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Snapshots: Jagr, Iginla, Tatar

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The Prime Time Sports Management Conference, which was held in Toronto the past two days, featured several big names in the world of hockey including Commissioner Gary Bettman, IIHF President Rene Fasel, and of course, Calgary Flames President Brian Burke. With such a wealth of hockey knowledge and experience in one room, the interesting opinions and stories were constantly flowing. Yet, two tales stood out above the rest:

  • Burke, unsurprisingly, was the author of one of them. Burke told the crowd that Jaromir Jagr and Jarome Iginla, two future Hall of Famers who seemingly spent the summer with little attention paid to their free agent statuses, were in facts targets of the Flames all summer long. As we now know, Jagr was the end choice, as the 45-year-old signed on in Calgary in early October. Burke stated that the team evaluated and monitored both storied veterans throughout the off-season, waiting to see how things played out. Burke stated that, in the end, the team felt that Jagr had a much stronger 2016-17 season and brought a “charisma” to the team that they desired. It is no surprise that the team considered long-time captain Iginla, but after a difficult campaign where he looked lifeless at times, no one can blame the Flames for instead going with the ageless Jagr. In eight games thus far, Jagr already has a goal and four assists, as well as a +5 rating in Calgary.
  • The second intriguing story came from player agent Ritch Winter through sources at the NHL Players’ Association. It seems as though the current contract between forward Tomas Tatar and the Detroit Red Wings came much closer to not getting done than even the arbitration hearing time line indicated. The two sides went to salary arbitration this summer and were one of only a handful of cases to actually go to hearing. Yet, the two sides struck a deal prior to the arbitrator’s award – a four-year, $21.2MM bargain that even includes a no-trade clause beginning next season. Well, according to Winter, the fax from the arbitrator with his binding one-year decision came in to the NHLPA office mere minutes after the contract was signed. A few minutes earlier and any late agreement between the two sides would have been rendered null and void. It would come as no surprise if the Red Wings wish it had. Detroit filed at $4.1MM in arbitration, while Tatar’s side countered with $5.3MM. The eventual contract holds a $5.3MM AAV, meaning anything but an absolute finding for Tatar by the arbitrator would have resulted in a lesser cap hit than what the Wings are paying now. And what of the future? Yes, the long term deal keeps Tatar in Detroit longer, but with seven points in 18 games, the soon-to-be-27-year-old is on pace for the worst full season of his NHL career. The Red Wings may regret their long-term commitment and knowing they were only minutes ahead of a disqualifying decision only adds to the sting.

Minor Transactions: 11/13/17

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Paul Kariya, Teemu Selanne, Dave Andreychuk, Mark Recchi and Danielle Goyette will have their names enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame tonight, after spending all weekend in Toronto doing various events. The legends took to the ice yesterday in a game which team Messier won 10-9, one that saw Kariya and Selanne reunited after a mid-game trade. The pair would connect on another goal, hopefully not their last on the ice together.

As the legendary players of the past take a lap and enter the distinguished group of Hall of Famers, we’ll keep track of the next wave of NHL wanna-be stars. As always, all the minor transactions of the day will be right here.

