Minor Transactions: 09/29/21
Though the numbers have dwindled, there are still many players looking for work this season. The includes in North America, where some are seeking minor league deals or hoping to capitalize on PTOs, as well as in Europe, where most leagues are already underway but players are still trying to find their way into the action. Keep up with all of these transactions here:
- Miraculously, 38-year-old power forward Evgeny Artyukhin is back for another year of hockey. The Russian forward has signed a one-year deal with the KHL’s Admiral Vladivostok, the team announced. Admiral becomes his ninth different KHL club in his 18-year pro career, which also included a multi-year stint in the NHL. Artyukhin is so old (how old is he?) that the last NHL club he played for was the Atlanta Thrashers in 2010. A 2001 Tampa Bay Lightning draft pick, Artyukhin spent two seasons with the Bolts, collecting 33 points in 145, before splitting his final NHL season between the Anaheim Ducks and the Thrashers with 16 points in 54 games. An effective bottom-six forward who played a physical game and could chip in on offense, Artyukhin likely could have played longer in North America, but was always drawn back to Russia. And KHL teams are drawn to him; it seemed that Artyukhin’s career could be over back in 2018-19 when he missed the whole season due to injury, but now he is on to his second contract in two years as he continues to elongate an already impressive career.
- Two Boston PTO’s have earned a contract with the Bruins, the AHL’s Providence Bruins that is. Defensemen Aaron Ness and Jack Dougherty have signed on with the junior Bruins for this season reports Mark Divver of the New England Hockey Journal. The organization has yet to confirm, but it would not be a shock given that both players are currently in camp. Ness, who turned down a PTO with the Seattle Kraken to join the Bruins instead, is coming of a contract with the Arizona Coyotes and saw NHL action just last year. He brings 72 NHL games and over 500 AHL games worth of experience to Providence. Dougherty, 25, is a former top prospect of the Nashville Predators who has struggled to make his mark in the pros but has been extremely consistent in the minors.
- Jared Cockrell will have to spend another year in the ECHL to prove he is ready for the next level. The former Colgate standout transferred to St. Cloud State last year and appeared in the NCAA Championship with the Huskies. Soon after he signed with the Wheeling Nailers and got in 16 games, but disappointed with only one point and a -8 rating. His college play suggests that he is far better than that performance and he will look to show that this season after re-upping with Wheeling, per a league release. Cockrell will have his eye on establishing more consistent play at both ends in the Coast and then maybe he could be in line for an AHL loan at some point this year.
Seattle Kraken Sign Max McCormick
The Seattle Kraken have signed depth forward Max McCormick to a one-year, two-way contract according to CapFriendly. The deal will carry an NHL salary of $750K, an AHL salary of $150K, and a minor league guarantee of $200K.
McCormick, 29, played in 12 games for the Carolina Hurricanes last season and has a total of 83 NHL contests under his belt. The sixth-round pick will bring some versatility and toughness to the Kraken organization, giving them another depth forward to send to the minor leagues if necessary. Though he’ll have to clear waivers to do so, it shouldn’t be a problem for McCormick who has cleared them four times in the past.
Willing to drop the gloves against much bigger opponents, McCormick has racked up penalty minutes at the minor league level while also providing a strong offensive presence. In 2019-20, which he spent entirely with the Charlotte Checkers, the veteran forward scored 16 goals and 35 points in 56 games while also registering 120 penalty minutes.
The Kraken are facing several interesting choices when it comes to finalizing a roster for the upcoming season, as several of their fringe players could be nabbed on waivers if they try to send them to the minor leagues. There’s also the issue of not actually having an AHL affiliate for the 2021-22 season, but just providing a handful of players to the Checkers this year. A player like McCormick, at very little risk of being claimed but still effective enough to be used as an injury call-up, is exactly the kind of player that can help the Kraken build risk-free depth as the season approaches.
Josh Archibald Dealing With Medical Issue
The Edmonton Oilers have another preseason tilt tonight against the Winnipeg Jets but still won’t have depth forward Josh Archibald in the lineup. Head coach Dave Tippett told reporters today that Archibald is getting blood work done to try and solve a mysterious medical issue:
Arch has skated for a few days and is having some tests done. He just can’t seem to get himself up to speed, he’s not feeling like he should be. The last couple days he’s had some testing done and we’re waiting for the results of that. He’s just not getting up to speed like he should be, so we just want to check where he’s at. He’s set back a couple days here.
Archibald is the only player on the Oilers that declined the COVID-19 vaccine, but Tippett confirmed that he has tested negative every day. The head coach also suggested Archibald actually might be currently ineligible to receive the vaccine because of this health issue even if he decided to get it now. The priority now is on the current health of the 28-year-old forward.
