Matt Roy Enters Protocol; Mikey Anderson Placed On IR
The Los Angeles Kings have lost two defensemen for the next little while, as Matt Roy and Mikey Anderson will both miss today’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Roy has been placed in COVID protocol, while Anderson hits injured reserve after suffering an upper-body injury against the Philadelphia Flyers yesterday. The team has recalled Jacob Moverare from the taxi squad in a corresponding move.
Roy, 26, has been asked to play a bigger role in Los Angeles this season, with Sean Walker missing the season and Drew Doughty out for a considerable stretch early on. The seventh-round pick is averaging more than 21 minutes a night and has spent more time short-handed than anyone else on the Kings roster. Selected 194th overall in 2015, Roy made his NHL debut during the 2018-19 season and has continued to develop into a valuable option, skating mostly with Olli Maatta or Alexander Edler.
Anderson, meanwhile, is another mid-round pick that has been developed into a full-time contributor. Selected 103rd overall in 2017, he quickly made his way to the NHL and has played in 44 games for the Kings this season. Until leaving early yesterday, he was also averaging more than 20 minutes a night on the year and trails only Roy and Anze Kopitar in terms of total short-handed ice time.
By their profiles, you can see that losing both Roy and Anderson at the same time will have some drastic effects on the Kings’ back end. While they aren’t as important as someone like Doughty, they are key parts of a group that is performing better than many expected. The depth in Los Angeles will be tested, though luckily after today they have just one more game before the All-Star break.
Taxi Squad Shuffle: 01/30/22
There are just a few days left before the All-Star break, but the NHL is still furiously scheduling to try and keep things on track. Despite two football matches that will likely dominate the ratings in North America, seven hockey games are on the docket. That includes a Los Angeles Kings-Pittsburgh Penguins match this afternoon, where newly-extended Jeff Carter will take on his former team once again. As they and others prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league and taxi squad shuffling.
Atlantic Division
- The Ottawa Senators have recalled Cole Reinhardt to the taxi squad from the AHL, and moved Mark Kastelic and Lassi Thomson to the taxi squad from the active roster. Kastelic, 22, made his NHL debut yesterday, playing just over six minutes and recording three hits.
- With Paul Byron and Brendan Gallagher expected to return for the Canadiens today, Lukas Vejdemo, Sami Niku, and Josh Brook have all officially joined the Laval Rocket. Montreal is now without David Savard for eight weeks, meaning the team may end up needing Niku again at some point.
- Florida Panthers defenseman Chase Priskie continues his up-and-down slide this year, as the team’s loaned him to the taxi squad. Goalie Spencer Knight was also brought up to the taxi squad after some time with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers.
Metropolitan Division
- The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled Pierre-Olivier Joseph, Kasper Bjorkqvist, and Michael Chaput to the taxi squad, as they prepare for this afternoon’s game. The Penguins have just one game after today before the All-Star break, after which the taxi squad is scheduled to dissipate.
Central Division
- With Marcus Foligno unavailable for tonight’s game versus the Islanders, the Minnesota Wild recalled forward Kyle Rau from the taxi squad today. Rau will slot into the lineup as Foligno sits out with an upper-body injury.
- Defenseman Cam Dineen is joining the big club again, heading up to the Arizona Coyotes taxi squad today from the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners. Dineen is in the midst of his best professional season, notching four assists in his first 14 NHL games and five points in six AHL games.
Pacific Division
- The Vancouver Canucks have returned Spencer Martin to the AHL, after he gave them some very valuable minutes. With Thatcher Demko and Jaroslav Halak both hitting the COVID list at the same time, Martin stopped 113 of 118 shots in three appearances, continuing what has been an outstanding campaign for the 26-year-old netminder.
This page will be updated throughout the day
Hockey Canada Updates Olympic Coaching Staff
Jan 30: Colliton will be taking over as head coach of the Canadian team, as Julien is not able to travel with the team due to an injury. Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff tweets that Julien fell during a team-building activity during their training camp in Switzerland and suffered fractured ribs.
