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Canada Announces 2019 Spengler Cup Roster

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Dec 23: Canada has added Mathew Maione and Blair Riley to the club, two more players with plenty of international experience.

Dec 19: While most fans of international hockey are paying attention to the upcoming World Junior Championship, there is actually another high-level tournament that starts at the same time. The Spengler Cup, where several club teams from around the world gather to compete is held every year just after Christmas. Canada also submits a team in the tournament, and this year’s edition has quite a few names that should be familiar to NHL fans.

The full roster:

G Brendan Burke
G Zach Fucale
G Matt Tomkins

D Paul Postma
D Ian Mitchell
D Alex Grant
D Patrick Wiercioch
D Andrew MacDonald
D Maxim Noreau

F Adam Tambellini
F Kris Versteeg
F Dustin Jeffrey
F Eric Fehr
F Justin Danforth
F Scottie Upshall
F Cory Emmerton
F Daniel Winnik
F Kevin Clark
F Ben Maxwell
F David Desharnais
F Josh Jooris
F Chris DiDomenico

Mitchell immediately stands out in the group, given that unlike many of the other former NHLers, he hasn’t even had his chance at the highest level so far. The Chicago Blackhawks draft pick is still just 20 years old and in his junior year at the University of Denver.

Obviously the Spengler Cup doesn’t come with a whole lot of name recognition, but some of these players could be considered at the next Olympics should the NHL decide not to attend in 2022.

The tournament kicks off on December 26th in Davos, Switzerland.

Daniel Winnik Re-Signs In Switzerland

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Late last week it was reported that Geneve-Servette HC of the NLA in Switzerland were working hard to extend veteran NHL forward Daniel Winnik. Winnik, 33, had expressed interest in re-signing with the team, but was reportedly weighing his options for furthering his career. It seems he came to the decision that Geneve-Servette is a long-term fit, as the team today announced a two-year contract extension with Winnik. Tim Bozon, a former Montreal Canadiens prospect, also signed on for two more years with the club.

In the release, GM Chris McSorley stated that “Daniel has become a valuable player (for) the Club; he represents completely the fighting spirit that is expected of our players. He works hard and is a physical player who puts the team first.” Winnik is currently third on the team with 23 points in 31 games and second only to another former NHLer, Cody Almond, in per-game production. An experienced two-way forward, it comes as little surprise that Winnik has developed into a leader and dependable piece for Geneve-Servette in his first season.

However, it is somewhat of a surprise that he was willing to commit to a new contract to stay overseas this soon. Winnik played in 81 games with the Minnesota Wild just last season and was in camp with the Boston Bruins deep into the preseason before being cut. Not only could Winnik have been a potential stretch run signing for a contender, but his strong showing in Switzerland this season may have been enough to earn him another shot next season as well. Yet, Winnik has played with eight different teams over his eleven NHL seasons and – in the twilight of his playing days – is probably content to stay in one place for a while. In the team’s release, Winnik did say “It (means) a lot for me to stay in this great organization. My wife and I love Geneva and look forward to staying two more years”, so this is clearly a decision that the journeyman forward is happy with. Unfortunately, it does mean that we have probably seen the last of Winnik in North America, as he will be 36 years old by the time this contract expires. The hard-working forward certainly made an impact on many teams and fan bases over his respectable NHL career, if it is indeed over.

Snapshots: Matthews, Winnik, Gerrie

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Talks continue between star center Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs in hopes of coming to terms on an extension in the near future. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that Matthews’ agent, Judd Moldaver, is expected in Toronto this week to continue negotiations. LeBrun feels that there is still a gap between the two sides, but momentum is pushing them in the right direction. As previously noted, Matthews is not seeking a maximum eight-year term, but rather a five- or six-year extension is his preference, which LeBrun reinforces. Matthews, 21, has 45 points through 36 games this season and is tied for ninth in the NHL with Sidney Crosby in points per game. Since his debut three years ago, the 2016 No. 1 overall pick, Matthews has recorded 177 points in 180 games, among the 20 best scorers in the NHL. That combination of youth and production at center is as rare as they come and Matthews is likely seeking a contract that will meet or exceed in AAV that of new teammate John Tavares, who signed with the Maple Leafs for $11MM per year this summer. Such high-stakes negotiations usually do not come together quickly, so this is likely just another step in a long process for both sides.