Entering the second season of a two-year, $3MM contract that was signed in 2020, Archibald has shown he can be a valuable bottom-six player for the Oilers. After scoring 12 goals in his first season in Edmonton, he came back with seven goals and 13 points in 52 games last year. While his playing time was certainly not guaranteed given the additions the team has made and the vaccination status that would keep him from traveling with the team at certain points, losing him entirely would certainly not be ideal at this juncture.
If Archibald is held out for this medical issue, it could be an opportunity for Colton Sceviour, in camp on a professional tryout, to land an NHL contract. The team will already be executing a delicate long-term injured reserve dance to get cap compliant, which should open enough room for another depth signing like Sceviour if there is a roster spot to be had.
Latest On Mattias Ekholm, Filip Forsberg
At one point last season, speculation swirled around the Nashville Predators and every member of their veteran core. The team was playing poorly, half the roster was injured and it was obvious a change was necessary if they ever wanted to open up opportunities for some of the organization’s young players. Mattias Ekholm, who was only signed through the 2021-22 season was an obvious target, and teams all across the league started expressing interest even though the veteran defenseman was clear in his desire to stay in Nashville.
The Predators turned things around and made the playoffs without selling off any assets at the deadline, but a first-round exit made all of the trade talk surface once again. Viktor Arvidsson and Ryan Ellis, two of the faces of the franchise, were moved this offseason in deals that opened up quite a bit of cap space and added younger pieces to the organization. Now, as the season approaches, there are two more core pieces under the microscope because of their contract status.
One of them, Ekholm, made it very clear once again today that if possible he’d like to stay with the Predators past this season. Speaking to reporters including Paul Skrbina of the Tennessean, the 31-year-old defenseman explained that he would have signed an extension “yesterday” if he could, though he’s leaving the negotiations up to his agent and Nashville GM David Poile. The feeling appears to be mutual, as Poile explained last month that after signing Juuse Saros to an extension, the team would turn their attention to a deal for Ekholm.
With Ellis out of the picture, even more weight will be put on the shoulders of the veteran duo of Ekholm and Roman Josi. While young Dante Fabbro has shown he can handle an increased role and Philippe Myers, acquired in the Ellis deal should fit in nicely, the Predators’ hopes really rely on their two anchors on the back end. Josi is entering the second season of his massive eight-year, $72.5MM extension, but Ekholm will carry a cap hit of just $3.75MM in the final year what became one of the most valuable contracts in the league. After earning just $22.5MM over the six-year contract, he’ll likely be looking for quite the raise if an extension is to be worked out.
The other player that will draw speculation this season is Filip Forsberg, the team’s best offensive weapon and another veteran on an expiring deal. Poile explained last month that he would reach out to Forsberg’s representatives before training camp, but it doesn’t sound like those negotiations have really started at this point. The 27-year-old forward told Robby Stanley of 102.5 The Game yesterday that he has “no rush to sign” and feels like “you have to play your contract out.”
Acquired from the Washington Capitals in an infamous 2013 trade, Forsberg has routinely been the Predators’ most reliable offensive player. He has 385 points in 497 games with the team, including 32 in 39 during the 2021-22 season. If he does end up on the open market next summer he would be a target for many teams looking to add to the top-six, meaning if a deal can’t be worked out at some point, speculation will swirl once again as the trade deadline approaches. Forsberg carries a cap hit of $6MM this season, and like almost everyone else in Nashville, does not hold a no-trade clause.
Tanner Laczynski To Undergo Surgery
The Philadelphia Flyers will be without Tanner Laczynski once again, as the young forward is expected to undergo hip surgery according to head coach Alain Vigneault. At this point, Laczynski is expected to miss the entire season.
As Vigneault explained, he simply hasn’t been able to see much of Laczynski to this point because of the series of injuries the young forward has dealt with. After signing out of Ohio State University in 2020, the sixth-round pick has had high expectations and barely any game action. Laczynski has played in just 19 games with the organization, 14 of those at the AHL level. In his five games with the Flyers, he has failed to register a point.
Now with another lost season, it’s hard to know what lies ahead for the 24-year-old. He will not reach Group VI unrestricted free agency because he doesn’t have the required professional seasons, meaning he’ll be a restricted free agent next summer. The Flyers could extend him a qualifying offer or work out a different deal, but it’s not clear at all where he would sit on the depth chart after missing the entire 2021-22 campaign. A late-round pick that made his name in a four-year college career, this is an extremely disappointing result for Laczynski’s early time as a pro.
