Jusse Saros

Minor Transactions: 12/3/17

By Zach Leach | at December 3, 2017 6:50 pm

All but eight teams are off today, but that doesn’t mean it will be a lazy Sunday. Expect teams to perform some roster management today with a new slate of games ahead of them this week.

The Predators have once again swapped backup goaltenders, per the AHL’s transactions page. Jusse Saros has been recalled while veteran Anders Lindback has been returned to Milwaukee, reversing the roster move made on November 30th. Saros got into a pair of games while on assignment, allowing seven goals on 52 shots.
The Canadiens have re-assigned winger Daniel Carr to Laval of the AHL, also according to the AHL’s transactions page. He was brought up to cover for Jonathan Drouin who has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury. Carr fared quite well in those contests, recording a goal and three assists.
The Wild assigned defenseman Ryan Murphy to Iowa of the AHL, also via the AHL’s transaction page. Murphy has only played in three games with Minnesota this season but has been quite productive at the minor league level so far, tallying 11 points in 18 games. That gets Minnesota back to eight defensemen on their roster, including Kyle Quincey who cleared waivers earlier in the week.

Earlier updates:

The Los Angeles Kings could be getting mid-season reinforcements. Their AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, announced last night that first-year pro prospect Austin Wagner has been medically cleared by L.A. and assigned to Ontario. Wagner, 20, had been off the ice rehabbing from off-season surgery, but participated in limited practice with the Reign over the past few weeks and is now ready to make his pro debut. The 20-year-old was selected by the Kings in the fourth round in 2015 and scored 60+ points in each of his last two seasons with the WHL’s Regina Pats. A big, tough, two-way forward with some offensive flair, Wagner has a chance to fill a role in the bottom-six in L.A. before the season is out, so long as he can get his legs under him in the minors and stay healthy.
Following the reveal yesterday that Martin Hanzal‘s hamstring injury was of the week-to-week variety, it is no surprise that Dallas Stars beat writer Marc Stepneski reports that Hanzal has been placed on the injured reserve. In his stead, Dallas has recalled forward Jason Dickinson from the AHL’s Texas Stars. Dickinson, 22, has already played in four NHL games this season and is on pace to best his 10 games from last year. Selected in the first round in 2013 with the pick Dallas obtained from the Boston Bruins for Jaromir Jagr, Dickinson is already the most successful piece of that trade for either team, but nonetheless has overall not yet shown he was worthy of a first-round pick. Perhaps in this latest recall, things will finally click for the young forward.
NHL.com’s Brian Hedger tweeted that the Columbus Blue Jackets have sent winger Sonny Milano to the Cleveland Monsters today. The promising 21-year-old winger has had trouble gaining consistency with Columbus as he’s put up five goals and five assists in 24 games, but hasn’t scored a goal in the last month. This isn’t the first time Milano has been sent down this season. He was assigned to Cleveland on Nov. 18 for one game with the Monsters and had an assist and subsequently recalled the following day.
The Edmonton Oilers assigned defenseman Ryan Stanton to the Bakersfield Condors to make move for Brandon Davidson, who was claimed off waivers this morning. Stanton, a 28-year-old defender, has spent most of the season going back and forth between Bakersfield and Edmonton, serving as an emergency backup on defense. He has not made an appearance for the Oilers this year. He has one assist in 11 games for the Condors this year.

Salary Cap Deep Dive: Nashville Predators

By Holger Stolzenberg | at September 10, 2017 4:50 pm

Navigating the Salary Cap is probably one of the more important tasks for any general manager to have. Teams that can avert total cap chaos by walking the tightrope of inking players to deals that match their value (or compensate for future value without breaking the bank) remain successful. Those that don’t see struggles and front office changes.

PHR will look at every NHL team and give a thorough look at their cap situation heading into the 2017-18 season. This will focus more on those players who are integral parts of the roster versus those who may find themselves shuttling between the AHL and NHL. All cap figures are courtesy of CapFriendly.

