Oilers Notes: Puljujarvi, Niemelainen, Hall
Some fans in Edmonton are probably wishing that Jesse Puljujarvi would just fade into irrelevance in Europe so that they can stop hearing about him. However, the reality is that Puljujarvi is excelling in his native Finland and it is only creating more buzz about his availability. The Oilers have been adamant that they will not rush into a trade for Puljujarvi and will wait for a fair return, but as he continues to put up points for Karpat in the Liiga, the more likely that offer will come. The Athletic’s Allan Mitchell tries to put Puljujarvi’s production into context rather than let the hype train run wild. He writes that there is some question as to the quality of a few of Puljujarvi’s six goals on the year and, more importantly, adds that his point-per-game pace in the Liiga is only equivalent to approximately 0.43 points per game in the NHL. Puljujarvi’s level of play in Finland lends itself to a projection of a third-line forward in the NHL in Mitchell’s estimation; however, given his upside and natural size and athleticism, the 22-year-old is worth more than your typical third-liner. The Oilers will eventually get an offer that they like for Puljujarvi and this story will go away, but the question is whether or not that deal occurs before the December 1st signing deadline for Puljujarvi, a restricted free agent, to play this season. Mitchell does not add any new names to the list of teams interested in Puljujarvi, but reiterates that the Carolina Hurricanes remain intrigued, as do the Oilers do in ‘Canes prospect Julien Gauthier. Mitchell also posits that Dominik Bokk, a raw, but talented prospect recently acquired by the Hurricanes in the Justin Faulk trade, could be another target of Edmonton’s in a Puljujarvi trade. Carolina sought a regular NHL forward in exchange for Faulk, but settled for the upside of the young Bokk. Perhaps the team could be convinced to flip him for Puljujarvi. One way or another, the Hurricanes lead the pack when it comes to the most likely landing spot for Puljujarvi until new information emerges on the race to land the divisive young forward.
- Another Edmonton prospect could also be looking at an extended stay in Finland. Defenseman Markus Niemelainen, the team’s third-round pick in 2016, has signed a one-year extension with Assat of the Liiga, the team announced. Niemelainen is in his first year with the Aces after growing up in the system of HPK, as well as two seasons with the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit. While the big defender has been held scoreless through 12 games, he brings a well-rounded game that balances checking ability and defensive awareness with mobility and play-making ability. Niemelainen has the makings of a player ready for the jump to North America, but claims in the team’s release that he is happy to continue developing with Assat. It seems likely that the Oilers will have to wait until 2021-22 to see Niemelainen cross the pond.
- The “Taylor Hall-back-to-Edmonton” rumors were inevitable once the New Jersey Devils entered the season without an extension in place with their superstar and then subsequently got off to a rough start. Despite what many may think, Hall never requested a trade when he was with the Oilers, the team that selected him No. 1 overall in 2010, and actually enjoyed playing in Edmonton. It’s possible that Edmonton could continue to build off their hot start to the season and put themselves in position to be a real contender and a potential rental destination for Hall later this season. However, The Athletic’s Jonathan Willis all but rules out Hall as a possible free agency target and long-term fit. With the likes of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, James Neal, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins signed long-term on substantial contracts and a number of other top players in need of new contracts, there doesn’t appear to be space for Hall, who Willis expects to command a contract in the vicinity of $11MM per year. Even taking into account salary cap inflation, Willis feels that the Oilers would need to shed considerable salary to afford Hall and questions whether that would be the right play. Edmonton’s days as home to Hall are likely exclusively in the past.
