Five Key Stories: 10/18/21 – 10/24/21
With it being so early in the season, teams are hesitant to make any moves as they get a feel for what they currently have on their rosters. With that in mind, some of the bigger news of the week has come from other fronts.
COVID Trouble: A handful of teams have had players enter COVID protocol in the early going this season. There were quite a few more this past week with Winnipeg forwards Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele, St. Louis winger Brandon Saad, Pittsburgh blueliner Kris Letang, and Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane among those missing time due to being in the protocol. While there have been suggestions that the league might tone down the testing, weeks like this could put those plans on hold fairly quickly.
Gourde Returns Early: When Seattle selected Yanni Gourde from Tampa Bay in expansion, the enthusiasm was tempered down when it was revealed that he’d miss four months due to shoulder surgery. Instead, he only missed four games as he was activated off IR which is well before even the most optimistic of timelines for recovery. Gourde isn’t getting eased into action either as he has logged more than 22 minutes per game in each of his two appearances so far.
Kane Suspension: Following a series of investigations by the NHL into Sharks winger Evander Kane, the league levied a 21-game suspension to the 30-year-old for an established violation of, and lack of compliance with, the NHL/NHLPA COVID-19 Protocol. The league didn’t identify what the exact violation was but there were reports earlier this month that he was being investigated for using a fake vaccination card. Also in the announcement from the league was a statement that allegations regarding domestic abuse could not be substantiated. Kane, who is not appealing the ban, is now ineligible to play until November 30th.
Heading Overseas: Veteran center Artem Anisimov was unable to catch on with another NHL team following being released from his PTO with Colorado so he has elected to go back to the KHL, inking a one-year deal with HC Lokomotiv. That’s the program that Anisimov started out going back to his junior-aged days and he last suited up there during the lockout in the 2012-13 season. If it’s the end for Anisimov in North America, he’ll wind up with 376 points in 771 career NHL contests, a pretty good return on a late second-round pick which is where the Rangers selected him back in 2006.
Hughes Injured: The strong start for Devils center Jack Hughes has been put on hold for a while with the announcement that the 20-year-old has suffered a disclosed shoulder and is out indefinitely. Hughes had three points in his first two games including an overtime winner but will not need surgery. It’s a contract year for the 2019 top pick so there is a lot on the line when he’s able to return as a long-term pact similar to the one Nico Hischier signed back in 2019 could be a possibility if he winds up not missing much time and has a productive 2021-22 campaign.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Senators Acquire Dylan Gambrell
The Senators had been looking to add some forward depth even before Shane Pinto was placed on IR. They’ve now done so, acquiring center Dylan Gambrell from San Jose for a 2022 seventh-round pick. The selection going to the Sharks is actually their own seventh-rounder that was previously acquired in January for defenseman Christian Jaros. Both teams have announced the deal. Ottawa GM Pierre Dorion released the following statement on the move:
Dylan’s a player whose progress we’ve monitored since his collegiate career at the University of Denver. He’s a good-skating centre, a strong checker and a responsible penalty killer. We have a void at centre on account of some recent injuries and Dylan will help us with that need.
The 25-year-old has reached double digits in points in each of the last two seasons while also logging over 16 minutes per game in 49 contests with the Sharks last season. That helped earn him a one-year, $1.1MM contract from San Jose this offseason. However, he failed to earn a spot on the roster in training camp having been beaten by Jasper Weatherby for the spot on the fourth line he was expected to occupy and actually cleared waivers two weeks ago.
While Ottawa could have had him for free back then, they also didn’t have three regulars out with injuries as Pinto is joined by Colin White and Austin Watson on injured reserve. As a result, they’ve decided to part with a seventh-rounder to bring in someone with 110 career games under his belt, primarily in the checking role that Dorion alluded to trying to fill. It’s a low-cost pickup for the Sens and if Gambrell pans out, he’s controllable for two more years through restricted free agency where he will have arbitration rights.
