Philadelphia Flyers Will Not Re-Sign Manning, Oduya, Read
The Philadelphia Flyers face a long offseason after being eliminated from the first round of the playoffs, but GM Ron Hextall has already made some key decisions. Speaking with media today, he made it clear that Matt Read, Johnny Oduya and Brandon Manning would not be re-signed by the club. The team’s other unrestricted free agent, Valtteri Filppula, is still being considered for a new deal.
Hextall, according to John Boruk of NBC Sports Philadelphia, also doesn’t plan on buying out Jori Lehtera at the moment and will bring back the same coaching staff.
None of the three players set to hit the open market should come as much of a surprise, after their play declined rapidly the last few years. Read, who was one of the most impactful college free agents of the last decade, was dragged down by a hefty $3.65MM cap hit and spent most of this season in the minor leagues. After scoring 24 goals as a rookie in 2011-12, he recorded just 30 over the length of his latest four-year $14.5MM contract extension. For a much smaller price, someone around the league could take a chance on him as a bottom-six player, but he’ll hit free agency at age-32 and could have to settle for a two-way deal.
Oduya, claimed off waivers just before the trade deadline, played just a single game for the Flyers this season. He battled injury and inconsistency this season in both Ottawa and Philadelphia, and will be 37 when next season begins. There may not be many suitors for him, though his solid history may get him a look somewhere as a depth defender.
Manning is perhaps the most interesting, after setting a career-high with 19 points this season. The 27-year old defenseman has serious warts to his game, but regularly posts solid possession numbers and will likely demand a relatively low price tag. He could be a sneaky pickup for a team in the league looking for some help on the blue line, though no one should consider him an answer to top-4 struggles.
Front Office Updates: Hurricanes, Wild, Islanders
When last the Carolina Hurricanes’ GM search was updated, it was a distressing situation with several candidates reporting that they were not interested in the position. At least one initial candidate has remained in conversation with new owner Tom Dundon, though. Buffalo Sabres Assistant GM Steve Greeley will be in Raleigh again tomorrow, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger. Greeley will have his follow-up interview for the ‘Canes GM job, which right now puts him two interviews ahead of most other potential candidates. Since his last interview, Carolina has added finding a new head coach to the top of the list of duties for whoever fills their GM role. Bill Peters opted out of his position as Carolina’s coach last week, leaving the team with two major vacancies to fill. Despite a strong and eclectic resume – in addition to the Sabres’ AGM, Greeley has been the New York Rangers’ Assistant Director of Player Personnel, an associate head coach at Boston University, and a pro scout for the Los Angeles Kings – hiring a coach is something Greeley does not have experience with. Although, neither does Dundon, so perhaps Greeley’s lack of background in that one area won’t affect his candidacy.
- One of the first people to back out of Carolina’s search last month was Nashville Predators Assistant GM Paul Fenton. It now appears that Fenton simply wasn’t interested in that particular job, as he is clearly focused on another opening. Earlier today, Fenton was tabbed as one of the favorites for the newly-open Minnesota Wild GM job. Now it had been confirmed (subscription required) by The Athletic’s Michael Russo that Fenton was actually in Minneapolis all day today to have his initial interview for the Wild position. Per Russo, Fenton spent the day with Wild owner Craig Leipold and team president Matt Majka. By all accounts, this is the first interview for Minnesota’s GM vacancy, which firmly places Fenton as the leading candidate.
- The man who Fenton would be replacing is Chuck Fletcher, whose successful albeit unspectacular run in Minnesota came to end on Monday. However, Fletcher did build a perennial playoff team and is well-respected across the league. For that reason, it would be a surprise to see him unemployed for very long. One possible fit is with the New York Islanders, who are seeking a “top executive” to work with Garth Snow. Fenton was considered a candidate for this job as well, but now that Fletcher is available, he could be the top option. Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal even thinks that Fletcher is a strong enough hockey mind to not only assist Snow, but supplant him.
