Snapshots: Doughty, Brind’Amour, Clarke
Ahead of Tuesday night’s rivalry game against the Anaheim Ducks, the Los Angeles Kings activated defenseman Drew Doughty from injured reserve today, per a team tweet. Doughty is expected to draw back into his usual top-pairing role alongside Michael Anderson. He’s missed the last 16 games after a knee-on-knee collision with Dallas’ Jani Hakanpaa that the NHL Department of Player Safety deemed accidental. Prior to his injury, Doughty was off to a raucous start with seven points in just four games. Despite having three points in his first two NHL games, it appears as though Sean Durzi will come back out of the lineup to make room for Doughty. With Doughty back in the fold, the Kings will look to improve on their 9-8-3 record and make noise in what could be a very tight Wild Card battle in the Western Conference.
Some other news and notes from around the hockey world today:
- According to a press release, the NHL fined Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour $25,000 today for inappropriate conduct during the team’s Sunday game against Washington. With 4:30 remaining in the third period, Brind’Amour could be seen pacing back and forth around the bench and yelling at the officials, although nothing’s known about what Brind’Amour actually said. He’s racking up a penchant for these fines, as a $25,000 punishment is becoming seemingly a yearly occurrence. The money from the fine will be donated to the NHL Foundation.
- In a shocking move, Los Angeles Kings defense prospect Brandt Clarke, whom they drafted eighth overall in 2021, won’t be invited to Team Canada’s selection camp for the upcoming World Junior Championship as originally reported by Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek. Clarke, who was named captain of the OHL’s Barrie Colts prior to the start of this season, is off to a torrid start with 23 points in just 17 games. Widely regarded as a top-five pick and one of the best defenders available, there was some surprise in the scouting community when Clarke fell to the Kings at eighth overall. The omittance of Clarke from the selection roster is even more shocking when considering his performance at other international tournaments for Canada, including a point-per-game effort last season at the under-18 World Juniors.
What Your Team Is Thankful For: Carolina Hurricanes
As the holiday season approaches, PHR will take a look at what teams are thankful for as the season heads towards the one-quarter mark. There also might be a few things your team would like down the road. We’ll examine what’s gone well in the early going and what could improve as the season rolls on for the Carolina Hurricanes.
What are the Hurricanes most thankful for?
Healthy (and effective) goaltending.
Over the last several seasons, the Hurricanes have been one of the best defensive teams in the league, limiting other teams to some of the lowest shot totals in the NHL. In 2018-19 they ranked third in shots against, in 2019-20 they were second, and in 2020-21 they were eighth. With that kind of effort it would follow that any number of starting goaltenders in the league would be able to find success in Carolina, the only problem has been the health of the ones they actually chose.
Petr Mrazek and James Reimer were good, but not very reliable options for the team, with the former playing just 12 games for them last season despite being the expected starter. This year it’s been a different story, at least for Frederik Andersen, who has backstopped the team 15 times in 20 games and looks as sharp as ever. Andersen has a .932 save percentage in those appearances, a number that would be far and away his career high should he maintain it all year. While they did need Alex Lyon to come up for a few days while backup Antti Raanta dealt with a minor injury, the starters role has been locked in so far. That certainly wasn’t a guarantee before the year started, so you can imagine how thankful head coach Rod Brind’Amour is through the first two months.
Who are the Hurricanes most thankful for?
The biggest reason for that outstanding defensive play is Slavin, who is an all-situations superstar for the Hurricanes–even if he doesn’t get quite as much press as some of his flashier counterparts around the league. There are 58 defensemen who have played more at even-strength so far this season, but just six of them own a better goals-for percentage during those minutes. Among those who have played at least 350 minutes, he ranks 11th in the entire league with 22 goals scored and just 14 against. His possession stats during that even-strength ice time put him in the top-five in the league, but that’s not at all where his contribution ends for the Hurricanes.