Trade Rumors: Wild, Hurricanes, Ristolainen
The Minnesota Wild finally picked up their first win of the season on Monday. Yet, they immediately followed that up with a loss on Tuesday and are on their way to another loss tonight. The Wild will likely head home from their Canadian road trip with a 1-6-0 record on the year and their only points coming against the Ottawa Senators. Combine that with last season’s “big” trade acquisitions of Kevin Fiala, Ryan Donato, and Victor Rask all having been healthy scratches at least once and free agent centerpiece Mats Zuccarello being held scoreless through four games prior to an injury, and it is easy to see why the situation in Minnesota this season is already so bleak. Thus, it should come as little surprise that Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports in his “31 Thoughts” column that Minnesota will “listen on everything.” New GM Bill Guerin is likely eager to make his mark on the team and hopeful that he can right the wrongs of his much-maligned predecessor, Paul Fenton. As one might expect from the level-headed Guerin, Friedman writes that he is not willing to rush into anything just for the sake of making a move, despite such a poor start. However, should the opportunity present itself to make a move that he feels is right for the team, Guerin won’t be afraid to pull the trigger and shake things up. Friedman feels that team’s biggest need is to add right-handed forwards. Currently, the team has just two: Ryan Hartman and Luke Kunin. If one exists on the trade market, a young, natural right wing or righty center could be a good long-term investment for Minnesota. However, the Wild are likely to be in more of a seller mode than buyer in the immediate future. Much of their roster is signed long-term, but Jonas Brodin, Eric Staal, Marcus Foligno, and perhaps even captain Mikko Koivu, an impending free agent, could be on the block.
- The Carolina Hurricanes hoped to land an NHL forward when they traded away defenseman Justin Faulk, but a potential deal with the Anaheim Ducks that would have brought Ondrej Kase to Raleigh fell through and the team settled for defenseman Joel Edmundson and promising, but raw forward prospect Dominik Bokk. Now, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that the search for a top-nine forward continues for Carolina, despite their red-hot start. Neither of the two names mentioned by LeBrun as players that the ‘Canes have kicked the tires on should come as any surprise. The first is disgruntled young Edmonton Oilers forward Jesse Puljujarvi, who is currently playing overseas. This matches up with a recent report that the Oilers continue to pursue NHL-ready Carolina prospect Julien Gauthier, but turned down a one-for-one offer for Puljujarvi this summer. With both Edmonton and Carolina playing well and wanting immediate help, it could be that the trade now makes more sense for both sides. The second player named is Joshua Ho-Sang, another frustrated young forward who is currently sitting at home waiting to be traded by the New York Islanders, who instructed him not to report to the AHL after he failed to make the team. Both Puljujarvi and Ho-Sang are behavioral question marks, but bring both upside and roster flexibility should reigning GM of the Year candidate Don Waddell decide to make a deal.
- LeBrun also reports that Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen is likely no longer on the trade block. While at one point both sides had agreed that a change of scenery was a good idea, the Sabres are off to a strong start this season and Ristolainen recently spoke about how much he is enjoying playing for new head coach Ralph Kreuger and his happiness with being in Buffalo. LeBrun doubts that the team wants to upset their early momentum, while noting that trade talks this summer did not bear any fruit anyway. Ristolainen can still be a key contributor for the team and they seem content to maintain the status quo so long as they continue to accumulate points.
Snapshots: Pietrangelo, Ho-Sang, Marleau
Sportsnet’s “Saturday Headlines” segment was filled with interesting information this week, headlined by negotiations between the defending champion St. Louis Blues and No. 1 defenseman Alex Pietrangelo. The status quo has shifted dramatically over the last two weeks in terms of extension talks between the two sides, as the Blues first acquired Justin Faulk from the Carolina Hurricanes and handed him a seven-year, $45.5MM extension and then signed another impending free agent, Brayden Schenn, to an eight-year, $52MM extension. The team would obviously still like to re-sign their captain, but they have significantly more future salary committed now, as well as more security on the blue line in Faulk if Pietrangelo does leave. How that affects contract talks remains to be seen. Elliotte Friedman reports that GM Doug Armstrong plans to meet with Pietrangelo’s Toronto-based Newport Sports agents when the Blues visit the Maple Leafs this week to open up the conversation. Friedman adds that St. Louis’ preferred contract would be similar to that of Arizona Coyotes top defender Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who signed an eight-year, $66MM extension in 2018. Friedman implies that Pietrangelo would likely be able to beat an $8.25MM salary on the open market. However, a proportional contract to Ekman-Larsson’s based on either this year’s salary cap or next year’s projected salary cap would place that number between $8.5-8.75MM at least, which could be enough to keep Pietrangelo. The real question is whether the Blues can afford that, with nearly $74MM already committed to 17 players next season.