Central Notes: Stars, Jets, Tolvanen, Avalanche
While the Stars should have John Klingberg back tomorrow, it’s not all good news on the injury front for Dallas. Matthew DeFranks of the Dallas Morning News mentions that wingers Jason Robertson and Blake Comeau are not expected to play on Monday against Columbus. Both have been out since the start of the season with upper-body injuries and while they both skated with the Stars at practice today, they evidently haven’t been cleared to play just yet. Comeau is currently on IR but has been out long enough to be activated whenever he’s able to return. Dallas has an extra roster spot available right now so no roster move will be needed at that time.
More from the Central Division:
- While Jets winger Blake Wheeler will be able to rejoin the team as early as Wednesday when he is cleared to get out of isolation following his positive COVID test, Postmedia’s Scott Billeck highlights that there is still some uncertainty surrounding Mark Scheifele’s eventual availability. While he has yielded both positive and negative tests so far, he’ll need negative tests for two straight days before being cleared to return. Scheifele’s timeline is different than Wheeler’s with him being asymptomatic.
- Predators winger Eeli Tolvanen left today’s game versus Minnesota due to an upper-body injury, the team announced (Twitter link). The winger had a goal in five games heading into the contest and more information about the injury will be revealed on Tuesday.
- The Avalanche tried to bring back center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare this summer, the veteran acknowledged to Peter Baugh of The Athletic (subscription link). Colorado offered the 36-year-old a one-year deal but they were limited by their cap constraints. In the end, Bellemare opted for some extra security, instead signing a two-year contract with Tampa Bay that carries a $1MM AAV.
Coyotes Receiving Trade Interest In Barrett Hayton
With the Coyotes shaking up their roster so much in recent months, there are perceived to be very few untouchables on their roster. To that end, Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek reported in a recent 32 Thoughts segment (video link) that teams are calling Arizona regarding center Barrett Hayton.
The 21-year-old was the fifth-overall selection back in 2018 but has yet to really establish himself in the NHL. Hayton has played in 34 games with the Coyotes over his first two professional seasons, recording just three goals and four assists while logging a little more than 11 minutes a game on average. Considering his age, it’s not entirely disappointing but it’s also safe to infer they were hoping he’d be a regular at this point.
That isn’t the case this season either as he didn’t make the team out of training camp and has started the season with Tucson of the AHL where he has been held off the scoresheet in their first two games. Hayton spent the bulk of 2020-21 with the Roadrunners but didn’t fare particularly well offensively, collecting just six goals and four assists in 26 contests.
That has led some teams to inquire if the Coyotes would be willing to move him; Marek clarified that Arizona isn’t bringing him up for discussion nor has Hayton asked to be moved. For the time being, it appears he’ll be sticking around but as it looks less and less like he could be a focal point of their rebuild, it stands to reason that at some point, Hayton could be made available and given how hard center help is to get, they’d still be in a position to land a notable return despite the youngster’s struggles so far.
San Jose Sharks Approaching Decision On William Eklund
The entry-level slide is a rather well-known concept now in the salary cap world. Otherwise known as the ‘nine-game rule’, it permits teams to conserve years on an 18- or 19-year-old player’s entry-level contract by deferring or sliding the start of the contract by a season (or two), provided they don’t play nine games or less at the NHL level in a season.
It’s not something often thought about with players of European origin, as it’s rather uncommon for a European-based player to make a team out of camp at this age unless fully NHL-ready. But the San Jose Sharks took a chance this year on 2020 draft selection William Eklund, and it’s largely paid off. As the team’s roared off to a 4-1-0 start, they’ve largely been propelled by the competence of their rookie class — including Eklund. With three assists in four games, Eklund’s showing flashes of potential and already showing the value the Sharks got with a seventh-overall selection.
Yet Eklund was scratched today for their first loss of the season against the Boston Bruins, allowing Alexander Barabanov to draw back into the lineup. Eklund’s spent the season playing on a line with Tomas Hertl and Rudolfs Balcers, but sits as a -3 with none of his points coming at even strength.