Wayne Simmonds Played Through Torn Pelvis, Broken Ankle
Wayne Simmonds held court in his season-ending media availability today, and shocked all that listened as he listed off the injuries he dealt with this season. According to Adam Kimelman of NHL.com, Simmonds had a torn pelvis in training camp but played through it all season. The Philadelphia Flyers forward also suffered a pulled groin in mid-October, broke his ankle in late October on a Shayne Gostisbehere shot, and tore a ligament in his hand in February.
Simmonds played in 75 games, the lowest total of his career (not counting the shortened season).
Missing time only for the hand injury, these other ailments may be to blame for Simmonds’ relatively weak offensive output. After averaging 30 goals the last four seasons, he registered just 24 this season and posted only 46 points. That’s his lowest total in a full season since 2010-11 when he was still with the Los Angeles Kings.
Still, Simmonds is an extremely effective player when healthy and is on one of the most team-friendly contracts in the league. Earning just under $4MM per season, Simmonds is eligible for a contract extension on July 1st and is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2019. Along with the rest of the 2019 “Superclass”—which includes players like Erik Karlsson, Drew Doughty, Tyler Seguin and Jeff Skinner—Simmonds could get locked up to a long-term deal this summer. His performance for the Flyers has been outstanding, and his involvement in the community even more so. Named one of the finalists for the Mark Messier Leadership Award, Simmonds would likely have 30 teams knocking on his door if he hit free agency.
Brian Elliott, Michal Neuvirth Both Likely Require Surgery
The Philadelphia Flyers threw everything they could at the Pittsburgh Penguins in their first round series, but still came up short against the defending champions. Among the reasons why was goaltending, which performed poorly no matter who the Flyers turned to.
Brian Elliott started four games, registering an .856 save percentage and 4.74 goals against average, while Michal Neuvirth started the other two and couldn’t even match that level. Neuvirth posted an .847 save percentage, well below his career mark of .912. Some of their struggles could have been caused by injury, as today they told Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer that they would both need minor surgical procedures. Neuvirth will have procedures on both hips, while Elliott may need another surgery on the abdominal injury that kept him out for part of the season. Carchidi tweets that the Flyers “obviously rushed him back too soon.”
Carchidi also added that Petr Mrazek, acquired at the trade deadline to help solidify the Flyers goaltending situation, didn’t “sound optimistic” for a return next season. Though Mrazek is a restricted free agent this summer, his hefty salary would force an equally expensive qualifying offer in order to retain his rights. Since he performed poorly down the stretch for the team, it seems unlikely that they would extend such an offer.
Unfortunately for the Flyers, both Elliott and Neuvirth are under contract for next season. If they return with the same duo, it’s hard to imagine a different outcome in a year’s time regardless of the team they put in front of them.
Minnesota Wild Owner Writes Letter To Fans, Explains New Direction
Though they’ve been to the playoffs for six consecutive seasons, the Minnesota Wild are headed in a new direction. The team recently announced that they would not bring back GM Chuck Fletcher, instead looking for a new voice to try and lead them deeper into the postseason and to a Stanley Cup final for the first time in their history.
Today, Wild owner Craig Leipold penned a letter to Minnesota fans explaining his decision to let Fletcher go and where the team will be headed from here (via Michael Russo of The Athletic).
On Monday, I made the difficult decision that Chuck Fletcher would not return as General Manager of our hockey club. In thinking about this significant change, it was very important to me that you, as a member of our Season Ticket Community and someone who is invested in our success, hear directly from me about the future of the Wild.
I’m confident about this: you and I share a passion to bring the Stanley Cup to the State of Hockey. And the responsibility for getting us there starts with me.
Chuck built our club into a perennial playoff contender. And that is no easy task in itself. Only two other clubs in the League have matched our six straight years in the post season. But it became apparent to me that while we were close, our “good” wasn’t good enough anymore. And I feel that it is going to take a new set of eyes, and some new thinking about our roster, to assess things and take the steps necessary to get us to the next level.