There is no player, forward or defenseman, who has logged more short-handed ice time this season than Slavin, who averages nearly four minutes a game on the penalty kill. The Hurricanes have taken more penalties than anyone else in the league this year, allowing 79 powerplays against in 20 games. Despite all that time though, he’s been on the ice for just three powerplay goals against, an incredible statistic that is the biggest reason why the Hurricanes penalty kill is ranked third in the league–and why their penchant for penalties hasn’t killed their record.
What would the Hurricanes be even more thankful for?
A return on their offer sheet investment.
No one expected Jesperi Kotkaniemi to be worth $6.1MM this season, but when the Hurricanes signed him to an offer sheet worth that much, essentially buying him off the Montreal Canadiens, there was still hope he could become at least a regular contributor. Instead, Kotkaneimi has moved further and further down the lineup, seeing less than ten minutes of action in four of his last eight games. Through the first month of the season he had just three points, certainly not acceptable for a player making that much on a contending team.
The bounces have turned for him the last few nights, with two goals and three points in his last two games, but that will have to become a trend for this move to seem like a successful one. Remember, not only are the Hurricanes paying Kotkaniemi much more than he’s worth this year, but they also gave up first and third-round picks to get him.
What should be on the Hurricanes’ Holiday Wish List?
A top-six winger.
There’s really not that much the Hurricanes need. They’re deep up front with four lines that can all compete, have one of the best defensive groups in the NHL (at least when three of them aren’t on the COVID list) and have two goaltenders that have both shown the ability to play as above-average starters. The only real question mark is 19-year-old Seth Jarvis, who is expected to once again be in the top-six tonight next to Andrei Svechnikov and Vincent Trocheck.
It’s not that Jarvis lacks the talent to play there; the 2020 first-round pick is going to be in the Hurricanes lineup for years to come. But after some flashes of inconsistency, it may be prudent to go get another winger for that spot before the playoffs. The NHL season is a long grind, and though the bottom-six for the Hurricanes is a strong group, they’re not loaded with goal-scoring talent. If Jarvis has any signs of slowing down, adding another top-six option on an expiring contract might be the best way to go.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
New Jersey Devils Extend Jack Hughes
The New Jersey Devils have locked up the potential face of their franchise, signing Jack Hughes to an eight-year extension that will kick in next season. The deal comes just as Hughes is set to return to the lineup tonight after a long injury layoff. The $64MM contract will carry an average annual value of $8MM, making him the team’s highest-paid forward and locking him up through the 2029-30 season. Hughes was set to become a restricted free agent for the first time next summer.
PuckPedia reports that the deal will include a 10-team no-trade clause in the last four years of the deal. The full breakdown is as follows:
- 2022-23: $7.0MM salary + $2.0MM signing bonus
- 2023-24: $8.5MM salary
- 2024-25: $8.5MM salary
- 2025-26: $8.5MM salary
- 2026-27: $8.0MM salary
- 2027-28: $7.5MM salary
- 2028-29: $7.0MM salary
- 2029-30: $7.0MM salary
General manager Tom Fitzgerald released a statement explaining his excitement over the contract:
Today is a big day for the New Jersey Devils. This contract shows the commitment Jack and his family have made to us, and how the organization- myself, David Blitzer and Josh Harris- are in turn committed to them. We are building something unique and special here, with Jack being a core piece of that. This is just the start of where we believe we can go with this organization, as we work towards sustained success for years to come.
Selected first overall in 2019, Hughes has slowly developed through his first two years in the league, surrounded by a young, inexperienced roster and seeing his fair share of struggles. There was little doubt he entered this season as an improved player, however, and he showed it with his two-goal performance (including the overtime winner) in the Devils season opener. He had another assist in his second game before injuring his shoulder, which has kept him out since October 19 and limited him to just 26 minutes of ice time so far this season.
That all changes tonight when Hughes returns, now with not only the burden of draft expectations but now with those of a huge contract as well.
