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Andre Burakovsky

Washington Capitals Not Likely To Bring Back Devante Smith-Pelly

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Although the Washington Capitals have their affairs in order with most of their impact players after an early-round exit in the playoffs this year, the franchise still has a number of smaller contracts that it will have to deal with in the coming months. The contracts of restricted free agents Jakub Vrana and Andre Burakovsky and unrestricted free agents Carl Hagelin and Brett Connolly need to be dealt with, among others.

One contract the Capitals aren’t likely to deal with this summer is unrestricted free agent Devante Smith-Pelly, who likely will not be returning to Washington next season, according to NBC Sports J.J. Regan. While there was speculation that the team might consider bringing back one of the team’s key players in their Stanley Cup Championship run last season under the right conditions, Regan notes that changed after comments from general manager Brian MacLellan. “Internally we had a couple of issues we had to work through,” MacLellan said of Smith-Pelly, which was not exactly a vote of confidence.

Many have claimed that those “issues” stemmed from conditioning issues and they are likely the reason that the Capitals intend to move on from Smith-Pelly. The big winger struggled this season after scoring seven playoff goals last spring, including several timely ones. Even though Smith-Pelly had more lucrative offers last summer, he opted to sign a one-year, $1MM deal to remain with the Capitals. However, the season didn’t go as planned as he tallied just eight points in 54 games before the team placed him on waivers, sending him to the AHL. He was recalled after T.J. Oshie was injured in the playoffs, but played sparingly. Regan asked Smith-Pelly about his conditioning, which he flatly denied, but did admit he was forced to change his off-season workout plans due to the shortened break:

The summer was different for a lot of guys. I mean, very short. Guys are hurt going into the summer so obviously you don’t have the same routine as you’ve had in years past to get ready. I guess that just affected me more than some other guys. You try to get your footing and stuff happens.

With the team right up against the salary cap and key decisions to make about Burakovsky, Vrana, Hagelin, and Connolly, as well as defensive veteran Brooks Orpik, the team does need several cheap contracts on the book, but it looks like they might be ready to look elsewhere for that talent.

Trade Rumors: Johansson, Canucks, Sharks, McQuaid

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The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun writes that New Jersey Devils center Marcus Johansson could prove to be one of the best bargains at the trade deadline. LeBrun notes that Johansson’s stock has dropped due to his recent injury history, but has been back on the rise due to his recent production. Johansson has seven points in his past six games and buyers have taken notice. LeBrun reports that Johansson’s five-team no-trade list should not hinder a deal and Devils GM Ray Shero will pull the trigger, sooner rather than later, if he gets a fair offer. However, LeBrun believes there is a chance Shero will keep Johansson and try to re-sign him if he receives only low-ball offers. Sportsnet’s Elliott Friedman echoes that Johansson is for sale, but that Shero will be aggressive in the sale as he was with Brian Boyle. Friedman names the Columbus Blue Jackets, Edmonton Oilers, San Jose Sharks, and Vancouver Canucks as teams that have already checked in on Johansson, but that will hardly be the extent of the interest by the time the deadline rolls around.

  • Friedman believes that the Canucks, who seem like an outlier among the buyers interested in Johansson, are looking to replace the production of the injured Sven Baertschi as they try to keep pace in the Western Conference playoff race. Although few expect Vancouver to be major buyers, they are still just one point out of the final wild card spot and could make some minor tweaks to stay involved. Friedman adds that Washington Capitals forward Andre Burakovsky is another forward that the Canucks have looked into. Burakovsky makes for an interesting fit in Vancouver, as the Capitals seek a replacement forward in return and the Canucks have their own talented, but underwhelming young forward on the block in Nikolay Goldobin. A deal centered around the duo seems like a possibility.
  • As for the Sharks, Friedman believes that they intend to add forward depth before the deadline. While Johansson seems to be of interest, Friedman notes that a very different style of player could also be in their sights. He believes that a reunion with Eric Fehr, currently with the Minnesota Wild, could be in store. The Wild appear to be sellers now and Fehr, who fit in well as a deadline addition for the team last year, is a logical target for both the team’s cap situation and need to strengthen their defensive play up front. Meanwhile, The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz feels that San Jose needs to target a goaltender before the deadline. The Sharks have received poor results from Martin Jones and Aaron Dell this season – the team has the worst even strength save percentage in the league – and last nights’s game, in which Jones allowed six goals on 20 shots against the Boston Bruins could be the last straw. While Kurz comes to the conclusion that an addition in net is unlikely, he hopes the team considers all of their options.
  • Appearing on TSN 1050 in Toronto yesterday, Bob McKenzie stated that New York Rangers defenseman Adam McQuaid is very likely to be moved before the deadline. The impending UFA defender was acquired from the Boston Bruins this off-season for a fourth-round and seventh-round pick, as well as fellow blue liner Steven Kampfer, and McKenzie feels that the Rangers will move him for any package wherein they can recoup those picks or better. Friedman says similar, writing that there has been “traction” on McQuaid move. The Toronto Maple Leafs have been frequently linked to McQuaid, but the tough, stay-at-home righty should have a significant market.