  • The Philadelphia Flyers have recalled Mark Alt from the AHL. Alt was only sent down for the weekend, and will now re-join the Flyers for their game tomorrow. Rookie Nolan Patrick is expected to skate with the team today, but there is still no confirmation of when he’ll be back in the lineup.
  • With the Ottawa Senators off until Thursday, the team has sent Nick Paul, Ben Harpur and Jack Rodewald back to the AHL. The team will be able to bank cap space for a few days, while the three could get into a game on Wednesday with the Belleville Senators. The team also expects Bobby Ryan and Mark Borowiecki back before long.
  • The Winnipeg Jets have assigned Brendan Lemieux to the AHL according to Jamie Thomas of JetsTV. With the return of Mathieu Perreault in today’s practice, Lemieux’s spot is no longer open on the team. He’ll go back to the Manitoba Moose and wait for his next opportunity.
  • After placing Antti Niemi on waivers, the Florida Panthers have recalled Curtis Valk from Springfield. The undrafted Valk is off to an incredible start with the AHL Thunderbirds, scoring 15 points in 16 games. The undersized forward earned his first NHL contract this summer after starring with the Utica Comets last season.
  • Buffalo has sent Justin Bailey back to the minor leagues, likely indicating he’s healthy enough to get back on the ice. Bailey hasn’t played since October 28th with a lower-body injury, but did have three points in his six previous games. He’ll likely be back with the team before long.
  • The Calgary Flames have officially moved Rasmus Andersson back to the AHL, clearing room for Travis Hamonic to be activated from injured reserve. Andersson clearly has a future with the Flames, but will have to wait for another opportunity to get into a full-time role. In two career games he has yet to record an NHL point.
  • The Boston Bruins have recalled Kenny Agostino and Peter Cehlarik under emergency conditions due to the absence of Brad Marchand and Anders Bjork from practice today. Marchand and Bjork aren’t travelling with the team as they continue to nurse injuries suffered against Toronto on the weekend. Cehlarik has yet to play for Boston this season after making his NHL debut last year. In 11 games, the 22-year old registered two assists.
  • Zac Dalpe, who hasn’t played in the last few games, has been moved to injured reserve by the Columbus Blue Jackets. In his spot, the team has recalled Jordan Schroeder from the Cleveland Monsters. Schroeder has five points in nine games this season for Cleveland, but has never truly been able to lock down a full-time job at the NHL level. In 144 career games, the 27-year old has 40 points.

Poll: Who Will Be Inducted Into The Hall Of Fame In 2018?

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This weekend, the Hockey Hall of Fame will induct its latest class. Paul Kariya, Teemu Selanne, Dave Andreychuk, Mark Recchi and Danielle Goyette will see their names enshrined forever among the greats of the hockey world. What better time to take a quick look forward, at who could be named into the prestigious group next year.

Scott Morrison of Sportsnet’s most recent video essay was on who he believes will be considered, but during the Maple Leafs-Wild game Elliotte Friedman and Doug Maclean offered their own picks. Among the names mentioned, were Theoren Fleury, Sergei Zubov, and Steve Larmer. Martin Brodeur will undoubtedly headline the 2018 group, leaving three additional player spots.

We’ve included several names who are the most commonly expected candidates, but make sure to leave your own thoughts in the comments below. To be eligible, a player has to not have been active for at least three seasons. Vote for up to four names.

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*While there are only four spots for male playing inductees, there are also two spots for women. One of those could be given to Hayley Wickenheiser as the latest player to be granted exceptional status and be inducted ahead of the waiting period. Wickenheiser retired from women’s hockey this January, after an unmatched career.

Named to the Canadian Women’s National Team at age 15, Wickenheiser collected four gold and one silver medal at the Olympics, seven gold and six silver medals at the World Championships, every imaginable individual award in women’s hockey and broke through to play several games in a men’s professional league. She is undoubtedly the most successful woman to ever play the sport, and helped change the way young girls felt about getting on the ice. If she does skip the waiting period, she would be the first player to do so since Wayne Gretzky in 1999.

Morning Notes: Marleau, Bonuses, Shipachyov

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The Toronto Maple Leafs got back on track last night with a road win over the Anaheim Ducks, and in the process Patrick Marleau scored the game-winner and his fifth goal of the season. More importantly, it was Marleau’s 100th game-winner of his career, another milestone checked off the list.

Though many believed the Maple Leafs hugely overpaid for Marleau’s services this summer, he’s been one of the team’s most consistent players through the first month of the season and has even turned back the clock to move back to center ice for the team. Marleau now ranks 39th all-time on the goals leader board, passing Hall of Famer and Buffalo legend Gilbert Perreault with 513. While the latter part of his three-year, $18.75MM contract has a good chance to look bad, the Maple Leafs have loved his contribution so far.