A member of one of an incredibly popular hockey family, which includes older brother Quinn Hughes, a star defenseman for the Vancouver Canucks, and younger brother Luke Hughes, who was selected fourth overall by the Devils this year and is currently playing at the University of Michigan, Jack Hughes has a skillset that could lead to huge results for the Devils in the long run. While he had just 21 points in his rookie season, he came back as a teenager last year to put up 31 points in 56 games, including 10 in his last 14.
While the projection of his ceiling is still sky-high, there’s obviously also a ton of risk in a contract like this for the Devils. Yes, Hughes could outperform an $8MM ticket as soon as next season, but he also could very well settle in below the true top-line options in the league and suddenly be a bit of an overpayment. The fact is that he hasn’t delivered that kind of production yet, even if his talent and upside are so obvious.
For a team like the Devils though, who only really have two other long-term commitments–captain Nico Hischier and free agent signing Dougie Hamilton–a deal like this isn’t going to cripple them even if he struggles moving forward. They’re paying for what should be Hughes’ entire prime and locking it in to avoid any distractions in the future. If the league’s revenue recovers to a point where the cap ceiling increases down the road, this deal could look like even more of a bargain, given it keeps Hughes in New Jersey for four unrestricted free agent years.
The pressure is on now for Hughes, who will start on the wing this evening but is still projected to be a center long-term for the Devils. That positional decision could be a huge factor in whether this is deal ends up a bargain or a blunder, as Hughes would hold so much more value if he can continue to line up in the middle of the ice.
This move also clears the deck for the Devils front office to focus on some of the other restricted free agents this summer, without having to wonder how much Hughes’ deal will come in at. Jesper Bratt, Pavel Zacha, Miles Wood, and several others are set to hit RFA status, meaning some more multi-year deals may be coming down the pipe. A team that’s just turning the corner on their rebuild, New Jersey is now 9-6-4 and focused on competing all season long in the Metropolitan Division.
Kevin Weekes of ESPN was first to report that a deal was close between Hughes and the Devils.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Jake DeBrusk Drawing Trade Interest
When news came out recently that Jake DeBrusk had requested a trade from the Boston Bruins, it shouldn’t have come as much of a surprise. The 25-year-old forward had seen his place in the Bruins lineup change dramatically since his outstanding 27-goal season in 2018-19, to the point of a healthy scratch over the weekend. What wasn’t clear is whether there was really a ton of interest in the struggling winger, especially because of the healthy salary that he comes with.
DeBrusk earns $4.85MM in the second season of a two-year deal which carries a $3.675MM cap hit, which means he’ll also be due a $4.41MM qualifying offer in the summer just to retain his RFA rights (and risk arbitration). He won’t be a cheap player for the next team he plays for, meaning he’ll have to produce much more than the eight goals and 20 points he has since the start of the 2020-21 campaign.
Still, it appears as though that previous production and obvious skillset are intriguing to teams around the league. Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet tweets that the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues, and Carolina Hurricanes are all among the teams that have expressed interest in the Bruins winger. Ryan Rishaug of TSN, who first broke the news of a trade request, tweeted earlier today that as many as eight teams have reached out to the Bruins. The level of interest isn’t clear, and other reports–including one from Sara Civian of The Athletic–seem to dispute even those teams listed. There is also the issue of the salary cap for almost all of the real contenders in the league, meaning a move would be even more difficult to pull off.
For what it’s worth, DeBrusk will be back in the Bruins lineup tonight as Brad Marchand deals with his suspension. General manager Don Sweeney did confirm the trade request to reporters today, explaining that the disgruntled forward would “prefer a new opportunity.”
Christian Wolanin Placed On Waivers
The Buffalo Sabres have placed Christian Wolanin back on waivers, the place they claimed him from last month. The defenseman ended up playing just one game with the Sabres so far and needs to clear to be sent to the minor leagues. Should his former team the Los Angeles Kings claim him and are the only club to do so, they will be able to send him directly to the AHL.
