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Bob McKenzie

Noah Juulsen “Very Close” To Being NHL Ready

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Bob McKenzie of TSN released his series of one-on-one interviews with Canadian NHL GMs today, and in speaking to the Montreal Canadiens’ Mark Bergevin, McKenzie asked about Noah Juulsen, a top prospect who is now eligible to play in the American Hockey League. Bergevin confirmed that Juulsen is “very close” to being ready for the NHL, and that the team would be taking a hard look at him in training camp.

It’s hard to see Juulsen cracking the roster right out of camp, as Montreal currently has eight NHL-level defensemen signed plus Jakub Jerabek, the wild card from the Czech Republic. It will be a dog fight for the last few spots even without Juulsen’s competition, but the young defenseman will try to force the team to keep him. Last year in the WHL the 20-year old showed that he’s ready for professional hockey with 34 points in just 45 games while being one of the best open-ice hitters in junior hockey. His skating is already above-average for the NHL, and he would likely become a fan favorite in little time in Montreal.

As Bergevin explains, even though the Canadiens look to have too many defensemen already, training camp hasn’t even started. It’s rare that a team gets through the preseason without injury, meaning a chance for Juulsen is still a real possibility. The 6’3″ defender that was drafted 26th-overall in 2015 will likely make his debut at some point this season, even if it comes after the majority of the season is spent with the Laval Rocket of the AHL. Either way, Montreal fans should be excited knowing that there is some more high-level defensive help on its way.

Damon Severson Signs With New Jersey Devils

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Another important—but perhaps underappreciated—restricted free agent is off the board, as Damon Severson has signed a new contract with the New Jersey Devils. The contract is for six years and $25MM, and does not include any trade protection. The salary breakdown is as follows:

  • 2017-18: $2.5MM
  • 2018-19: $3.0MM
  • 2019-20: $4.675MM
  • 2020-21: $4.675MM
  • 2021-22: $5.05MM
  • 2022-23: $5.1MM

Damon SeversonWhile many saw last season as a breakout for Severson, after Adam Larsson’s departure put more of the spotlight on him in New Jersey, he’s been playing at an extremely high level since he entered the league in 2014. Now 23, Severson has recorded 69 points in 203 games while logging 20 minutes a night nearly every game for the Devils. He is the leader on their blueline, and will now be rewarded with a long term contract.

The Devils of course moved Larsson to the Edmonton Oilers last summer in exchange for Taylor Hall, leaving Severson as the top right-handed option and powerplay quarterback on the team. His point total raised to 31 this season on the back of a big performance with the man advantage, but his defensive play is also up to snuff. Severson can at times look shaky in his own end, but generally drives possession with quick decisions. He doesn’t just clear the puck blindly, but moves it out with his feet or a quick first pass.

Speaking of Larsson, the new contract is exactly the same as the six-year $25MM deal they gave him in 2015, though that had some trade protection and was actually buying out three years of free agency. Severson will give up just two UFA seasons, and could hit the market at 28.

New Jersey, who’ve struggled the past five years to even ice a competitive team, have just a inked a shining star long-term that they can build around. The Devils are clearly still trying to compete for a playoff spot, but eventually they may need to do a slight tear-down and rebuild the team around young Nico Hischier, Mike McLeod, Pavel Zacha and others. Severson is now locked in as a top option on the blueline for some time.

The $4.167MM cap hit is plenty affordable for the Devils, and carries incredible value. As Larsson demonstrated, puck-moving right-handed defensemen signed for less than $5MM are very rare to find. It’s very plausible that Severson even takes another step forward this season and starts to compete with players like Tyson Barrie and Torey Krug in that next tier of offensive production. If he can do that without sacrificing anything in his own end, the Devils will be quite pleased with his cap hit for years to come.

Bob McKenzie of TSN reported the length and financial details. 

