphia Flyers’ Trade Deadline Targets
Earlier this evening on Hockey Night in Canada, Jeff Marek noted that several high-profile Philadelphia Flyers’ front office members, including Chuck Fletcher, Daniel Briere, Dean Lombardi, and Bill Barber had attended the Lehigh Valley Phantoms game against the Charlotte Checkers, the AHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers (link). Marek said:
We’ve talked before about how Claude Giroux may end up at the end of all of this, as a Florida Panther. Who are they there to see? We believe it is Owen Tippett, and we’ve talked before, Ron, about how Owen Tippett’s name is very much out there and how the Florida Panthers have let it be known that he could be available.
While Giroux to the Panthers has certainly been discussed before, and Tippett as a potential return is not news either, it is of note that a sizable contingent of the Flyers’ front office has gone to see Tippett play in person.
Tippett has been up and down for the Panthers this season, most recently having been sent down to Charlotte on February 22nd. While Tippett has not yet lived up to the potential the Panthers saw when they drafted him 10th overall in 2017, he has shown promise as of late. The 23-year-old winger has just 14 points in 42 games in the NHL this year, but he does have 10 points in eight games with Charlotte this season. Perhaps a change of scenery and an increased role with another team such as the Flyers could benefit Tippett and spark his development.
Anaheim Ducks Prefer To Re-Sign UFAs
9:15 pm: In his 32 Thoughts segment on Hockey Night in Canada Saturday evening, Elliotte Friedman reiterated the Anaheim Ducks desire to extend Hampus Lindholm if possible. However, he notes that the organization has expressed concern regarding the potential term of a Lindholm extension.
6:41 pm: With the trade deadline soon approaching, and the Anaheim Ducks on the outside looking in of the Western Conference playoff picture, speculation about the Ducks trade chips has started to heat up. Elliott Teaford of The Orange County Register reports that Ducks’ General Manager Pat Verbeek made clear to season ticket holders yesterday that his primary intention was to re-sign his impending unrestricted free agents, including defensemen Hampus Lindholm and Josh Manson, and forward Rickard Rakell.
Verbeek had stated at an event for season-ticket holders that while he is working on extending those players, he would look to trade them if he did not believe he could extend them. Verbeek’s primary concern, he said, would be allowing those players to leave in free agency, not having gotten something back for them, or of course re-signing them. Teaford also added that while Verbeek mentioned having ongoing discussions with Lindholm on an extension, he did not mention any of the Ducks’ other unrestricted free agents by name.
If the Ducks do choose to re-sign the trio of Lindholm, Manson, or Rakell, it could come at a high cost. Lindholm is currently in the final year of a six-year, $31.5MM contract he signed with the Ducks in 2016, carrying a cap hit just north of $5.2MM. Lindholm has been one of the Ducks’ best defensemen the past few seasons, even during some lean years in Anaheim. This season, Lindholm has put up 20 points in 53 games, and is second on the team to Cam Fowler in average time-on-ice at 22:43 per game. Lindholm is expected to received a fairly significant raise over his $5.2M cap hit, however if he is dealt, the price for the 27-year-old could be rather significant as well.
Manson is in the final year of a four year, $16.4MM contract he signed with the Ducks in 2017, a contract which has seen Manson emerge as a sturdy, reliable defender for the Ducks through their rebuild. Manson could expect a similar contract this offseason, however a veteran, right-handed, shutdown defenseman like Manson could certainly be a valuable asset to sell on the trade deadline market.
Rakell has been a name mentioned in recent rumors and by Teaford here as well. The forward could be an intriguing name on the deadline market, as a proven point-producer carrying a cap hit just below $3.8MM. However, he may be a player the Ducks could look to extend at a reasonable cost. Rakell is in the final year of a six-year, $22.8MM contract he signed in the fall of 2016, before he began to truly break-out for Anaheim. However, Rakell’s production has dissipated since his stellar 34 goal, 35 assist 2017-18 season. While Rakell is almost certainly due a raise this time around, he may be a player the Ducks could keep at a fair price for a proven scoring touch.
In addition to this trio, the Ducks unrestricted free agents also include Ryan Getzlaf, Sam Carrick, and Nicolas Deslauriers.
Stars Notes: Seguin, Heiskanen, Holtby
Dallas Stars’ forward Tyler Seguin was back on the ice for practice today in Minnesota, according to The Dallas Morning News’ Matthew DeFranks (link to Tweet). Not only has Seguin returned to practice, but afterwards Stars’ head coach Rick Bowness said that Seguin “should be fine” for Sunday’s game in Minnesota against the Wild, adds DeFranks.
