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Drew Stafford Could Be This Year’s Kris Versteeg

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Last summer, Kris Versteeg didn’t get much action on the free agent market. He was 30, coming off a 38 point season in which he was traded at the deadline—basically a tradition in the NHL at this point—and ended up signing in Switzerland because he couldn’t find a contract around the league. A one-year deal with SC Bern of the NLA and Versteeg could try to rebuild his value while enjoying the sights of Europe. It was surely a bit disappointing, but it was at least a contract with a professional team. Only the disappointment wouldn’t end there. "<strong

Much later in the summer, Versteeg and Bern would end up terminating his contract because of some mixture of a failed medical and inability to gain insurance due to his previous hip injury, putting him back on the market after some NHL training camps had already begun. Again he was without a contract, and now without the ability to play in Europe (or at least for Bern) would have to slightly alter his plans. So Versteeg, the four-time 20-goal scorer and veteran of 550 NHL games, would sign a professional tryout with the (at that time) lowly Edmonton Oilers. With it came no guarantee of an NHL contract, but why not try out for a team close to home that has an up-and-coming core.

He’d stay with the Oilers for the next month, before abruptly signing with the rival Calgary Flames just a day before the two teams were set to kick off their seasons against each other. Versteeg’s deal would be for just $950K, and he’d pull on a Flames sweater on October 12th to open the year, playing 13:47 against the team he’d been practicing with for most of training camp. That $950K would go on to be quite a bargain, as Versteeg would put up 37 points in just 69 games and do enough to earn another contract—this time worth $1.75MM—with the Flames this spring.

"<strongThis summer, there seems to be a similar player left out in the cold after all the free agent shopping has been done. Drew Stafford has had very little written about him since the free agent period began, other than some thought that Boston had quickly moved on from the idea of bringing him back. Like Versteeg, Stafford had been traded mid-season, where he found some success with the Bruins down the stretch by registering eight points in 18 games. Though not a top-line player anymore, he still can provide some secondary scoring in the right situation.

Stafford, less than a year older than Versteeg will turn 32 this October and could still help an NHL team even if he’s not the 30-goal scorer of his youth. He’s just a year removed from registering 21 goals, but looks like he may have to take a PTO of his own in order to showcase that he still has some game left in him. He can still be an effective penalty killer, and won’t hurt you defensively if deployed in a bottom-six role, but has the offensive chops to move up on a short-term basis to fill in for injury. He’s a worthwhile experiment on a no-risk PTO, especially with the upside of an almost-free 20-goal man.

If he can’t find work this year in the NHL, there is also the opportunity that the Olympics present as he could easily make a US squad that will be made up of mostly college-aged players. Stafford would instantly provide some international experience, as he won World Junior gold back in 2004 and has suited up for Team USA in the World Championships three times. And, iff not the Olympics, there’s always Bern* (*pending medical evaluation).

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Flames Notes: Ferland, Bennett, Iginla

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Micheal Ferland re-signed this Thursday with Calgary, and apparently he’s slotted for big things this year. Adam Gretz of NBC Sports reports that Ferland will play on the top line with Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. Ferland will be playing as the third wheel to the talented duo, but should be a productive member. Ferland has yet to cement himself as a consistent offensive producer, so this vote of confidence should be taken as a sign of his internally perceived value. With only 25 points last season, he’ll need to find a bit more of a knack for playmaking in tight spaces. As Gretz mentioned, he has posted a positive Corsi (52%) in the minutes he paired with the Gaudreau-Monahan duo. If nothing else, he’ll open up room for the line with his heavy forechecking style and if he stays with those two long-term, look for his next contract to be a good deal more expensive.

