RFA Defense Market Slowing Down Contract Talks For Ivan Provorov
With Scott Laughton now re-signed, the Flyers can turn their focus towards re-signing their two key restricted free agents coming off of their entry-level deals in defenseman Ivan Provorov and winger Travis Konecny. When asked by NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman to characterize the discussions for Provorov, GM Chuck Fletcher suggested that it could take a little while for a deal to get done:
“I wouldn’t know how to characterize it; certainly amicable. Everything’s cordial and amicable, but I think until the market settles out a bit it may be difficult to move forward on Provorov.”
There are several other notable blueliners looking for new deals this summer including Charlie McAvoy (Bruins), Zach Werenski (Blue Jackets), and Jacob Trouba (Rangers) and those are likely some of the players that Fletcher is hoping to see sign new deals before proceeding with Provorov. Of that group, only Trouba’s is likely to be dealt with in the near future as his arbitration hearing is set for July 25th so a deal will be finalized one way or the other by the end of the month.
Provorov’s case is a bit of a tricky one. The 22-year-old had a breakout 2017-18 season that saw him collect 17 goals and 24 assists and it looked as if he was quickly establishing himself as an upcoming star. However, despite an uptick in ice time to over 25 minutes a night, his production took a sizable step back as he dipped to a career-low 26 points.
As a result, it’s far from a guarantee that a long-term deal is worked out. If Provorov and his camp believe that this was just a one-year dip, they’d be wise to push for a short-term bridge deal. Meanwhile, Fletcher and the Flyers would certainly love to get Provorov locked up long-term. Regardless of what happens with the rest of the RFA defence market, this is a case that could take a while to reach an agreement on.
Scott Laughton Agrees To Terms With Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers have taken care of one of their pending restricted free agents, agreeing to terms with Scott Laughton on a two-year contract. Laughton had filed for salary arbitration and had a hearing scheduled for the end of the month, but instead will sign a deal with an average annual value of $2.3MM.
A first round pick by the Flyers seven years ago, Laughton has slowly but surely grown into a valuable NHL player. The 25-year old set career-highs last season with 12 goals and 32 points while playing in all 82 games for the first time. Winning more than 54% of his draws and recording more hits than any other Philadelphia forward gave him a clear role on the team, especially when you consider his regular spot on the penalty kill.
Philadelphia has added some center depth this summer by signing Kevin Hayes to a long-term deal, which likely pushes everyone else down a peg for the upcoming season. That is an important thing to consider for Laughton’s future, given the Flyers’ group of prospects that will be pushing for a spot on the roster before long. Morgan Frost, arguably the team’s top prospect at this point is also a center, though the team could obviously start him on the wing at the NHL level whenever he gets there. They could also move Laughton over, but the term of this new contract is quite telling.
In two years Laughton will be an unrestricted free agent, giving the team and player a point at which they can choose to part ways if there is no longer any opportunity for him in Philadelphia. With Hayes under contract and both Nolan Patrick and Sean Couturier presumably in the team’s long-term plans, the Flyers are set down the middle for some time. These next two seasons will be a billboard for his eventual case as a center, or a chance for him to show he can be just as effective playing full-time on the wing.
Front Office Notes: Holmgren, Wright, Rychel
The Philadelphia Flyers have announced that long-time executive Paul Holmgren will be transitioning into an advisory role with the team moving forward, while GM Chuck Fletcher will now also have the title of president of hockey operations. Holmgren has been with the Flyers organization for 40 (non-consecutive) years in almost every role possible including player, assistant coach, head coach, assistant general manager, general manager, director of pro scouting and president, but will be taking a step back to spend more time with family.
Fletcher will take on even more responsibility as he tries to reshape the Flyers and take them back to the playoffs next season. The Flyers haven’t won the Stanley Cup since 1975 and haven’t won a playoff round since 2012. Fletcher has already made several moves to try and change that streak this offseason, adding Matt Niskanen, Justin Braun and Kevin Hayes to the mix.
- According to several reports including Ansar Khan of MLive, Detroit Red Wings director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright will be following former GM Ken Holland to his new post with the Edmonton Oilers. Kris Draper, who had been serving as an assistant to the general manager is expected to take over for the Red Wings under new GM Steve Yzerman. Several other scouts including Jeff Finley and Andrew Dickson will not return to the Red Wings, while Archie Henderson is following Wright to Edmonton.
