Florida Panthers Sign Joe Thornton
Jumbo is on his way to Sunrise. The Florida Panthers have signed Joe Thornton to a one-year contract for the 2021-22 season. The deal is worth the league minimum of $750K. GM Bill Zito released a statement explaining the move.
With more than 1,600 games played in the NHL, Joe will bring a wealth of experience to our locker room and lineup. His drive to succeed is unmistakable and we are thrilled that he chose to sign with our club and that he believes in what we are building here in South Florida.
Thornton, 42, continues his chase for the elusive Stanley Cup with another contender, joining the loaded Panthers forward group as a potential depth option. Last year with the Toronto Maple Leafs the former Hart Trophy winner started on the top line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, but was barely playing by the time the team was eliminated from the postseason. In 44 regular season games, Thornton recorded five goals and 20 points, while he added just one goal in the playoffs.
There are certain things that Thornton can still do well, but overall his game has diminished considerably over the last few years. Even in 2018-19 he recorded 16 goals and 51 points for the San Jose Sharks, totals he has barely matched in the two seasons since combined.
In Florida, he won’t be asked to play top-six minutes given their impressive depth. Even players like Anthony Duclair, Frank Vatrano or Patric Hornqvist might find themselves in the bottom-six depending on how things shake out, meaning there won’t be many minutes left for the grizzled Thornton.
Still, he certainly brings no lack of experience to the table. Thornton sits sixth all-time in games played and could potentially reach third if he plays in the majority of games next season. At some point, things will have to end for the legendary forward, but it’s not just yet.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Snapshots: Kaprizov, Elias, Robert Morris
While no one wants to see dynamic and entertaining talent Kirill Kaprizov leave the NHL after just one year, especially after waiting so long for his arrival, the ongoing negotiations between he, the Minnesota Wild, and allegedly the KHL’s CSKA Moscow has been an intriguing storyline to say the least. However, the recent report that CKSA has an eight-figure offer out to Kaprizov is almost certainly a farce. As first pointed out by Bally Sports’ Andy Strickland, the KHL salary cap is equivalent to about $12MM, making an eight-figure offer one that eats up at least 83% of the team’s payroll on just one player. Even if they did want to make that kind of unrealistic commitment to Kaprizov, the perennial contenders are already flush with talent, including recent NHLers Joakim Nordstrom, Lucas Wallmark, Mikhail Grigorenko, Nikita Nesterov, and several others. There is no possible way that CSKA can afford Kaprizov for anything more than Minnesota’s best offer, leading Strickland to call this “one of the worst bluffs in sports history.” So, rest easy Wild fans. Minnesota maintains all of the leverage in this negotiation and isn’t about to lose Kaprizov and certainly not to an imaginary KHL offer.
- Following a strong performance at the recent Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, Sports Illustrated’s Steven Ellis reports that talented young Slovakian goalkeeper Rastislav Elias has decided to make the move to North America and will play in the USHL this season. Unlike the past few draft classes, which have featured elite goaltending prospects that were long considered first-round picks, the title for top goalie prospect in the 2022 NHL Draft is still up for grabs. Elias hopes that by joining the Green Bay Gamblers and testing himself in a new league, having only played in Slovakian juniors to this point, will earn him some consideration for that label. The spotlight will be on Elias in 2021-22, who is already considered one of the top prospects in net alongside Canadian Tyler Brennan and Russian Sergei Ivanov in particular. Not only will NHL teams be eying Elias, but NCAA programs will also be heavily scouting the talented prospect, who is still eligible to go the college route if he so chooses.
- Robert Morris University made waves this spring – and not the good kind – when they shockingly terminated their men’s and women’s hockey programs. The decision spurned numerous outside efforts to raise money to bring the programs back before the coming season, but there had been no update as to whether those attempts had been successful. That official word came down today, as the Pittsburgh-area university announced that they will not be icing hockey teams in 2021-22. Robert Morris reports that they have raised $1.34MM in contributions and pledges, but would require $1.4MM in immediate contributions and another $1.4MM in future pledges in order to reinstate the programs. The school notes that it is “eyeing [a] comeback in 2022-23” if fundraising continues, but by then the players from both teams likely will have transferred and the program will be starting from scratch. It is a disappointing result and seeming lack of dedication and effort on the part of Robert Morris, especially as schools around the country are adding Division I hockey programs, not subtracting them.
Ducks’ Sasha Pastujov To De-Commit From Notre Dame, Sign In OHL
A top American prospect is expected to make a major shift in his development plan. Forward Sasha Pastujov, who stunningly fell to the Anaheim Ducks in the third round of the 2020 NHL Draft when some had him pegged as a first-rounder, is about to be the subject of another surprise. ESPN’s John Buccigross reports that Pastujov is giving up on his college commitment to the University of Notre Dame. Instead, Pastujov will sign an entry-level contract with the Ducks and then sign in the OHL with his rights-holder, the Guelph Storm.