Colorado Avalanche Could Be Ideal Destination For Andre Burakovsky

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After another loss last night, the Colorado Avalanche are win-less in their last eight games. Normally, this would send a team plummeting down the standings, but in this season’s Western Conference “turtle derby”, the Avs are tied for tenth-place in the West and just four points back of a wild card spot with a game in hand on the Minnesota Wild. Colorado doesn’t have the best odds of making the playoffs – The Athletic model puts them at 32% – but they certainly still have a chance. It puts GM Joe Sakic in a difficult position as the NHL Trade Deadline approaches; he knows that his team, which held a playoff spot for much of the first half, has the talent to make the postseason, but he also lacks the confidence in the current standings to be a true buyer. Sakic stated last week that he would not move first-round picks or top prospects at the deadline, but without a win since then, he may have ruled out giving up any trade capital of value for a rental.

Where a move does still make sense for the Avalanche is in acquiring a forward with term or team control. The lack of secondary scoring that has plagued the team this season is not going to magically correct itself next year, so it makes sense for Sakic to target forwards that could help down the stretch this year and moving forward. The best case scenario would be a deal where the Colorado does not have to give up futures to acquire such a player. Few of these opportunities exist, but the Avs are reportedly looking into one of them. Appearing on TSN 1050 in Toronto yesterday, Pierre LeBrun reported that the Avalanche are in on young Washington Capitals forward Andre Burakovsky. Burakovsky, 24, has fallen out of favor in Washington and has been on the trade block for much of the season. The talented winger is an impending restricted free agent this summer and due a qualifying offer of $3.25MM, but Colorado has both the cap space and the need for depth to accommodate a contract extension. Burakovsky, who is on pace for 24 points this season behind a drop-off in ice time and shooting percentage, has otherwise scored at a half point-per-game clip and logged strong possession numbers in his previous four years with the Caps. He could be the exact type of buy-low, high upside forwards that Sakic and company need. With a change of scenery, Burakovsky could make an impact this year and become a core piece for the Avs next season and beyond.

Yet, what makes Colorado and Washington ideal trade partners is what the Capitals want in return. Like many contenders who are willing to move a young roster player, Washington will need a replacement. According to The Athletic’s Scott Burnside, the asking price for Burakovsky is another top-nine forward who can out-perform him in his stead this season. Washington GM Brian MacLellan has very little cap room to work with at the deadline – approximately $1.1MM in salary – and is almost exclusively looking to upgrade via hockey trade as a result. The Capitals’ best chance of improving at the deadline is likely in their return for Burakovsky. So what do the Avalanche have to offer as the centerpiece of a package for Burakovsky? Colin Wilson, an impending free agent with a cap hit just under $4MM, makes a lot of sense. Wilson has out-produced Burakovsky this season and brings an added element of experience and a hard-working style that would be a major boost to the Capitals’ bottom six. Matthew Nieto is another option; the 26-year-old has similar numbers to Burakovsky albeit with less potential, but does carry a team-friendly $1.975MM hit through next season. If the Avs are really high on Burakovsky, they may even consider swapping out one of their own RFA scorers in Alexander Kerfoot or J.T. Compher. Perhaps the most intriguing option though, and one that could likely up the price on the Capitals’ side, is veteran forward Carl Soderberg. After two down years, Soderberg is again on pace for a 50-point season and would be a major addition for the Caps. He does have a $4.75MM cap hit through next season that would require some retention on the part of the Avalanche, but if MacLellan is willing to sweeten the offer beyond just Burakovsky, Sodeberg could be a difference maker for the team. With good potential fits on both sides and rumored mutual interest, a Burakovksy-to-the-Avs trade could be coming down the line in the next twelve days.