- Joshua Ho-Sang isn’t opposed to playing in the AHL, just doing so any longer for the New York Islanders. At least that’s what Friedman reports that his camp is telling other NHL teams. Ho-Sang has requested a trade from the Islanders and the club is trying to oblige, giving him permission to talk to other teams. Ho-Sang is letting them know that he is willing to do “whatever it takes” to find a regular NHL role, even if that means starting the process in the AHL. This could potentially broaden the level of interest in the disgruntled winger, who may not have the best reputation but honestly seems in search of a fresh start.
- Chris Johnston reports that Patrick Marleau remains “confident” that he will find a home in the NHL this season. The respected veteran had the final season of his contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs bought out following a trade to the Carolina Hurricanes this off-season, but so far hasn’t been able to find an ideal fit to continue playing. Much of the speculation had him returning to the San Jose Sharks, with whom he played much of his Hall of Fame career with, but the team was not as receptive to a comeback as expected. Marleau maintains that he would like to stay close to his family in San Jose, making Pacific Division rivals like the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Arizona Coyotes and Vegas Golden Knights the likely targets. However, given the Sharks’ 0-3 start and early scoring woes, perhaps the team will come calling after all. Marleau continues to work out and stay optimistic for whenever an opportunity does arise.
St. Louis Blues Acquire Justin Faulk
The St. Louis Blues have added another exciting right-handed defenseman to their group, acquiring Justin Faulk from the Carolina Hurricanes. The Blues will send Joel Edmundson, Dominik Bokk and a 2021 seventh-round pick to the Hurricanes in exchange for Faulk and a 2020 fifth-round selection. Faulk has also immediately agreed to a seven-year extension worth a total of $45.5MM ($6.5MM AAV), taking him off the board as a potential unrestricted free agent next summer. The full contract details were tweeted by Andy Strickland of Fox Sports Midwest:
- 2020-21: $9.0MM salary + full NTC
- 2021-22: $9.0MM salary + full NTC
- 2022-23: $5.85MM salary + full NTC
- 2023-24: $7.9MM salary + full NTC
- 2024-25: $4.75MM salary + full NTC
- 2025-26: $4.5MM salary + partial NTC
- 2026-27: $4.5MM salary + partial NTC
The Hurricanes will also be retaining 14% of Faulk’s cap hit this season according to Strickland, which would equal just over $676K. GM Doug Armstrong explained the deal:
We are excited to add Justin to our core group for the next eight years. He’s a Top-4 defenseman who averages over 23 minutes a game and we are confident he will be a strong addition to our club.
Faulk, 27, had been involved in trade talks for years in Carolina, always seen as the extra defenseman that may be expendable given they already had Dougie Hamilton and Brett Pesce on the right side. When Jake Gardiner was signed recently as another powerplay option, it led to even more speculation about Faulk’s availability and even a nixed trade with the Anaheim Ducks. He’ll now find himself on the reigning Stanley Cup champion Blues, in a similar depth chart situation but with a lot more job security.
The Blues can now ice Alex Pietrangelo, Colton Parayko and Faulk as their three right-handed defensemen, giving each pairing a strong puck-moving option that can contribute offensively. The team’s powerplay will also get a significant boost, as Faulk has generated a good amount of offense over the years with the man-advantage. In fact, 40 of his 85 career goals have come a man up. He also comes at just a $4.83MM cap hit this season (before salary retention), only $1.7MM more than Edmundson was set to make.