Pastujov initially committed to the Fighting Irish back in 2018, which has always drawn some scrutiny with Notre Dame serving as a rival to the University of Michigan, where older brothers Nick and Michael Pastujov played their college hockey. Sasha was expected to enroll at Notre Dame this fall and looked like the crown jewel of the incoming freshman class. A product of the U.S. National Team Development program, Pastujov recorded 30 goals and 65 points in 42 games this season, leading the team by a wide margin. It was the second straight season that Pastujov has scored at better than a point-per-game pace for the USNTDP, which led many to believe that his offensive skill and instinct would lead to an early selection in the draft. It also set him up well to make an immediate difference in the NCAA.
Well, now that impact will occur in the OHL, as Guelph has suddenly been gifted a top prospect as they get set to return to action. There has been no word as to what caused Pastujov’s sudden charge of heart, though there was no indication of such a move until after his selection, suggesting that perhaps Anaheim had some input. On the other hand, Pastujov is also the third member of the most recent USNTDP U-18 team to break his commitment to a college program in favor of major junior. Tampa Bay Lightning third-round pick Roman Schmidt abandoned Boston University in favor of the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers, while San Jose Sharks sixth-rounder Liam Gilmartin opted for the OHL’s London Knights over Providence College. It’s a strange trend for this year’s American crop, counter to the massive growth of the college game in recent years. For whatever reason, Pastujov has made the decision that he thinks is best for his development and now he and Ducks just hope it works out.
Minor Transactions: 08/12/21
While the NHL tinkers around the edges, the minor leagues are still filling out roster spots in many cases. As always, we’ll keep track of the notable minor moves right here:
- Chris Bigras, the 32nd overall pick in 2013, has signed a new minor league contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for the upcoming season. Bigras has played just 46 NHL games in his professional career, bouncing around the AHL instead. Last season he recorded eight points in 21 games for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
- The Abbotsford Canucks have added a British Columbia boy for their first season, inking Jarid Lukosevicius to a one-year AHL deal. Lukosevicius was a start for the Powell River Kings of the BCHL before going on to the University of Denver, and has spent the last two seasons with the Grand Rapids Griffins.
- The Rochester Americans have beefed up their depth chart, signing five different players to AHL contracts. Ryan Scarfo, Lukas Craggs, Brendan Warren, Peter Tischke and Mat Robson have all signed one-year deals with the Americans.
Maxime Lajoie Agrees To Terms With Carolina
The Carolina Hurricanes have agreed to terms with defenseman Maxime Lajoie, signing him to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay $750K at the NHL level, $75K at the AHL level and comes with a minor league guarantee of $100K.
Lajoie, 23, notably stepped into the Hurricanes lineup in the postseason, making his debut with the team against the Nashville Predators in the first round. The young defenseman had played just six NHL games since his breakout season in 2018-19, when he surprisingly made the Ottawa Senators roster out of camp and played in 56 games.
Though he has been limited to mostly minor league duty since, there’s still NHL upside in the young defenseman, as shown by the strong performance he had with the Chicago Wolves this year. In 27 AHL games, he posted 21 points, leading all Wolves defensemen.
There’s little chance that Lajoie finds his way into the NHL lineup this season unless massive injury troubles hit the Hurricanes—they added Ian Cole, Ethan Bear, Anthony DeAngelo and Brendan Smith in the offseason—but he can keep developing in a strong AHL program and potentially push for a spot down the road.
Of course, there are waivers to consider, as Lajoie is not exempt and would need to clear in order to be sent to the minor leagues. That wasn’t a problem last season, when he cleared for the Ottawa Senators (only to be traded a day later), but there’s always a chance that someone decides he’s worth a claim this time around.
Winnipeg Jets, Andrew Copp Avoid Arbitration
The Winnipeg Jets have avoided arbitration with another restricted free agent, signing Andrew Copp to a one-year, $3.64MM contract according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. Copp had a hearing scheduled for August 26, which will no longer be necessary.
Copp, 27, will be an unrestricted free agent when the deal expires, but there wasn’t much flexibility for the Jets to sign him to a longer deal. The team is pushed right up against the salary cap even with Bryan Little‘s $5.3MM deal moving to long-term injured reserve, meaning a multi-year deal with Copp (which would have carried a higher cap hit) would have required a subsequent move.
Instead, the team will move forward with the group they have now and revisit extension talks down the line. Copp will be eligible to sign a new contract with the team when the calendar turns to 2022. If he continues the play he showed this year, that next deal will certainly be coming with a substantial raise on $3.64MM.
Copp broke out offensively this season, scoring 15 goals and 39 points in just 55 games while playing a much bigger role for the Jets. Not only did he receive more regular powerplay time, but he also averaged 2:29 of short-handed ice time to lead all Winnipeg forwards. Overall he came in behind only Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, and Blake Wheeler in terms of average ice time, ahead of several more highly-paid teammates. It’s hard to overstate just how important he was to the Jets forward group, serving as a sort of fix-it player for any situation.
