Brandon Montour Settles With Anaheim Ducks
Brandon Montour has reached a two-year contract settlement with the Anaheim Ducks. Montour was in Toronto for his arbitration hearing today, but will not have to wait for a contract to be awarded. Eric Stephens of The Athletic reports the deal will be worth an average annual value of $3,387,500. Montour will still be a restricted free agent at the conclusion of the contract in 2020.
Montour, 24, is a very important part of the Ducks’ defense corps now that Shea Theodore and Sami Vatanen have been sent elsewhere in the last 13 months. Suddenly a system that was overflowing for top-four options is just one injury away from installing an unproven prospect or lackluster veteran into an important spot, something the team will try to avoid at all costs this year. Luke Schenn and Andrej Sustr were brought in to replace outgoing veterans Kevin Bieksa and Francois Beauchemin, but neither should be asked for more than bottom-pairing minutes this season. That means Montour, along with Cam Fowler, Hampus Lindholm and Josh Manson will need to take the lion’s share of the work all season long.
The Ducks do have some young players who could have an impact before long, as Jacob Larsson, Marcus Pettersson and Josh Mahura all look to have solid upside. But it’s Montour and the others that will be given every opportunity to show that they are among the league’s best and carry an Anaheim team back to the playoffs. Signing a two-year bridge deal works for both sides, as the Ducks are given a chance to keep evaluating Montour at a reduced cost, while the player can prove he’s deserving of a huge contract in the summer of 2020. Montour will have just one year of restricted free agency remaining when this contract ends, meaning any long-term deal would be quite expensive.
In fact, this deal gives the young right-handed defender a chance to really develop into an elite offensive option before needing his next contract. Montour already recorded 32 points in his first full season with the Ducks, and could easily put up even more than that now that Vatanen will be gone for the whole season. A natural powerplay quarterback, Montour should split the man-advantage duties with Fowler this season. That kind of production, especially from a right-handed defenseman, is widely sought after on the open market. John Carlson, a player who has only twice broken the 40-point mark in a season—the most recent of which being his 68-point 2017-18 campaign—was just given an eight-year $64MM contract extension by the Washington Capitals. While comparing Montour to Carlson directly may be a little unfair, it gives an obvious example of how healthy the market is for puck-moving defensemen on the right side.
The deal leaves the Ducks with plenty of cap space for next season, though they’re certainly not finished this summer. Ondrej Kase and Nick Ritchie are both still restricted free agents in need of contracts, though neither was eligible for arbitration. The pair should take up a big chunk of the projected $8.7MM remaining cap space, though there may be enough left for a potential trade. While the Ducks have a ton of talent on the roster, their depth is running a bit thin at almost every position. Sustr and Schenn aren’t legitimate top-four options, while Kalle Kossila or Carter Rowney may be their best options for the third-line pivot position if Ryan Kesler can’t start the season. Neither of those are good situations for a team that’s looking to do damage in the postseason.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Anaheim Ducks, Brandon Montour Submit Arbitration Briefs
Salary arbitration is popular in the NHL this year. A process that often acts more as a looming threat to accelerate and finalize contract talks rather than for it’s actual intended use, arbitration has nonetheless been a much greater story line already this off-season compared to most. A decision for Winnipeg Jets defenseman Jacob Trouba is expected at some point today barring a last-minute agreement between both sides, the Calgary Flames and defenseman Brett Kulak have exchanged figures and seem likely to sit down for their scheduled hearing tomorrow, and now a third case is going through the motions ahead of a Tuesday hearing date.
Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman reports that the Anaheim Ducks and defenseman Brandon Montour have exchanged arbitration briefs and requested salary figures this morning. Friedman states that the team side has filed at $1.5MM, while the player side has filed at $4.75MM. Friedman adds that, while the team decides the length of a player-elected arbitration decision, Montour is hopeful for one year while the team is asking for two. Montour is three years away from unrestricted free agency, meaning a contract of either length would expire under team control.