  • Veteran forward Daniel Winnik was unable to secure an NHL contract this off-season, but now finds himself as a priority free agent in Switzerland. Winnik ended up signing with Geneve-Servette of the NLA back in October and has been highly productive for the Swiss squad, notching 23 points in 31 games thus far. According to the Swiss Hockey News, head coach Chris McSorely is desperate to bring Winnik back next season and the experienced journeyman is open to an extension. Winnik, who played for the Minnesota Wild last season and joined the Boston Bruins on a PTO this fall, may have slight NHL interest in the off-season, but the 33-year-old is likely better off sticking in the NLA. With Geneve-Servette, not only has Winnik scored more easily than at any point in his eleven NHL seasons, but McSorely also calls him “a real leader and a positive voice in the locker room”.
  • A strong season for the Bowling Green State University Falcons has helped them to net another elite prospect for their program. Bowling Green, ranked No. 12 in the NCAA in the latest Pairwise polls, has received a commitment from 2019 NHL Draft hopeful Keighan Gerrie, per the Superior International Junior Hockey League. Gerrie is currently tearing up the SIJHL with 62 points in 34 games, among the top five scorers in the league and is far and away it’s best U-18 player. Gerrie is currently slated to play in the NAHL next year, but if he continues at nearly a two points-per-game pace this season, he will likely wind up in the USHL instead before joining Bowling Green. As for the NHL, Central Scouting ranked Gerrie at No. 140 among U.S. skaters in their latest rankings, but as his stock continues to rise, he could push to be a fourth- or fifth-round selection, which could make him the Falcons’ top prospect when he finally arrives. Junior goaltender Ryan Bednard, a 2015 seventh-rounder of the Florida Panthers, has been excellent this season but will be gone by the time Gerrie arrives. Sophomore forward and leading scorer Brandon Kruse, a fifth-round pick by the Vegas Golden Knights this past year, could still be on campus to form a dynamic duo with Gerrie in two years, but may have already turned pro by that time. Gerrie could be Bowling Green’s best hope of remaining among the top programs in college hockey moving forward.

NHL Experience Fills Canada’s Spengler Cup Roster

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While most hockey fans are focused on the upcoming World Junior tournament that features some of the best young players from around the world, there is another international tournament scheduled for the end of the month. That’s the Spengler Cup, where high level players that are outside of the NHL come together to show their talents. This year, the Canadian Spengler roster is filled with former NHL players including some who played just last season.

The roster also notably includes Dante Fabbro, a Nashville Predators first-round pick who remains unsigned and playing at Boston University. Fabbro, 20, is used to competing internationally as he suited up in the past two World Junior Championships for Canada, taking home gold and silver medals. The young defenseman could potentially sign with the Predators after his college season ends.

The full roster is as follows:

F Colt Conrad
F Dion Knelsen
F Aaron Gagnon
F Jacob Micflikier
F Torrey Mitchell
F Zac Dalpe
F Andrew Ebbett
F Zach Boychuk
F Adam Cracknell
F Cory Emmerton
F Daniel Winnik
F Dominic Moore
F Matt D’Agostini
F Maxim Lapierre
F Chris DiDomenico

D Simon Despres
D Kevin Bieksa
D Kodie Curran
D Dante Fabbro
D Kyle Quincey
D Patrick Wiercioch
D Daniel Vukovic
D Maxim Noreau

G Zach Fucale
G Jared Coreau

Daniel Winnik Signs In Switzerland

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After being unable to secure a contract in the NHL following his release from his tryout with the Bruins, veteran winger Daniel Winnik is heading overseas.  Geneve-Servette of the Swiss NLA announced that they have signed Winnik for the remainder of the season following the injury of one of their import players in Lance Bouma (who is expected to miss the rest of the year with a knee issue).

The 33-year-old has been a serviceable checker around the NHL over the past 11 years but has seen his role diminish over the last few seasons.  After being someone that spent a lot of time on the third line, he found himself in more of a depth role last season with Minnesota although he still put up a respectable 23 points (6-17-23) in 81 games.

Over his career, Winnik has played in 798 NHL contests between the Coyotes, Avalanche, Sharks, Ducks, Maple Leafs, Penguins, Capitals, and Wild.  In that span, he picked up 82 goals along with 169 assists while averaging just shy of 15 minutes per night.