Jan 14: When the NHL pulled out of the Olympics, so too did the management and coaching staffs that were set to lead Team Canada. Doug Armstrong had been brought in to serve as general manager, while Jon Cooper was supposed to serve as head coach. Since they’ll be busy with NHL duties, Hockey Canada has picked a new pair of familiar faces to lead the program.
Shane Doan will serve as Team Canada GM for the upcoming Olympics, joined by assistant general manager Scott Salmond, a member of Hockey Canada’s executive staff. The coaching staff will officially be led by Claude Julien, along with assistants Jeremy Colliton, Nolan Baumgartner, and Tyler Dietrich. Tom Renney, Hockey Canada’s CEO, released this statement:
We are excited to announce our experienced management group and coaching staff that will lead Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team at the 2022 Olympics. With less than a month until the men’s tournament gets underway at the Olympics, we are excited to continue working with the entire staff as it prepares to represent Canada and build a roster that Canadians can support as it looks to bring home an Olympic gold medal.
Doan and Julien were easy choices after leading the Canadian contingent at the recent Channel One Cup, an event that was basically a backup plan for Olympic preparation should the NHL decide to pull out. Doan also has plenty of international experience and even participated in the 2006 Olympics with Canada. Julien was an assistant on the 2014 squad and has also been part of several other Canadian coaching staffs over the years.
In the release, Salmond says that he looks forward to “unveiling the roster in the coming weeks” but does not give a firm date for the announcement. The tournament starts for Canada on February 10, when they’re set to take on Germany.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
David Savard Out Eight Weeks With Ankle Injury
The Montreal Canadiens have suffered injuries this season at a rate no one could have expected, and it isn’t slowing down. Late last night, the team ruled out David Savard for eight weeks with his right ankle injury.
Savard, 31, last played on January 27 against the Anaheim Ducks, racking up more than 21 minutes of ice time. Before missing last night’s game against the Edmonton Oilers, he was one of just two players on the team to suit up for every match. Nick Suzuki now stands alone as the only Canadiens to have played in all 43 games.
Signed in the offseason to a four-year, $14MM contract after winning the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Savard got off to a terrible start in Montreal. At times he seemed nowhere near the reliable top-four option he’d been in Columbus and even saw his ice time drop to around 15 minutes for a few games early on. Recently, he’d turned around his season and played better for the Canadiens, logging more responsibility, engaging physically more often, and generally staying out of the penalty box.
That progression will now be put on hold as he faces a two-month recovery, one that will leave him with just a handful of games left at the end of the regular season. It’s been a nightmare in Montreal this year, one that Canadiens fans can’t seem to wake up from.
Trade Rumors: Canucks, Tippett, Mrazek, Ducks
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek didn’t hold back on their reporting late this evening on “Hockey Night in Canada”. The duo behind “32 Thoughts” had plenty to contribute, starting with Friedman’s report on the Vancouver Canucks. With the Vancouver front office finally coming together, with Patrik Allvin being named GM of Jim Rutherford‘s new-look front office, the Canucks are starting to get busy in trade talks. Although the .500 club is still in the Western Conference wild card race, the reality is that any true playoff success for Vancouver lies in the future. It should come as no surprise then that the Canucks are listening to trade offers – and not just for talked-about target J.T. Miller. Friedman reports that nearly any Vancouver forward could be had for the right price outside of captain Bo Horvat and young star Elias Pettersson. That includes Conor Garland, who the team just acquired themselves this past summer and signed to a reasonable five-year, $24.75MM deal. It is believed that the Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, New Jersey Devils, and New York Rangers are in pursuit of Garland, though there is likely no shortage of interest in the skilled forward, who has 102 points in 155 games dating back to the start of the 2019-20 season.
- The Florida Panthers are one of the biggest surprises of the season, currently leading the top-heavy Atlantic Division with a .744 points percentage that is also third-best in the NHL. The Panthers are expected to go all-in on a Stanley Cup run this season and specifically are hoping to land a legitimate top-four defenseman. As they go about working the phones, Marek reports that one major name they are dangling is Owen Tippett. The 2017 first-rounder still has yet to make his mark in the NHL, struggling to find enough consistency at the top level to stick in the Florida lineup. However, he is only 22 and still a well-regarded as well as well-liked prospect. Tippett will likely end up as the centerpiece to any big trade the Panthers make this season.