It’s the $6.5MM AAV extension that will turn heads, as the Blues already had Pietrangelo heading into the final year of his current deal. Signing Faulk long-term means that there is already $12MM locked up on the right side before any extension for their captain, a substantial amount given Brayden Schenn also needs a new deal up front. Armstrong has been known to be ruthless with his veteran expiring players before, trading the likes of Kevin Shattenkirk and Paul Stastny in the middle of playoff runs, though Pietrangelo obviously represents a better and more important player than either of them.
Carolina meanwhile will happily snap up the return, adding a quality defenseman in Edmundson and a 2018 first-round pick in Bokk. The former could very well be flipped at some point given the Hurricanes’ blueline depth, but right now comes in as a potential third-pairing option behind Jaccob Slavin and Gardiner. Edmundson is also scheduled for unrestricted free agency in 2020, making him a nice looking trade chip if the Hurricanes believe they can fill that spot with the likes of Gustav Forsling, Haydn Fleury and Jake Bean.
Bokk meanwhile is a very interesting prospect in his own right. Selected 25th overall in 2018, he spent last season in the SHL and recorded 23 points in 47 games with the Vaxjo Lakers. He’s spending this year overseas again (though with Rogle this time), but is already signed to his entry-level deal and should compete for a spot on the Hurricanes roster before long. The 6’2″ winger is a force when he gets some speed down the wing, and showed dominant offensive ability in both the German and Swedish junior leagues.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
East Notes: Faulk, Canadiens, Hall
The Carolina Hurricanes kept Justin Faulk off the ice today leading to mass speculation about a potential trade. The 27-year old defenseman has been on the block for some time, with a deal getting extremely close with the Anaheim Ducks recently. Faulk is healthy according to head coach Rod Brind’Amour, who had Jake Gardiner running the powerplay today in his place.
Scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after this season, Faulk is an expendable piece for the Hurricanes after adding Gardiner and other depth pieces to the blueline. The team should be able to boost their prospect system or forward group with a deal, returning some value for the former co-captain. Faulk scored 11 goals and 35 points last season, the sixth consecutive year he has broken the 30-point threshold.
- Perhaps there would be a fit in Montreal, where the Canadiens are looking to move a forward according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. The scribe points out that Jonathan Drouin played the fewest minutes of any forward in Monday’s home loss to a Toronto Maple Leafs squad made up of almost entirely fringe NHL or AHL players. Several young forwards are pushing for more playing time in Montreal, giving them enough options to make someone expendable in the coming days.
- Friedman also chimes in on the Taylor Hall extension speculation, noting that he believes they “are trying to make a serious run” at a deal right now. Hall is one of the premiere talents available in next summer’s unrestricted free agent crop and should command a huge dollar figure on any extension with the New Jersey Devils. In recent days the talks have picked up between the two sides, after GM Ray Shero did everything he could to improve the roster for the upcoming season.
West Notes: Simek, Ducks, Fiala, Pateryn
Sharks defenseman Radim Simek may not be ready to start the season due to the torn ACL and MCL he sustained back in March, head coach Peter DeBoer told Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News. The blueliner underwent surgery shortly thereafter but it typically carries a minimum recovery time of six months. Simek has been skating on his own for the past few weeks and is hopeful to resume skating with the team soon. However, given that he may not be able to get into any preseason action, it may be safer to have him start on IR for the first little bit of the season and ease his way back into things. Doing so would also allow for one of their prospects to break camp with the team and have a spot inside their top six to start the season, giving San Jose a bit more of an evaluation opportunity.
Elsewhere in the West:
- The Ducks’ extension offer to defenseman Justin Faulk was believed to be a seven-year pact worth just under $7MM per season, reports Elliott Teaford of the Orange County Register. That came back when they were working with Carolina on a trade but it doesn’t appear as if Faulk has interest in taking that offer at this time which has left discussions up in the air as a result.
- Wild winger Kevin Fiala’s immigration paperwork has finally been finalized, paving the way for him to rejoin the team today, the team announced (Twitter link). He signed a two-year bridge deal back on September 11th but has still wound up missing the first week of training camp.