Seguin missed last night’s game in Winnipeg due to a non-COVID illness. The forward has 17 goals and 13 assists in 53 games this season, but will need to be a key factor in the Stars’ push to the playoffs. The Stars currently sit in a Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, sitting on 65 points in 54 games, just a point ahead of the Edmonton Oilers and Sunday’s opponent, the Minnesota Wild.
- The Stars may still be without another key piece, writes DeFranks, as Miro Heiskanen did not practice today and is currently questionable for the game against the Wild (link). Like Seguin, Heiskanen missed last night’s game in Winnipeg with a non-COVID illness. This was only the second game Heiskanen has missed this season, after he missed a game in December with a non-COVID illness as well. The Stars have had to rely heavily on Heiskanen this year, as the young defenseman has posted 29 points in 52 games and leads the team in average time-on-ice at 24:46. With Dallas just holding onto a playoff spot, even one extra game without a player like Heiskanen could be a big loss.
- Shifting gears on the Stars,, should the organization decide to sell any pieces at the deadline, ESPN’s Emily Kaplan believes that goaltender Braden Holtby is definitely in play (link). Holtby is having himself a solid bounce-back season after struggling greatly the last two seasons. Holtby’s .913 save percentage and 2.78 goals against average are the best he has had since the 2018-19 season with the Washington Capitals. While he is no longer the elite goalie he once was, Holtby may still carry some value to a team looking for a quality backup, or even someone to split time in net, especially given Holtby’s pedigree as a Stanley Cup winning goaltender. Holtby only carries a $2MM cap hit that expires after this season, so acquiring him should not be a strain for interested teams.
PHR Mailbag: Devils, McDavid, Giroux, Atkinson, Namestnikov, Rakell, Predators, Kings, Foote
Topics in this edition of the PHR Mailbag primarily focus on the upcoming trade deadline with trade scenarios and team needs being discussed. If your question doesn’t appear here, watch for it in next weekend’s edition.
SpeakOfTheDevil: What do the Devils do on or before the deadline? Who do you see us bringing in/shipping out?
I don’t expect a whole lot from New Jersey. We know they’re looking for a veteran goalie just to allow Nico Daws to go back to Utica and I expect they’ll find a way to accomplish that. They could look to do like Montreal did with Andrew Hammond and bring in a third-string option (if Jake Allen returns in the next couple of weeks, I could see a scenario where Hammond moves again). If Marc-Andre Fleury stays in Chicago, someone like Collin Delia makes sense as a target. I could even see someone like Jaroslav Halak if they want someone a little more proven. If he decides he’s open to a move and just wants to get some playing time in the hopes of landing a contract for next season, New Jersey makes sense. They won’t make the playoffs but playing time wouldn’t be hard to come by.
I believe they’ll work to find a spot for P.K. Subban as a rental although it’s a move that likely requires double retention so that the acquiring team is only on the hook for $2.25MM. That might net the Devils a mid-round pick. He’s the only pending UFA who realistically has a chance to be moved.
One other player that wouldn’t surprise me if he was moved was Pavel Zacha. He’s a pending RFA but has just one year of team control left with a qualifying offer of $3MM. Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier are entrenched as their top two centers of the present and future. Is there a team that still thinks he could be a second liner or a high-end third liner? If so, maybe he gets dealt. Since he’s younger, it’s not just playoff-bound teams that could be interested which expands the options. As for a return, I could see a couple of different scenarios – a third liner under team control for longer than Zacha or a similar-aged defenseman. This one doesn’t need to be a swap that brings in futures. Beyond these, I think it’ll be a pretty quiet deadline for the Devils.
pawtucket: With Edmonton once again struggling…even if they make the playoffs, they are likely facing the Avalanche who are incredible at home and far deeper than them…will McDavid be happy being bounced in the first round? (That is if they MAKE the playoffs!).
Could he demand a trade this offseason?
Never say never, I suppose, but I don’t sense that McDavid is the type of player who is going to make that request. I share your skepticism in terms of them being able to go far in the playoffs and Colorado certainly isn’t an ideal matchup for them. But from a long-term perspective, I don’t think they’re that far away from really contending either. They need a legitimate starting goalie and if they can get one, they can do some damage. McDavid knows that.
What could happen that may be more realistic is that McDavid goes to GM Ken Holland and states his preference to see a core shakeup that sees a higher-priced player moved out in order to acquire that goaltender. That type of discussion would happen entirely behind the scenes and might not even leak out publicly. That’s more in line with the more reserved type of player that McDavid is over flat out requesting a trade if things don’t go well this year.
rdiddy75: What would a trade with Giroux going to the Avalanche look like? Any chance the Flyers can get Barron and Behrens in that deal? That would help their blue line for years.
@IWTFWC: Chances that Avalanche acquire Claude Giroux and if so, what will it cost? (1st rd pick, Tyson Jost and Justin Barron?) Also, chances Avalanche acquire Cal Clutterbuck? Or someone else to help the PK/GET PHYSICAL?