While he may not get much fanfare for his performance, other teams surely will have noticed the player that Copp has developed into. His free agent market will be significant if he makes it there, meaning this one-year deal is certainly a risk for the Jets in terms of retaining his services past 2021-22. The team is in a win-now mode though after a disappointing second-round exit, and clearly has decided that the expensive defensive additions were worth the cap squeeze they’re now experiencing.
With Copp signed, the Jets have essentially completed their offseason work, with only Johnny Kovacevic still to sign as a restricted free agent.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Washington Capitals Loan Damien Riat To Lausanne HC
After just one season in North America, Damien Riat is headed back to Switzerland. The Washington Capitals have loaned the winger to Lausanne HC for the 2021-22 campaign after he spent this year with the Hershey Bears. The release does specify that he will be eligible to return to North America at the end of his National League season, though it’s unclear really where his future in the Capitals organization lies.
Riat, 24, was a fourth-round pick of the Capitals back in 2016, but didn’t sign until 2020 when his draft rights were about to expire. The two-year entry-level contract he signed then covers the 2021-22 season, but Riat will be a restricted free agent next summer. The team can retain his rights with a qualifying offer, but one has to wonder if a permanent return to Switzerland is coming.
The young forward scored just three goals and nine points in 33 games for Hershey this year, joining them once the AHL got started. In the early part of the season he was playing for Geneve Servette in Switzerland, where he found much more success, tallying 18 points in 20 games. That National League success is nothing new for Riat, who has six seasons under his belt at the highest level back home.
We’ll have to wait and see if there is a path to the NHL for Riat and whether he returns at all after his overseas season is concluded, but he won’t be helping Hershey in the early part of the year.
Vancouver Canucks Sign Guillaume Brisebois
The Vancouver Canucks have signed Guillaume Brisebois to a one-year, two-way contract. The young defenseman was eligible for salary arbitration but chose not to file.
Brisebois, 24, played just one game for the Canucks this season, spending most of the year on the taxi squad or in the minor leagues. The 2015 third-round pick has just nine NHL appearances under his belt and has yet to record a single point.
He’ll be entering the 2021-22 season with a long list of defensemen ahead of him on the Canucks depth chart too, after the team made several additions this offseason. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Tucker Poolman, Luke Schenn and Brad Hunt have all been brought aboard, while Travis Hamonic was re-signed. In all likelihood, Brisebois is ticketed for the AHL, where he’ll be part of the first season in Abbotsford.
The AHL Canucks are actually putting together quite a unit for their first season, bringing in several veteran minor league talents to make sure they’re competitive right away. Brisebois will only add to that level of talent, and wait for an injury or two to open up room on the NHL roster.
Edmonton Oilers Sign Slater Koekkoek
The Edmonton Oilers will be bringing back a familiar face. The team has signed Slater Koekkoek to a two-year contract that will carry an average annual value of $925K. Koekkoek was an unrestricted free agent, but spent this past season with the Oilers. PuckPedia reports that the deal is worth $750K in 2021-22 and $1.1MM in 2022-23.
Koekkoek, 27, registered a single point in 18 games for the Oilers, but still was in the lineup when the team took on the Winnipeg Jets in the first round of the playoffs (and were quickly swept). If things go according to plan he won’t be there this time around, as the Oilers have revamped their defensive group, but the team still obviously values him enough to bring him back on an inexpensive deal.
Selected 10th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2012, Koekkoek was supposed to bring a mix of size and offensive ability. Insead, by the time he got to the NHL that offense had completely dried up, limiting him to a depth role. In 85 games for the Lightning spread over parts of five years, he registered 14 points. He actually eclipsed that mark by one in just 64 contests with the Chicago Blackhawks, but there was still never really any sign of a top-four player.
Now, even hitting the open market at a relatively young age, Koekkoek has taken the security of a two-year deal with the Oilers. He’ll slide into the depth chart somewhere around seven or eight, depending on the development of some of the younger options in Edmonton’s pipeline, but there’s little doubt Koekkoek will be playing games for them at some point this year.
Mark Spector of Sportsnet broke the deal on Twitter
New York Rangers Agree To Terms With Brennan Othmann
The New York Rangers have agreed to terms with their top draft pick and will sign Brennan Othmann to a three-year entry-level contract. The young forward was selected 16th overall last month and spent this year playing in Switzerland.
Othmann, 18, wasn’t in Switzerland at random. His father played more than a decade of pro hockey there and his uncle played 16 years, only retiring in 2016. The young Othmann went to ECH Olten alongside fellow top prospect and OHL forward Mason McTavish, who was actually born in Switzerland when his own father was playing there. The pair also suited up together for the U18 World Junior tournament, winning gold.
While McTavish went third overall to the Anaheim Ducks, Othmann would have to wait a few more picks before coming off the board. He eventually went to the Rangers, where he joins a deep group of forward prospects (especially wingers) that are trying to turn the New York fortunes around.
There’s little chance that he makes the NHL this season, meaning the first year of Othmann’s contract will not be burned. Instead, he’ll likely return to the OHL to play for the Flint Firebirds and continue his development as a top-line scoring threat. Othmann’s speed is his biggest weapon, something that will only serve him well at the next level.