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Carter Verhaeghe

Snapshots: Verhaeghe, Couture And Hertl, Senators Cap Hit

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Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice shared with The Hockey News that he will be holding top-six forward Carter Verhaeghe out of the team’s first preseason game. Verhaeghe “tightened up” on the first day of camp, per Maurice, and has been skating on the side as a precaution ever since. However, the Panthers aren’t expecting the injury to last through training camp – with Maurice sharing that, even if he wears a no-contact jersey through Wednesday, Verhaeghe should be playing in preseason games soon.

Verhaeghe has been an important piece of the Florida top-six since joining the team in 2020, averaging 17 minutes a night through three seasons in Florida. He’s also tallied 164 points in 202 career games with the Panthers, including a staggering 42 goals and 73 points in 81 games last season. Going over those scoring totals makes it clear why Florida would want to be careful with overextending Verhaeghe. Maurice’s emphasis on being cautious also gives fans good insight into how the team is planning to operate. Florida faced a slew of injuries last season, including an Achilles injury that held Anthony Duclair out of a majority of the season and are looking to flip those fortunes in a new year. Verhaeghe is the first to face this cautiousness but how it will carry into the regular season should be interesting to see.

Other notes from around the league:

  • The Mercury News’ Curtis Pashelka shared that the San Jose Sharks would be open to trading Logan Couture or Tomas Hertl, if the veterans want to leave. It seems San Jose recognizes the situation they’re in and understands if their aging veterans want to chase the playoffs. However, their contracts may be difficult to move. Couture carries an $8MM cap hit and Hertl carries $8.1375MM, both with some sort of trade protection. While a deal would come at the request of either player, meaning trade protection wouldn’t likely make much impact, it’ll still be challenging to work out the logistics in the flat-cap environment the NHL currently finds itself in. Nonetheless, being offered top-end talent previously only offered to San Jose should be enticing for any NHL club.
  • New Senators owner Michael Andlauer spoke to the team’s salary cap situation and unsigned RFA Shane Pinto. He told the Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch that, “We’re at the cap. We have a problem signing Shane Pinto because we are at the cap. At the end of the end of the day, it’s about sustainability and making sure we have enough money in the coffers to pay our players and making sure we’re sustainable”. He went on to emphasize that player success drives fan interest, which then drives the money ownership can put back toward the players. While these comments likely don’t impact the chances of Pinto re-signing, they could limit the upside of his cap hit.

Injury Notes: Hartman, Verhaeghe, Jenner

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Ryan Hartman’s performance in the 2023-24 season is of massive importance for both the Minnesota Wild and Hartman himself. The 29-year-old American forward is on an expiring $1.7MM cap hit, and is coming off of an uneven campaign. Due to his affordable cap hit and the Wild’s relative lack of center options, Hartman has at times been thrust into a first-line center role for the Wild, something he may have to do once again this season.

The Athletic’s Joe Smith reports that Hartman, who is still working his way back from an upper-body injury, was on the ice today at Wild camp but still isn’t facing the rigors of contact drills. After playing in all 82 games during 2021-22, Hartman only managed 59 in 2022-23. Hartman’s health is going to be something to monitor for Wild fans hoping to see their club get off to a fast start, as if he’s healthy he has in the past been an impactful, productive top-six player.

Some other injury updates:

  • CapFriendly relays word that Florida Panthers sniper Carter Verhaeghe is out day-to-day with muscle tightness, and is “expected to be fine for start of season.” After scoring 42 goals and 73 points last season Verhaeghe cemented his place as one of the Panthers’ most important players. The Panthers are looking to make the playoffs in an Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference that figures to be fiercely competitive, so the team will have to hope that their leading goal scorer will be back to 100% by opening night in October.
  • Columbus Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner left practice yesterday due to an injury, but according to The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline, returned to the ice today. That’s important news for Columbus, who is likely to rely on Jenner heavily not only as their most experienced center, but also as a crucial leader and potential mentor to number-three pick Adam Fantilli. Fantilli began training camp centering Alexandre Texier and Patrick Laine. Playing as a top-six center is one of the most difficult jobs in the NHL, especially for a rookie, so it will be crucial that Jenner remains healthy in order to help manage the pressure that ends up placed on Fantilli’s shoulders.

Florida Panthers Recall Grigori Denisenko

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With the Florida Panthers struggling lately, losing three of their last four by wide margins, it’s time to try something new. The team has recalled Grigori Denisenko from the minor leagues, while moving Radko Gudas to injured reserve. Given Gudas has been out for ten days already, he can be activated whenever healthy enough to return.

Denisenko, 22, was the 15th overall pick in 2018 but still hasn’t lived up to the hype he had throughout his draft year. While there have been flashes – including two excellent performances at the World Juniors – his play hasn’t been consistent at the minor league level. This season, he has just three goals and 11 points in 24 games with the Charlotte Checkers.

Those numbers don’t tell the whole story, however. Eight of those 11 points have come in his last ten games, and he has racked up at least two shots on goal in each of his last nine. The consistency that Florida has been waiting for is starting to bubble up to the surface, and Denisenko’s recent strong play has now earned him a call-up.