Nashville Predators

Current Cap Hit: $68,913,333 (under the $75MM Upper Limit)

Entry-Level Contracts

F Kevin Fiala (Two years remaining, $863K)
G Juuse Saros (One year remaining, $693K)

Potential Bonuses

Fiala: $500K
Saros: $183K

Total: $683K

A team that is designed for a Stanley Cup run probably shouldn’t have too many players on entry level contracts and the Predators have just the two. Fiala is the team’s top young potential star as the former 2014 first-rounder found himself getting called up to the Predators and logged 54 games last year, scoring 11 goals. He even managed to cement himself in the starting lineup and played in five playoff games, scoring two goals, but then broke his femur and his playoffs were cut short. Nevertheless, the team is expecting a big year from the young wing and some even have him penciled in on the team’s second line. As for Saros, the 22-year-old goalie had a pretty good showing last year, playing in 21 contests (19 starts) and putting up a 2.35 GAA and a .923 save percentage. He should be able to shoulder the load as the backup and right now looks to be Nashville’s goaltender of the future.

One Year Remaining, Non-Entry-Level

D Alexei Emelin ($3MM, UFA)
F Scott Hartnell ($1MM, UFA)
F Cody McLeod ($800K, UFA)
D Yannick Weber ($650K, UFA)
D Matt Irwin ($650K, UFA)
D Anthony Bitetto ($613, UFA)
F Miikka Salomaki ($613K, RFA)

The team, already immersed in quality defenders, picked up another veteran defender in Emelin this offseason in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights, who picked him from the Montreal Canadiens in the expansion draft. A solid veteran, Emelin, should fill in for the injured Ellis until he returns in December and then provide some veteran depth throughout the rest of the season, which should keep Nashville’s defensive corps as strong as it had always been and he will likely be allowed to move on when his contract expires next year.

Hartnell returns to Nashville after 10 years. Originally drafted in the first round by Nashville in 2000, the 35-year-old forward played six years for the Predators before being traded to Philadelphia. He has scored 314 goals, but only managed 13 in his last year in Columbus. The team hopes his presence will spark the team for another Stanley Cup run. The rest, including Weber, Irwin and McLeod

Two Years Remaining

G Pekka Rinne ($7MM, UFA)
D Ryan Ellis ($2.5MM, UFA)
F Pontus Aberg ($650K, RFA)
F Colton Sissons ($625K, RFA)

Two years from now, Rinne’s who has been with the franchise since 2005, will be 36 years old and while he’s still playing well, he’s also beginning to slow down. Do they have an heir apparent ready to take over in Saros? It’s too early to tell, but unless he’s playing out of his mind still in two years, the team will most likely have to find a replacement in net. However, the team hopes he can keep it together for another couple of years for another chance at a Stanley Cup run.

Ellis went down with a knee injury during the playoffs, but continued to play. However, after offseason knee surgery, the 26-year-old defender will be out until January. Regardless, the defenseman is an outstanding defender and was listed by NHL.com as one of the top 20 defenseman in the league last year. His offensive numbers continue to improve as well as he had career highs with 16 goals and 38 points. Even with the injury, his $2.5MM deal for two more years is a bargain.

Aberg and Sissons are both restricted, so re-signing them shouldn’t be too big of a problem. Both are depth players with potential as Aberg has had little NHL experience, but scored 31 goals last year for the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals. He then got into 15 games for the Predators, scoring two points, but took off in the playoffs, putting up two goals and five points in 16 games. Sissons had just eight goals in 58 games last year, but then put up 12 points, including six goals in the playoffs, so the 23-year-old could be a player who could have an improved year.