The exchange of arbitration figures today comes after a report yesterday that Ducks GM Bob Murray was still holding out hope that a bridge deal could be agreed upon. Often the formal submission of briefs is enough to get both sides on the same page and eager to keep the decision between them. The filing figures set a midpoint of $3.25MM. If the two sides use that as a starting point for a bridge deal, a three-year term would likely fall below that point – as Montour would then hit the free agent market – while anything longer would likely come in above it as prime UFA years are chewed up.
Montour is an interesting case as a player who has been very successful in limited game played before becoming arbitration eligible. Montour, 24, has only 107 NHL games to his credit, but has been a consistent scorer and top-four regular for Anaheim after honing his game at the college level with UMass. There aren’t many good comparisons of past arbitration-eligible contracts for players with this skill level but lack of experience. For something to compare it to, both the Edmonton Oilers’ Matt Benning and New York Islanders’ Ryan Pulock are similar players who signed two-year deals worth $1.8MM and $2MM respectively this off-season. Neither is as well-rounded as Montour and neither had arbitration rights, meaning the decision is likely to come in above that point. However, Montour’s side may have a tough case – if it gets to that point – arguing that he is worth the full $4.75 given his limited games played in the league.
Full 2018 Arbitration Hearing Schedule
Almost four dozen players decided to file for salary arbitration this summer, and while some of them have already been signed to contracts many others now know when their hearing will take place. The NHLPA released the full schedule of hearings, spread out from July 20th to August 4th. Remember that players can sign up until an arbitrator awards a contract, including in the short window after the hearing.
July 20
Jacob Trouba – Team filing: $4.0MM, Player filing: $7.0MM. Awarded one-year, $5.5MM contract.
July 23
Brett Kulak – Team filing: $650K, two-way contract, Player filing: $1.15MM, one-way contract. Awarded one-year, $850K contract.
July 24
Brandon Montour – Team filing: $1.5MM, Player filing: $4.5MM Settled before hearing, two years $6.775MM
July 30
Garnet Hathaway – Team filing: $650K, Player filing: $975K Settled before hearing, one-year $850K
August 1
Cody Ceci – Team filing: $3.35MM, Player filing $6.0MM. Awarded one-year, $4.3MM contract.
Gemel Smith – Team filing: two-way contract, Player filing: $900K. Awarded one-year one-way, $720K contract.
August 3
Mark Stone – Team filing: $5.0MM, Player filing $9.0MM Settled before hearing, one-year, $7.35MM
August 4
William Karlsson – Team filing: $3.5MM, Player filing $6.5MM
Pacific Notes: Neal, Montour, Brickley, Reaves
The Calgary Flames have been extremely active this offseason after last year’s second-half collapse. The team went out and traded defenseman Dougie Hamilton for a pair of younger talents in Noah Hanifin and Elias Lindholm. They also added center depth with the addition of Derek Ryan. However, the key addition was the signing of veteran goal scorer James Neal.
The Athletic’s Kent Wilson (subscription required) looks into the five-year contract that Neal received, which was worth $28.75MM. At 31 years old, the Flames are taking a big risk that the deal will eventually drag the team’s salary cap situation down when he no longer is productive. However, with the Vegas Golden Knights as well as other teams moving up the Pacific Division race, Calgary feels that a goal scorer who has tallied at least 20 goals for the past 10 seasons is worth the risk as well as the fact that Neal has a history of making the players around him better.
- Eric Stephens of The Athletic reports that Anaheim Ducks general manager Bob Murray told season ticket holders today that he is flying to Toronto for defenseman Brandon Montour‘s arbitration hearing, which is scheduled for Tuesday. However, Murray said he is interested in locking up his 24-year-old blueliner to a bridge deal before that, if possible. The two sides gave up on a long-term extension and are hoping to come to an agreement before the hearing. Montour is an interesting case as he has only played for one and a half seasons for Anaheim, but already has arbitration rights, which makes this a more challenging deal to get completed.