In the Swiss league, Winnik should get more of an opportunity to play an offensive-minded role.  If he can show that he can still be a productive player, he stands a good chance of landing at least another PTO offer for next season.  If not, he’ll close out his time in the NHL with just over $14MM in career earnings.

Lee Stempniak To Remain With Bruins On PTO

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Training camp may be over, but the tryout experience continues for veteran forward Lee Stempniak. NBC Sports Boston’s Joe Haggerty reports that Stempniak will continue his PTO with the Boston Bruins into the regular season. Stempniak will not travel with the team initially, but will continue practicing in Boston. Both Stempniak and Daniel Winnik were with the team on tryouts this preseason but were reportedly mulling other offers after training camp came to an end. While there is no word on Winnik, it seems Stempniak feels his best chance to land an NHL contract is to remain in Boston.

Stempniak, 35, has a history with the team and it’s one that Boston certainly has taken into account. Stempniak joined the Bruins on a PTO ahead of the 2015-16 season, but signed with the New Jersey Devils when Boston opted not to offer him a contract. The 13-year veteran enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career that season, recording 41 points in 63 games as one of New Jersey’s top forwards, before the Bruins decided to re-acquire him at the Trade Deadline. The move cost them a second- and fourth-round pick, when they could have had him for free all season, and came too late as his ten points in 19 games weren’t enough to push the team into the postseason. This time around, the Bruins have decided to keep Stempniak around in hopes that he can help if needed rather than become a passed-up opportunity they regret.

Where would he fit in the lineup? While the Bruins gave prospects Trent Frederic, Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson, and Jack Studnicka a chance to win a roster spot and center the third line, none of the trio could win the job in camp. The opening night roster features Sean Kuraly in that role, even though he is best suited on the fourth line. That realization could potentially move David Backes back to center, opening up his third-line right wing spot. Although the likes Anders Bjork, Peter Cehlarik, and Martin Bakos are internal candidates who could fill the void, Stempniak could present an option as well or at the very least a depth piece who could compete for the job. Even if Stempniak isn’t Boston’s first choice for a regular role, the experienced right wing would serve as valuable depth. Stempniak is coming off a brutal season with the Carolina Hurricanes, accounting for just nine points in 37 games. However, the season prior he was still a 40-point player. On a talented roster like the Bruins’, Stempniak has the potential to get back to that level of production and elongate his career. That’s reason enough to stay with the club on a PTO in hopes of earning a contract.

Bruins Face Threat Of History Repeating Itself

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The problem that every team wants to have is being too deep. Having a redundancy of talent is nothing to complain about. However, it does make for hard decisions and sometime losing players on waivers or regretting not signing an impressive camp invitee. The Boston Bruins learned this the hard way in 2015-16, when Lee Stempniak worked out with the team all off-season and early in camp only to sign with the New Jersey Devils when no offer came from Boston. The Bruins then had to give up a second- and fourth-round pick to acquire Stempniak at the trade deadline, whose 41 points at that point would have been of use to the team all season long. The Bruins are a much improved team entering 2018-19 than they were three years ago, and are unlikely to be as negatively impacted by a bad call, but still want to make the best decision for the team.

Naturally, Stempniak as well as Daniel Winnik have been in camp on PTO’s and have looked surprisingly good. Winnik looked like one of the Bruins’ best skaters in their first two preseason games and has a goal and an assist through four games, while Stempniak has dominated the team’s last two preseason games, racking up a goal and four assists with a hand in nearly every Bruins tally. Stempniak and Winnik may be 35 and 33 years old respectively, but both are proven veterans with the versatility to play multiple roles. The hard-nosed Winnik, who totaled 23 points with the Minnesota Wild last year, might be better suited for a fourth-line role, while the keen-eyed Stempniak could bounce back from an injury-plagued season with the Carolina Hurricanes to be a serviceable middle-six replacement option. There is no doubt after this preseason that both experienced forward can still help an NHL team, but are either the right call for the Bruins?