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Bo Horvat Signs Six-Year Contract With Vancouver Canucks

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The Vancouver Canucks have signed their young center Bo Horvat today to a six year contract worth $5.5MM per season. Horvat is coming off his entry-level contract, and had discussed everything from two-year bridge deals to eight-year extensions. A long-term deal always seemed like the eventual outcome, and Horvat will be giving up two unrestricted free agent years to stay in Vancouver. The deal contains no signing bonuses or trade protection, and the breakdown is as follows:

  • 2017-18: $6.5MM
  • 2018-19: $7.0MM
  • 2019-20: $5.775MM
  • 2020-21: $3.5MM
  • 2021-22: $5.775MM
  • 2022-23: $4.45MM

"<strongThe 22-year old Horvat was selected ninth-overall by the Canucks in 2013, and has turned out to be everything the team hoped for. His game is developing into that of a true number one center, capable of leading a team offensively and playing well enough to hold his own in the defensive zone. In just his third season he topped the Canucks with 52 points, coming in just ahead of Henrik Sedin in a metaphorical passing of the torch. The Sedins, so long the faces of the Vancouver franchise, will start to take a back seat to Horvat and the other young stars coming through the system.

Horvat was never expected to be a dynamic, league-leading type of offensive player. Even in London, where he played his junior hockey with the Knights in the OHL, he took on a two-way role behind Max Domi (now with the Arizona Coyotes) and other offensive stars. He used a heavy frame to do his fair share of scoring, but now there may be even more upside to his game. Horvat’s 20 goals included just three on the powerplay, a number that is sure to increase as the Sedin’s move on. Interestingly, it also included two short-handed goals, an area which he’ll likely excel throughout his career. Like Mikko Koivu in Minnesota, being a number 1 isn’t always about putting up 80+ point seasons.

The $5.5MM cap hit is a reasonable number for the Canucks, as other players are being paid more and more just out of the entry-level deals. Horvat’s contract will come in at the same amount as Jonathan Drouin, a fellow 2013 draftee that had similar production last year. While Drouin has considerable offensive upside, he also hasn’t proven himself at center thus far in his career. He’ll have a chance to do that in Montreal this year, but Horvat will likely remain the more natural player in the middle. Alexander Wennberg, another comparable to Horvat just signed a six-year deal for only $4.9MM, which looks better and better for the Blue Jackets as the weeks go on.

Vancouver doesn’t have a ton to worry about cap-wise at the moment, as this will mark the last year of the Sedin’s current contracts and with it will open up $14MM. With the team rebuilding, there will be plenty of room to fit Horvat’s number in going forward. If he takes another step offensively this could even look like one of the biggest bargains in a few years, especially if the salary cap goes up in the coming years (which is far from guaranteed).

Bob McKenzie of TSN first gave us the details and confirmed the deal was done.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Morning Notes: Jets, Karlsson, Horvat

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Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet is hearing that there are incoming extensions for GM Kevin Cheveldayoff and head coach Paul Maurice, keeping the duo in Winnipeg for the next few years. The Jets came closer to the playoffs than many remember last year, finishing ninth in the Western Conference with 87 points. With a young group of forwards led by Mark Scheifele, Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers, the Jets will be a tough contender in the battle for the playoffs once again. With Steve Mason in net, perhaps they’ll finally get the goaltending required to take the next step.

In terms of Cheveldayoff, his biggest task in the near future could once again be Jacob Trouba. After a holdout last season that leaked into November and came with a trade demand, Trouba eventually signed a two-year $6MM contract with the Jets and went on to have an excellent season in an increased role. Trouba’s complaints were mostly about playing time and future, and it seems that he’s now passed Tyler Myers on the depth chart in Winnipeg. We’ll have to wait and see if that’s enough to get Trouba to sign a long-term deal next summer, or if the young defenseman again wants out of town.