Three Years Remaining

F Craig Smith ($4.25MM, UFA)
D Roman Josi ($4MM, UFA)
F Austin Watson ($1.1MM, UFA)
F Frederick Gaudreau ($667K, UFA)

The 28-year-old Smith has been with Nashville from they day he was drafted in 2009 and he developed into a solid 20-goal scorer. In 2015, after scoring 47 goals in two years, he was rewarded with a five-year, $21.3MM deal. After a 12-goal season last year, his deal looks like one of the team’s worst deals. The team hopes he bounces back and returns to form. Josi, on the other hand has been one of the top defensemen in the league and is a bargain at $4MM per year. At 27 years old, Josi puts up big numbers and while last year’s numbers of 12 goals and 37 assists were below his usual standards, he made up for it with strong defense. Watson still has much to prove, but is likely to hold onto a fourth-line position this year. He only had 17 points in 77 games, but was a scorer with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals and at age 25 has time to develop his skills.

Four Or More Years Remaining

D P.K. Subban ($9MM through 2021-22)
F Ryan Johansen ($8MM through 2024-25)
F Filip Forsberg ($6MM through 2021-22)
F Viktor Arvidsson ($4.25MM through 2023-24)
F Nick Bonino ($4.1MM through 2020-21)
D Mattias Ekholm ($3.75 through 2021-22)
F Calle Jarnkrok ($2MM through 2021-22)

Like a high-end general manager David Poile has locked up all his talent long-term with the idea of making long playoff runs the norm in Nashville. While Subban is already half-way through the eight-year, $72MM deal he signed in Montreal in 2014, he is the physical presence the team’s defense needs. He had 10 goals and 40 points, but was always there to shut down the other team’s top offensive player. Johansen just received his eight-year, $64MM deal in July and he did that with 14 goals and 47 assists last year. The team’s number one center added another three goals and 10 assists in the playoffs until he had to undergo emergency thigh surgery.

Forsberg has also been a key scorer for the team as the 23-year-old scored 31 goals last year and 90 goals in the past three seasons. A first-round pick in 2012, he is an integral piece to the team’s top scoring line along with Arvidsson, who is also locked up long-term. The 24-year-old had a breakout season last year, putting up 31 goals and 30 assists. He only had 16 points in 58 games a year ago.

The team went out and stole Bonino away from the Stanley Cup winning Pittsburgh Penguins. The 29-year-old gritty center had 18 goals and 19 assists for the Penguins a year ago, but $4.1MM a year for a 18-goal scorer seems exorbitant, assuming he even can be a second-line center. Ekholm is another quality defender on the team, who will have to pick up the slack with Ellis out, but the defensive defender is a key piece to the team. Jarnkrok’s long-term, short-money deal seems nice for a 25-year-old who has scored 31 goals combined in the last two seasons. If he can take it up one more notch, they will have themselves a steal.

Buyouts

F Viktor Stalberg ($1.17MM in 2017-18 and 2018-19)
F Eric Nystrom ($1MM in 2017-18)
D Barret Jackman ($667K in 2017-18)

Retained Salary Transactions

None

Still To Sign

None

Best Value: Josi
Worst Value: Bonino

Looking Ahead

Poile has done an excellent job of putting together a team that can make a long run at a Stanley Cup. They have the defense and the firepower to do that, as well as the fact that almost everyone is locked up for three years or more. They do have a limited time with Rinne in goal, but besides that the team should prove to be a perennial contender for the next few years.

0 comments Nashville Predators Alexei Emelin Anthony Bitetto Austin Watson Barret Jackman Calle Jarnkrok Cody McLeod Colton Sissons Craig Smith Eric Nystrom Filip Forsberg Frederick Gaudreau Jusse Saros Kevin Fiala Matt Irwin Mattias Ekholm Miikka Salomaki Nick Bonino P.K. Subban Pekka Rinne Pontus Aberg Roman Josi Ryan Ellis Ryan Johansen Salary Cap Deep Dive Scott Hartnell Viktor Arvidsson Viktor Stalberg Yannick Weber

