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Tom Pyatt Signs Two-Year Deal With Ottawa Senators

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The Ottawa Senators have joined in on the signing fun, inking Tom Pyatt to a two-year deal worth $2.2MM. Pyatt was set to become an unrestricted free agent but apparently thought enough of the Senators to not push his luck on the open market. His $1.1MM salary is a $300K raise over last season, and the deal is no longer two-way.

Pyatt played in all 82 games for the Senators this season, finding a home after two years spent playing in the Swiss professional league. Registering 23 points while contributing mostly in a defensive role, Pyatt is a veteran of Guy Boucher’s system going back to their days together in Tampa Bay. The 30-year old forward will return for a reasonable salary, which will help the Senators as they continue to operate under an internal cap.

The Senators have several other UFAs to make decisions on, including Tommy Wingels and Viktor Stalberg. Chris Neil, long-time pest will not be retained by the club. With just around $13MM under the league cap, it’s unclear exactly how much more money the Senators have to spend. With restricted free agents like Ryan Dzingel and Jean-Gabriel Pageau needing qualifying offers by tonight, they’ll have to spend their remaining funds carefully this summer.

Draft Day Notes: Ruff, Markov, Phaneuf

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While the New York Rangers continue to select the next wave of talent in the NHL draft, the front office is also busy working on the NHL coaching staff. Larry Brooks of the New York Post is reporting that Lindy Ruff will join the team as an assistant coach, replacing Jeff Beukeboom who will move into a scouting role with the club.

Ruff of course has decades of experience as a head coach in the league, with his latest stint ending in Dallas at the end of the year. This will be the first time he takes an assistant role since 1997, and will be mostly in charge of the defense group.

  • Though it’s been clear there is interest between Andrei Markov and the Montreal Canadiens, Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports is reporting that Markov now wants a two-year contract. That could be too long for the Canadiens, who are set to give Carey Price a huge raise next summer and have to make sure they spend every dollar appropriately. That’s not even mentioning that Markov will turn 39 this season, and at any point could fall off a cliff in terms of production. The cap hit would have to be very reasonable for the long-time Montreal defender to get those two years.
  • Before the Travis Hamonic deal went down, Bob McKenzie of TSN tweeted out some details about Dion Phaneuf continuing to draw trade interest from teams that aren’t on his approved list. Remember that Phaneuf would not waive his no-movement clause for the expansion draft, and though Pierre Dorion has had chats with his representation, there is no movement on the trade list as of yet.

Snapshots: Coach’s Challenge Penalty, Russell

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The NHL is looking at a rule change that would certainly add a new wrinkle to things.  TSN’s Elliotte Friedman tweets that the NHL is kicking around the idea to assess two minute minor penalties to coaches who lose a challenge. Colleague Frank Saravelli tweets that it would be for challenges on offside calls, replace the loss of a timeout, and according to Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell, makes coaches “careful” about when they challenge. The Scores’s Josh Wegman writes that the league is looking for a way to cut down on the number of challenges, as it would make coaches more timid in using that challenge. However, before any rules are changed, both the board of governors and competition committee would have to agree.

  • TSN’s Bob McKenzie reports that a deal between defenseman Kris Russell and the Edmonton Oilers could be finalized as soon as tomorrow. He adds that Russell could get close to $4MM AAV for four years. This confirms what was reported earlier in the day, but now includes a duration and dollar amount. Russell played in 68 games for Edmonton and notched a goal and 13 points for them. The 30-year-old defenseman is known less for his statistical contribution and more for his shot blocking abilities.

Draft Notes: Suzuki, Makar, Hischier, Patrick

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The Hockey News’ Ryan Kennedy believes that Owen Sound’s Nick Suzuki could very well be the steal of the draft. Suzuki, who has seen explosive growth in his draft stock, scored 96 points (45-51) in 65 games. Suzuki passes the standard and advanced stats test for many. Kennedy writes:

Scouts love his skill and his compete level. What’s even more intriguing is that, by advanced stats that I have seen, Suzuki was the best possession forward in the entire draft class – better than Nolan Patrick and Nico Hischier by a mile.