  • Erik Karlsson hasn’t resumed skating according to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, and still isn’t sure if he’ll be ready for opening day. Karlsson underwent surgery on his foot and ankle in June and was given a four month timeline for recovery. Karlsson is part of the media tour for the NHL and NHLPA’s Declaration of Principals, which hope to help establish guidelines for inclusivity from minor hockey to the professional ranks. Dan Rosen of NHL.com has the entire Declaration, which apparently was the brainchild of Pat Lafontaine and Luc Robitaille after a trip to the Vatican. The announcement even included a letter from the Pope endorsing the program.
  • Bob McKenzie of TSN returned from his summer vacation to give us a bit of information on the ongoing Bo Horvat negotiations. He believes the two sides are closing in on a deal, and speculates it would be in the range of six or seven years at a salary between $5-6MM. We’ve heard that the Vancouver Canucks and Horvat have discussed everything from a bridge deal to an eight-year contract, with the latter seeming less likely. Horvat is one of several high profile free agents left to sign, but there never seemed to be much doubt that a contract would eventually be signed.

Joe Thornton Re-Signs With San Jose Sharks

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July 2: The Sharks have officially announced the signing.  His agency, Top Shelf Hockey, reports via Twitter that Thornton will earn $8MM in 2017-18.  TSN’s Pierre LeBrun adds (Twitter link) that the base salary is $6.75MM while he gets a $1.25MM signing bonus as well.

July 1: After all of the rumor and intrigue surrounding “Jumbo” Joe Thornton seeking a three-year deal and speaking with many teams other than the San Jose Sharks, NBC Sports’ California correspondent Kevin Kurz is reporting that Thornton has actually re-signed in San Jose for just one year. According to Bob McKenzie, the deal is worth more than $6 MM, and Fox Sports Northwest’s Andy Strickland has the exact total at $6.5 MM. This is nowhere near the paycut many experts expected from his previous $6.75 MM. In a weak UFA class, however, he ended up getting more AAV than many of the larger names out there.

The probable future Hall-of-Fame center has 1007 career assists, good for 13th all time. He only had 7 goals last season make up his 50 points in 2016-17, however, his lowest total in a full season. It was anticipated by many that perhaps fellow long-time shark Patrick Marleau would sign first, but the offer from San Jose and the allure of home was too much to keep Thornton from signing on the dotted line.

Thornton is obviously slowing down a step, but he is still one of the best playmakers in the game. His work on the powerplay is masterful and he has jump-started many younger players’ careers. On a one-year deal, there seems to be little downside to the Sharks, as he can still be a productive member of a top-9 offensive unit while providing solid defensive play. The price is a bit high, and it remains to be seen whether that will affect any potential negotiations with Marleau.

Boston Bruins Sign AHL MVP Kenny Agostino

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As noted earlier today and now confirmed by TSN’s Bob McKenzie, the Boston Bruins have signed left winger Kenny Agostino to a one-year, one-way contract worth $875K. The former Yale standout will return to New England in hopes of finally getting a long NHL look. The Bruins have been fairly quiet on the first day of free agency, signing only Agostino, Paul Postma, and re-signing Jordan Szwarz. However, of the three signings, Agostino by far has the highest potential to impact the 2017-18 team.

In 2016-17, Agostino was awarded the AHL’s MVP award after registering 24 goals and 59 assists for 83 points in just 65 games with the Chicago Wolves, the former affiliate of the St. Louis Blues. Agostino led the league in scoring by 15 points and was the top assist man by 11. He also played to a +24 and was a point-per-game player in the postseason as well. In the NHL, Agostino also contributed a goal and two assists in seven games. While Agostino has never had any sustained success at the highest level, the 25-year-old has the tools to succeed if given the chance.

In Boston, Agostino should at least be given some opportunity. Many felt that the Bruins needed a top-six left winger, but GM Don Sweeney has indicated that he did not want to block the development of their younger players  like Jake DeBrusk, Peter Cehlarik, and Anders Bjork. Between Matt Beleskey, Frank Vatrano, and now Agostino, the Bruins have multiple player they can try out on the third and fourth line before dipping into the minors. If it doesn’t work out with Agostino, the Bruins also stand a good chance of passing the 25-year-old through waivers if need be. It is a very low-risk, high-upside signing for Sweeney and company.

Boston Bruins Sign Paul Postma

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The Boston Bruins have finally entered the free agent frenzy, inking right-handed defenseman Paul Postma to a one-year deal. TSN’s Bob McKenzie reports that it is a one-way contract worth $725K for the 28-year-old two-way defenseman. The long-time Winnipeg Jet is coming off a career-high in games played (65) and points (14), but nonetheless will have to fight for a roster spot and could very well wind up with the AHL’s Providence Bruins. If he can make the roster, he should provide Boston with much-needed depth, especially with veteran John-Michael Liles not expected back this year.