  • Chicago Blackhawks fans know all about performance bonuses, as they’ve had to pay overage bonuses for the past couple of seasons due to the huge scoring output of Artemi Panarin. Scott Powers of The Athletic dives into who can earn what this year for the team, a picture that looks a little brighter. An interesting note is that Patrick Sharp has already earned his $200K bonus for playing in ten games, making his a one-year $1MM contract.
  • Vadim Shipachyov is once again not on unconditional waivers but according to Eric Engels of Sportsnet is back in Russia waiting on the next step. The suspended forward is expected to eventually be placed there to have his contract terminated, but the Vegas Golden Knights are looking for a guarantee that he won’t be claimed by one of the other 30 teams. If he is, the Golden Knights won’t get back the nearly $2MM they are owed from his signing bonus.

Bruins Hoping To Re-Sign Zdeno Chara

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While Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was putting together an article about Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara late last night, the big man was busy scoring two goals as the Bruins rolled the Arizona Coyotes 6-2. Friedman’s report and Chara’s game prove the same point: the 40-year-old is far from done.

Friedman reveals that Boston GM Don Sweeney has received trade inquires about Chara, and it is thought that some teams have been considering acquiring the Norris Trophy-winner since as far back as the 2017 Trade Deadline. However, with his play continuing to hold steady as he enters his 20th NHL season, Sweeney has had no interest in moving Chara. Instead, Friedman reports that the team would prefer to re-sign him and Chara has been candid that he would like to continue his career with Boston.

Part of the reason for the uptick in interest in Chara is also why the Bruins would like to keep him this year and re-sign him: they have already extended this contract once to cover the 2017-18 season, during which Chara will count for just $4MM against the cap. That is a far cry from the $7.5MM-$6.9MM that Chara has made each year since originally signing in Boston in 2006. For the first time in a few years, Chara is in fact an excellent value this season. If, going forward, Sweeney can keep his captain at that lower number, he could continue to be a bargain asset into his 40’s.

At 6’9″, 250-lbs, Chara may not have the longevity of a Jaromir Jagr. However, the role that he is being asked to play in Boston is one that he can maintain for at least a couple more years. Chara has lost a step in his skating no question and he could benefit from playing fewer minutes, as he has tended to tail off in individual games and toward the end of the season. Yet, Chara is still one of the best checkers in the game – maybe one of the best all-time – and his shot has hardly lost its record-setting power, as evidenced last night. However, the most important role that the Slovakian superstar plays for a Bruins team getting younger with each year is captain. The Bruins are loaded with leadership and experience, as Patrice Bergeron and David Backes would be the captains of nearly any other team in the league, but Chara’s mentoring on the blue line is invaluable. Brandon Carlo, Chara’s defensive partner for the last year plus, is developing into a top-notch shutdown defender in his own right and with Charlie McAvoy now in town and the likes of Jakub Zboril, Jeremy Lauzon, Urho Vaakanainen and (especially) Ryan Lindgren on their way, the Bruins have one of the best teachers possible to help develop a new generation of defenseman, while still playing a meaningful role.

Since signing with Boston in 2006, among all defenseman Chara is seventh in scoring, seventh in hits, fifth in time on ice, second only to Shea Weber in power play goals, and second only to Duncan Keith in +/-. Not only has he been great, but the future Hall of Famer has become one of the most recognizable names in hockey. Luckily for fans, not just in Boston but across the planet, it doesn’t seem as if we’re seeing the last of Chara. The big man still has gas left in the tank.

Broadcaster Dave Strader Passes Away at 62

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Former Detroit Red Wings broadcaster Dave Strader passed away this morning at his home in Glens Falls, New York, at the age of 62, according to the Detroit Red Wings. He had been fighting a form of bile duct cancer. Known as “The Voice,” Strader called the Red Wings games from 1985 to 1996, but also worked as a broadcaster for the Arizona Coyotes, Florida Panthers and worked three Olympics. He received the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award from the Hockey Hall of Fame earlier this year.

Strader started his career as a broadcaster for the Red Wings’ AHL affiliate in Adirondack from 1979 to 1985, before taking over in Detroit. He eventually went on to cover national games in 1996 with ESPN, ABC and ESPN. He eventually took a full-time job in 2011 calling games for NBC Sports Group.

He spent the last two years calling games for the Dallas Stars even after being diagnosed with cancer in June of 2016. His Foster Hewitt Memorial plaque will go on display in the Hockey Hall of Fame on Nov. 13.

