Chicago Blackhawks Sign Louis Crevier
Chicago Blackhawks interim GM Kyle Davidson has made his first move, signing prospect Louis Crevier to a three-year entry-level contract. The deal carries a cap hit of $850,833.
Selected 188th overall in 2020, Crevier is off to an outstanding start to his 2021-22 season, scoring six points in eight games with the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL. An offseason trade took him away from the Chicoutimi Sagueneens, where he had 14 points in 26 games during last season’s shortened campaign.
Points aren’t what you notice first about Crevier though, not when he’s standing 6’8″ and towering over the rest of his junior contemporaries. The hulking defenseman can break up plays with a stick that seemingly reaches from blue line to blue line, but his skating ability has improved enough that he’s also able to effectively move the puck himself.
That frame is obviously enough for the Blackhawks to bet on, giving him an entry-level contract even as a seventh-round pick.
Injury Notes: Avalanche, Karlsson, Mikheyev
The Colorado Avalanche will be playing shorthanded tomorrow night, as Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar have both been ruled out. Makar is listed as day-to-day according to Peter Baugh of The Athletic while he deals with an upper-body injury. Andre Burakovsky meanwhile is also doubtful for the game, and Jonas Johansson will start in net.
Perhaps luckily, the Avalanche have a relatively light schedule over the next little while. After tomorrow’s game they will not play again until Saturday, then they have another four days off before next Thursday’s match against the Vancouver Canucks. Some of these minor issues will hopefully get time to heal as they try to get back on the path of a real contender, not struggling in the middle of the Central Division table.
- The Vegas Golden Knights confirmed today that William Karlsson will be out for four to six weeks with a lower-body injury, one that was reported to be a broken foot yesterday. Brett Howden will get the first chance to skate between Reilly Smith and Jonathan Marchessault as the Golden Knights take on the Toronto Maple Leafs this evening.
- Those Maple Leafs received an encouraging sight this morning as Ilya Mikheyev took the ice for some solo practice, but head coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters including David Alter of The Hockey News that there is not yet any update on the injured forward. Mikheyev underwent surgery last month on a broken thumb and was expected to miss a minimum of eight weeks. It hasn’t even been three weeks yet, meaning there’s likely a long way to go for Mikheyev before he joins the main group.
Scott Sabourin Clears Waivers
Nov 2: Sabourin has cleared waivers and can be assigned to the minor leagues.
Nov 1: The Ottawa Senators have placed Scott Sabourin on waivers according to Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia, in order to create roster space for Austin Watson. While the team has one open roster spot currently, Matt Murray will take it when he is activated from injured reserve in time for tonight’s game. Watson is expected to be activated tomorrow and play against the Minnesota Wild.
Sabourin, 29, has played in just one game this season for the Senators, logging just over six minutes of ice time. The minor league veteran is known more for his fists than his scoring ability and will likely be brought up again this season whenever the team feels it needs some added toughness. He’ll likely pass through unclaimed, as he has several times in the past including last season when he was with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
In 314 AHL contests, Sabourin has racked up 668 penalty minutes, compared to just 79 points. Despite his lack of offensive upside, he’s still carved out quite a lengthy professional career. His one-year, two-way contract is the fifth NHL contract of his career and this one will pay him $200K at the minor league level.
Timo Meier Added To COVID Protocol
The San Jose Sharks are dealing with one of the worst COVID testing situations in the league, with seven players in the protocol as of yesterday, along with head coach Bob Boughner. Just before the rest of the group took the ice this morning, it was announced that Timo Meier has also been put in the protocol, though Jonathan Dahlen has been removed from it. That means their number remains at seven players, with Meier joining Erik Karlsson, Kevin Labanc, Jacob Middleton, Matthew Nieto, Radim Simek, and Marc-Edouard Vlasic.
Head trainer Ray Tufts has also been put in the protocol, meaning Will Leonard from the San Jose Barracuda will have to be helping the NHL club for the time being.
The Sharks are supposed to take on the Buffalo Sabres this evening but will have to do it without their top scoring threat. Meier is off to an outstanding start to his season, scoring five goals and 11 points in eight games while averaging nearly 18 minutes a night. In fact, with so many bodies out over the weekend, he logged more than 22 minutes of ice time and scored the game-winning goal in overtime.
It would have been hard to take a more important player out of the Sharks lineup, though it’s not clear how long Meier will actually be out. The team did not confirm whether or not he has tested positive, meaning he could potentially come out of the protocol rather quickly.
Several Blackhawks Removed From COVID Protocol
Nov 2: After Kane made his triumphant return last night, the Blackhawks got a few more bodies back today. Jujhar Khaira, Riley Stillman and assistant coaches Marc Crawford and Jimmy Waite have all exited the protocol and rejoined the team.