I’m not looking for a rebuild. I’m not patient enough for that and you should not be either. And our situation does not require tearing things down and starting over. We’re not far from being the team we all believe can deliver a Stanley Cup. As I have in the past, I’ll continue to give the necessary resources to our new GM, resources intended to remake the Wild from a “good” playoff contender to a “great” Stanley Cup championship contender. That’s why I’m in this…nothing less.
The Wild have been knocked out of the playoffs in the first round for three consecutive years, which lends credence to the idea that the team is just “good.” What is difficult for any GM, new or old, is pushing the team past that level and into real contention. Leipold obviously believes it is possible without sweeping changes to the roster, but one should expect at least some adjustments to come this summer.
Whoever is installed in the Minnesota front office have some tough decisions to make, and two huge contracts to negotiate. Jason Zucker and Matt Dumba are both restricted free agents, and are coming off their best seasons as professionals.
Philadelphia Flyers Send Lindblom, Sanheim To AHL
Now that the Philadelphia Flyers have been eliminated, the focus of the organization turns to Lehigh Valley and their attempt to win a Calder Cup. To that end, the team has sent Oskar Lindblom and Travis Sanheim back down to help the club in their first round matchup against the Providence Bruins. The series is tied 1-1 and will resume this Friday.
Lindblom and Sanheim each made their NHL debuts this season, but also played substantial time with the Phantoms throughout the year. Lindblom was especially impactful, scoring 34 points in 54 games in his first full season in North America.
Both players will add another weapon to an offense that already boasts the league MVP in Phil Varone and one of the AHL’s all-time best offensive defensemen in T.J. Brennan. Though they’ll have to beat a solid Providence team in the next few games, Lehigh Valley are legitimate Calder Cup contenders this season.
Chuck Fletcher Will Not Return As Minnesota GM
The Minnesota Wild have decided to not renew Chuck Fletcher‘s contract as Vice President and General Manager, the team announced today. In a statement, owner Craig Leipold explained the decision:
I want to thank Chuck Fletcher for his substantial contributions to our franchise over the past nine years. Through his strong work ethic, integrity and vision, Chuck and his staff built a winning culture and a perennial playoff team. For all of that I am grateful. I feel it is time for a new approach aimed at delivering a Stanley Cup to the deserving fans of the State of Hockey. I wish Chuck and his family the very best going forward.
The team will immediately begin a search for a new general manager, but will have Brent Flahr serve in the role until one is found.
Fletcher has been with the Wild since 2009, when he was hired away from the Pittsburgh Penguins following their Stanley Cup victory. The son of legendary hockey executive Cliff Fletcher, Chuck has been noted as an exceptional manager over the years and has a long history of playoff appearances. The Wild have qualified for the postseason in six consecutive seasons, but have failed to get past the second round. That failure is likely why Fletcher is out of a job today, even with the combined 359-266-80 regular season record since he was hired.
One of the biggest contributing factors to Fletcher’s dismissal could be the trade he made at the 2017 deadline to acquire Martin Hanzal. The Wild had to send a heft package including a first-round pick for the oft-injured center, a deal that Leipold has publicly regretted since. Fletcher’s record in trades is certainly not perfect, but does include some outstanding moves for players who had been underwhelming for their previous teams.
In 2014 he used a third-round pick to acquire Devan Dubnyk from the Arizona Coyotes, who despite his recent playoff struggles has been an elite goaltender for the Wild the last few seasons. He finished third in Vezina voting the season he was acquired, and has registered a .923 save percentage in 231 appearances for the Wild.
A year prior, he sent Cal Clutterbuck and a third-round pick to the New York Islanders for Nino Niederreiter. Niederreiter had been a fifth-overall draft pick for the Islanders in 2010 but famously posted just a single point in 55 games during the 2011-12 season before spending the next full year in the minor leagues. He would immediately become a two-way force for the Wild after being acquired, while Clutterbuck had failed to eclipse the 25-point mark in any of his five seasons in New York.