  • Sam Bennett is the only major RFA the Flames have yet to sign. He’s also a bit of a confusing commodity. He really regressed offensively in a manner no one was anticipating last season, and it’s hard to ascertain how much that will impact his upcoming deal. The Flames would likely like to lock him up for some of his UFA years, but Bennett seems to think he can prove his value in the immediate future. He remarked to the National Post’s Al Charest after their first round series that he’s “just getting started”, and it’s easy to believe him. He has incredible hands and seems more well-rounded than when he entered the league, even if he struggled to produce in 2016-17. His Corsi only went down slightly (.6%) while his Fenwick went up, and he did face a tougher quality of competition. Odds are that Bennett bounces back and earns a heftier long-term contract down the road. For now, somewhere around $3 MM seems a safe bet.
  • The two parties haven’t been linked, but at this late date might Calgary show an interest in reuniting with Jarome Iginla? Iginla has wanted a place on a contender for the last half-decade, and Calgary has shown that they could compete in the immediate future. Adding Mike Smith in net, adding Travis Hamonic and re-signing Michael Stone on the back-end, and with the youngsters another year older, they could do some damage come spring. One of Alex Chiasson or Kris Versteeg might need to slot down a healthy lineup on occasion if it were to happen, but Iginla would provide some invaluable leadership for the young core on a dirt-cheap deal. They have the cap room to make it happen if they so desire.

2017 NHL Free Agency Tracker

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Stay with PHR for all of the free agency signings this off-season. As of noon ET on July 1st, unrestricted free agency is open, but not before many extensions earlier in June. This page serves to organize everything in one spot, and are linked to the PHR story that corresponds with the signing. All July signings will be separated by date while June signings are organized alphabetically by team. It will be updated as soon as stories post.

Please note that signings on this list start on June 12.

July 1st:

Read more

Calgary Flames To Sign Kris Versteeg

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Another one of our Top 50 Free Agents is about to come off the board, as Darren Dreger of TSN is reporting that Kris Versteeg is close to signing a one-year, $1.75MM contract to stay in Calgary. We had Versteeg projected to earn a two-year deal worth $4.4MM on the open market, but he seems ready to stay put for a more reasonable price. Kris Versteeg

Versteeg had to settle for a PTO with Edmonton last year before signing a $950K contract with Calgary. That late-camp switch was a hard pill to swallow for Oilers fans who had hopes of Versteeg continuing to produce in his normal 35-40 point range. Produce he did, with another 37 point season for Calgary and proof that he’s able to put points up regardless of linemates or situation. For the Flames, Versteeg saw less than 15 minutes a night and only played in 69 games do to injury. That 37 points was still good for sixth among Flames forwards, and a very good per-point cost.

At $1.75MM, Versteeg again represents a bargain for the Flames as they look to compete for the Stanley Cup next season. After bringing in Travis Hamonic for draft picks, and trading for Mike Smith to anchor their net the team looks to have solved both of its issues from last season without sacrificing the roster. It wasn’t clear if Calgary was going to be able to keep Versteeg though, as they had just over $15MM of space with new contracts due for Sam Bennett, Curtis Lazar and Micheal Ferland and still some work to do on the blueline and at backup goaltender. This deal easily fits him into that structure, and puts almost no risk on the Flames with just a one-year term.

At just 31, Versteeg has played for seven different NHL franchises and seems to be a favorite target at the trade deadline. He seems to have found a home of some sort in Calgary though, and it doesn’t hurt to be from just down the road in Lethbridge. Versteeg grew up just a few hours drive from Calgary, and still has family in the area. He was clear about his desire to return at the end of the season, and now will get his wish to stay in Alberta for another year.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Snapshots: Masterton Finalists, Sabres, Worlds

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The NHL has announced its finalists for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. The Masterton is awarded to the player “who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey”. Each team nominates their own candidate for consideration, and the top three vote-getters are announced before the awards. The final three are Ottawa’s Craig Anderson, Carolina’s Derek Ryan, and Anaheim’s Andrew Cogliano.

Anderson was forced to take an extended hiatus while his wife was battling cancer. The netminder returned to action after a long stretch away from the rink, and immediately posted a shutout against the New York Islanders in February as he continued his dominance of the crease. His .926 save percentage this season was second among goalies who had played more than 30 games, and was a huge factor in his team making the playoffs. Ryan is a 30 year-old rookie, and spent his entire career toiling in the minors and overseas before finally getting his shot at an NHL roster spot. Cogliano has been unbelievably resilient and tough in his impressive ironman streak, playing over 800 straight games since entering the league. If he has another few seasons of perfect attendance, he could break ironman records thought hopelessly lost to ancient hockey history. The Masteron winner will be announced on June 21st at the NHL Awards show in Las Vegas, which will also feature the announcement of the Golden Knights’ roster selections.