The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn recently analyzed the Bruins roster and found data to support the claim that the Bruins have eight forwards who are of top-six caliber, among the best count in the league. Of course, the top line of Patrice Bergeron between Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak is set, while David Krejci and Jake DeBrusk won’t be splitting apart on the second line. One of rookie Ryan Donato or sophomore Danton Heinen will play the off-wing on that line, with the other lining up naturally on the left side with David Backes at right wing. There are the eight top-six forwards, none of whom are losing ice time to Stempniak or Winnik. However, the Bruins also invested in their fourth line this off-season, bringing in Chris Wagner and Joakim Nordstrom to complement Sean Kuraly and Noel Acciari. Winnik would seem like a fit with that group as well, but five veteran grinders fighting for three fourth line spots may not be Boston’s best use of roster space. Finally, the Bruins seem committed to giving a prospect a shot at centering the third line, with Trent Frederic, Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson, and Jack Studnicka all trying out in camp. Winnik or Stempniak would seemingly only make sense if the Bruins had doubts about all three of those options handling the position. Even as injury fallback options, there is a logjam. Anders Bjork and Peter Cehlarik are both young forwards with NHL experience currently slotted for AHL assignment who could benefit from increased opportunity.

Then again, feeling content with the roster is what caused the Bruins to pass up on Stempniak the first time around. Given that Bergeron, Kuraly, and Acciari are all dealing with injuries currently, the team could opt to sign Winnik or Stempniak for the time being and deal with the roster management down the road. Boston could also avoid the sunk-cost bias associated with their recent signing of Nordstrom, who very well could be an inferior option to either of the veterans. At a $1MM salary, the Bruins could completely bury Nordstrom’s cap hit in the minors if he were to clear waivers. Such a decision would then clear room for Stempniak or Winnik (or both) to join the team. There is no easy answer and lots of moving pieces, but Boston knows as well as any one how a training camp roster decision can come back to haunt a team.

Boston Bruins Sign Lee Stempniak, Daniel Winnik To Professional Tryouts

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The Boston Bruins need extra bodies in camp given their commitment to play some exhibition games in China, and today announced several changes to their preseason roster. Those changes included two veteran forwards, Lee Stempniak and Daniel Winnik, who will attend Bruins camp on professional tryout agreements. The team also announced that David Krejci would not be heading overseas, replaced by Colby Cave on the roster heading to China.

Stempniak and Winnik are in similar situations as they near the ends of their careers, though both could likely still hold down a depth role in the NHL. The former played just 37 games for the Carolina Hurricanes last season and recorded nine points, while Winnik suited up for 81 contests with the Minnesota Wild and contributed 23 points. Stempniak did at one point have a far greater offensive ceiling, and even scored 16 goals and 40 points just two seasons ago for the Hurricanes.

Still, both seem unlikely candidates for an NHL contract given the youth that will be battling for roster spots in Boston. With players like Anders Bjork, Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson, Trent Frederic, Jack Studnicka and others all in real competition for places on the depth chart, it would take a real surprise performance from Stempniak or Winnik to land a full-time role. Being in Bruins camp though does allow them to showcase their talents for the rest of the league, and perhaps a contract will come of it. It’s important to note that Winnik did earn an NHL deal with the Wild last season after being brought in on a PTO.

Poll: How Many Remaining Veteran Free Agents Will Sign?

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With just one day left in July, free agents have had a month to find employment in the NHL. Last summer, there were less than 20 unrestricted free agents signed after the end of July through the beginning of the regular season. This off-season, there are a plethora of notable names left on the market, but at this point is is unlikely that they all find a new home in the league. The question now is how many of these top names get lucky.

Rick Nash could find a landing spot if he wanted to. The six-time All-Star is currently evaluating his future in hockey versus his health after suffering yet another concussion this season. Should he decide to return, he would likely have more than a few teams interested in a short-term deal.

If Nash opts not to return, the top-scoring forward from last season left on the market is actually Mike Cammalleri. Cammalleri, 36, quietly put up 29 points last season after a hot start with the Los Angeles Kings and then a trade to the Edmonton Oilers. The former point-per-game player is not quite that kind of scorer any more, but could still contribute to a number of teams.

Benoit Pouliot was a perennial 30-point player until he turned 30 and has struggled the past two years. In the right situation, he could still make an impact. The same goes for Mark Letestu, Drew Stafford and Jannik Hansen. Ales Hemsky was highly productive before injuries derailed his career, but remains a possible high-ceiling gamble if back at 100%.