Wade Allison meanwhile, who was ruled out earlier this month with a high ankle sprain, is also consulting with doctors on whether he needs surgery. Just a few days ago it was reported that the sprain was believed to be quite serious and could keep the young forward out several months, likely the result if it is determined surgery is indeed required. The 23-year-old Allison was expected to push for a full-time role with the Flyers this year, but could now be one of four players–including Laczynski, Zayde Wisdom, and Kevin Hayes–who have required surgery in the preseason.
Ottawa Senators Sign Zack Ostapchuk
The Ottawa Senators have inked another interesting prospect, this time signing Zack Ostapchuk to a three-year entry-level contract. The young forward was selected 39th overall at the 2021 NHL Draft and is currently in training camp with the team. Senators GM Pierre Dorion released a statement:
Zack has had an exceptional camp and we are excited about watching his development this season. He possesses the necessary tools in terms of size, skill and skating ability that we feel are key attributes in today’s NHL. Zack’s strong hockey sense and work ethic will serve him well as he trends towards becoming a full-time pro. Credit to Trent Mann and his amateur scouting staff who identified a prospect we feel is well on his way to helping the future of the organization.
The Senators have drafted quite a few big-bodied forwards over the last few years, and Ostapchuk is no different. The 6’4″ winger was picked in the early part of the second round despite having scored just 24 career points at the WHL level and being ranked 60th overall among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. Ottawa must have seen something in the 22 games Ostapchuk played for the Vancouver Giants last season, in which he recorded seven goals and 16 points, because he’s come into camp this year looking like a player that deserved to be picked that high.
In fact, Ostapchuk has fit right in at the professional level despite only turning 18 a few months ago, suggesting he could be in for a big year in the WHL. There is still quite a bit of development time for the power forward, but the fact that the Senators have already signed him to an entry-level deal shows just how strongly they believe in his future. The first year of that contract won’t be burned this season should he return to the Giants as expected, and Ostapchuk won’t actually be eligible for the AHL until 2023-24.
Training Camp Cuts: 09/29/21
With just two weeks left before the start of the regular season, teams across the league are starting to pare down their rosters to the last few competitions. As always, we’ll keep track of all the cuts and loans right here.
Colorado Avalanche (via press release)
F Alex Beaucage (to Colorado, AHL)
F Nick Henry (to Colorado, AHL)
F Dalton Smith (to Colorado, AHL)
G Trent Miner (to Colorado, AHL)
Edmonton Oilers (via team Twitter)
D Max Wanner (to Moose Jaw, WHL)
D Simon Kubicek (released from ATO)
Los Angeles Kings (via team Twitter)
F Martin Chromiak (to Kingston, OHL)
F Francesco Pinelli (to Kitchener, OHL)
D Cade McNelly (released from ATO)
New York Rangers (via team Twitter)
F Justin Richards (to Hartford, AHL)
Tampa Bay Lightning (via Joe Smith, The Athletic)
F Jack Finley (to Spokane, WHL)
F Niko Huuhtanen (to Everett, WHL)
F Cameron MacDonald (to Saint John, QMJHL)
F Declan McDonnell (to Kitchener, OHL)
D Roman Schmidt (to Kitchener, OHL)
F Xavier Cormier (released from ATO)
D Avery Winslow (released from ATO)
This page will be updated throughout the day
Roster Decisions Loom For Seattle Kraken
The Seattle Kraken approached the Expansion Draft differently than the Vegas Golden Knights in a number of ways. They did not make any side deals, they wasted fewer selections on players they did not intend to sign, and they made fewer trades after the draft. While the results were too similarly deep teams, with the Knights adding talent through side deals and the Kraken going after several big free agents, Vegas did not face the roster crunch that Seattle is now staring down. The Knights pared down their roster strategically early on, while the Kraken are seemingly waiting to see how the preseason plays out. With those game already underway, the regular season is right around the corner and the Kraken’s inaugural 23-man roster is far from set.
The biggest question facing the NHL’s newest franchise is just how risk-averse are Ron Francis and company. Francis was a slow and methodical builder in Carolina who was actually criticized for taking too few changes and missing out on potential big swings. That Francis would look at this current roster and see a worrisome number of potential waivers casualties – and he would be right. CapFriendly currently projects forwards Morgan Geekie and Kole Lind and defensemen Dennis Cholowski and Cale Fleury as being among those sent down to the AHL. The odds of any of those players clearing waivers, nevertheless all five, seem slim. Geekie especially would be a can’t-miss waiver claim (and as such won’t be waived). Lind and Fleury are each only 22 and were highly-regarded prospects in the 2017 NHL Draft, while Cholowski has a 2016 first-rounder and already has 100+ NHL games under his belt.