- With Jack Campbell playing at an elite level this season while Petr Mrazek has struggled with injuries and inconsistency, the latter has proven to be little more than a pricey backup for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season while the former will be the team’s offseason priority as an impending free agent. As a result, teams have begun to inquire about Mrazek’s availability. If Campbell does stay in Toronto, the team will have a proven starter and have some promising young options like Joseph Woll and Ian Scott behind him. Marek also adds that the Maple Leafs are in hot pursuit of undrafted OHL standout Mack Guzda, who would further boost the depth chart if Toronto can win a heated race for his services. This hypothetically makes Mrazek and his $3.8MM cap hit expendable, even though he just signed with Toronto this past summer. However, for now the Leafs are maintaining that Mrazek remains a part of their plans. Marek was not so sure about that, but does report that any decision on a Mrazek trade will have to wait for the offseason.
- Among the other suitors for Guzda are the Ducks, Hurricanes, Islanders, Rangers, Penguins, and Predators. (Notably, Guzda is a Tennessee native.) One of those teams is about to get much more serious in their pursuit, as well as in the trade market. Friedman notes that Anaheim is closing in on naming a general manager. While there are still several names in contention, he believes that Pat Verbeek is the odds-on favorite. Once a permanent GM is named, the Ducks will become a fascinating team to watch; they are both well within the thick of the Western Conference playoff race, yet also possess numerous high-value rentals.
Buffalo Sabres Announce Numerous Roster Moves
Everything is happening all at once in Buffalo. The team has been waiting to re-activate several injured players for more than a week now, yet at the same time they have been waiting all day for COVID-19 test results after multiple initial positives earlier. Just ahead of their game tonight against the Arizona Coyotes, the team has now announced it all in a flurry of moves that will re-shape the roster, at least for the time being.
Though less anticipated, the COVID Protocol absences are unfortunately the bigger part of the Sabres’ roster news. The team has placed defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and forwards Victor Olofsson and Rasmus Asplund in the protocol. Assistant coach Matt Ellis was also named as one of five additional members of Buffalo’s traveling party who will be sidelined due to COVID. These three players in particular are obviously a major loss for the Sabres. Dahlin, the 2018 No. 1 overall pick, has taken that next step in his development this season and has been Buffalo’s best player. He leads the team with 28 points and 23:51 average time on ice and ranks in the top five in goals, hits, blocked shots, and takeaways. No loss could impact the Sabres’ more. With that said, Olofsson and Asplund are also major absences. The former is having a down year, but still in the top five in scoring and plays a critical role on the power play. The latter has already surpassed his career marks in games played and points and is one of the better possession players on the team. For the Sabres’ sake, hopefully the trio are only out short-term as they play such meaningful roles and the club is already missing a laundry list of players due to injury.
That list has shrunk today though. With no options left in net following Michael Houser landing on COVID Protocol yesterday, Aaron Dell suspended and waived, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Malcolm Subban on injured reserve, the Sabres finally activated Craig Anderson and Dustin Tokarski just in time for their game. Anderson had been out since early November with an upper-body injury but has been working his way back in recent weeks, while Tokarski has been out since early December. Anderson was playing very well prior to his injury, especially for someone who was set to retire this past off-season, so the Sabres will be hoping he can return to form. They also have regained the services of veteran forward Kyle Okposo, who’s having a resurgent season. Okposo has missed the past week, but is still fourth in scoring with 23 points in 37 games. The team can certainly use that offense with Olofsson and Asplund sidelined.
Additionally, Buffalo has also recalled defenseman Casey Fitzgerald from the taxi squad. Fitzgerald has played in four NHL games this year, with one point on the scoreboard, but has nine points in 27 games with the AHL’s Rochester Americans.