Most notably for Fletcher though might be the work he did in the 2012 offseason, when he convinced both Ryan Suter and Zach Parise to sign in free agency. The good friends earned identical 13-year, $98MM contracts that still have seven years remaining on them. At the time, they were seen as two superstar talents that could immediately make the Wild into Stanley Cup favorites. Though both of them have remained excellent players for the team, neither has been able to carry the team into the late rounds of the playoffs, meaning the contracts are becoming more and more troublesome.
Parise will be 34 when the 2018-19 season begins, while Suter’s birthday doesn’t come until midseason. Whoever replaces Fletcher in the Minnesota front office will have to deal with the two contracts, and even the thought of cap recapture penalties should they retire early.
Fletcher will be a sought after candidate for other jobs around the league, but it’s unclear where his ideal landing spot would be. We’ll have to wait and see if he’s given the keys to another franchise, or will have to join as a support member for the next chapter in his hockey career.
Sean Couturier Missed Game Four And Played Remainder Of Series With Torn MCL
UPDATE (4/22): After the Flyers’ Game Six loss today, it was revealed that the “lower-body injury” that kept Couturier out of Game Four was a torn MCL ligament. Yet, Couturier returned for Game Five and Game Six, compiling four goals – the game-winner on Friday and a hat trick this afternoon – and two assists. That’s quite the gutsy performance for the Philly forward and Selke Trophy candidate.
4/18: The Philadelphia Flyers are facing a crucial Game Four tonight, at home and down 2-1 in their first round series with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but will have to secure the win without a key player. Flyers GM Ron Hextall has confirmed to the media that top line center Sean Couturier will not play tonight, ruled out with a lower-body injury. Couturier was injured in practice yesterday when he collided with defenseman Radko Gudas. The initial word out of Philadelphia was that Couturier would be a game-time decision tonight, with some question as to the severity of the injury versus simple gamesmanship of the Flyers’ part. While questions still remain, it is clear that Couturier has suffered a significant injury if it is causing him to miss a defining playoff game.
Couturier’s loss is a game-changer for this Metropolitan Division series, as the 25-year-old forward is enjoying a breakout campaign. Centering Philly’s top line this season, Couturier posted a career-high 76 points, finishing behind only superstar teammates Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek in team scoring. Couturier nearly doubled his previous career-high of 39 points, while seeing little drop-off in the two-way game he has become known for. In fact, Couturier’s +34 rating this year was tops in the Eastern Conference and the best in the league among players not skating on the Vegas Golden Knights’ top line.
Couturier played a complete game all regular season and was a major threat for any opposing team. It will be difficult for the Flyers to replace his production in Game Four and beyond – which may only be Game Five – though at first glance, the easy solution will be to slide Giroux back to center and go from there. If there is one dull silver lining, it’s that Couturier has been largely ineffective against the Penguins both during the regular season and so far in the postseason. Remove the Flyers’ Game Two outburst and “Coots” has just two points in six games against Pittsburgh this year. Maybe his replacement in the lineup will have better luck, as the Flyers look to keep the series in reach and avoid an elimination game in Pittsburgh in Game Five.
Playoff Notes: Hornqvist, Malkin, Komarov, Ehlers
After having missed the last two playoff games for the Pittsburgh Penguins with an upper-body injury, veteran winger Patric Hornqvist is expected back for Game 6 today against the Philadelphia Flyers. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Jason Mackey writes that Hornqvist’s return is a major boost for a team as he is one of the team’s most unheralded players.
Mackey writes Hornqvist’s skill around the net, willingness to take a hit and his intensity both on and off the ice are keys the Penguins have missed the last two games. In fact, it’s that passion that’s so important to Pittsbugh.