- Warren Rychel has stepped down as GM of the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL, replaced by Bill Bowler after a 13-year run. Rychel is a part-owner of the team and brought three Memorial Cup titles during his run in the front office. The Spitfires are one of the most successful franchises in the OHL and routinely produce NHL talent including names like Jason Spezza, Taylor Hall, Ryan Ellis, Adam Henrique, Josh Bailey, Cam Fowler and countless others.
Metropolitan Notes: Devils Moves, Flyers Roster, Backstrom
There still remains a number of intriguing free agents available on the open market, including Jake Gardiner, Ryan Dzingel and Micheal Ferland. However, despite having $20.77MM in projected cap space remaining on their roster, it’s unlikely the New Jersey Devils will be adding one of them unless their asking price drops significantly, according to The Athletic’s Corey Masisak (subscription required).
That cap number is somewhat deceiving as New Jersey has several restricted free agents they must deal with, including Pavel Zacha, Will Butcher, Mirco Mueller and Connor Carrick, amongst others. No player should walk away with too significant a deal, meaning the Devils would have the cap space to sign one of those free agents, but that still seems unlikely. The team already made their major moves earlier, trading for P.K. Subban and signing winger Wayne Simmonds in free agency. That, however, doesn’t mean they are done making moves.
“I made some calls,” Shero. “This week will be the same thing, and we certainly would want to see what’s out there, if there’s a chance as we go into the summertime and the rest of the summer into training camp.”
- Sam Carchidi of Philly.com comes up with an early projection of the Philadelphia Flyers’ lineup with one interesting hole on the team’s third line. The scribe pencils in Nolan Patrick centering Oskar Lindblom, but lists the other wing position to a mystery man, likely to be battled during training camp. He notes that there are two logical candidates to win the role including veteran Scott Laughton as well as youngsters Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee. The 20-year-old Frost, a 2017 first-rounder, wrapped up his junior career last season and combined for 79 goals and 221 points over his last two years for the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL. The 19-year-old Farabee, a 2018 first-rounder, signed with the Flyers after one season with Boston University in which he scored 17 goals and 36 points in 37 games.
- While the discussions of whether the Washington Capitals will be able to retain goaltender Braden Holtby after next season has been discussed, the Washington Capitals have another significant free agent as well next offseason in Niklas Backstrom. The Washington Post’s Barry Svrluga suggests that the Capitals are almost certainly going to find a way to bring the veteran center back. Backstrom will be 32 by then, but has been such an integral piece to the first line next to Alexander Ovechkin, that it seems inconceivable the team will allow the veteran to walk away, especially without a young center waiting in the wings, which Washington does not have. Backstrom is still putting up solid numbers as he scored 22 goals and 74 points last season.
Anaheim Signs Anthony Stolarz
After standing pat on day one of free agency, the Anaheim Ducks have come alive today with their third signing. Goaltender Anthony Stolarz, a Group 6 unrestricted free agent, has signed with the team, reports TVA’s Renaud Lavoie. It is expected to be a two-year, one-way contract for Stolarz worth $750K.
After parts of five seasons in the Philadelphia Flyers organization to begin his pro career, Stolarz finally got a change of scenery when he was dealt to the Edmonton Oilers in February for Cam Talbot. Stolarz was immediately considered a likely backup candidate for Edmonton moving forward, but failed to impress in six appearances with the team down the stretch and by all reports the Oilers made no attempt to keep him.
Stolarz now joins yet another team in Anaheim and hopes he can get his career back on track. Stolarz was a second-round pick in 2012 and injuries have prevented him from playing up to the expectations of his high draft price. Still just 25 though, Stolarz still has upside and his underlying numbers, in both the NHL and AHL, have been good when healthy.
Managing their depth in net could be tricky for the Ducks, however. Anaheim re-signed Ryan Miller to a one-year deal and may see Stolarz as the future backup to John Gibson after that deal expires, but in 2019-20 the team will either have to carry all three goalies or risk losing Stolarz on waivers. How it all plays out will be interesting to watch.