Deadline Primer: St. Louis Blues

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With the trade deadline fast approaching, we will be taking a closer look at the situation for each team over the coming weeks.  Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs? As we continue with the Central Division, here is a look at the St. Louis Blues.

Alex Pietrangelo? Vladimir Tarasenko? Colton Parayko? Sorry, but they aren’t going anywhere. The St. Louis Blues have quietly climbed within three points of a playoff spot and the early-season panic is over. Granted, the team is still in the middle of a cluster of teams fighting for just a few postseason berths, but the Blues have games in hand on the whole bunch and have been playing some of their best hockey lately. St. Louis is now a legitimate threat to slip into the playoffs and, once there, could do some damage. In fact, the potential on paper of this team is yet another reason why a fire sale is unlikely. There is no excuse for their first half failures, but many, including their own GM Doug Armstrong, have expressed optimism about what this core can do next season. They may have considered tearing it all down at one point, but that’s no longer a realistic possibility.

With that said, the Blues have fallen short of expectations all year long and no one would be surprised if they do in fact miss the playoffs this year. As such, they need to hedge their bets and continue to take offers as a seller. The team has a handful of impending unrestricted free agents they can trade, as well as others that they may entertain moving. The bulk of the St. Louis lineup isn’t going anywhere and will continue their playoff push, but Armstrong and company are likely to move out some extraneous pieces and play both sides of the market as the trade deadline approaches.

Record

22-22-5, sixth in the Central Division

Deadline Status

Moderate Seller

Deadline Cap Space

$7.2MM of full-season cap hit, 0/3 used salary cap retention slots, 46/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2019: STL 2nd, STL 3rd, STL 5th, STL 6th, STL 7th
2020: STL 1st*, STL 2nd, STL 3rd, STL 4th, STL 5th, STL 7th
* – Blues owe their 2019 first-round pick to the Buffalo Sabres as part of the Ryan O’Reilly trade, but have option to keep that pick if it is top-ten and send 2020 first-round pick instead

Trade Chips

Brayden Schenn is a name that just won’t go away. Even as the Blues’ play has improved of late, Schenn’s name continues to bounce around the rumor mill. The 27-year-old center broke out for 70 points last season, but is back to his regular 50-point pace, if that, this year and has been an underwhelming presence this season for an underachieving team. Logic would dictate that if the Blues want to keep their core intact for another try next season, they’ll refrain from moving Schenn. However, if the market interest forces his hand, Armstrong will move the talented forward, who has one year remaining on his contract, for the right price.

The same goes for winger Jaden Schwartz. Once the epitome of consistency and clutch in the Blues’ lineup, Schwartz, 27, has been streaky and largely ineffective on offense this season. His 21 points thus far is one of the biggest disappointments of St. Louis’ season. Schwartz has quietly continued to be a solid two-way force for the Blues though, even if it doesn’t show up on the score sheet. Schwartz has shown immense talent previously and his trade value is at an all-time low. Maybe he does just need a change of scenery, but Armstrong is unlikely to sell low on the two-way forward this season.

Not every trade decision will be as difficult as Schenn and Schwartz. For example, veteran forward Patrick Maroon has been an utter failure this year for St. Louis and is all but gone before the deadline. Earlier this month, it was rumored that Maroon was likely to be dealt when his full no-trade clause expired at the end of January. In the nine games since the report, Maroon has one lone goal. Hometown product or not, the Blues are likely to move Maroon – who has proven before to be a deadline commodity – for the best offer. Veteran grinders Jordan Nolan and, to a lesser extent, Chris Thorburn could also have value on the market and their absences would mean little to the Blues.

Defensemen Jay Bouwmeester and Carl Gunnarsson have not struggled like Maroon, but are also likely goners as impending UFA’s. Bouwmeester, 35, is a respected veteran around the league but has undoubtedly slowed down over the past couple of seasons. He’s currently fourth among St. Louis defenders in time on ice and has the worst plus/minus of the group. Bouwmeester isn’t going to be extended by the Blues, but he’s also still a serviceable and experienced blue liner who could help a true contender. He’s worth more elsewhere than he is for this fringe St. Louis team. The same goes for depth defender Gunnarsson, who has actually been a quite effective possession defenseman in limited opportunity this year, but has a higher value as an added option to a contender than to a team that may not make the playoffs. Jakub Jerabek and Chris Butler are also impending UFA defensemen who may have some slight value on the market. Don’t be surprised if 25-year-old Jordan Schmaltz has his name thrown around too; the Blues have made no effort to get him NHL minutes and he could use a new opportunity.