Buffalo recently added Mark Jankowski on an NHL deal and are expected to get Casey Mittelstadt back from injury soon, meaning there needed to be a roster spot opened somewhere. Wolanin wasn’t being used anyway and has a real chance to clear, so the team has decided he’s the one to risk to the rest of the league. It’s not that he doesn’t have NHL experience, as Wolanin has played in 62 games at the highest level, but it’s been extremely inconsistent playing time to this point.
His biggest opportunity came in 2018-19 with the Ottawa Senators, when he ended up playing in 30 games for the team and recorded 12 points. Since then though it’s been up, down, and a lot of healthy scratches for the 26-year-old. Perhaps a team like the Edmonton Oilers or Carolina Hurricanes, both dealing with massive absences on the blueline, would take a chance, but it’s hard to see how Wolanin will get regular playing time in the league this season.
Nashville Predators Acquire Kole Sherwood
The Nashville Predators have acquired minor league forward Kole Sherwood from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for future considerations. The move will give the young forward a new opportunity as he plays out his one-year, two-way contract.
Sherwood, 24, signed that deal in July with the Senators after failing to receive a qualifying offer from the Columbus Blue Jackets. The undrafted forward has played in 13 games for the Belleville Senators so far and has four points. Unfortunately, he hadn’t been in the lineup the last four games for the minor league club (all wins), leading to this change of scenery.
There’s actually some NHL experience in the 6’1″ forward too. Sherwood played 11 games for the Blue Jackets spread over three seasons and registered nine penalty minutes and an assist. The brother of Colorado Avalanche forward Kiefer Sherwood, the younger Kole was once a scoring machine in the OHL for three different clubs. In 2017-18 he put up 44 goals and 86 points in 76 games for the Kitchener Rangers, but wasn’t really ever able to bring that level of production to the professional level.
In this case, future considerations likely mean not much of anything, as Sherwood was already not being used by the B-Sens. It is possible that an AHL trade will follow, but mostly Ottawa will just receive the benefit of an extra NHL contract slot. The team now sits at 46 of their 50 allotted contracts.
AHL Shuffle: 11/30/21
Eight games grace the NHL schedule this evening, including the return of Jack Hughes to the New Jersey Devils lineup against the San Jose Sharks. There is also a prime matchup between two Eastern Conference powerhouses when the Florida Panthers take on the Washington Capitals and a battle between the teams that have won the last three Stanley Cup championships. As those teams and others prepare for action, we’ll keep track of all the minor league shuffling.
Atlantic Division
Metropolitan Division
- The Philadelphia Flyers have recalled Connor Bunnaman and Max Willman back up from the minor leagues, in time for their game tomorrow against the New York Rangers. The team only sent them down yesterday, in order to save a bit of salary on an off day. General manager Chuck Fletcher did explain at a press conference this morning that Kevin Hayes should be back soon, meaning these two may not be needed for long.
- With Hughes’ return imminent, the Devils have sent Chase De Leo back to the minor leagues. The 26-year-old, who is still the scoring leader for the Utica Comets, played in two games with New Jersey but failed to register a point.
Central Division
- Michael McCarron has been recalled again by the Nashville Predators, after only going down yesterday. The big forward has played in six games for the Predators this season, but has yet to register a point.
Pacific Division
- The Anaheim Ducks have recalled Vinni Lettieri from the AHL, bringing him back up after just a few days in the minors. The 26-year-old has played in three games for the Ducks this season, scoring two points.
This page will be updated throughout the day
Tyler Bozak Placed In COVID Protocol
The COVID announcements just won’t stop. After the Oilers and Bruins will be without Cody Ceci and Bruce Cassidy respectively, the St. Louis Blues are following suit by adding Tyler Bozak to the COVID protocol.
Bozak, 35, has played in all 21 of the Blues games this year and wasn’t one of the players held out because of positive COVID tests earlier in the season. He has just one goal so far, but has contributed seven points in limited minutes. Among regulars, Bozak sees nearly the lowest amount of even-strength time on the team, averaging just over 11 minutes at 5-on-5. His value to the team is more noticeable on the penalty kill, where his faceoff prowess comes in handy (though, he’s currently at the lowest win percentage of his career).