Vegas’ Stephenson, Coghlan Land In COVID Protocol
As the Vegas Golden Knights take the ice in Tampa tonight to square off with the Lightning, the team will be without a pair of players. Vegas has announced that forward Chandler Stephenson and defenseman Dylan Coghlan have been placed in the NHL’s COVID Protocol. The team has only indicated that Stephenson and Coghlan would miss Saturday’s game, but like any COVID situation the absences could last longer.
An immediate impact will be felt on the Knights’ top line, where Stephenson will be replaced by Nolan Patrick for the time being. Though Patrick was once a top prospect, the No. 2 overall pick in 2017, while Stephenson was a role player for much of his early career, this is a significant drop-off for Vegas. Stephenson currently leads the team in scoring with 38 points and is tied for second with a dozen goals. He leads all forwards in ice time, plays on the top power play and penalty kill units, and is the go-to faceoff man. Patrick, on the other hand, is still trying to find his footing in Vegas (and the NHL overall). He has played in just 14 games and served in a limited role. There is hope though, should Stephenson miss extended time; Patrick’s underlying possession numbers are very strong – the best in Vegas – and he has managed five points and a team-best face-off mark despite his minor role. With more ice time and supporting talent, this could be the jolt that Patrick needs to get back on track.
As for the versatile Coghlan, Vegas will be missing a key cog in the wheel. Coghlan has played in 35 games and has recorded 11 points as well as some impressive possession numbers. The Golden Knights will miss their plug-and-play specialist, who can make a difference anywhere in the lineup and anywhere on the ice.
Though Vegas technically sits second in the Pacific Division, they in fact hold the best record in the division with a .602 points percentage. That is not to say that the Knights are comfortable though. Just .038 percentage points separate the top five teams in the Pacific, with the Flames, Ducks, Kings, and Oilers right behind the Knights. If the playoffs started today, only four teams would come out of the Pacific, so Vegas is that close to being outside the postseason picture entirely. The hope is that Stephenson and Coghlan, as well as Alec Martinez and Jack Eichel, can return sooner rather than later. Following match-ups with Tampa and the Buffalo Sabres, the Knights have a long break. However, that is followed by a critical stretch of games against Edmonton, Calgary, Colorado, and Los Angeles. It’s crunch time for Vegas.
Minor Transactions: 01/29/22
It’s the thick of the NHL season and teams are busy with roster transactions and rumors suggest starting to look toward the trade deadline. The season will now continue unabated as well, since the league pulled out of the upcoming Winter Olympics. Yet, the 2022 Games will still be the next-biggest focus of the hockey world behind NHL action, if not on par for a few weeks. However, there are still notable moves being made around the globe at both the pro and amateur levels. Here is a look at some “minor” transactions worth attention:
- For many teams, especially in the Eastern Conference, the season is far enough along for teams to realize that they are not postseason contenders. As those clubs look ahead to the trade deadline, they know that the top prize for an elite rental is usually a late first-round draft pick. And as teams evaluate who they might be able to select with a late first-rounder, they are no doubt discussing Swiss defenseman Lian Bichsel. In a draft class that is short on high-caliber left-handed defenders, Bichsel is a rising name given his play in the SHL this season and could sneak into the first round. Interested suitors should know though that the big, two-way blue liner will not be immediately available next season, as Leksands IF plans to keep him in Sweden. Impressed with his play so far, Leksands offered Bichsel a permanent contract for this season that included an extension through the 2022-23 campaign as well. It remains to be seen if Bichsel will remain in the SHL beyond that point, but it is a good spot for the mature defender to develop anyhow.
- An NHL legacy has selected his next team. Chase Dafoe, son of former All-Star goaltender Byron Dafoe, has committed to Providence College and is expected to enroll next year. Dafoe, a forward, is currently playing in the BCHL with the West Kelowna Warriors and enjoying the best season of his junior career. Dafoe has 11 goals and 18 points in 28 games thus far and has maintained his solid two-way game. Though he was not selected in the 2021 NHL Draft, it was his first time through and Dafoe will be eligible again this year.