- Still with the Wild, there is no timetable for defenseman Greg Pateryn to return from his lower-body injury, notes Rachel Blount of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. He has yet to play in the preseason as he deals with what head coach Bruce Boudreau is classifying as a minor but persistent lower-body issue.
Snapshots: Faulk, Johns, Boyle
Earlier this month, there were reports that a trade that would see Hurricanes defenseman Justin Faulk get traded to the Ducks was gaining some traction. However, in an appearance on Sportsnet 960 (audio link), Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman suggests that the deal is unlikely to happen now. While Anaheim is open to doing the move without a pre-arranged extension in place, Faulk is presently unwilling to waive his partial no-trade clause unless he gets it. Considering the status of their back end and this near-swap, the 27-year-old likely realizes that the writing is on the wall with regards to his future in Carolina. Accordingly, Friedman suggests that the two sides may be working together to find a landing spot that Faulk is amenable to going to. It would certainly be in the best interest of the Hurricanes to do so as if they can find a spot he’s happy with and willing to sign an extension, that could certainly boost the return coming their way.
Other notes from around the league:
- While Stars defenseman Stephen Johns was skating earlier this offseason at development camp, he will not be taking part in training camp, notes Matthew DeFranks of the Dallas Morning News. GM Jim Nill indicated that there would be no further update on his status. Johns missed all of last season with a concussion and this would certainly appear to suggest that those symptoms are still present. Dallas signed Andrej Sekera after he was bought out by Edmonton in June which gives them a little bit more depth heading into the upcoming season.
- Brian Boyle is one of the more notable unrestricted free agents still available. Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch notes (Twitter link) that the veteran would like to play for the Blue Jackets and be reunited with head coach John Tortorella. However, at this time, Columbus wants to evaluate their younger players instead of turning to Boyle. Hedger does add that there are a couple of teams that would like to sign Boyle but need to clear cap room to do so first.
Latest On Justin Faulk Trade Talks
Though several reports have come out that there is trade on the table between the Anaheim Ducks and Carolina Hurricanes revolving around Justin Faulk, the deal still hasn’t been finalized thanks to a no-trade clause and extension talks. An extension hasn’t yet been reached, the Hurricanes defender can block a deal to Anaheim if he chooses, and according to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic other teams have now increased their interest in trying and add the offensive-minded Faulk. Those teams include ones that would not require Faulk to waive his 15-team no-trade clause, though LeBrun doesn’t give any indication of who they may be.
With training camp just a few days from opening up across the league, Faulk has become the most talked about non-RFA around. His services would certainly help a number of teams in the league, but currently exists as a pure rental that is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet believes that Faulk would be targeting $6.5-7MM per season on any extension, though he also wrote earlier today that the Ducks “appear willing to make the move without any long-term security at this time.”
At just 27-years old, Faulk represents the kind of player who would normally be extremely coveted on the open market. If he were an unrestricted free agent today, you can bet a number of teams would be knocking on his door trying to bring him in on a long-term deal, which makes the interest in him on the trade market understandable. If a team can acquire him for a reasonable cost a year early and extend him to a contract they believe he’s worth, they don’t have to fight the entire market next summer. That reasonable cost is the biggest question however, as there have been reports that Ondrej Kase would be involved in the deal should the Ducks get it done.
If that’s the kind of asset the Hurricanes would receive, it makes a lot of sense for them to move on from the puck-moving defenseman. Carolina recently added Jake Gardiner who, while being the other handedness, carries a lot of similarities to Faulk in regards to playstyle. They also have one of the deepest defensive units in the league, and could probably remove two names given that Haydn Fleury and Jake Bean look ready to take on increased minutes.
The Hurricanes also have to shed some salary before the season starts, though that could be accomplished in other ways if necessary. The team currently sits at just over $83MM in projected salaries for the 2019-20 season, though that takes 24 players into account, more than you can carry at any one time.