  • The Athletic’s Scott Powers gave insight into Blackhawks players possibly travelling to compete in the World Championships. Ville Pokka will not compete for Finland, apparently due to a contract issue. Artem Anisimov will not play for Russia, which is a big blow for that squad, as his size and unique skillset would have been useful. He is still nursing a lower-body injury which impacted his play in the team’s first-round exit. Patrick Kane is unlikely to play for the United States, but has made no official comment on the matter.
  • The Buffalo News reflects on the season-long failure of the Sabres to provide their goalies support. Looking forward to a new GM and head coach hire, fans are hopeful for higher standards and less streakiness. This offseason, it seems as though providing goal support for Jack Eichel will be paramount, as the team struggled mightily to find steady production. Comments from players are looking forward to revamping their play style next season at even strength, by not allowing such a disparity in shot opportunities. Offensive help in terms of UFAs will be difficult to find, as there is sparse selection. T.J. Oshie, Radim Vrbata, Kris Versteeg, and Patrick Eaves are all names that should intrigue the Buffalo front-office – though it is uncertain which will still remain unsigned come July 1st.

Cap Problems Loom – A Look Ahead For Chicago

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The Chicago Blackhawks’ management will have to take a deep, long look in the mirror this off-season. Their core is locked up and in their primes. With an offense boasting Artemi Panarin, Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, grizzled Marian Hossa, and a resurgent Artem Anisimov, there were many predictions around the league for Chicago to reclaim another cup. Instead, the comparatively deep lineup Nashville iced completely dominated Chicago, sending them packing in a 4 game sweep – the first ever time an “8th seed” has swept a “1 seed”.

This is an analysis of Chicago’s cap frustrations, and what has led to them.

Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane each account for $10.5 MM towards the team cap, and are both under contract until the 2022-23 season. With a cap ceiling that is expected to remain in the ballpark of its current $73 MM, this is a massive $21 MM, 28.8% of the team total. In past seasons, contributions from players on ELCs and cheap one-to-two year deals made this issue far less concerning. Success will do a lot to mask poor planning on management’s part.

Looking at their roster situation next year, the squad looks something like this (numbers represent $MM towards cap):

Nick Schmaltz (0.925) – Jonathan Toews (10.5) – Marian Hossa (5.275)

Artemi Panarin (6.0) – Artem Anisimov (4.550) – Patrick Kane (10.5)

Dennis Rasmussen (RFA) – Marcus Kruger (3.083) – Richard Panik (RFA)

Ryan Hartman (0.863) – Tanner Kero (0.750) – __________

*******

 

Nik Hjalmarsson (4.1) – Duncan Keith (5.538)

Brent Seabrook (6.875) – Trevor van Riemsdyk (0.825)

Michal Kempny (RFA) – Gustav Forsling (0.873)

************

Michal Roszival (0.650)

 

Corey Crawford (6.0)

_________

 

A few things to note: there are still 4 likely vacancies on this roster, and the team would probably prefer to have at least one more extra skater on hand for the season. Before the RFA contracts are negotiated, this comes to a total of $67.307 MM already spent. Brian Campbell and Johnny Oduya are not likely to return, considering the former’s price and the latter’s struggles. Roszival is not likely to be trusted with 7th defenseman duties. With Panik’s stellar season, he is nearly sure to command a sizable raise. The 26 year-old had what can only be described an incredibly over-achieving breakthrough – he notched 44 points, 22 of which were goals. The expectation should be that, even under team-friendly RFA negotiations, he will earn upwards of $2 MM, likely in the $2.5 MM range. Assuming the other two RFAs (Rasmussen and Kempny) receive somewhere around $1 MM each, this brings the grand total to $71.807 MM with at least 3 slots to fill, probably 4.