“He brings so much passion to the rink every day and loves the game,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “He loves to be around his teammates. He loves to practice. He loves to play, and it’s contagious. I think he’s one of the more passionate guys that I’ve been around in all the years that I’ve been associated with this league. That’s one of the things that we love about him.”
Whether it’s his attitude or scoring prowess, he has made a difference to the team, according to Mackey. When he’s on the ice, the Penguins have a .640 points percentage as opposed to a .559 when he’s not playing.
- While Hornqvist is expected to play Sunday, the Pittsburgh Penguins aren’t as sure about the status of center Evgeni Malkin, according to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Sam Werner and Mackey. Malkin was the only player to miss Saturday’s practice after injuring his leg in the first period of Friday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers when he got collided with Jori Lehtera and fell awkwardly against the boards. While he left after that play, he returned for the second period. While missing practice isn’t that big of a deal, Sullivan didn’t tell the media he was taking a maintenance day, suggesting his injury could be more serious than originally thought. He is a game-time decision.
- Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston writes that Toronto Maple Leafs forward Leo Komarov is at 85 percent and isn’t yet ready to play for Monday’s Game 6 against the Boston Bruins. The 31-year-old has only played in two games this series with a lower-body injury. He has no points and a minus-1 rating in those two games.
- While it’s still a series away, the Winnipeg Jets Nikolaj Ehlers skated with a non-contact jersey Sunday. Head coach Paul Maurice said Ehlers wasn’t feeling quite right and missed Game 5 because of that, although the coach didn’t clarify if it was an injury or illness, according to Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun. Ehlers and the Jets await the winner between Nashville and Colorado in the second round of the playoffs.
Snapshots: Brind’Amour, Provorov, Brodziak
With the departure of head coach Bill Peters who exercised his opt-out clause and left the team, the Carolina Hurricanes will have to start looking for a head coach along with a new general manager. However, former captain and now assistant coach Rod Brind’Amour has said that he would like the job, according to Chip Alexander of The News & Observer.
Alexander says that Brind’Amour is not publically campaigning for the job, but believes after eight years as an assistant coach, he’s ready to become an NHL head coach.
“If you never try, you’ll never know,” Brind’Amour said Saturday. “The reason for saying ‘why not?’ is I’ve been doing it for eight years and I really believe I can help out one way or the other and see if I can put us over the hump. I don’t think as an assistant I’m going to get any better or learn any more. So now’s the time. … They’re going to find the best guy to do it and if it’s me, that’s great, and if not I understand. But I felt like I could at least step up and see if it could happen.”
Alexander says that Hurricanes’ new owner Tom Dundon likes Brind’Amour, including his work ethic, hockey sense and his ability to relate both to players and management.
- Philadelphia Flyers general manager Ron Hextall would not give a medical update on defenseman Ivan Provorov, who was injured Friday when he collided with Pittsburgh’s Brian Dumoulin and crashed into thte boards late in the game. It looked as if he injured his shoulder, according to Philly.com’s Sam Carchidi. Provorov’s availability for Game 6 is essential if the Flyers want to force a Game 7. He was critical in shutting down Sidney Crosby by playing a career high 30:07 of playing time Friday and was a key member of the penalty kill. The scribe writes the good news is that Provorov was not wearing a sling on his way to the team bus after the game, but Hextall, who is very secretive likely won’t reveal his status until right before the game.
- Tom Timmermann of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that veteran forward Kyle Brodziak‘s time with the St. Louis Blues could likely be over. With the influx of multiple prospects and with a likely shakeup of the current roster, the 34-year-old veteran could easily find himself on the open market. With the potential additions of some of their top prospects such as Jordan Kyrou, Robert Thomas, Samuel Blais and the possible return of Robby Fabbri, the team is likely to move on from some of their veterans, including Brodziak and veteran Scottie Upshall, who was in the same boat a year ago, but was brought back when injuries mounted.