- The Los Angeles Kings will be in desperate need for blueline depth this season and they have high hopes in Minnesota State University-Mankato star Daniel Brickley. The Athletic’s Josh Cooper (subscription required) writes that the 23-year-old defenseman has taken an unusual route to get to the NHL, but might be heavily needed this coming year with no veterans signed for depth purposes. He signed with the Kings in March and with his size (6-foot-3, 203 pounds) and abilities (95 mph shot), he has a good chance to make the team, which is quite possible as the team is known for taking talent and inserting it into their lineup immediately. Last season, the Kings placed forward Alex Iafallo on the first line for a large chunk of the season.
- Ken Boehlke of the SinBin writes that enforcer Ryan Reaves, who procured a two-year, $5.55MM deal, played a great game of poker with the Vegas Golden Knights this offseason when the team gave him three years of money, but with only a two-year term. While the deal gives Vegas more flexibility with just a two-year term and the fact that they have extra money after not acquiring Erik Karlsson and Bobby Ryan in a big offseason trade, the move doesn’t look so bad, but Reaves made the most out of his situation. He was evidently offered a one or two year deal after the season, but Reaves believed he could garner a three or four year deal. A team offered the 6-foot-1, 225-pounder a three year deal and Vegas general manager George McPhee offered equal value, but refused to go past two years, eventually adding the third year in money, but not in term. Regardless, it was a well-played hand by Reaves.
Remaining 2018 Arbitration Dates
As usual, arbitration hearings scheduled for later this month have been getting cancelled every day as teams lock up their restricted free agents. Hearings are scheduled each year between July 20th and August 4th, but we’ve already seen 18 players that filed for player-elected salary arbitration reach a settlement with their respective teams. Those players are listed below, with their contract details:
Elias Lindholm (CGY) – 6 years, $4.85MM AAV
Trevor van Riemsdyk (CAR) – 2 years, $2.3MM AAV
Matthew Nieto (COL) – 2 years, $1.98MM AAV
Devin Shore (DAL) – 2 years, $2.3MM AAV
Joel Armia (MTL) – 1 year, $1.85MM AAV
Phillip Danault (MTL) – 3 years, $3.08MM AAV
Blake Coleman (NJD) – 3 years, $1.8MM AAV
Stefan Noesen (NJD) – 1 year, $1.73MM AAV
Jimmy Vesey (NYR) – 2 years, $2.28MM AAV
Taylor Leier (PHI) – 1 year, $720K AAV
Alex Lyon (PHI) – 2 years, $750K AAV
Jamie Oleksiak (PIT) – 3 years, $2.14MM AAV
Dmitrij Jaskin (STL) – 1 year, $1.1MM AAV
Oskar Sundqvist (STL) – 1 year, $700K AAV
Colin Miller (VGK) – 4 years, $3.88MM AAV
Liam O’Brien (WSH) – 1 year, $650K AAV
Connor Hellebuyck (WPG) – 6 years, $6.17MM AAV
Tomas Nosek (VGK) – 1 year, $962.5K AAV
The remaining arbitration schedule looks like this:
July 20
Chris Tierney (SJS)
Jacob Trouba (WPG)
July 22
Adam Lowry (WPG)
July 23
Brett Kulak (CGY)
Mathew Dumba (MIN)
July 24
Brandon Montour (ANA)
July 25
Joel Edmundson (STL)
Brandon Tanev (WPG)
July 27
Mark Jankowski (CGY)
July 28
David Rittich (CGY)
Jason Zucker (MIN)
July 29
Troy Stecher (VAN)
July 30
Garnet Hathaway (CGY)
MacKenzie Weegar (FLA)
Marko Dano (WPG)
July 31
Brady Skjei (NYR)
August 1
Cody Ceci (OTT)
Gemel Smith (DAL)
August 2
Miikka Salomaki (NSH)
Kevin Hayes (NYR)
August 3
Mattias Janmark (DAL)
Mark Stone (OTT)
Brock Nelson (NYI)
August 4
Ryan Spooner (NYR)
Patrik Nemeth (DAL)
William Karlsson (VGK)
Anaheim Ducks Sign Swedish Forward Anton Rodin
The Ducks are importing some scoring help for the coming season. Sportsnet reports that Anaheim has signed Anton Rodin, a former Swedish Hockey League MVP and brief member of the Vancouver Canucks. Rodin finished the 2017-18 season with HC Davos of the Swiss NLA, but will now return to North America to join the Ducks. Contract terms are not yet available.