NHL.com’s Mike Morreale writes that NHL Central Scouting tagged Suzuki as the tenth best prospect in North America, while scout Matt Ryan regards Suzuki as a “consistent prospect” who continuously improved as the season went on. Ryan also notes that had one of the “toughest schedule against the toughest competition,” and still managed to produce eye popping numbers and performances. While there are a glut of centers primed to be taken in the top ten, it would not be shocking to see Suzuki crack the top ten.

  • Could Cale Makar be the first overall pick? The Calgary Herald’s Wes Gilbertson reports that one scout who spoke to TSN’s Bob McKenzie said he would take Makar first overall if he had that pick. Gilbertson writes that the “smooth skating” defenseman won’t be waiting long in Chicago for his name to be called, and that 27 teams were interested in talking to him at the NHL scouting combine. Picks in the top ten will be heavy with defensemen and centers, and Makar appears to be one who could have his name called as early as the top three. Some scouts have even compared him to Erik Karlsson, who was the fifteenth pick overall in the 2008 NHL draft. Adding more to this theory, ESPN Insider Corey Pronman predicts that Makar will be selected by New Jersey at number one instead of  Hischier or Patrick.
  • On the topic of Hischier and Patrick, the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Sam Carchidi adds to the speculation that the Devils could very well take a defenseman at #1, which would give the Flyers the first crack at the two centers. Carchidi writes, however, that neither center cares who goes first. Both players had dinner with Flyers GM Ron Hextall in separate gatherings, and Patrick believes he is fully recovered from the injuries he fought through during the 2016-17 season. Regardless of who they pick, the Flyers will sit pretty should the Devils take a defenseman and leave two prized centermen for Philadelphia.

Trade Block Notes: Demers, Duchene, Methot

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After leaving him unprotected in the expansion draft, Jason Demers is apparently available in trade from the Florida Panthers. That from Pierre LeBrun of TSN, who notes it would have to be for the “right price.” Demers was given a five-year, $22.5MM deal last summer but, like Reilly Smith who was already moved out, it didn’t come from new-old GM Dale Tallon.

The newly turned 29-year old Demers put up 28 points this season, another solid showing offensively from a defenseman who has turned into one of the more consistent point producers around the league. While he’s never going to compete with the likes of Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson, Demers is a solid right-handed defenseman capable of 25-30 points every year, something that is in high demand around the league.

  • Darren Dreger of TSN reports that the Nashville Predators have shown interest in Matt Duchene, something that goes back to before the Seth Jones–Ryan Johansen deal according to Mike Chambers of the Denver Post. While Duchene would be a huge add for the Predators, they would be remiss to move any of their top-4 defensemen for him and past that it’s hard to see a fit between the two clubs. Perhaps Dante Fabbro, the Predators first-round pick from last summer could be involved, but it would take more than that to outbid the rest of the league on Duchene.
  • Marc Methot continues to be the root of speculation surrounding the Dallas Stars, but as Bob McKenzie of TSN points out he would rather stay in Vegas than alter his current no-trade clause to facilitate a trade from his new club. Methot was selected in the expansion draft, and is expected to be flipped right away for assets. It’s unclear whether the Stars are on his current NTC, which allows him to block deals to ten different clubs.

Tampa Bay Lightning Agree To Terms With Peter Budaj

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Thursday: Now that the transaction freeze has lifted, the Lightning have made the signing official.

Monday:  According to Bob McKenzie of TSN, the Tampa Bay Lightning have agreed to terms with goaltender Peter Budaj on a two-year extension worth $1.025MM per season. Since the league is technically in a signing moratorium at present, the contract will not likely be announced until Thursday. Budaj was set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Amazingly, Budaj had been on a two-way contract as recently as last season when he was summoned from the AHL to try and save the Los Angeles Kings season. When Jonathan Quick and Jeff Zatkoff both went down to injuries early in the year, Budaj was brought up and performed quite well in the Los Angeles net. At the deadline, he was dealt to the Lightning for Ben Bishop, who couldn’t help the Kings scrape their way into the playoffs and was eventually dealt to the Dallas Stars this offseason.

Budaj on the other hand will now be the full-time backup for starter Andrei Vasilevskiy in Tampa Bay, and help the young netminder try and get the Lightning back into the playoff hunt. Expected once again to be a Stanley Cup contender, Budaj’s experience is almost entirely limited to the regular season, but after a year in which he put up a .915 mark his low cap hit is still a nice value for the team. The duo will only cost GM Steve Yzerman ~$4.5MM per season combined over the next couple of years, one of the lowest numbers in the league.