One of the major issues of this St. Louis team is underachieving forwards and it’s not just the veterans. Sure, the Blues might like to move Alex Steen or Tyler Bozak, but no-trade clauses alone will limit that possibility. The team would be far more likely to find takers for some of their disappointing young forwards, of which there are many. Robby Fabbri, Zach Sanford, Ivan Barbashev, Nikita Soshnikov, and Sammy Blais are all getting too old to be called prospects, but have yet to prove themselves as difference-makers in the NHL. Each one is an impending restricted free agent this summer and the Blues likely don’t plan to bring the whole group back. St. Louis could benefit from swapping out a young forward or two of their own for other teams’ disappointing forwards in hopes that a new system can turn their game around.

Five Players To Watch For: F Brayden Schenn, F Patrick Maroon, D Jay Bouwmeester, D Carl Gunnarsson, F Sammy Blais

Team Needs

1) Scoring Depth: Obviously, goaltending is the biggest long-term concern of the Blues, but that isn’t going to be addressed at the deadline this year. Next in line then is scoring. As previously mentioned multiple times, one of the fatal flaws of the Blues this season has been a lack of scoring and disappointing efforts from too many regular forwards. St. Louis is 22nd in goals for this season and, even if the veteran core returns to form this season, the fringe pieces lack some upside in the production department. As the team moves out forwards from the roster, old or young, the Blues could benefit from taking a waiver on other teams’ frustrated young forwards to test this season for whether there is a there is a fit moving forward. The Washington Capitals’ Andre Burakovsky, the Vancouver Canucks’ Nikolay Goldobin, or the Montreal Canadiens’ Charles Hudon could all be intriguing options. Finding another name to add to the blossoming next wave of Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, Klim Kostin, and Dominik Bokk should be a priority.

2) Top Prospect Defenseman: In the course of making possible trades of Schenn or Bouwmeester or a young forward, Armstrong would be smart to target a top young defender in the return. The Blues have some nice 25-and-under pieces on the NHL blue line right now, but the AHL unit lacks much upside and the organization does not really have a blue chip defenseman in the pipeline other than collegiate rearguard Scott Perunovich, who will already be 21 next season when he begins his junior year at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. St. Louis has many exciting, talented forwards waiting to take over a role in the NHL; the team desperately needs to add a defenseman into that group. If they can’t find one via trade, they should focus on the draft and adding picks to make up for their first- and fourth-rounders this year.

Deadline Primer: Nashville Predators

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With the trade deadline fast approaching, we will be taking a closer look at the situation for each team over the coming weeks.  Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs? As we continue with the Central Division, here is a look at the Nashville Predators.

The core of the Nashville Predators remains unchanged since the team was a Stanley Cup finalist two years ago and are all signed long-term, likely keeping the Predators a contender for years to come. However, the team has shown a willingness to make moves at the deadline each year to maximize their odds of taking home the title during this stretch. Last season, GM David Poile made a whopping seven trades total, six of which came in the month of February, and notably added Kyle Turris and Ryan Hartman to the roster. While it’s doubtful that the team makes a similar number or caliber of deal this time around, expect the Predators to again be busy.

Record

29-18-4, second in the Central Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$29.88MM in a full-season cap hit, 0/3 used salary cap retention slots, 44/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2019: NSH 1st, NSH 2nd, FLA 3rd, COL 4th, NSH 4th, NSH 5th, NSH 6th, NSH 7th
2020: NSH 1st, NSH 2nd, NSH 3rd, NSH 4th, NSH 5th, NSH 6th, NSH 7th

Trade Chips

More and more often, and specifically this season, it has become easier to identify the likely pieces that a trade deadline buyer is willing to give up to land a veteran player. Trade boards now include just as many young roster players and prospects from contenders as they do the typical rentals from sellers.

This is not the case for the Predators. There are no clear trade chips that Poile and company are actively using to bait teams into making a deal. However, there are plenty of players one could speculate that they will dangle.