Minor Transactions: 2/17/2017

By Zach Leach | at February 17, 2017 9:18 am

The Washington Capitals announced that they have recalled rookies Zach Sanford and Jakub Vrana from the AHL’s Hershey Bears. The pair has combined to play in 33 games for the Capitals in 2016-17, and their continued growth will become even more important down the stretch. Sanford has played in 21 games, but has only a goal and an assist in limited ice time. Vrana has suited up for just 12 games, but has a goal and two assists in that time, as well as a +2 rating. When active, Vrana has seen more ice time with the Capital’s skill players, while Sanford has settled into a bottom-six role. Regardless, both players need to work harder to bring their strong AHL production to the next level in Washington. With Andre Burakovsky sidelined, the Capitals approach the Trade Deadline with very little forward depth beyond their starters other than the two rookies. If Sanford and Vrana can’t pick up the pace when the Caps return from their bye week on Saturday, Washington will very likely target one or two veteran forwards by March 1st.

Elsewhere around the league:

Arizona was forced to promote goalie Marek Langhamer last night on an emergency basis, as backup Louis Domingue was injured earlier in the day. The AHL Tuscon Roadrunners’ keeper traveled to Los Angeles to meet the team prior to their road game and will head back to Arizona and remain with the team for now. Langhamer hasn’t had his best season in 2016-17, posting a .914 save percentage and 2.90 goals against average to accompany a losing record in 12 games with the Roadrunners, but performed much worse in his first AHL season last year. Langhamer has looked much better down in the ECHL over the past two campaigns and seems to just need more time to develop. He is still a better prospect than many would have expected when he was drafted in the seventh round in 2012 out of the Czech Republic national junior program.
In the wake of injuries to Olli Maatta and Justin Schultz, the Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled fellow defensemen Steven Oleksy and Cameron Gaunce from their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Maatta will miss the next six weeks, while Schultz’ condition is still unknown, so a long-term role or two may have just opened up for Oleksy, Gaunce, or Chad Ruhwedel.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have promoted forward Gabriel Dumont from the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch. Dumont was passed through waivers last month and demoted to the minors, but in need of an extra body up front, he’ll return to West Florida from upstate New York. Dumont has just two points in 14 games with the Bolts, and five points overall in his NHL career.
The Calgary Flames assigned defenseman Brett Kulak to the AHL’s Stockton Heat, the team announced. Kulak has played in 21 games with the Flames this year, picking up three assists while averaging a little more than 14 minutes per game. He also has suited up in 11 minor league games with the Heat, recording five points.
Anaheim Ducks blueliner Shea Theodore has once again been re-assigned to their AHL affiliate in San Diego per a team release. This marks the 12th different time he has been sent down this year in an effort to save cap space and to get him as much playing time as possible. In 30 games with the Ducks, Theodore has eight points but has been more of an offensive threat in the minors with nine points in just 13 games.
The San Jose Sharks continued their near-daily shuffle of youngsters to and from the minor leagues, announcing (via Twitter) that winger Timo Meier and defenseman Tim Heed have been assigned to the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda. Meier has played in 26 games with the Sharks while Heed, despite being recalled eight separate times since January, has played just one NHL game this year.
The Nashville Predators have flipped backup goalies once again, sending Juuse Saros to AHL Milwaukee while recalled Marek Mazenec, reports Adam Vingan of the Tennessean. The move will allow Saros to get into a game or two in the minors to stay in game shape before likely returning to Nashville next week.
The Montreal Canadiens announced that they have recalled center Michael McCarron from St. John’s of the AHL. McCarron had been sent down to play while the team was on their bye week. McCarron, who is one of the players Arizona is coveting in a Martin Hanzal trade, has a goal and four assists in 18 games with the Canadiens this season.
The Winnipeg Jets announced that they recalled winger Brandon Tanev from the Manitoba Moose. Defenseman Toby Enstrom was placed on injured reserve (retroactive to February 12th) to make room on the roster for him. Tanev has spent the bulk of the season with the Jets, playing in 39 games while scoring two goals and two assists.