Notable AHL Signings: 7/1 & 7/2
It’s not uncommon to see many players coming off NHL contracts, including those who have found success in the AHL, opt to sign minor league contracts early in July. As the new league year begins, many unrestricted free agents find that the market for their services at the top level does not develop. Rather than hold out hope for a two-way NHL contract further into the off-season, many are content to accept AHL contracts, which don’t rule out the possibility of signing in the NHL but provide some certainty about the coming season. Through the first two days of free agency, more than a few familiar names have settled for minor league pacts:
- Tyler Sikura has signed a one-year deal with the AHL’s Rockford Ice Hogs, remaining in the Chicago Blackhawks organization. Sikura has been a key contributor for Rockford the past two years, even earning a one-year contract with Chicago this past season, but did not make an NHL appearance. He was likely content to stay with organization anyway, as he can continue to play with younger brother Dylan Sikura.
- After playing a key shutdown role for the Charlotte Checkers en route to a Calder Cup championship, defenseman Josiah Didier has signed a one-year deal with the Providence Bruins. Providence has several top prospects on their blue line, but are lacking depth and Didier should again play an important role for his team next season.
- The San Antonio Rampage have signed former Detroit Red Wings prospect and second-round pick Zach Nastisiuk to an AHL contract, as well as fellow forwards Cameron Darcy and J.J. Piccinich. The trio will have to fight for ice time in the minors, as the St. Louis Blues have signed quite a few depth players already over these past two days.
- The Lehigh Valley Phantoms went big game hunting among AHL veterans yesterday, signing five-time AHL All-Star Cal O’Reilly to a two-year deal and bringing back their own All-Star, Greg Carey. O’Reilly, 32, has been on an NHL contract in each of the past five seasons, but had to settle for a step down this year despite another strong campaign. The center was a point-per-game scorer for the Iowa Wild, notching 67 points in 67 games to finish in the top ten in the AHL in scoring. It was his sixth AHL season with 60+ points. Carey, 29, saw his contract with the Philadelphia Flyers expire, but remains in the organization, where he has recorded three straight 50+ points seasons. The Phantoms also signed another Iowa forward, Gerry Fitzgerald, and defenseman Eric Knodel to one-year contracts.
- A trio of familiar names have joined the Hartford Wolfpack: goalie Thomas McCollum, forward Harry Zolnierczyk, and defenseman Vincent LoVerde. All three players are coming off of NHL contracts but will have to work their way back into relevance at the top level. McCollum and Zolnierczyk both have played in the NHL, albeit not in several years, and LoVerde is a two-time AHL All-Star and Calder Cup champ. It’s quite a haul for Hartford.
- Sam Vigneault left Clarkson University early to join the Columbus Blue Jackets, but his play in the minors tailed off over the past two years and his entry-level contract expired without an NHL experience. However, he’s content to stay in the organization, as Vigneault has signed a one-year deal with the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters.
- Former top goalie prospect Zach Fucale has had a tough go of it in the pros. A second-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in 2013, Fucale has been relegated to the ECHL for much of the past three seasons. He managed to find an AHL contract with the Syracuse Crunch, but considering the depth in net for the Tampa Bay Lightning after signing three goalies yesterday, Fucale is likely headed back to the ECHL.
- Cole Schneider has been a force in the AHL for years, recently wrapping up his sixth straight season of 50+ points. However, the 28-year-old has been unable to translate that offense to the NHL. Although he still had enough value to warrant a trade to the Nashville Predators this season, Schneider never made an appearance for the team. That hasn’t stopped him from sticking with the organization though. The Milwaukee Admirals have brought back the talented forward on a one-year deal.
Flames Sign Brandon Davidson, Byron Froese
After adding goalie Cam Talbot earlier, the Calgary Flames have addressed their depth at the other two positions, signing defenseman Brandon Davidson and forward Byron Froese, per team releases. Both veteran players have signed one-year, two-way contracts with NHL AAV’s of $700K.