35 by the time the 2017-18 season starts, Budaj is no lock to provide the above-average goaltending he put up this year but should still be able to provide ample value for this contract.

Early Notes: Galchenyuk, Arizona, Pronger

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Ah the morning after. The Vegas Golden Knights finally selected their expansion roster last night, and with it came a barrage of trades. Teams lined up to offer draft picks for protection slots, but one team conspicuously silent were the Montreal Canadiens. After making two major moves before the draft—acquiring Jonathan Drouin and shipping off Nathan Beaulieu—the team watched as Alexei Emelin was selected to be part of the expansion franchise. That leaves the team with just five NHL defensemen, and that’s including Jakub Jerabek who will try to prove he’s ready right away.

Enter Alex Galchenyuk, who again dominated the headlines this morning. Bob McKenzie of TSN noted as much, saying that he still believes the talented forward would be moved at some point and counts Minnesota as a team with assets that would interest the Canadiens. Interestingly, he also doesn’t think the Wild are very high on Galchenyuk, making it a tough fit for any potential deal. Eric Engels of Sportsnet still believes they’re the most likely destination and that it’s still more likely that he moves somewhere.

  • The Arizona Coyotes are an interesting team in the next few days as they begin to turn the corner from rebuild to contention. While the team shouldn’t be expected to compete for the Stanley Cup just yet, they’d like their days of finishing last in the league to be behind them. Darren Dreger of TSN notes that they’re in the market for a goaltender, centers and defensemen, making them a possibility on most names floated recently. McKenzie thinks they might re-open negotiations with the New York Rangers, a team they’d had conversations with last week. For a squad who has said goodbye to two long-time veterans in recent times, young GM John Chayka looks determined to turn over a new page in Coyotes history and build around the young core of forwards he’s acquired.
  • Chris Pronger has taken a position as senior adviser to the President of Hockey Operations Dale Tallon in Florida for one year, according to Dan Murphy of Sportsnet. Pronger hasn’t been shy about his goal of becoming an NHL GM one day, even reaching out to former rival Steve Yzerman for advice. Yzerman of course also took a lesser role in Detroit after retiring, in order to learn the trade from Ken Holland and company. In the next few years, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Pronger given the reins of a team.

Post-Draft Trades Will Be Announced Tomorrow

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The Vegas Golden Knights were busy on the trade front tonight, completing ten different deals with teams to steer their expansion draft picks. While all of the trades can be seen here, there are several more that are due to come early Thursday morning. The trade freeze ends tomorrow morning at 7am CDT, making for quite an interesting morning after. Trevor van Riemsdyk

Vegas GM George McPhee had already told us that his team would need to flip some defensemen after the draft, and it seems as though the deals will come right away. The Golden Knights selected 13 defensemen (and acquired even more in trade), most of whom will never see the ice in T-Mobile Arena.

Bob McKenzie of TSN reported during the event that former Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk could be flipped to Carolina tomorrow, and interesting move for a team who already has several young defensemen fighting for ice time. If TvR does make it to Raleigh, it likely would signal another move is coming for a forward down the line for Carolina.

On the note of van Riemsdyk, it had been widely reported that his exposure was tied to a trade that would bring Marcus Kruger to Vegas as a cap-dump for the Chicago Blackhawks. That didn’t happen tonight, and as we wrote earlier could be because of the Marian Hossa long-term injury situation that broke this morning. Kruger still could be moved, but it isn’t directly tied to the van Riemsdyk expansion selection.

Marc MethotMcKenzie also tells us that the Dallas Stars are interested in Marc Methot, selected by the Golden Knights from the Ottawa Senators. The Stars have been looking for a left-handed defenseman that is capable of logging big minutes, and with Methot’s successful history alongside Erik Karlsson could be the perfect fit for John Klingberg in Texas. Methot has two years left on his contract and does hold a limited no-trade clause that allows him to block deals to ten teams.