“The loss of Dave will certainly be felt throughout the hockey community,” said Red Wings executive vice president and general manager Ken Holland. “I have known Dave since my days as a goaltender with the Adirondack Red Wings, and always considered him a great friend. He was one of the most iconic play-by-play announcers of his time and a true gentleman. He was a devoted husband and father, and his presence will be sorely missed in arenas throughout the league.”

 

Snapshots: Gelinas, Harper, Iginla

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The Montreal Candiens have yet to cut defenseman Eric Gelinas, in camp on a PTO, but according to TVA’s Renaud Lavoie, an NHL contract is not on the table. Lavoie reports that instead Gelinas has been offered an AHL contract to play with the Habs’ new affiliate, the Laval Rocket. Lavoie is of the opinion that Gelinas will accept the contract and that it could be good for his career. After clearing waivers three separate times last season with the Colorado Avalanche, the league’s worst team, it’s clear that taking a step back and getting a fresh start is not a bad idea for Gelinas. Playing a leadership role in an AHL locker room for a whole season could teach Gelinas consistency and responsibility and a chance at making the Canadian Olympic team would give the 26-year-old the experience of playing an important role in meaningful games.

  • Shane Harper tried the PTO route like Gelinas, but rather than settle for an AHL deal, Harper has decided to take his talents overseas. For the Valencia, California native, who was in camp with the Los Angeles Kings, that means choosing to live in a foreign country rather than a half hour from his home town had he signed with the Kings affiliate, the Ontario Reign. Harper has signed with the KHL’s Lada Togliatti, according to a national news source (link in Russian), where he could easily be the best player on a club that has failed to make the playoffs in each of the past three seasons. Harper scored three points in his 14-game “rookie season” with the Florida Panthers in 2016-17 and added 22 more points in 58 AHL games. The article indicates that the KHL was Harper’s first choice once his NHL hopes were dashed this past week.
  • One player who has no plans to choose the AHL or KHL any time soon is future Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla. In his “31 Thoughts” article this week, Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman reveled that the 40-year-old power forward has even denied having any interest in playing for Team Canada in the upcoming Olympics, as his sole focus is on finding a fit in the NHL. Despite a couple good seasons with the Boston Bruins and Colorado Avalanche, the fact of the matter is that Iginla’s production has been steadily declining since he left the Calgary Flames back in 2013. Last season, Iginla only managed a career-worst 27 points, and that is including a strong showing with the Los Angeles Kings to close out the season. There is always the possibility that someone will come calling for the services – especially the leadership and experience –  that Iginla brings and remaining dedicated to playing one last season will only help his chances of being signed. However, with the regular season about to  begin, the hard truth is that we may have seen the last of Iginla in the NHL, even if he can’t yet accept that.

Jarome Iginla “Selective” In Continuing Team Search

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Many have fairly assumed, in a very quiet off-season, that there has simply been no interest in 40-year-old Jarome Iginla. However, if Iginla’s agent, Don Meehan, is to be believed, the future Hall of Famer is actually just being very “selective” with where he signs next. Meehan told the Calgary Sun’s Michael Traikos:

“I think after his lengthy career he can afford to be very selective. It’s having the independence to choose where you want to be and look for a perfect situation for yourself.”

The only problem with that, despite Meehan’s insistence that Iginla has received offers this off-season, is that beggars can’t be choosers. Iginla’s “wish” list is thought to include a return to the Calgary Flames, where he spent much of his illustrious career, a return to the Pittsburgh Penguins, now two-time Stanley Cup champions, or a return to his hometown of Edmonton to play for the Oilers. It makes sense that Iginla would want to play for any of those three teams. But what do up-tempo, high-powered offensive clubs like those want with an old, slow power forward who scored just 27 points last year. Sure, Iginla’s experience and leadership is invaluable in the locker room, but could he really make the Flames, Pens, or Oilers any better on the ice?