Both Davidson, 27, and Froese, 28, have bounced around the hockey world of late and are hoping to find more stability by landing in Calgary. Davidson, an Alberta native, has spent two stints with the Edmonton Oilers, as well as time with the Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, and Chicago Blackhawks in the last four years alone. Davidson has struggled to score at the NHL level, but has shown that he can be a dominant physical force at times. Froese, from nearby Manitoba, did not see any NHL action last year, but was traded nonetheless from the Montreal Canadiens to the Philadelphia Flyers. It was the second time in three years he had been traded and Philly became his fourth team in that span, joining Montreal, Tampa Bay, and Toronto. Like Davidson, Froese has really never been more than a part-time player at the highest level due to concerns about his offensive ability. However, he has established himself as a solid two-way forward.
Given the depth that the Flames have on both the blue line and up front, the odds are the Davidson and Froese will spend much of next season with the AHL’s Stockton Heat. However, their NHL experience and reliable defensive ability should make them top call-up options for Calgary when injuries strike.
Philadelphia Flyers Sign Several Depth Players
The Philadelphia Flyers have added a good amount of depth to the organization today, signing six players:
- Andy Andreoff has signed a two-year contract with an average annual value of $750K
- Kurtis Gabriel has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $700K at the NHL level.
- Nate Prosser has signed a two-year, two-way contract with an average annual value of $700K at the NHL level.
- Andy Welinski has signed a one-year contract worth $750K.
- Tyler Wotherspoon has signed a two-year, two-way contract with an average annual value of $700K at the NHL level.
- Jean-Francois Berube has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $700K at the NHL level.
- Chris Bigras has signed a two-year, two-way contract with an average annual value of $700K at the NHL level.
- Kyle Criscuolo has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $700K at the NHL level.
Andreoff should provide some bottom-sixth depth as he has 159 games of NHL experience with the Los Angeles Kings. However, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning for goaltender Peter Budaj last June, and lacked the firepower to break into the Lightning’s lineup. He was sent to their AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, where he produced 26 goals and 55 points, while amassing 150 penalty minutes. The 26-year-old Gabriel also has quite a bit of NHL experience, but scored just two goals in 22 games for the New Jersey Devils last season, while also scoring just two goals in 32 games for the Binghamton Devils in the AHL. The 27-year-old Criscuolo spent all of last season with the Sabres affialiate in Rochester where he scored six goals and 20 points in 43 games.
The 33-year-old Prosser has spent most of his career with the Minnesota Wild, albeit a one-game appearance with the St. Louis Blues back in the 2017-18 season before they traded him back to the Wild. However, the defenseman spent most of last season with Iowa in the AHL and likely will stay in Lehigh Valley this season. Welinski could provide more value as a depth defenseman as the 26-year-old played in a career-high 26 games for the Anaheim Ducks last season, while showing off some offense while playing with the San Diego Gulls in the AHL, scoring eight goals there. However, he was never able to fortify a full-time role with the Ducks. The 26-year-old Wotherspoon, a former second-round pick in 2011, has spent the last two years in the AHL where the blueliner has played for the Stockton Heat, and this year, the San Antonio Rampage. He hasn’t seen any NHL action in two seasons. The 24-year-old Bigras comes to Philadelphia from the New York Rangers where he played 52 games for the Hartford Wolf Pack, scoring three goals and 24 points.
The team did sign Berube to likely serve as a depth option in Lehigh Valley. The 27-year-old Berube started his career with the New York Islanders, but eventually moved on to Chicago and eventually Columbus. He has appeared in 34 NHL games, but spent all of last season with the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL where he finished with a 3.01 GAA and a .896 save percentage.
Dallas Add John Stevens To Coaching Staff
July 1: With Stevens’ contract expiring with the Kings, the Stars have officially added him to their staff.
June 11: The Dallas Stars and head coach Jim Montgomery are making a major addition, and free agency hasn’t even started. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that Dallas is set to hire former Los Angeles Kings and Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Stevens as an assistant on Montgomery’s staff. Stevens was considered one of the top available coaches this off-season and will be a major addition for the Stars.