The Minnesota Wild have already made a trade with the Golden Knights that sent Alex Tuch to Vegas to help protect Mathew Dumba and others, but there is more coming in the next few days. Michael Russo of the Star Tribune spoke with Wild GM Chuck Fletcher, who told him the team could “absolutely” trade a defenseman by the weekend. Marco Scandella remains the most likely option, but now that the draft is in the past everyone is likely being discussed.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Rumored Vegas Golden Knights Expansion Selections

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The Vegas Golden Knights will reveal their expansion selections at tonight’s NHL Awards show, but details have started to come in on who each team will lose. There are many rumors floating around, but these are the most reputable. As with anything, nothing is final until the actual selections are announced tonight. This page will be updated with new information as it comes in.

Here are the latest rumored selections along with their source:

Anaheim Ducks: Clayton Stoner — Bob McKenzie of TSN

Arizona Coyotes: 

Boston Bruins: Colin Miller — Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet

Buffalo Sabres: William Carrier — Frank Seravalli of TSN

Calgary Flames: Deryk Engelland — John Shannon of Sportsnet

Carolina Hurricanes:

Chicago Blackhawks: Trevor van Riemsdyk — Frank Seravalli of TSN

Colorado Avalanche:

Columbus Blue Jackets: William Karlsson — Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch

Dallas Stars: Cody Eakin — Jim Toth of TSN

Detroit Red Wings: Tomas Nosek — Craig Custance of The Athletic.

Edmonton Oilers: Griffin Reinhart — John Shannon of Sportsnet

Florida Panthers: Jon Marchessault — Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet

Los Angeles Kings: Brayden McNabb — John Shannon of Sportsnet

Minnesota Wild: Erik Haula — Michael Russo of the Star Tribune

Montreal Canadiens: Alexei Emelin — Eric Engels of Sportsnet

Nashville Predators: James Neal — Bob McKenzie of TSN

New Jersey Devils: Jon Merrill — Frank Seravalli of TSN

New York Islanders: Jean-Francois Berube — Bob McKenzie of TSN

New York Rangers: Oscar Lindberg — Larry Brooks of the New York Post and Frank Seravalli of TSN.

Ottawa Senators: Marc Methot — Pierre LeBrun of TSN

Philadelphia Flyers: Pierre-Edouard Bellemare — Craig Custance of The Athletic

Pittsburgh Penguins: Marc-Andre Fleury – Bob McKenzie of TSN

San Jose Sharks: David Schlemko — Pierre LeBrun of TSN

St. Louis Blues: David Perron — James Mirtle of The Athletic

Tampa Bay Lightning:

Toronto Maple Leafs: Brendan Leipsic — Darren Dreger of TSN

Vancouver Canucks:

Washington Capitals: Nate Schmidt — Pierre LeBrun of TSN

Winnipeg Jets:

Golden Knights To Acquire Reilly Smith From Panthers

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According to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, the Florida Panthers will not stop at just losing one top-nine forward in expansion. While it has been confirmed that Jonathan Marchessault was the Expansion Draft pick by the Vegas Golden Knights, Reilly Smith has also been informed that he will be Las Vegas-bound.

While the details of the deal have not yet been announced, there are two possibilities for this side deal with Vegas. The first is that Smith was thrown in alongside the Marchessault pick to keep the Knights from selecting another exposed player, likely defenseman Jason Demers. Many were surprised when Florida protected four defenseman, leaving many forwards open for the taking, including Marchessault and Smith, but the move would make more sense if that was what was required for Vegas to ignore Demers. The other potential deal could be independent from expansion, as it has been reported that the Panthers may not have wanted to re-sign Marchessault anyway and thus their protection scheme was logical. In this scenario, Smith may be going to Vegas alongside a yet-to-be-named draft pick or prospect. Although Smith is a two-time 20-goal scorer and just 26 years old, he is due to begin a five-year, $25MM contract next season after scoring a career-low 37 points in 2016-17.

Vegas will be the fourth NHL team for Smith, who was originally dealt to the Boston Bruins as part of the Tyler Seguin deal. The Bruins encountered the same pattern with Smith as Florida did: after a great first season, the production fell off in year two and he was traded before beginning an expensive extension. Perhaps head coach Gerard Gallant, who enjoyed coaching Smith in Florida before he was fired earlier this season, sees something that others don’t and can make the most of his $25MM deal. However, hold your opinions for two years from now, because history shows that he’ll likely have a strong first campaign in Las Vegas before the real test begins in 2018-19.

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