Prospect defenseman Dante Fabbro definitely heads up that list. Fabbro, 20, is the junior captain of the Boston University Terriers and is developing into quite the two-way defenseman. Fabbro is on pace for the best offensive season of his collegiate career and looks likely to turn pro this off-season. However, three of the Predators’ famous top-four are all signed long-term, with Roman Josi likely to be extended, and the team has seven defensemen overall under contract for next season already. Fabbro does not have much opportunity to play in the NHL next season in Nashville, but many other teams would be happy to give the recent first-rounder guaranteed minutes as a rookie. Fabbro would undoubtedly be a valued piece on the market. To a lesser extent, so could BU teammate David Farrance and leading AHL defender Frederic Allard, who also lack a clear route to play time in Nashville and thus become expendable.

The Predators also have some intriguing young forwards, including several with NHL experience. The Predators are looking to add a forward or two at the deadline, making some current contributors superfluous. 25-year-olds Miikka Salomaki and Frederick Gaudreau have failed to make the most of ample opportunity this season and are part of why the need up front exists. The pair have combined for just ten points despite playing in the majority of Nashville’s games, but have shown great ability before. Both have another year left at a minimal cap hit, which would make them an even more attractive get for interested teams. Anthony Richard, the Milwaukee Admirals leading scorer, is another young forward who could garner some attention, as could University of Minnesota standout Rem Pitlick.

Five Players To Watch For: D Dante Fabbro, F Miikka Salomaki, D Frederic Allard, F Anthony Richard, F Rem Pitlick

Team Needs

1) Top-six Winger: Injuries to top-six forwards Filip Forsberg, Viktor Arvidsson, and Kyle Turris this season have made it difficult to truly evaluate the Nashville offense. The team is still more than capable of scoring, currently 12th in goals per game, but there’s room for improvement. That includes on paper, as well.  Even once everyone is healthy, there still seems to be a gap in talent between Forsberg, Arvidsson, Turris, Ryan Johansen, and the rest of the roster. One of Kevin Fiala, Craig Smith, or the disappointing Ryan Hartman can surely continue to fill a second-line role, but the Predators could use an upgrade to round out the group. More specifically, the team is lacking size and grit up front and could use a power forward if possible. The Philadelphia Flyers’ Wayne Simmonds seems like a perfect fit and has already been linked to the team, while the Carolina Hurricanes’ Micheal Ferland and, if made available, the New York Rangers’ Chris Kreider would also be ideal. Outside of bigger wingers, the New York Rangers’ Mats Zuccarello and the Detroit Red Wings’ Gustav Nyquist also make sense.

2) Depth Winger: Compared to their stellar defense and goaltending and even compared to their depth down the middle – Johansen, Turris, Colton Sissons, and Nick Bonino – winger is definitely the position of weakness for Nashville. Even if they do acquire a top target to fill a scoring line role, don’t be surprised to see Poile add another piece as well. The veteran GM showed a willingness to use the deadline to land a young forward last season in Hartman and could do the same this year. The last time the Predators bought low on a Washington Capitals forward, it worked out pretty well, making Andre Burakovsky an interesting target. The Vancouver Canucks’ Nikolay Goldobin is another intriguing possibility.

Several Teams Inquiring About Andre Burakovsky

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Andre Burakovsky’s future with the Capitals has been in question for several months now and other teams are certainly taking notice.  Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reports (subscription required) that teams are starting to call regarding Washington’s plans for the winger.  He notes that the Avalanche, Canucks, Coyotes, and Stars are among the teams that are believed to have shown some interest already but that there are likely others as well.

Burakovsky put up at least 35 points in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons and at that time, he looked like he’d be an important piece of Washington’s future.  He was signed to a two-year, $6MM contract, a reasonable bridge deal at the time.

However, things have not gone too well for him or the team since then.  After dipping to 25 points last season, he has just five goals and six assists through 42 games so far this season while spending considerable time as a healthy scratch as well.  All of a sudden, he has gone from a part of their secondary core to someone that may be on the outside looking in soon;  Burakovsky is owed a qualifying offer of $3.25MM this summer, something that doesn’t appear to be likely to happen at this point.

Earlier this month, GM Brian MacLellan indicated that he was open to moving a forward for a forward on a similar contract.  While he didn’t come out and say Burakovsky by name, it’s reasonable to infer he’s one of the players MacLellan was thinking of when he said that.