Nov 1: The Chicago Blackhawks could soon have their best player back in the lineup, as Patrick Kane is out of the COVID protocol. Kane was seen on the ice at this morning’s skate, though it is unclear if he’ll go directly into the lineup for tonight’s game. Assistant coaches Tomas Mitell and Matt Meacham are also out of the protocol.
Chicago could certainly use the help, given they are still looking for their first win of the season. The team is now 0-7-2 on the year after losing a 1-0 match against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night. This evening they will welcome the Ottawa Senators into town, a group that is much improved over the bottom-dweller they have been the last few years.
Kane has only been a part of five of those nine losses, missing the last several games after being placed in the COVID protocol. He does have five points on the year though, which is still good enough to tie Alex DeBrincat for the Chicago lead among forwards. Should he get in tonight, it will be a huge boost for the reeling Blackhawks, even if he does have a bit of rust to knock off.
Kyle Clifford Placed In COVID Protocol
The St. Louis Blues have placed Kyle Clifford in the COVID protocol, joining Ryan O’Reilly and Ville Husso with the non-roster designation. The team did not reveal any other information about the transaction, or whether Clifford has tested positive.
As a reminder, inclusion in the protocol does not mean that a player has tested positive for Coronavirus or even that they have been confirmed as a close contact to another positive person. Included in the NHL’s list of possible reasons for someone being on the COVID Protocol Related Absences list are the following:
(1) an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (2) mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (3) required quarantine as a high-risk close contact in accordance with the Positive Test Protocol; (4) isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or; (5) quarantine for travel or other reasons as outlined in the COVID-19 Protocol.
Clifford is the Blues’ fourth player to be added to the protocol this season, as Brandon Saad previously spent time on the list. While O’Reilly’s absence is a huge blow for the team, Clifford doesn’t represent the same kind of impact player for St. Louis and had only suited up twice this season. The 30-year-old is a physical presence that can chip in some offense here and there but played fewer than 11 minutes in Saturday’s match against the Chicago Blackhawks.
AHL Shuffle: 11/02/21
A busy Tuesday night offers nine games from the NHL, including the Arizona Coyotes heading to Philadelphia to try and get their first win of the year. After Chicago’s victory last night, the Coyotes are the final winless team in the league, currently sitting at 0-8-1. As teams prepare for tonight’s action, we’ll keep track of all the minor moves.
Atlantic Division
- The Montreal Canadiens have recalled Alex Belzile from the AHL after Cedric Paquette was handed a two-game suspension yesterday. Belzile, 30, played in two games for the team last season, registering a single point.
- The Boston Bruins have recalled Jack Studnicka from the AHL as they continue to prepare for their next match on Thursday evening. Studnicka, 22, has played in three games with Boston and three games with Providence this season.
Metropolitan Division
Central Division
- With Connor Hellebuyck and his wife welcoming a child early this morning, the Winnipeg Jets have recalled Mikhail Berdin from the Manitoba Moose under emergency conditions. Kristian Vesalainen has also been assigned to the AHL.
Pacific Division
- The Los Angeles Kings have recalled Austin Strand as expected, giving them another defenseman for tomorrow’s game against the Blues. The Kings are down Drew Doughty and Sean Walker long-term, meaning some younger players are going to get chances to prove what they can do.
- With netminder Chris Driedger coming off injured reserve today, the Seattle Kraken re-assigned goalie Joey Daccord to the Charlotte Checkers today, per the team’s public relations team. Driedger returns in hopes of making his first start as a member of the Kraken sooner rather than later.
- As COVID-19-related absences continue to pile up for the San Jose Sharks, they’ve recalled Joel Kellman and Artemi Kniazev from the San Jose Barracuda. Both have combined for just one point in four games with the Barracuda.
This page will be updated throughout the day
Snapshots: Three Stars, Corrado, McIntyre
Earlier today, the NHL released the Three Stars for last week, headlined by Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom. The veteran netminder posted an incredible .989 save percentage in three appearances, allowing just one goal on 94 shots. That included a 45-save shutout against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and gave him the league lead in clean sheets and a .957 save percentage overall.
The second and third stars went to Drake Batherson of the Ottawa Senators and Alex Killorn of the Tampa Bay Lightning respectively, who each posted six points on the week. Batherson’s came in just two contests and included a four-point effort against the Washington Capitals which marked his first career hat trick. The 23-year-old forward is a huge part of what’s building in Ottawa and now has 61 points in 106 career games.