Interestingly, George Richards of Florida Hockey Now reports that Carter Verhaeghe isn’t warming up with the team ahead of their game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, which could explain the timing Denisenko recall. Either way, it’s a great opportunity for a young player that has thus far struggled to make an impact in the organization.

Snapshots: Verhaeghe, Broberg, Sellgren

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If the Florida Panthers are able to advance to the second round for the first time since 1996 (and only second time ever), Carter Verhaeghe might be the series MVP. The 26-year-old forward has ten points through the first five games, including five in the team’s come-from-behind game five victory. Unfortunately, with the Panthers looking to eliminate the Washington Capitals tonight, Verhaeghe may not be in the lineup. He’s a game-time decision according to head coach Andrew Brunette.

It’s been quite a rise to prominence for the 2013 third-round pick, who spent quite a bit of time in the ECHL before really getting his professional career on track. This season he set a career high with 24 goals and 55 points in 78 games after signing a three-year, $12.5MM extension last summer. Hopefully, he’s able to appear again soon, as Verhaeghe has been a force every time he touches the ice so far in the playoffs.

  • With Darnell Nurse now back from suspension and the Edmonton Oilers still alive, Philip Broberg has been returned to the AHL. That’s certainly an important transaction for the Bakersfield Condors, who are looking to stave off elimination themselves in their Calder Cup playoff series against the Stockton Heat. They’ll try to do just that tonight and can now insert Broberg back into the lineup, while Nurse retakes his place on the Oilers bench after serving his one-game ban.
  • Minor league defenseman Jesper Sellgren has once again been linked to the SHL for next season, once his contract with the Carolina Hurricanes comes to an end. There were reports last month that he had already agreed to a deal with Lulea HF for 2022-23, and now that seems even more likely. For now, Sellgren is still starring for the Chicago Wolves of the AHL, where he had 26 points in 73 games this season. The 23-year-old defenseman’s rights could be retained by issuing a qualifying offer, as he is still just scheduled to be a restricted free agent when his entry-level deal expires this summer.

Florida Panthers Add Eight To COVID Protocol

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Dec 16: Ahead of tonight’s game against Los Angeles, defenseman Aaron Ekblad and forward Frank Vatrano entered COVID protocol and are unavailable.

Dec 15: The Florida Panthers have now had a COVID outbreak of their own. The team has announced that five players and one staff member have entered the league’s COVID protocols and will be unavailable for tomorrow’s game. Sam Bennett, Radko Gudas, Ryan Lomberg, Brandon Montour, and Carter Verhaeghe won’t play against the Los Angeles Kings. Lomberg had been previously mentioned by the team, but these four new members are obviously huge absences from the Panthers’ lineup.

Notably, Bennett, Verhaeghe, Gudas, and Montour all played last night for the Panthers, with the latter logging over 21 minutes. With evidence of in-game transmission mounting, thanks to outbreaks across the league, the Ottawa Senators will have to be on high alert moving forward. The league has instituted increased protocols today limiting teammate interaction on the road, while the Senators will be returning home on Sunday to a province that has just instituted a 50 percent capacity limit on large sporting events. Ottawa of course has already dealt with widespread COVID issues earlier this season as one of the teams that saw games postponed.

For Florida, not only will these players be unavailable for tomorrow’s game against the Kings, but if they have tested positive and are experiencing any symptoms, they will be unable to accompany them on the upcoming road trip. Florida is scheduled to play Minnesota on Saturday afternoon before heading to Chicago. They’re meant to wrap up the pre-Christmas portion of the schedule at home against the Nashville Predators on Dec 23, a date that would still leave these players ineligible if they are forced to quarantine for a minimum of ten days.

Panthers, Carter Verhaeghe Sign Contract Extension

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12:35pm: The three-year contract has been officially announced by the team. PuckPedia reports that the deal will carry an average annual value of $4.167MM.  GM Bill Zito released a short statement on the deal:

Carter emerged as one of the best possession forwards in hockey last season, elevating his game to fill an important role on our team. His effort, speed and creativity are infectious on and off the ice.

6:45am: Carter Verhaeghe’s first season with the Panthers was a successful one and he’s about to be rewarded for his efforts.  Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic reports (Twitter link) that the two sides are closing in on a three-year extension worth a little over $4MM per season.

The 25-year-old signed with Florida back in the fall after playing a limited role with Tampa Bay in his first NHL season.  As a result, the Panthers were able to sign Verhaeghe for $1MM per year on a two-year contract.  That deal has certainly turned into quite the bargain since then.

Last season, Verhaeghe got an opportunity to play in the top six and made the most of it as he very quietly finished third on the team in goals (18) and points (36) despite not seeing a lot of time on Florida’s top power play unit.  He also logged 17:44 per game, a number that jumped slightly higher in the playoffs during their first-round loss to Tampa Bay.  All that for a price tag of $1MM made him one of the better bargains in the league last season.

They’ll get to benefit from that low price tag for next year as well before that deal kicks in.  This reported new contract will buy out the remaining two years of arbitration rights and his first season of UFA eligibility.  It almost works like a bridge deal as this price tag could still wind up being below market if Verhaeghe can maintain this level of production over the life of the contract while allowing him to reach the open market in his prime earning years.

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