With that in mind, teams appear to be looking to see if they can buy low on the 23-year-old.  Given what he has shown in the past, Burakovsky could be someone that simply needs a change of scenery to get back on track.  With that qualifying offer looming, MacLellan doesn’t have a lot of leverage to work with either.

While the team may want to acquire a comparable forward as part of the return, opening up their options to accepting a futures-based return may give them some more suitors.  Yes, Washington is going to be a buyer between now and the trade deadline but they could just as easily turn around and deal the futures-based return elsewhere to get the player they desire.  No matter how it happens, it certainly appears as if Burakovsky’s days with the Capitals are soon coming to an end.

Predators Notes: Sissons, Burakovsky, Fabbro

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The Nashville Predators have taken another hit up front, announcing today that forward Colton Sissons has been placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. While it’s unclear when Sissons suffered the injury, he was not in  the lineup when the Predators faced the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night. The team did not give any timeline for Sissons’ return, but any extended absence will hurt Nashville, who are also still without Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson. Sissons has been a key contributor while those two have been sidelined, recording seven goals and nine assists in 35 games, tied for eighth on the team in scoring. Sissons also has a tremendous +17 rating and is an invaluable defensive presence among the forward corps. For the Predators’ sake, hopefully Sissons will return after the minimum ten days on the IR.

  • With yet another starting forward out of commission, Predators GM David Poile may feel even more pressure to land some help via trade. Nashville was already expected to pursue scoring help before the trade deadline to help out their middling offense and was one of the teams speculated to have interest in Washington Capitals forward Andre Burakovsky, who hit the trade block last week. The Capitals are reportedly looking to make a deal that would bring back a player that can help them immediately this season, of which the Predators have options. Pressed into regular action due to the rash of injuries, Miikka Salomaki and Frederick Gaudreau have both played well at times this season and could be of interest to Washington. The team could even be willing to dangle Calle Jarnkrok if they’re high on Burakovsky. The two teams would seemingly be a good fit for a deal, although there still could be lingering feelings from the last time the Capitals traded a young winger to the Predators (see Forsberg-for-Martin Erat).
  • Speaking of reinforcements, Predators fans should be excited to see defensive prospect Dante Fabbro listed on the Team Canada roster for the upcoming Spengler Cup. The team’s first-round pick in 2016, Fabbro has been a productive member of the Boston University blue line for three seasons now and has even evolved into the Terriers’ captain. However, playing alongside pros at the Spengler Cup is the next step for Fabbro and could give the young defenseman the experience needed to step in to the Predators’ lineup later this season. Although Fabbro has another season of NCAA eligibility remaining, he is heavily expected to leave school when BU’s season is over. A strong showing in Switzerland could convince Poile and company that Fabbro is worth signing and playing immediately this year. The young puck-mover could be a nice depth addition for a Nashville team that is looking to make it back to the Stanley Cup Final this year.

Snapshots: Melnyk, Burakovsky, AHL

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The Ottawa Senators’ Lebreton Flats arena bid was dealt an expected death blow when owner Eugene Melnyk filed a $700MM lawsuit against his former partner John Ruddy, who was part of the group trying to acquire the development rights to the area. Now Ruddy has filed his own counterclaim, seeking more than $1 billion according to the Canadian Press. In the counterclaim Trinity Development, Ruddy’s company, alleges:

CSMI’s and Melnyk’s true aim is to have the City of Ottawa or Trinity fund and build the $500 million event centre for the Ottawa Senators hockey team, with the Senators getting 30 years’ free rent. CSMI also wants the valuable naming rights and an unreasonable degree of control over the Lebreton project.

Meanwhile, Melnyk’s group has issued a statement offering to amend the original plan and have Trinity fund the project but also take all of the expected profits. Though not technically dead, it does seem like a difficult path forward for the Senators to try and get a new arena near the downtown core. Lebreton was arguably their best chance for now, meaning they’ll be stuck dealing with the arena in Kanata going forward. That rink is far from the city center and difficult for many fans to get to, especially for weekday games.