- A rare ECHL trade has been completed and it involves a name familiar to NHL fans. Veteran defenseman Steven Oleksy has been dealt to the Orlando Solar Bears by the Toledo Walleye in exchange for young power forward Ian Parker. Oleksy is still going strong at 35 years old, recording eight points in 16 games so far this season despite taking last year off. Oleksy, who has 73 NHL games to his credit and a surprising 20 points in those games, will be a big boost to the Orland blue line. Meanwhile, Toledo lands the 6’9″, 250-lb. Parker, a unique prospect out of the University of Windsor. The 25-year-old rookie has 12 points in 30 games this season.
West Notes: Stars, Martinez, Manson
With the Stars having a particularly inconsistent season and being in a battle for a Wild Card spot, some have wondered about the futures of head coach Rick Bowness and GM Jim Nill. Speaking with Saad Yousuf of The Athletic (subscription link), team owner Tom Gaglardi suggested that no firm decisions have been made either way:
“I think we went into this season and we thought we had a really good team and really expect this team to be solid in the playoffs. If that happens, Rick’s probably somebody we want to continue to build around. Past that, we don’t talk about those things. Summer will come when summer comes. We’ve just decided, we’re not talking about these things right now.
“We’re not talking about anybody’s contract. Let’s focus on the now and getting everything we can out of this season. The summer will come. There will be lots of time to take stock and decide which way we go. If there are changes to be made, we’ll make them then.”
A decision will need to be made on Bowness one way or the other as he’s in the final year of his contract while Nill is signed through the end of next season. It appears that the way Dallas performs over the next few months will go a long way towards determining what direction they’ll go.
More from the West:
- Golden Knights defenseman Alec Martinez isn’t quite ready to return from his upper-body injury, notes Jesse Granger of The Athletic (Twitter link). Vegas will have to activate him from LTIR in order to get him in the lineup which will likely in turn cause winger Max Pacioretty to be placed on there for the time being. Granger adds that the lineup for tonight’s game isn’t finalized yet due to some COVID testing questions.
- The Ducks announced (Twitter link) that defenseman Josh Manson suffered an upper-body injury in today’s game against Ottawa. He suffered the injury on a hard hit from Brady Tkachuk in the first period. Manson, a pending unrestricted free agent, has six points in 42 games heading into today’s contest although he is second in the team in hits with 111.
PHR Mailbag, Kings, Devils Goaltending, Bruins, Red Wings, Maple Leafs Lines, Blue Jackets, Kraken
Topics in this edition of the PHR Mailbag include the back end for the Kings, New Jersey’s goaltending situation, Boston’s trade deadline approach, the idea of the Red Wings being buyers, Toronto’s new lines, trade odds for Columbus, and Seattle’s recent victories. If your question doesn’t appear here, watch for it in next weekend’s mailbag.
Weasel 2: Realistic opportunity for the Kings to add an impact defenseman? What would a Kings package for Chychrun look like?
Honestly, I don’t think it’s the right time for the Kings to push in some of their chips to try to make a big splash, especially on the back end where the options are rentals or paying through the teeth for Jakob Chychrun. If Alexander Edler returns during the regular season, they need to have the cap space to be able to activate him which effectively cuts what they can currently spend in half. I’d shop more on the depth side of things where the cost is a lot lower (I’ve mentioned Detroit’s Troy Stecher in the past as someone I think would be a worthwhile and affordable addition) as I don’t think they’re a big add away from really contending.
Among the impact rental defensemen out there, I’d look at Montreal’s Ben Chiarot as a realistic option. I don’t see Anaheim dealing their two key rental blueliners in the division if they sell and I don’t think Chiarot will get the first-round pick that some have suggested is the current asking price; there are only so many first-rounders that are going to move and there will be better players moved than Chiarot. A second-round pick and a good prospect (of which the Kings have several) could be enough without taking away any top assets. Newly-hired advisor Marc Bergevin is quite familiar with what Montreal has and that type of familiarity can help on the trade front.