There’s no doubt that Eklund was a slam-dunk selection, but if he can’t stick in the lineup, it would be the wiser move to loan him back to his native Sweden without burning the first year of his contract. The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz notes that the team is likely to take as long as possible before making that choice, giving Eklund every chance to prove that he can stay in the lineup at the NHL level this season. But the team, understandably, also doesn’t want him spending too much time in the press box, especially after he impressed with 23 points in 40 SHL games last season with Djurgardens IF.
Regardless, the Sharks can dress Eklund in five more games before being able to loan him back to Sweden without burning a season on his entry-level deal. For a team that now looks to be on the rise sooner rather than later, it could be a choice with long-term ramifications in terms of his second contract.
Minor Transactions: 10/24/21
It’s been a busy day across the hockey world as leagues elsewhere adjust their rosters. Moves at the NHL level can have ripple effects everywhere else, especially in North America in the AHL and ECHL. Here’s a list of today’s minor transactions from across the hockey world.
- The Belleville Senators brought up goalie Tyler Parks from the ECHL’s Atlanta Gladiators today in place of Filip Gustavsson, who was brought up to the big club in Ottawa. Parks, a 29-year-old undrafted netminder from Missouri, has a .885 save percentage in a single loss with Atlanta this year. Parks is somewhat of a late bloomer but performed well during his most recent AHL stint, posting a 2-1-2 record and .920 save percentage with the Tucson Roadrunners in 2019-20.
- The Colorado Eagles reassigned former Avalanche prospect Luka Burzan to the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies today. Burzan was a sixth-round draft pick of the team in 2019, but let his rights expire this offseason. Burzan chose to stay in the organization, but for now, he’ll likely make his ECHL debut this season. He posted four points in 14 games last year with the Eagles.
Department Of Player Safety Fines Ducks’ Ryan Getzlaf For Dangerous Trip
The NHL Department of Player Safety announced a $1,000 fine for Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Getzlaf for a dangerous trip on the Minnesota Wild’s Joel Eriksson Ek.
During yesterday’s overtime period against Minnesota, Getzlaf and Eriksson Ek engaged in a net-front battle. With Getzlaf standing behind Eriksson Ek as they both faced the Ducks’ net, Getzlaf tripped Eriksson Ek by pushing the Wild forward’s left skate out from under him with his stick. Neither player had control of the puck.
It’s worth noting that Getzlaf was not fined the maximum allowable amount as defined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Getzlaf has started strong this season, scoring four assists in six games.
The money from the fine goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Injury Notes: Klingberg, Senators, Dowd
It looks like the Dallas Stars will receive a huge boost for their game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night in the form of a healthy John Klingberg. Head coach Rick Bowness said Sunday morning that Klingberg “should” return, but that the team won’t have full confirmation until tomorrow. The 29-year-old defenseman was injured in the team’s season opener and missed the succeeding four games, playing just 10:21 before suffering a lower-body injury. He’ll look to provide a boost with his offensive instincts to a team that’s scored just ten goals through their first five games.
More injury notes from around the league:
- There’s some updates on the injury front in Ottawa, as TSN reports goalie Matt Murray has been moved to injured reserve with a neck injury after being run into by the Rangers’ Chris Kreider on Saturday afternoon. He’ll miss at least the next ten days. It also appears center Shane Pinto will be out for a shorter term than expected, as head coach D.J. Smith he’s only expected to be absent for a week or two. A prompt return would be a good break for both him and the team, as Pinto had begun to impress in a top-six role.
- Washington Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette says the status of Nic Dowd for the team’s one-game road trip to Ottawa on Monday night is in question. Dowd is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. He played in all of the team’s overtime loss to the Calgary Flames on Saturday, so even if he does miss that contest, it doesn’t appear he’ll be out for any sort of term. The native of Huntsville, Alabama has one goal in five games this season.
Nicolas Aube-Kubel Receives Max Fine For Kneeing
A day after the NHL Department of Player Safety opted not to pursue supplemental discipline for Dallas Stars defenseman Jani Hakanpaa for a knee-to-knee hit, they have decided not to be so lenient toward Philadelphia Flyers forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel. The league has announced that Aube-Kubel has been fined $2,678.50 for kneeing Florida Panthers forward Mason Marchment on Saturday. This is the maximum fine allowable per the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The hit in question occurred early in the third period and was only called a trip on the ice, resulting in a two-minute minor penalty. With the puck in the Panthers’s zone and Marchment attempting to settle the puck in front of his own net, Aube-Kubel came from the corner with speed and hit Marchment, drawing an immediate whistle (video). While Marchment was shaken up on the play, he did return to the game and played a number of shifts in the remainder of Florida’s 4-2 win.