Winnipeg Jets Sign Steve Mason

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The Winnipeg Jets’ hunt for stability in net has brought in former Calder Trophy-winner Steve Mason. Mason, the former Philadelphia Flyers’ starter, was thought to be in line for a backup job after a down season. However, TSN’s Bob McKenzie reports that Mason’s contract is for two years and $8.2MM; a $4.1MM AAV. Mason will thus be looked upon to take over the starter role and hold off young Connor Hellebuyck.

Mason, at 29, was coming off a disappointing season for the Flyers, finishing this year with a 2.66 GAA and a .908 save percentage. His career has been somewhat of a roller coaster, however, starting with his rookie season in 2008-09 when he came out of nowhere, posting a 2.29 GAA in 61 games and leading the Columbus Blue Jackets to their first-ever playoff series and winning the Calder Trophy. He then followed his impressive rookie campaign, tallying a 3.05 GAA in 58 games and a .901 save percentage and was never able keep his goals against under three until the Blue Jackets traded him to the Flyers in 2013. Mason regained his form, but never to the point of that initial season.

Mason’s new contract is exactly the same contract he has had over the past three years when he inked a 3-year, $12.3MM contract back in 2014 with the Flyers. However, in Winnipeg, he has a chance to take control of the starting gig there as Hellebuyck struggled as a full-time starter. The team still hopes the 24-year-old can become their everyday starter, but the general belief is they need a veteran to hold down the pipes for a couple of years until the youngster is ready.

Dallas Stars Sign Martin Hanzal To Three-Year Deal

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The Dallas Stars have inked one of the top centers on the market, signing Martin Hanzal to a three-year, $14.25MM deal according to Bob McKenzie of TSN. Hanzal was ranked #4 on our free agent list, where we predicted he would get a fourth year, but agree to a slightly smaller salary.

Instead, the 30-year old Hanzal will go down to Dallas to join Ken Hitchcock and the rest of their group, trying to get the Stars back to the playoffs after an extremely disappointing season. The Stars, losing Cody Eakin to the Vegas Golden Knights needed some help at center behind Tyler Seguin and Jason Spezza, and bringing Hanzal in makes them very deep down the middle.

He can now play that third-line center role and contribute on both the powerplay and penalty kill. Though he saw more than 18 minutes a night in Arizona last year, his role in Dallas is more likely to be closer to the 15:31 he averaged for Minnesota. While $4.75MM might seem like a lot to pay that spot, Dallas had the room to do it and needed to land at least one of the bigger free agent forwards this year. Though linked to Justin Williams, he ended up signing in Carolina with his old team.

Chicago Blackhawks Bring Back Patrick Sharp

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As indicated by reports this morning, the Chicago Blackhawks have indeed signed Patrick Sharp. After a two-year hiatus with the Dallas Stars, the three-time Stanley Cup winner is back home in Chicago to the tune of just $1MM. TSN’s Bob McKenzie reports that the deal is for one year and carries an $800K base salary with $200K in bonuses for games played.

This could be quite the steal for the Blackhawks, given that Sharp scored 78 points in his last fully healthy season in Chicago. While Sharp struggled with injuries and inconsistency last season in Dallas, he posted 55 points in his first season with the team the year before and another 43 in just 68 games in his final season in Chicago. Armed with a top-end shot, Sharp was always the beneficiary of great offensive linemates on the Blackhawks and there is no reason to think he won’t excel again, even if he has lost a step.

Sharp becomes the second player this week to re-join the Blackhawks after the team re-acquired Brandon Saad from the Columbus Blue Jackets in a deal that saw Artemi Panarin shipped out of town. While neither Sharp nor Saad could single-handedly make up for the loss of offense from Panarin’s departure, together the two may be able to get the job done if they can re-ignite the old chemistry they had with the likes of Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. 

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