There are varying reports as to how many pieces are needed for Chychrun. It ranges between three first-round elements and an Eichel-like return. The Kings don’t quite have the similar pieces from the Eichel return so I think something along the lines of Quinton Byfield, Alex Turcotte, and a first-round pick is probably in the range of what Arizona is looking for with perhaps a secondary piece (prospect or second-rounder tacked on to get closer to the four-piece Eichel return). It’s a huge ask but Arizona doesn’t have to move Chychrun unless they’re blown away and I don’t think the Kings should be the team to make that type of move.
Speak Of The Devil: What can the Devils realistically do to make their goaltending situation better? Blackwood is clearly not the answer here and Bernier is done for the year and there are rumors he may be done for his career. So, who can we go after to end this hamster wheel of mediocrity?
Jack Campbell is setting himself up for a nice payday as the best starter available in free agency and New Jersey has plenty of cap space at their disposal still. He’s about the only long-term option available (I know Darcy Kuemper is another option but with his injury history, there’s some risk) so if they’re convinced his stint with Toronto isn’t a mirage but rather a true sign of where he is, back up the money truck and make sure not to get outbid for his services. With his overall inexperience though, it’s a bit of a risk.
The first name that came to mind when I saw this question was Sergei Bobrovsky. Florida is going to want to move him at some point even with the season he’s having; Spencer Knight is their goalie of the future and they’re going to want to reallocate Bobrovsky’s $10MM price tag with Aleksander Barkov’s new deal starting next season and Jonathan Huberdeau up next summer. There’s a chance for the Devils to take advantage of that if they think Bobrovsky’s back on track and could get him for a below-market trade return. But it’s a gamble again.
But here’s the thing. Every goalie I can throw out there is a question mark. Alexandar Georgiev is probably going to move and the rivalry notwithstanding, is he really a starter? He could be but it’s a risk. If St. Louis wants to go all in on Ville Husso and move Jordan Binnington, is he much of an upgrade on Blackwood? Semyon Varlamov would be a short-term solution so the hamster wheel wouldn’t stop spinning for long. Philipp Grubauer has had a brutal season in Seattle but was good in Colorado so maybe he’s a fit but five years is a lot for a gamble. You could sell me on adding Linus Ullmark to that list to let Boston run with Jeremy Swayman but there are question marks with him as well.
In pretty much every scenario, it’s going to be a roll of the dice. That’s the challenge with the way the league is going with goaltending – there just aren’t 32 legitimate starting goalies out there let alone teams having a surplus at that spot that doesn’t come with a poison pill of sorts. There are upgrades available but few guarantees and with Bernier’s future in question, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Devils try to add a goalie next offseason. These will be some of the names they likely look to.
case7187: Do you think the B’s could package those three horrible first-round picks DeBrusk, Senyshyn, and Zboril for a guy like J.T. Miller or someone similar to him or would they have to add picks or Vaakanainen to any deals?
SkidRowe: Realistically, what can the Bruins do? They have a lot of talent but they also have glaring needs at C, LD, and RW. Besides draft picks, they don’t have many cheap, young assets to trade (unless they’re willing to move Swayman). Studnicka and Vaakanainen are okay prospects but not exciting. DeBrusk is overpaid and underperforming. Frederic is a former 1st rounder but he’s bottom 6 only. It will be tough for the Bruins to make a competitive offer for any of the big names that may be out there (Chychrun, Hertl, J.T. Miller) given their lack of assets. If they were lucky enough to acquire one of the bigger fish, they would have nothing left to fill their other needs.
@BobbyRotondo: What are the Bruins going to do?
Let’s put all of the Boston questions together.
On the first one, I’ll pose a question back – if the picks are as horrible as they’ve been, why is Vancouver dealing an impact player on a team-friendly contract for them? Draft pedigree is meaningless at this stage of their careers. Jake DeBrusk’s trade value is next to zero with his salary and limited production. He’s not getting a qualifying offer and he’s not producing enough to get teams interested. They can make a move involving him for a similarly-paid underachiever but that’s about it. Zach Senyshyn cleared waivers at the start of the season and has been good but not great in the minors. I wouldn’t be surprised if he moves but it’d be for a depth piece in lieu of trading a late-round pick back; that’s where his value is. I think Jakub Zboril could become a third-pairing player but he’s out for the year with a torn ACL so his value right now is minimal at best.