Other available forwards bring more of a two-way game such as Daniel Winnik, Scott Hartnell, Scottie Upshall, Chris Stewart, Antoine Vermette, Jussi Jokinen, Tommy Wingels, Jason Chimera, Joel Ward, Dominic Moore, Matt Stajan, and Lee Stempniak. There are also some younger options like Alex Chiasson, Nick Shore, Logan Shaw, Tomas Jurco, and Freddie Hamilton.

On the blue line, Luca Sbisa is reportedly drawing interest from several teams across the league. Although he suited up for just 30 games with the Vegas Golden Knights, he managed to register 14 points and plays a strong checking game. It would seem that Sbisa is in line for a contract at some point.

But what about Toby Enstrom? A free agent for the first time in his long career, the well-respected veteran was expected to land a contract early on but still remains unemployed. Enstrom has always been a reliable presence on the back end, but at 33 years old, he has shown signs of slowing down.

Other aging options on defense include Alexei Emelin, Johnny Oduya, Kevin Bieksa, Dennis Seidenberg, Kyle Quincey, Paul Martin, Josh Gorges, and Jason Garrison. However, experience may not be able to outweigh ability with many younger defenseman still out there. Brandon Davidson, Cody Franson, and Paul Postma seem like players who should be signed, while Justin Falk, Frank Corrado, Ryan Sproul, and Duncan Siemens are all intriguing targets as well.

In net, the options are pretty straightforward. One would think that Kari Lehtonen, Steve Mason, and Ondrej Pavelec had all done enough in their careers to earn a continued stay in the NHL, especially when there are no other legitimate goaltenders available at this point. Yet, its hard to pinpoint three teams that need another option in goal. These three keepers may need to wait until injuries strike to find work.

So, how many of these remaining free agents will sign before the season starts?

Are There More Moves Coming In Minnesota?

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On Wednesday, the Minnesota Wild did what many thought wasn’t possible when they locked up high-scoring forward Jason Zucker on a long-term deal without putting themselves in an impossible situation with the salary cap. The team somehow managed to re-sign two young stars, both Zucker and Mathew Dumba, to a combined $11.5MM cap hit as well as add free agents Greg Pateryn, Eric Fehr, Matt Hendricks, J.T. Brown, Matt Bartkowksi, and Andrew Hammond all while maintaining some semblance of cap space. The team is projected to enter the season with $1.77MM in cap space and a roster that added talent while only losing the likes of Daniel Winnik and Matt Cullen.

The question now is: is it enough? While it never hurts to return the majority of a roster from a playoff team, there is some question as to whether the Wild are keeping up in the Western Conference arms race. The team has been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in each of the past three seasons and has still won just four playoff series in its 18-year history. Fans are clamoring for more than just regular season success and Minnesota – and new GM Paul Fenton – have instead opted to return the same team so far in an off-season where major changes were expected. Although the new contracts for Zucker and Dumba were more than fair and the team addressed needs for more physicality on the blue line with Pateryn and another option in net with Hammond, as well as adding veteran depth pieces, there will be some who are critical of an otherwise quiet summer.

With so little cap space, the Wild may find it difficult to make many additions in-season as well. As the projected 23-man roster currently stands, Minnesota does not seem to be facing many holes and will get an injection of youth in the form of full seasons for Jordan Greenway and Nick Seeler. However, after getting a glimpse of other prospects like Luke Kunin, Louis Belpedio, and Carson Soucy last season, the team will undoubtedly want to avoid leaving them in the AHL all year. The trio all carry $925K cap hits that exceed the salaries of those on the roster they are most likely to supplant and the result will be even more cap space eaten up. Without moving out some salary, Minnesota will be left hoping their young talent can make a major impact as they will otherwise struggle to add veteran difference-makers over the course of the year.

While observers will always point to the massive contracts of Ryan Suter and Zach Parise as the contracts that Minnesota could most benefit from moving (although Suter is still one of the most reliable defensemen in the league), the team has also entertained offers for Jonas Brodin and Nino Niederreiter in the past and could do so again. While Eric Staal has been a revelation for the team, they could also look to move the pending free agent if they get off to a slow start and can land a younger asset in exchange. At the end of the season, it could be that this same Wild lineup plus some free agent additions and young players is enough to reverse their postseason fortunes. However, if they fall short again or, even worse, miss the playoffs, the team will finally have to make some major changes. It’s possible that the team gets ahead of that possibility by making some moves this off-season instead.

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