0 comments AHL Anaheim Ducks Calgary Flames ECHL Montreal Canadiens Nashville Predators Pittsburgh Penguins Rookies San Jose Sharks Tampa Bay Lightning Transactions Utah Mammoth Waivers Washington Capitals Brandon Tanev Brett Kulak Cameron Gaunce Chad Ruhwedel Gabriel Dumont Jusse Saros Justin Schultz Louis Domingue Marek Mazanec Michael McCarron Olli Maatta Shea Theodore Tim Heed Timo Meier Toby Enstrom World Juniors Zach Sanford

Minor Transactions: 02/05/17

By Gavin Lee | at February 5, 2017 10:45 am

On what is sure to be a slow Super Bowl Sunday, we’ll keep all the minor news right here:

The Columbus Blue Jackets have returned Markus Hannikainen to the Cleveland Monsters just a day after bringing him up. The 23-year old winger was an emergency recall and got into the game last night against the New Jersey Devils. He’s played in seven contests for the Jackets this year as he bounces up and down between leagues, scoring one goal.
Bob McKenzie of TSN reports that Frank Corrado has cleared waivers for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and will be assigned to the AHL Marlies. We wrote yesterday about how the Alexey Marchenko claiming impacted the right-hand depth of the Maple Leafs, of which Corrado was a part.
McKenzie also tells us that Nashville has placed Derek Grant on waivers, likely due to the acquisition of Vernon Fiddler yesterday. Grant has played just six games for Nashville since being selected off waivers from the Buffalo Sabres less than a month ago.
The Devils have sent Karl Stollery to Albany for the time being, after bringing him up just a week ago. The defenseman has bounced up and down all season long, playing nine games for the big-league Devils so far.
Per the AHL Transactions page, the Sharks assigned forwards Timo Meier and Kevin Labanc as well as defenseman Tim Heed to the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL. It’s highly likely that all three will be recalled in advance of their next game on Tuesday; San Jose has routinely been shuffling them back and forth between the NHL and the minors in an effort to save a bit of cap space.
Also via the AHL Transactions page, Nashville has swapped backup goalies once again, recalling Jusse Saros and assigning Marek Mazanec to AHL Milwaukee. Saros had been sent down to get in a game with the Admirals on Saturday night as he last saw NHL action back on January 24th.
Following their game against Montreal, the Oilers announced (Twitter link) they have assigned defensemen Jordan Oesterle and Griffin Reinhart, as well as center Anton Lander, to Bakersfield (AHL). Oesterle made his season debut on Sunday while Lander saw his first NHL action in over three weeks; Reinhart was a healthy scratch.

0 comments AHL Buffalo Sabres Columbus Blue Jackets Edmonton Oilers Nashville Predators New Jersey Devils San Jose Sharks Toronto Maple Leafs Transactions Waivers Alexey Marchenko Anton Lander Bob McKenzie Derek Grant Griffin Reinhart Jordan Oesterle Jusse Saros Kevin Labanc Marek Mazanec Markus Hannikainen Tim Heed Timo Meier

Central Notes: Predators Goaltending, Staal, Blackhawks

By Brian La Rose | at January 31, 2017 10:11 am

Although Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne is on pace to see action in more than 60 games for the third straight season, the team is likely to play him a bit less down the stretch, notes Adam Vingan of The Tennessean. After shuffling between Marek Mazenec and Jusse Saros early on, Nashville has settled on the latter as the backup and Saros has fared quite well so far this year with a 1.79 GAA and a .941 SV%.

Accordingly, head coach Peter Laviolette has the confidence to use Saros a bit more often and is hoping that with Rinne not playing as much, he’ll benefit from the extra rest and parlay that into a better performance.

Saros has seen action in four games this month which isn’t bad for a backup goaltender. The extra rest for Rinne has paid dividends so far; the two netminders have combined for a .944 SV% this month, the fourth highest league-wide in January.

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