Only time will tell as the waiting game continues for Iginla. Traikos too doubts Iginla’s plan to wait for the perfect opportunity, but as training camp wears on, there are bound to be openings that he may have interest in. However, the likes of Brian Gionta, Jiri Hudler, and numerous others on PTOs are also looking to jump on those spots. Iginla has earned the right to choose how he ends his career, but if he really wants to end it with another season of NHL hockey, he may need to be more open to other opportunities.

Sharks Not Pursuing Jaromir Jagr

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With the answer to just one little question, San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson eliminated the last hope that Sharks fans had of a major free agent addition this off-season. It’s now mid-September, training camps are opening, and San Jose still has yet to make a notable move. They added aging grinder Brandon Bollig, who played exclusively in the AHL last year, Antoine Bibeau, most recently the fifth-string goalie in Toronto, and just a few days ago AHL veteran Brandon Mashinter. Meanwhile, they watched career Shark and franchise leader in just about every category, Patrick Marleau, leave for the Maple Leafs and failed to take advantage of late-summer, affordable replacement options like Drew Stafford (New Jersey) and Thomas Vanek (Vancouver). The Sharks don’t even have an intriguing PTO player in camp.

The last hope of a big-name free agent who could actually help the team in 2017-18 was none other than the legendary Jaromir Jagr. The highest-ranked member of PHR’s Top 50 Free Agents yet to sign at #13 overall, Jagr’s continued availability had been an ongoing story all summer. The 45-year-old future Hall of Famer may seem washed up by age alone, but played in all 82 games with the Florida Panthers last year, registering 46 points. The year before that, Jagr was nearly a 30-goal scorer, racking up 66 points in 79 games for Florida. Somehow, one of the greatest players in NHL history continues to have gas in the tank. In need of replacement scoring and even some veteran guidance for a plethora of young up-and-coming forwards, Jagr seemed like a good fit for San Jose and has continued to be attached to the team in rumors. That ended today. The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz asked Doug Wilson about the possibility of Jagr going to San Jose, to which the GM replied definitively that he did not see the Czech phenom as a fit.

So, the search continues for both sides. Jagr has heard all off-season about teams that “seem like a fit”, but has not had any concrete offers all summer. Last anyone checked in, Jagr was still considering simply playing for HC Kladno of the Czech Liga, a team that he is a part owner of, and then suiting up for the Czech Republic at the 2018 Olympics. After that, perhaps Jagr would draw some interest as a stretch run addition for an NHL team. For now, that seems to be the only option for the aging superstar. As for the Sharks, Wilson nor any of his colleagues have expressed any concern over the team’s lack of off-season additions or potential scoring difficulties. While it is possible that they could still make a trade before the season or early on in the new campaign, the fact that they have no interest in Jagr seemingly means that they are done with free agent additions for the 2017 off-season. The only other notable names left that could be of any interest to San Jose are veterans like Jarome Iginla, Brian Gionta, or Jiri Hudler, all of whom would seem to provide even less upside than Jagr. The Sharks seem content to head into the season with their current group. Maybe a rough start could make them rethink their position on one of the greatest scorers of all time.

Poll: Does Shane Doan Belong In The Hall Of Fame?

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With the announcement of his retirement after 21 years in the league, the biggest question involving Shane Doan—other than a possible Olympic berth—is will his long outstanding career be enough for the Hall of Fame. While those who knew him best would immediately shout yes based on just his leadership and experience, the Hall rarely inducts on intangibles alone.

Doan retires as #92 on the all-time points list, and will likely stay there for at least another season. The closest active player is Henrik Zetterberg, who would need 69 points this season to overtake him. While landing in the top-100 certainly starts his case with a bang, that total is inflated because of how many games he’s played. Doan ranks 14th in games played in the history of the NHL with 1,540 but should drop to 15th this season if Patrick Marleau can stay healthy. While the points-per-game rate isn’t perfect, the rest of the top-20 in games played are all either in the Hall of Fame, active (Marleau), or still looking for a job this summer (Jaromir Jagr and Jarome Iginla).

So it comes down mostly to what goes into your decision. Does his longevity hurt his case by looking at a point-per-game rate instead of raw totals, or does it help it by proving his worth over more than two decades worth of changes in the NHL. What do you think? Will Doan make it to the Hall of Fame someday?

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