Rodin, a second-round pick back in 2009, has had trouble making his mark in the NHL. He came over to the U.S. for the 2011-12 season, but found himself playing in the AHL for next two seasons without a callup, prompting the Swede to return to the SHL, the next season, which is where he stayed for another three years. He returned to Vancouver and got into three NHL games, but spent most of his time with the Utica Comets before asking for his release in November of this season.
Free Agent Focus: Anaheim Ducks
Free agency is now less than a month away from opening up and there are quite a few prominent players set to hit the open market while many teams have key restricted free agents to re-sign. Here is a breakdown of Anaheim’s free agent situation.
Key Restricted Free Agents: F Ondrej Kase — After just a 15-point season a year ago, Kase came on strong this year and proved to be invaluable for the Ducks in a season in which not much went right. The playmaking forward came out and put up 20 goals in his second season and that was despite playing in just 66 games. That’s not the best timing in terms of salary cap issues for the Ducks as Kase, who made $670K last season on the final year of his entry-level deal, could be due for a significant raise as he will likely fight for a spot on the team’s second line next season. The only real issue that Kase has is the injuries he’s dealt with over the years. He hasn’t played a full season yet for Anaheim as he just played 53 games the previous season and combined to play just 39 games over two seasons with the San Diego Gulls of the AHL between 2015-17.
D Brandon Montour — After a breakout season a year ago in which Montour came up to Anaheim to replace an injured Clayton Stoner, the young blueliner established himself quickly as a top young defenseman. The 24-year-old proved to management that they could part with Shea Theodore last season in an expansion draft deal and survive with Montour amongst their top four. The defenseman took that step and has been a reliable anchor to the Ducks’ defense, averaging 20:28 of ATOI this season. And now after making $925K last season in the final year of his entry-level deal, Montour should also get quite a pay raise and could walk away with a long-term deal.
Other RFA’s: G Kevin Boyle, F Nicolas Kerdiles, F Kalle Kossila, F Nick Ritchie, F Kevin Roy, D Andy Welinski.
Key Unrestricted Free Agents: D Kevin Bieksa — At 37 years of age, Bieksa doesn’t have as much to offer the Ducks than he did in his prime. Now with his $4MM cap hit gone, however, there may still be quite a bit of interest for both parties to remain together as a depth option, albeit at a significantly lower cost. Bieksa did miss some time this season after undergoing hand surgery in March and while he did return by the end of the season, he wasn’t the same as he played in just one of the team’s four playoff games. Regardless, with some of the depth issues the team dealt with last year after trading away Theodore and Sami Vatanen, the team wouldn’t mind bringing the physical veteran back.
F Derek Grant — After years of bouncing around the NHL as a spare forward for many years, Grant has finally found a team that has brought the best out of him. The 28 year old managed to appear in a career-high 66 games where 40 was his previous best and put up 12 goals and 12 assists for Anaheim in a bottom-line role, averaging a career-high 11:06 in ATOI. After signing last year with the Ducks for $605K, he is in line to get a better deal. Throw in the possibility that top center Ryan Kesler might miss all of next season and the team may want Grant around even more.
Other UFA’s: F Jared Boll, F J.T. Brown, F Jason Chimera, F Chris Kelly, F Michael Liambas, F Scott Sabourin, F Corey Tropp, F Antoine Vermette.