So, what can the Bruins do? They have some cap space to work with which puts them in pretty good shape to try to make a splash. But they also don’t have the long-term cap room to work with to add another high-priced player to this core assuming they’re able to re-sign Patrice Bergeron this summer and David Pastrnak the following offseason. Making the playoffs shouldn’t be an issue but they look like a Wild Card team more than a contender. Is moving one of those few quality young trade assets as was correctly noted for an impact rental player the right move at this time? I don’t think so. You do that when you’re trying to contend, not become less of an underdog in the first round; there is no one rental player that puts them over the top in terms of contention.
Remember the Drew Stafford trade from a few years ago? Boston was able to get him for cheap in large part because of his contract. That’s the type of move I think they’ll look at. Add a quality veteran or two that will improve the depth and provide a bit of upside relative to the players they’ll be replacing but with their cap hits being higher than they should be, they won’t have to move much to get them. Those are incremental improvements to the roster without mortgaging the future. For a team in their situation, they shouldn’t be doing much more than that. That’s not exciting but it’s prudent and with their prospect pool not being the deepest right now, I think it’s the right course of action.
HockeyBoz: Is there a chance that the Red Wings are interested in Klingberg? Staal, Leddy, DeKeyser all could be gone next year. Hronek slipping on the depth chart. Might be a good pick-up. They have draft picks stockpiled. Thoughts??
John Klingberg is going to yield a nice return in a trade for Dallas even as a pending free agent. I want to particularly emphasize that last bit. Klingberg will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Detroit enters play today nine points out of a playoff spot with Boston (the team holding the final spot) having three games in hand. It would make no sense for the Red Wings to trade for Klingberg as a rental; they’d still almost certainly miss the playoffs and be out some draft picks or prospects for good measure.
Now, if Klingberg was to sign a contract extension as part of a trade, that’s another story. Is it worth parting with a good pick or prospect to secure Klingberg for seven or eight more seasons? Sure. And in that situation, it would make sense for GM Steve Yzerman to consider. If Klingberg makes it to free agency in July, then they should absolutely be involved; at some point, Detroit will need to start building back their veteran talent base which would go a long way towards helping them take a big step or two forward.
If Klingberg is willing to sign with Detroit right now, then they should be interested in him over the coming weeks. Otherwise, they have no business being involved in a trade for him and would be best served to wait until the summer to go after him.
Detroit_SP: Does the Red Wings’ best QUALITY option at 2C for 2022-23+ already play on the team? If not, how does the team add a non-rental piece that can contribute quickly enough not to waste Bertuzzi, Larkin, Fabbri, and Vrana’s time with the organization?
I don’t think so. I like Joseph Veleno but he’s more of a checker than a top-six guy. Michael Rasmussen shows flashes of offensive skill but I feel he’s also more of a third liner in an ideal situation. Pius Suter isn’t going to be a second liner long-term either.
So how do they get one? They can offer a huge contract to Nazem Kadri in free agency or pay a hefty price to get one in a trade. It cost Montreal a first-rounder plus a second-rounder to get Christian Dvorak, a lower-end 2C. If you want a quality piece, it’s going to cost a high-end prospect at a minimum; teams moving one with some team control would be asking about guys like Simon Edvinsson. Controllable impact centers are worth that much.
You make a good point about not wasting the remaining years for their current veteran core and I tend to lean the same way. Cup contention comes from a combination of good veterans, young impact players that aren’t on high-priced contracts, and impact pieces on entry-level pacts. That’s the ideal way to maximize talent in the salary cap era. That particular structure only has a few years left as at that point, their current veterans will either cost more or will have moved on. This isn’t the season to do it – they’re probably not making the playoffs – but that switch should be flipped this summer.