It should not come as much of a surprise that Montgomery and Stevens are back together. As Friedman notes, the pair have a considerable shared history. Both Montgomery and Stevens played together on the AHL’s Philadelphia Phantoms in the late 90’s during what would be the final years of Stevens’ playing career due to a career-ending injury. Stevens would then become an assistant coach during Montgomery’s final year with the team. As Montgomery himself later transitioned into coaching, he led the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints as head coach and general manager for several years, during which time he would recruit and coach John Stevens Jr., who currently plays for the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Of course, the two friends also coached against each other early this past season as well, as Montgomery’s Stars defeated Stevens’ Kings 4-2 in late October in one of Stevens’ final games at the helm.
Stevens’ stint as the head coach in L.A. was arguably cut short too early. In his first full season of duty in 2017-18, the Kings went 45-29-8 and made the playoffs, before a disappointing sweep by the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round. The team then started last season off 4-8-1, after which Stevens was fired and replaced with Willie Desjardins, who himself has now been replaced by Todd McLellan. Stevens still maintained a winning record as head coach of the Kings and holds the same distinction as an NHL head coach overall, despite finishing just below .500 in aggregate over parts of four seasons as the head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers from 2006 to 2010. Stevens has a strong grasp on defense and has often led teams that play a safe, conservative game, even if that doesn’t always lead to the offense needed to win games. Combined with Mongtomery’s eye for offense and the Stars’ substantial talent, Stevens has the chance to be a major difference-maker in Dallas and it is not a stretch to say he could be an NHL head coach again someday if things go well in this next stop.
UFA Notes: Pickard, Agostino, Leier, Speculation
There’s a goalie competition coming to Detroit. TSN’s Frank Seravalli reports that free agent goalie Calvin Pickard is poised to sign a two-year deal with the Red Wings when the market opens tomorrow. As Seravalli notes, that will pit him against Jonathan Bernier for the backup role behind Jimmy Howard. With Howard, 35, signed through just next year but both Bernier and soon Pickard signed for two more years, the time share in net next season in Detroit could be fascinating. Not only could the two veteran goalies battle to be Howard’s understudy next season, but they could be in line to replace him a season later. Neither keeper found much success in 2018-19. Bernier, who some expected to beat out Howard for the starting job, instead posted the worst numbers of his career – a .904 save percentage and 3.16 GAA – in 35 appearances. Pickard fared even worse, allowing an .875 save percentage and 3.86 GAA in a season split between the Philadelphia Flyers and Arizona Coyotes. Pickard’s advantage in the battle though will be his price point, expected to be low after a down year, compared to Bernier’s $3MM mark.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs are lacking the cap space to do much of anything other than adding affordable depth pieces. Adrian Dater of Colorado Hockey Now reports that one such deal is already done. Former AHL MVP Kenny Agostino is expected to sign a two-year, one-way contract with the Leafs, though Dater does not provide any salary details. Agostino, 27, finally got a full-time look in the NHL last season, playing in 63 games with the Montreal Canadiens and New Jersey Devils. Agostino recorded 24 points on the year, a mark that Toronto would be very happy with if the winger comes in at a low cost.
- It was a year of change for Taylor Leier, who experienced both his first trade, moving from the Philadelphia Flyers to the Buffalo Sabres, and his first season spent exclusively in the AHL. Despite qualifying for Group 6 unrestricted free agency, it seems the 25-year-old forward has place emphasis on familiarity instead of opportunity. The Rochester Americans, affiliate of the Sabres, have announced a one-year AHL contract with Leier. The signing comes as a bit of a surprise, considering Leier spent the entire 2017-18 season in the NHL and has been a very productive AHL player. Young and capable, Leier seemingly would have been a good fit for a two-way deal somewhere, but apparently would rather stay put in Rochester, perhaps in hopes of convincing Buffalo that he is worthy of an NHL contract.
- Spoiler alert! Although he acknowledges that they are just educated guesses and provides few details, TSN’s respected insider Bob McKenzie has offered some insight where some of the biggest UFA names may end up tomorrow. McKenzie believes that Columbus teammates Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky may not end up as a package deal after all. He thinks that Panarin, and possibly Semyon Varlamov, could land with the New York Islanders, while Bobrovsky goes alone to the Florida Panthers. Those moves would then leave the Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets as the likely to suitors for Robin Lehner. McKenzie also states that a long-term deal for Mats Zuccarello with the Minnesota Wild appears to be close to done.