Projected Cap Space: The Ducks don’t have as much wiggle room as they would like as they have just over $9MM of projected cap space available to them. While they don’t have any significant unrestricted free agents they need to sign, some of the cap space will have to be devoted to their restricted free agent group, including Kase, Montour and Ritchie, which leaves them with little room to go out and add a high-profile free agent to bolster their veteran roster. With much of their money going towards their veteran core, the team may have to try to find some players in the bargain bin to bolster their roster for next season.
What Your Team Is Thankful For: Anaheim Ducks
As the holiday season approaches, PHR will look at what teams are thankful for this year. There also might be a few things your team would like down the road. We take a look at what’s gone well in the first month and what could improve as the season rolls on.
What are the Anaheim Ducks most thankful for?
Still being in the hunt after so many injuries.
From the time the Ducks were knocked out of the 2017 playoffs, the injuries announcements have never ceased. First it was Hampus Lindholm and Sami Vatanen needing shoulder surgery. Then Ryan Kesler needed hip surgery. Just after the season started Patrick Eaves was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, and then Ryan Getzlaf took a puck to the face that required surgery. Add in more major injuries to Cam Fowler and Ondrej Kase and the team should be at the very bottom of the standings were it not for some incredible depth. 7-7-3 isn’t where Randy Carlyle and the front office expected to be after 17 games, but they’ll take it considering how the last few months have gone.
Who are the Ducks most thankful for?
Rickard Rakell and Brandon Montour.
Everyone knew how talented Rakell and Montour were, but no one expected them to put the team on their back like they have. Rakell is playing more than 20 minutes a night and leads the team in scoring, while Montour showed off his top-pairing upside prior to Lindholm and Vatanen’s return. While he’s now settling into a more reasonable role, the future holds bright things for Montour. His five goals and nine points both lead the Ducks defense corps, including tallies in all situations (even strength, powerplay and short handed).
What would the Ducks be even more thankful for?
A step forward by Nick Ritchie.
Even with the opportunity afforded him with injuries, Ritchie has been a disappointment this season for those who expected him to take a step forward. Selected 10th-overall in 2014, he has just four points this season and has been demoted to the fourth-line. His ice time was limited to fewer than ten minutes in each of the last two games, and he has just a single goal on the year.
Ritchie will turn 22 in a few weeks, and the Ducks will need more out of him as the season goes on. Right now even his 28 point mark from last season seems far-fetched unless he gets back to the attacking, power game he showed in spurts last season. He’ll need to get back in Carlyle’s good books to do so.
What should be on the Ducks’ Holiday Wish List?
Another reliable option at center.
The Ducks came into the year with questions at center behind Getzlaf and Kesler, and the injuries have only exacerbated those depth issues. They currently have the imposing quartet of Chris Wagner, Derek Grant, Antoine Vermette and Kalle Kossila down the middle, which just isn’t going to cut it. Sure, Getzlaf and Kessler will be back at some point but if they truly want to compete in the playoffs this season they’ll need to add at some point.
The question will be what the Ducks are willing to give up to acquire that center, as the 2018 draft is shaping up to be exceptional. First-round picks (even late ones) are worth a lot, and most of the options down the middle are on expiring contracts. They decided that Eaves was worth the loss last year, and even re-signed him this summer to a three-year deal. Is it worth it again to provide some backup for their top two pivots?
Remember that Anaheim already lost some of their defensive prospect capital when they moved Shea Theodore to the Vegas Golden Knights. While moving Vatanen at one point looked like a lock given what was coming up behind him, they don’t look quite as deep at the position anymore. That said, the team has several tough financial decisions looming over the next couple of summers—Montour, Ritchie, Kase, John Gibson, Andrew Cogliano and Jakob Silfverberg all need new contracts before 2019-20—making the idea of shedding money from the back end a little more enticing.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Ducks Notes: Slashing Penalties, Getzlaf, Gibson, Miller
The Anaheim Ducks are holding steady at 2-2-1, but after a 3-1 loss to last year’s cellar-dwelling Colorado Avalanche on Friday, many feel that coach Randy Carlyle might point to their struggling power play, but according to Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register, it’s the team’s inability to adjust to the NHL changes in slashing penalties.