Yet, the trade-off is obvious. The Kraken could take their chances and try to slip some or all of these names through waivers and establish elite depth in the minors or they could find space on the roster to avoid the threat of waivers. The latter would not be easy. Again, CapFriendly already has Seattle at 24 roster members, one more than is permissible. This is likely in recognition that Yanni Gourde is expected to begin the season on the injured reserve, but still presents issues once he returns. Clearly space for upwards of four additional contracts is a daunting task. The roster is rife with veteran talent, all of whom have been skating together in camp and building chemistry. The vast majority simply will not be assigned to the AHL, but even those on the bubble may have carved out a role for themselves already. Could the Kraken demote late-summer signings Riley Sheahan and Ryan Donato? Possibly, but that is just two openings and both at forward. On defense, there is seemingly no one that could be sent down and the Kraken are not going to carry nine or ten blue liners.
All of this leads to the real roster crunch question: trade or cut? Seattle will have to decide who they want on the 23-man roster and from there decide whether to test the trade market on the outliers or take the zero-sum approach of waivers. They would have little leverage in making deals with the roster crunch looming unless they decide to dangle players with enough value to create a bidding war. Constructing their opening night roster thus could mean determining not the 23 best players, but the 23 players that maximize their value with the others either possessing trade value or lesser waivers risk.
The roster crunch could go in a number of different directions for the Kraken. The one thing that is certain is that NHL’s newest roster is not going to look the same by the franchise’s regular season debut. Change is coming and it is key for the expansion club that they are the right changes.
Tampa Bay Lightning Extend GM Julien Brisebois
Steve Yzerman may have built the foundation, but it was Julien Brisebois who put the finishing touches on a back-to-back Stanley Cup champion. For that, the Tampa Bay Lightning have awarded their general manager a much deserved extension. As first reported by TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, Brisebois has signed a new multi-year contract to remain in Tampa.
Brisebois is just 44 years old and already has one of the most impressive front office resumes in hockey. Brisebois was promoted to GM of the Lightning in 2018 after eight years as Assistant GM and GM of the club’s AHL affiliate, at first the Norfolk Admirals and then the Syracuse Crunch. Prior to joining Tampa Bay, Brisebois has worked for his hometown Montreal Canadiens for six years as a Director/Vice President of Hockey Operations and also as AHL GM. In addition to these two Cups with the Lightning, Brisebois oversaw Calder Cup titles with the Hamilton Bulldogs in 2010 and the Admirals in 2012.
This extension should squash any remaining belief out of Montreal that Brisebois could take after his mentor Yzerman and return to his hometown team. With current Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin on an expiring contract this year, there was some hope from Habs fans that perhaps the historic team could poach Brisebois. Instead, he will stick with Tampa, which still has one of the most talented rosters in the NHL even after several key departures this off-season. The salary cap could continue to chip away at the Lightning core, but with Brisebois at the helm the team can rest easy that they are in good hands.
Snapshots: Blackwood, Coyotes, Dach
The New Jersey Devils were one of the teams to announce during the start of training camp that a player in their organization was unvaccinated, and today Mackenzie Blackwood confirmed that it was him. When speaking with media including Greg Wyshynski of ESPN, Blackwood explained that he hasn’t decided whether or not he will be vaccinated in the future, but has “a couple of health concerns and health reasons” why he has not received it yet.
Though Blackwood will be held to stricter protocols because of his status, the Devils won’t be forced to go without him at the start of the season like some other teams with unvaccinated players. New Jersey is not scheduled to travel to Canada until a December 3 game against the Winnipeg Jets, meaning there would still be time for the young goaltender to receive a league-approved vaccine in time to accompany them on the road trip if he chooses to do so. Blackwood was one of the players to test positive for Coronavirus earlier this year, missing several games.
- The Arizona Coyotes have hired David Oliver and Scott Pellerin as pro scouts, adding to a scouting department that has experienced a complete overhaul since general manager Bill Armstrong took over the front office. Oliver has spent the last several years as an assistant coach with the New York Rangers, and before that worked for years with the Colorado Avalanche organization. Pellerin meanwhile was previously the Toronto Maple Leafs’ director of player development and had been with the club for seven years.
- While Kirby Dach is busy preparing for an important season with the Chicago Blackhawks, little brother Colton Dach is heading to a new team in the WHL. The 18-year-old forward, who was picked 62nd overall by the Blackhawks this year, has been traded from the Saskatoon Blades to the Kelowna Rockets. Colton Dach has not yet signed his entry-level with the Blackhawks, but is another big-bodied two-way player that has a legitimate future in the middle of the ice. He had 11 goals and 20 points in 20 games for Saskatoon last season, but will try to build on that this time around in Kelowna.