  • While Andre Burakovsky’s name has surfaced in trade rumors recently, Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post is quick to point out that the Washington Capitals are not necessarily shopping the young forward around at this time. Though they would certainly listen to offers, the hope is that Burakovsky can turn things around on his own and be the productive middle-six forward that they have hoped he would be for some time. The 23-year old has just eight points this season and has never fulfilled the promise he showed as a young forward in Sweden or the OHL. Burakovsky is also a restricted free agent at the end of the season with arbitration rights, which could certainly give any acquiring team pause given his salary is already at $3MM this year.
  • The AHL announced multiple suspensions today, handing out a two-game ban to Matt Puempel and a three-game ban to Stephen Gionta. The two forwards, playing for the Grand Rapids Griffins and Bridgeport Sound Tigers respectively, will have to sit out a few contests over the holiday season following their supplementary discipline.

Andre Burakovsky Has Come Up In Trade Talks

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Capitals winger Andre Burakovsky has had a rough start to his season and was a healthy scratch for a second straight game tonight against Carolina.  Accordingly, his name has started to come up in trade discussions, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman noted in an appearance on Sportsnet 960 (audio link).

The 23-year-old has been in trade speculation dating back to last season but he has shown spurts of becoming a top-six player in the past so Washington opted to hold onto him.  However, those spurts haven’t been evident too often this season as he has just eight points in 29 games while spending most of the year in their bottom six.  That’s not particularly good value for a $3MM cap charge on a team that is once again very tight to the salary cap.

It’s that cap hit that may ultimately make a sell-low move a realistic possibility.  Burakovsky is set to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer but with a $3.25MM qualifying offer required (his salary for this season), he looks like a prime non-tender candidate as things currently stand.  An acquiring team may want to get a look at him to see if a change of scenery is enough to get him going while allowing the Capitals to get some sort of asset back (and perhaps some short-term cap flexibility) over losing him for nothing in June if they are leaning towards not tendering the offer.

It wasn’t that long ago that Burakovsky was viewed as part of Washington’s long-term plans.  That doesn’t appear to be the case any longer and even though their potential return in a trade is a lot less than it was just a year or two ago, it still may be the time for the Capitals to move on.

Metropolitan Notes: Darling, Vrana, Burakovsky, Fleury, Flyers’ Goalies

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The Carolina Hurricanes have been holding onto three goaltenders since the start of the season. With injury issues that may have been a good idea, but that could change soon as head coach Rod Brind’Amour said that with Petr Mrazek not 100 percent and it not being “fair” to use Curtis McElhinney in both games of the back-to-back set, the team will start Scott Darling. News & Observer’s Luke DeCock writes that this start has a last-chance feel for Darling.

While many people felt that Darling would have a bounce-back season after a disastrous first year as the Hurricanes’ starter, that hasn’t happened. While splitting time with two other goalies, Darling has appeared in just six games with a 2.99 GAA and a .903 save percentage. While McElhinney and Mrazek likely would be claimed off waivers by some goaltending needy NHL team, it’s unlikely that Darling would after he signed a four-year, $16.6MM contract last summer, which no team would likely want to take on considering his struggles.

  • In a mailbag piece, the Washington Post’s Isabelle Khurshudyan writes that while the Washington Capitals did extend Lars Eller during the middle of last season, don’t expect the same treatment for restricted free agents Jakub Vrana or Andre Burakovsky. While the team’s extension of Eller got them a cheaper price than they would have had to contend with had he hit the open market this summer, the team will likely want to wait and see how both players fare before handing out new contracts considering how tight they will be against the salary cap over the next few years. Vrana has been having a solid year up till now as he has six goals and 14 points in 23 games, which will likely have him headed for a career year. Burakovsky has just three goals and six points in 23 games as well.
  • NHL.com’s Michael Smith writes that Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Haydn Fleury has been diagnosed with a concussion, according to Brind’Amour. The 22-year-old was forced out of the team’s game during the third period Friday against Florida after taking a hit from Troy Brouwer. He will join the NHL concussion protocol and remain sidelined until he’s medically cleared. Fleury has served as an extra defenseman for most of the year after playing in 67 games last year. However, the seventh-overall pick in 2014, has not been able to seize a regular rotation spot and has played in just eight games this year. He’s also played four games for the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers.
  • Philly.com’s Sam Carchidi reports that Phildelphia Flyers general manager Ron Hextall gave an update on the team’s goaltending injury situation as Brian Elliott is expected to be at least a week away, maybe more, while Michal Neuvirth is closer to returning and is expected to skate with the team on Monday. Alex Lyon tweaked something in warmups before allowing four first-period goals on Wednesday. He is expected back soon. “That’s the way it goes, and if you look around the league, we’re not the only team it’s happening to,” Hextall said.

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