The NHL has made changes to the slashing penalties in order to reduce them due to the number of injuries that have cropped up over the years. However, Anaheim seems to have missed the memo, according to Stephens, who writes that 12 of the 27 penalties the team has taken this year are for slashing, nine of which have come in the last two Ducks’ games and six against the Avalanche on Friday.
“Discipline has got to be adhered to, especially to the rules when they do change,” Carlyle said. “And there is a learning curve. But the learning curve should have taken place during training camp.”
Carlyle went on to suggest the reason the team has so many slashing calls is due to the team playing too much in their own defensive zone. Several players have been hit with multiple infractions, including defensemen Cam Fowler and Brandon Montour as well as forwards Rickard Rakell and Antoine Vermette.
- Stephens, in the same piece, also writes that Ryan Getzlaf, who missed Friday’s game against the Avalanche is an unknown for today’s game against the Sabres. The 32-year-old center aggravated a lower-body injury earlier this year and has only suited up for two games this year. The scribe writes that it wouldn’t be surprising if the team holds him back today since the team has a four-day break before their next game.
- Starting goaltender John Gibson is also questionable for today’s. The veteran was hurt on a shot he took in pre-game warm ups on Friday and he was removed after the first period. Stephens said the injury was to either the hands or wrist, but couldn’t get that confirmed. Journeyman Reto Berra took over since goaltender Ryan Miller was not available.
- Stephen writes that Miller is edging closer to returning to the team and should be ready to dress soon, but it won’t be for tonight, according to The Buffalo News Mike Harrington. Miller, who came over from Vancouver to backup Gibson in the offseason, suffered a wrist injury in the preseason and has not dressed yet for Anaheim.
Anaheim Ducks Extend Korbinian Holzer
While the Anaheim Ducks escaped the Expansion Draft with a relatively unscathed blue line, considering they could have lost a top-four defenseman in either Sami Vatanen or Josh Manson, the fact remains that they lost depth to the Vegas Golden Knights in young Shea Theodore and veteran Clayton Stoner. They also bought out the contract of Simon Despres recently as well. While Vatanen, Manson, Hampus Lindholm, Cam Fowler, Brandon Montour, Kevin Bieksa, and prospect Jacob Larsson still represent one of the strongest and deepest defensive groups in the NHL, it never hurts to have back-up.
As such, the Ducks today re-signed serviceable defenseman Korbinian Holzer to a two-year, $1.8MM deal. TVA’s Renaud Lavoie reported the extension that, while sensible, is somewhat of a surprise. Rumors earlier this off-season indicated that teams in the DEL, the highest level of hockey in Holzer’s home country of Germany, were trying to woo the blue liner back across the Atlantic. It was never an overly-convincing rumor, as the DEL is not one of the better pro leagues in Europe and counts over-aged NHL castoffs Steven Reinprecht and Keith Aucoin as two of it’s better players. However, given the 28-year-old Holzer’s limited usage in the NHL, having never played more than 34 games in his four NHL seasons, it seemed possible that Holzer had resigned to the possibility that he could simply return to Germany and be a star instead of watching games from the press box for much of each season in the NHL.
However, Holzer has seemingly decided to push on with his NHL aspirations. The Ducks see value in the stay-at-home defender and he appears to be comfortable with his role on the team going forward. Holzer had a career-high seven points in 2016-17 and registered more than two hits per game in a shutdown role when called upon. It seems unlikely that Holzer’s game will change much in Anaheim – he’s no longer the up-and-coming defenseman he was in Toronto – but at $900K per year, the Ducks can enjoy a player that is able to step in and play a competent defensive game when called upon without needing to play much to stay fresh. When injury strikes, Holzer has been a dependable spot starter and Anaheim hopes he will remain so for the next two years. Holzer may not bring much offense or puck movement, but mistake-free defensive hockey still counts for something in the NHL.