If he has tested positive, which is not confirmed at this point, and is experiencing any symptoms, Bozak will miss a minimum of ten games for the Blues. Normally that would mean a simple recall from the AHL, but St. Louis is actually too close to the cap for that. The team has just over $100K in long-term relief left, not enough for a regular recall. Should they play tonight with one less skater than normal, they would be able to recall a player without his cap being added.
That may not be necessary, as the team was already carrying 13 forwards and eight defensemen, but like earlier in the season the Blues will be in a difficult situation should anyone else be added to the protocol. The team petitioned the league for salary cap relief in cases like this, but the NHL decided not to go down that route at the time.
Bruce Cassidy Placed In COVID Protocol
The COVID announcements are coming fast and furious this morning. After the Edmonton Oilers canceled practice for precautionary reasons, the Boston Bruins report that head coach Bruce Cassidy has entered the protocol. The Bruins are scheduled to take on the Detroit Red Wings this evening. Don Sweeney explained that Cassidy does have mild symptoms and Joe Sacco will take over primary coaching duties in his absence.
It’s certainly not an ideal time for Cassidy to be put in isolation, as the Bruins are win-starved lately and actually sit behind the Red Wings in the standings (though they’ve played four fewer games). Since the head coach has tested positive and is experiencing symptoms, he’ll be held away from the team for a minimum of ten days. That could mean five games without their bench boss, right as the Bruins’ schedule starts to ramp up after a slow first two months.
Remember the team is also without Brad Marchand after he was issued a three-game suspension, meaning the Bruins will be short-handed as they try to leapfrog Detroit and climb back up the Atlantic Division standings. Jake DeBrusk, who is currently hoping for a trade out of town, was at the morning skate and on the fourth line with Erik Haula and Curtis Lazar. The team actually doesn’t currently have the ability to recall anyone from the Providence Bruins, as that team is in their own COVID lockdown after positive cases reached double digits.
As with any COVID designation, but especially that of older coaches and executives, the focus obviously lies on Cassidy’s health. The hockey world hopes the 56-year-old comes through without any serious symptoms and is back on the bench in no time.
Oilers Cancel Practice, Add Ceci To COVID Protocol
The Edmonton Oilers have canceled today’s practice for precautionary reasons after Cody Ceci was placed in the COVID protocol. The team is currently scheduled to play the Pittsburgh Penguins tomorrow night. Interestingly, Duncan Keith has also been moved to injured reserve, despite making an appearance on the ice yesterday. The team has recalled Markus Niemelainen in the meantime.
Ceci, 27, has been a huge part of the Oilers team this season, averaging more than 20 minutes a night through the first 20 games. In fact, those numbers have increased dramatically since Keith and Darnell Nurse went out, with Ceci averaging over 23 minutes in his last five. Some may suggest that he’s done well in those minutes, given the team has won four of those five, but Ceci is one of the few players on the Oilers roster who has been outscored at even-strength.
In fact, he’s been on the ice for more goals against (18) than anyone else on Edmonton’s roster this season. While some of that has to do with Ceci’s heavy usage and defensive zone deployment, he’s still not putting up very impressive analytical numbers. Even so, Edmonton can’t afford to lose him for ten days, which is what he’ll miss at a minimum if he’s tested positive for coronavirus and is experiencing any symptoms. Already the team was using a 20-year-old Philip Broberg in key minutes and now may see Niemelainen make his NHL debut.
The 23-year-old defenseman was a third-round pick of the Oilers back in 2016, but is in just his second season in North America. In 2020-21 he came over to the Bakersfield Condors and showed why he was a reliable option in Finland, using his 6’5″ frame to effectively end rushes. In 21 games he also added six points, nearly reaching his career-high from Liiga in far fewer games. This season he has three points in 14 games, but at least appears ready to add some defensive ability to the NHL squad, should they need it right away.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images