Aube-Kubel plays hard and is quickly gaining the reputation of a frustrating player to go up against. However, the 25-year-old grinder needs to be careful not to build a reputation with Player Safety, too. While he has yet to be suspended, this is Aube-Kubel’s second maximum fine, both coming within this calendar year. He received a $4,633.62 max fine for roughing the Buffalo Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin back in January. As that disciplinary history grows, Aube-Kubel will face harsher review from the league and could miss time with another incident.
Snapshots: Blackhawks, Kane, Wedin
It is a quick COVID Protocol turnaround for a few Chicago Blackhawks, well at least two of the three. After missing practice yesterday due to compliance with league protocol, Ryan Carpenter and Erik Gustafsson were back on the ice at morning skate today ahead of their game against the Detroit Red Wings. However, remaining absent was star Patrick Kane, who was also among the protocol group yesterday. The Athletic’s Scott Powers has confirmed suspicions, relaying word from the Blackhawks that Carpeneter and Gustafsson have been removed from the COVID Protocol, but Kane has not. There is no word as to why the trio were initially subject nor why Kane remains, but regardless Chicago will get some reinforcements back but could still be missing their best player tonight. Off to a frustrating 0-4-1 start, the Blackhawks can ill afford to be without Kane for very long. Interestingly, head coach Jeremy Colliton stopped short of ruling Kane out against Detroit, but there will have to be a change to his COVID status within a matter of hours.
- Another team missing a Kane is the San Jose Sharks. Last season’s leading scorer, Evander Kane, is serving a 21-game suspension for violating COVID Protocol by using a fake vaccination card. Given all of the controversy surrounding Kane over the past year though, a 21-game absence is unlikely what the Sharks expected to result from multiple investigations. The big winger will in fact be eligible to return to the team before the end of November. So where does San Jose go from here? The team is off to an incredible and unexpected 5-0-0 start and is playing well, perhaps without Kane’s distraction in the locker room. However, they have little recourse to prevent him from returning to the club. TSN’s Chris Johnston reports that the Sharks cannot terminate Kane’s contract due to the lengthy suspension nor can they do so as an internal form of punishment due to the findings that led to his league suspension. The CBA does not allow either form of double punishment and the NHLPA would not let it fly. They would be supported by a recent report from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, which stated the league never considered termination as a punishment for Kane. While the Sharks may be opne to a reunion with Kane, both Johnston and Friedman note that the team’s reaction has been a mixed bag of support and disdain for the situation and Kane’s coaches and teammates have been non-committal about whether or not they want him back. The team has just over a month to decide how to handle his return.
- Interestingly, a former Chicago Blackhawk and a player once linked to the San Jose Sharks was back on the market this week, albeit briefly. Forward Anton Wedin, who spent the 2019-20 season in the Blackhawks organization, terminated his contract with the KHL’s Sibir Novosibirsk earlier this week. This sparked some speculation that perhaps he would return to North America, even if only on an AHL deal. After all, Wedin made the jump from Sweden to Chicago at 26 and played in four NHL games and recorded 17 points in 31 AHL games. It was by no means a poor season. Wedin, who was only on a one-year deal with the Blackhawks, drew some NHL interest in the 2020 off-season, but ultimately decided to say home in Sweden during the pandemic, totaling 16 goals and 30 points in 39 games with HV71 in his best SHL season to date. Wedin’s name did not appear in any NHL rumors this summer and he signed in the KHL, but after just two points in 14 with Sibir he has moved on. Instead of exploring a return overseas though, Wedin will play out the season in the KHL after signing with Dynamo Moscow for the remainder of the year. Still just 28 and with NHL experience and ability, perhaps Wedin could return to the league in the future.