Giroux to Colorado has been out there as a speculative destination for a while and at this point, it certainly sounds like they’re a contender (if not the contender) for his services. I’ve mentioned in the last mailbag that my expected price point for him was a first-round pick, a prospect, and salary filler with the Flyers retaining half of Giroux’s $8.275MM AAV.
I think we have the foundation of what a deal would look like from these questions – the first-rounder (which will need to be 2023 as 2022’s is already gone) and defensive prospect Justin Barron. (I don’t think Sean Behrens will be in there unless the formula changes to two prospects plus a roster player.) I like the idea of Jost in principle as a younger player that could benefit from a change of scenery. Part of me wonders if they’d prefer to move J.T. Compher instead who’s a little better but costs $1.5MM more against the cap this season and next. That would give them some extra wiggle room to add a secondary piece now and more space for next year.
Colorado has scouted the Islanders lately and they could benefit from a physical winger for the playoffs. I’m just not certain that Clutterbuck is the right fit for them. They play an up-tempo style and Clutterbuck is not an up-tempo player. I know things slow down in the playoffs and maybe he could fit on the fourth line but he’s expensive for that role ($3.5MM) and if they were to add Giroux, I don’t know if they’d have enough money left to add someone at that price point, even if New York retained. I’m not going to put odds on it but I wouldn’t be surprised if they wind up with someone that plays a similar role and is cheaper over getting Clutterbuck himself.
jdgoat: Could Cam Atkinson be on the move this deadline?
I wouldn’t count on that happening. While it periodically happens, players with multiple years left on their contracts at big money (Atkinson has three more years at $5.875MM) don’t tend to move at the deadline. There’s an expectation that the Flyers aren’t interested in rebuilding and will instead do another shakeup of their core. That happened last summer and that’s when I think they’ll make those types of moves. That’s when more teams will be willing to shake things up compared to now when buyers are simply looking to add to their rosters, not mess around with their core.
Atkinson has actually had a nice season for the Flyers with 39 points in 54 games heading into today’s game against Chicago which is good for second on the team in scoring (just one point behind Giroux). I don’t get the sense that he’s going to be the player that moves as a result. If they believe they’re closer to the playoffs than their record indicates, Atkinson is the type of player to keep, not move out.
Johnny Z: Where might Namestnikov be traded to and for what?
Let’s answer the second half first. There are two options for a return that are pretty similar – a mid-round pick or a mid-round pick plus salary ballast. Where the pick falls depends on retention (if any) and how much the player coming back in the second scenario makes. (There’s going to be a math component involved in pretty much every trade being made, it’s just the reality of the cap situation for many contenders around the league.)
As for where he goes, there are two types of teams where I think he fits. One is capped-out teams getting 50% retention making him an affordable upgrade on a fourth liner and the other is a team that may want to add to their roster but doesn’t want to move much of their future. In the first group, Dallas and Washington come to mind as options. In the second, Nashville, Los Angeles, and maybe Anaheim if they can hang around the race a little longer.
skidrowe: Rickard Rakell to the Bruins…what would it take?
First, extension talks would need to go nowhere. Second, Anaheim would need to fall out of the playoff race enough to justify selling. I can see a scenario where an unsigned Rakell stays, to be honest, if they’re still in the playoff picture even with GM Pat Verbeek’s recent comments. I doubt they’d hold onto blueliners Hampus Lindholm and Josh Manson without extensions but there’s less risk of doing that with Rakell since quality wingers are easier to replace on the open market than quality defensemen.
But that’s probably not what you’re wanting to hear, you’re wanting a rough trade proposal. Rakell is tricky in the sense that he’s probably not worth a first-round pick or an ‘A’ prospect but a second-rounder or a ‘B’ prospect alone isn’t going to cut it either. The prospect that comes to mind is defenseman Urho Vaakanainen. Anaheim’s back end has been weakened over the years and while the 23-year-old may not be a top-four player, he could be a quality piece on the third pairing for a while. The Ducks haven’t had a lot of success filling those spots lately which would be appealing.
I could see Verbeek asking for a second-rounder on top of that which may be a bit high for his Boston counterpart in Don Sweeney. However, if Anaheim agrees to take Chris Wagner’s contract ($1.35MM in the minors), maybe that helps. That would give Boston $225K of cap relief for next season (the rest of the cap hit comes off when he’s in the minors) and clear up a contract slot. That said, the Ducks are a budget team and might want to part with the final year of Kodie Curran’s contract ($1MM one-way) to offset part of Wagner’s deal in that scenario. Is that a proposal that could land Rakell? Perhaps, although I’m still leaning towards them keeping him unless things go off the rails over the next few weeks.