- Minor league journeyman Frank Corrado is looking for a new place to play after his KHL contract with Dinamo Riga was terminated. Corrado is in only his second season overseas after suiting up for the Chicago Wolves, Utica Comets, Toronto Marlies, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Belleville Senators, Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Pittsburgh Penguins in previous years. Still just 28, he likely could still land a job in the AHL if he is deciding to come back to North America.
- Zane McIntyre, who posted a .917 save percentage in the AHL last season and actually has eight NHL games under his belt, signed a professional tryout with the Tucson Roadrunners. The Roadrunners lost Ivan Prosvetov to the Arizona Coyotes last week, recalled because of the injury to Carter Hutton. McIntyre has plenty of minor league experience, including an All-Star selection last season.
Adam Fox Signs Seven-Year Extension
The New York Rangers have locked up the reigning Norris Trophy winner, signing Adam Fox to a seven-year extension. Fox was scheduled to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season. The deal will carry an average annual value of $9.5MM, according to Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today. The breakdown of the contract is as follows, per CapFriendly:
2022-23: $11.0MM salary
2023-24: $12.0MM salary
2024-25: $12.0MM salary
2025-26: $9.5MM salary (NMC)
2026-27: $1.0MM salary + $6.5MM SB (NMC)
2027-28: $1.0MM salary + $6.25MM SB (16-team no-trade list)
2028-29: $2.5MM salary + $4.75MM SB (16-team no-trade list)
Fox, 23, is one of just two players in NHL history to win the Norris Trophy in one of his first two seasons, joining Bobby Orr who also won it in his sophomore year. He’s also just the fourth American defenseman to win the award, and has quickly become one of the faces of the NHL. Originally selected by the Calgary Flames in 2016, Fox was traded twice before ever signing his entry-level contract, which he eventually inked in 2019 after three years at Harvard.
With his ELC coming to an end, it was obvious that a mega-deal was awaiting the young defenseman. This contract though, which buys out four years of unrestricted free agency, could actually be considered something of a discount for the Rangers. Fox will now be tied for the fourth-highest paid defenseman in the league in 2022-23, matching the extensions signed by Seth Jones and Charlie McAvoy earlier this summer. Zach Werenski, whose extension is for only six years but of which five are UFA seasons, slots in just ahead of that group with a $9.58MM cap hit moving forward. All of those are well behind Erik Karlsson ($11.5MM AAV) and Drew Doughty ($11MM AAV), who each signed their massive contracts ahead of full UFA status.
Even though this will become the largest contract ever given to a defenseman coming out of his entry-level deal, it’s the seven-year length that is so important for the Rangers. Fox likely could have squeezed out more total salary by going with a shorter term, though obviously, that comes with the risk of injury or a decline in performance. Locking in at a very healthy number while also committing long-term to the franchise he always dreamed of playing for is the best option for both parties, though it still does leave some risk on the team side.
As with any deal of this length, there is a chance that Fox’s play declines, but there’s also the fact that New York has now committed a huge amount of their cap to just a handful of players. Artemi Panarin ($11.64MM AAV), Mika Zibanejad ($8.5MM AAV), and Jacob Trouba ($8.0MM AAV) are already signed to massive deals, meaning with Fox, a huge chunk of the payroll is already accounted for. In fact, the Rangers now have more than $70MM committed to next season already with a roster of just 15 players.
In a league with a salary cap, surplus value is king, and even with Fox’s tremendous ability that has now been greatly reduced for the Rangers. They’ll be paying him near what he’s worth on the open market after this season, without being able to take advantage of any of his inexpensive seasons. That is of course unless they go on a deep run this year, something that isn’t out of the question as they sit second in the Metropolitan Division.
Despite all the implications moving forward, getting a deal done now with Fox will certainly cause many Rangers fans to breathe a sigh of relief. He’ll now be a part of the team for the best years of his career, pushing for more Norris Trophy votes and potentially even more team success.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Max Domi Placed In COVID Protocol
It’s been a tumultuous start to the season for Max Domi, and he now finds himself on the sidelines once again. The Columbus Blue Jackets forward has been placed in the COVID protocol and is out indefinitely. The team has recalled Kevin Stenlund to take his place on the roster.
According to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, Domi tested positive on Sunday and will be out at least ten days. He is currently in New York City, while the team traveled to Denver after last night’s game.
Domi already missed four games earlier this season with a fractured rib, but made his return a few days ago. In four games on the season he has four points, with his only goal coming in his season debut last month. The 26-year-old forward is averaging just over 13 minutes a night, by far the lowest ice time of his career to this point.
Stenlund meanwhile has yet to play a game for the team this season after suiting up 32 times in 2020-21. The 25-year-old center cleared waivers just before the start of the season and has three points in seven games for the Cleveland Monsters.