Snapshots: Malkin, Kase, Fiala
Evgeni Malkin has been the target of trade rumors for years now, but after they perked up again following a disappointing 2018-19 season he’s hoping to put them behind him. In an incredible piece that delves into Malkin’s home life and the relationship he has had with teammates (including a spotlight on Phil Kessel) and coaches, Rob Rossi of The Athletic (subscription required) also got an idea of what the big Pittsburgh Penguins forward hopes his future holds:
It’s (a) huge next three years. I still want to play 100 percent — and sign (for) three more years with Pittsburgh.
Malkin’s current contract is set to expire in the summer of 2022, when he will be 35 (turning 36). That would mean another contract would be of the 35+ variety, adding some risk for the Penguins should Malkin decide to retire at any point during it. While that’s a long way away, you can bet GM Jim Rutherford has already contemplated his actions down the road in regards to the franchise icon.
- With a Justin Faulk trade still being discussed between the Anaheim Ducks and Carolina Hurricanes, Sara Civian of The Athletic confirms previous reports that Ondrej Kase would be involved. That news has surprised some other teams around the league according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, who reports that Kase was unavailable in trade talks for a long time and suggests his new availability may be linked to health concerns. Kase has never played a full 82-game season in the NHL and actually has just 149 games to his name at this point in his career. Still, the 23-year old forward has shown an ability to score goals at a strong rate and could be a nice addition for the Hurricanes.
- Kevin Fiala remains unsigned, but Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin hopes his talented young forward is in town for training camp when it starts in a few days. Guerin told The Athletic (subscription required) that the team has made a “fair offer” to Fiala and that the 23-year old is now deciding. Fiala came to the Wild from the Nashville Predators last season and put up seven points in 19 games down the stretch, but has shown flashes of top-line offensive potential in the past and could be a huge part of the turnaround in Minnesota.
Anaheim, Carolina Discussing Justin Faulk
When the Carolina Hurricanes signed Jake Gardiner last week, speculation immediately erupted about the future of Justin Faulk. The right-handed Faulk has just one year remaining on his contract before hitting unrestricted free agency and was made expendable—at least on the powerplay—by the depth of the Carolina blueline. Now, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports that the Anaheim Ducks have had discussions with Carolina about the defenseman. Friedman notes that the Ducks are on Faulk’s no-trade list but would also like to work out an extension, and makes it clear that the deal is not done at this point. James Mirtle of The Athletic tweets that Faulk’s 15-team no-trade clause has been “causing issues” for Carolina as they try to move him.
Once considered a haven for young defensemen, the Anaheim blueline depth has become thinner and thinner over the last few years. The Ducks have watched Shea Theodore, Sami Vatanen and Brandon Montour leave town through various trades, leaving Cam Fowler, Hampus Lindholm and Josh Manson as the lone three defensemen the team can really count on this season. While Brendan Guhle, Josh Mahura and Jacob Larsson provide some interesting upside, adding Faulk would give the team another established name to line up in their top-four every night.
That said, the deal wouldn’t make much sense for Anaheim without the contract extension. The Ducks have turned their focus to the next wave of forwards coming through the system and will be without long-time core pieces like Corey Perry and Ryan Kesler. That young group is exciting and talented, but could very well leave Anaheim chasing in the Pacific Division. Faulk is just 27 however and should be able to contribute at a high level for the next several seasons.
That high level is impressive in this case. Faulk has been one of the most consistent offensive defensemen in the NHL over his career, recording at least 31 points in each of the last six seasons. Though he’s prone to a bad turnover and isn’t a star in his own end, there’s good reason to believe that he could have a lot of success in Anaheim if paired with Lindholm or Fowler.
For Carolina, moving on from their former co-captain made the most sense after Gardiner was acquired. Dougie Hamilton, Jaccob Slavin and Brett Pesce are all signed for at least two seasons, while young Haydn Fleury and Jake Bean look ready to contribute. If the team can add some more offense or future assets in exchange for the expiring Faulk, it will only help them improve their own program that got all the way to the Eastern Conference Final last season.