From here, Chicago could go one of two routes. They could try to fill out the remaining spots with the absolutely cheapest possible players, and hope they strike gold with another prospect or free agent. They went down this road last year, and one could reasonably assume they may not have liked the results. The other option would be to move a sizable contract out in the name of increased depth. A few options would be Seabrook or Hjalmarrson on the back-end, or perhaps Hossa up front. Although the captain’s relative cost efficiency is arguably not good, I don’t see a scenario where the Windy City management would be willing to move on from Toews. Anisimov’s play and chemistry with Kane at a cheap 2C price-tag make him unlikely to be moved, and Kruger was just signed to a cost-efficient deal.

It should be noted that if Chicago would be (for whatever reason) unable to move a contract, they could opt to leave a player unprotected for Vegas to take. This is not a likely scenario, however. Many believe that van Riemsdyk will be left unprotected, but exposing such a cheap and effective youngster seems counter-productive at this point. The problem with ditching Seabrook or Hjalmarrson is that it opens up a huge hole that is not likely to be filled much cheaper – top 4 defensemen don’t come cheap, especially considering this year’s limited UFA class. Hossa, it should be noted, has a No Movement Clause, which would severely complicate any sort of transaction involving the veteran winger.

Decisions lie aheaad for Chicago management, and the decisions may be even tougher than they were after their Cup win in 2010. That off-season, they were forced into moving Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd, and Kris Versteeg. Those tough decisions laid the groundwork for their next two titles. This is the cost of success in the post-cap era, and Chicago will again need to make sacrifices if they wish to see any more.

Kris Versteeg Hopes To Re-Sign In Calgary

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Despite being knocked out of the playoffs Wednesday night, Flames’ forward Kris Versteeg looks back fondly on his season in Calgary. Meeting with the media today, he said he’d “love to be in Calgary” next year. He also joked with Wes Gilberton of Postmedia, saying that “if [he’s] sitting in Switzerland in September, [his] agent is getting fired.” That would hit a little close to home for Versteeg, who last summer was extremely close to playing the season in Bern if it weren’t for a failed medical. Kris Versteeg

Versteeg instead took a professional tryout with the Edmonton Oilers, only to leave them just before the season for a deal in Calgary. It was a complicated offseason for Versteeg, who followed it up with another successful year, registering 37 points in 69 games and generally playing pretty well for the Flames. The 30-year old forward hasn’t found much stability in his professional career since being drafted by the Boston Bruins in the fifth round. Suiting up for the Blackhawks, Maple Leafs, Flyers, Panthers, Blackhawks (again), Hurricanes, Kings and now Flames across 619 career games, he’s produced at nearly every stop.

Earning $950K this season was a clear step backwards from the four-year, $17.6MM deal he signed with the Panthers in 2012 and he’ll look to get a raise this summer. Though he’ll never be a top player on a team, his point totals are more than acceptable for a player earning between $1-1.5MM on a short term deal. He should have several suitors, though the Flames would easily be able to afford keeping him around.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Deadline Primer: Calgary Flames

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With the trade deadline now just over a week away, we continue to take a closer look at each team. Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs?

The Calgary Flames kicked off their trade deadline a bit early this season, acquiring right-handed defenseman Michael Stone from the Arizona Coyotes on February 20th, before many other teams have even decided whether they’re true buyers or sellers. With Stone, Calgary is getting one of the top rental defenseman on the market, whether you believe in his underlying numbers or not. Depth on the blueline is no longer much of an issue for the Flames, who are still currently in a playoff spot.

While they likely won’t catch the leaders in the Pacific, they are right in the thick of the wildcard hunt with 62 points and a good young team. It’ll be an interesting deadline to be sure, as the team doesn’t seem like it is finished just yet.

Record

29-26-4, 4th in Pacific Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$2.67MM – full-season cap hit due to LTIR space, 47/50 contracts per CapFriendly.

Draft Picks

2017: CGY 1st, CGY 2nd, CGY 4th, CGY 5th, CGY 6th, CGY 7th
2018: CGY 1st, CGY 2nd, CGY 4th, FLA 4th, CGY 5th, CGY 6th, CGY 7th

Trade Chips

The Flames used a couple of picks to grab Stone, and it looks like if they want to do anything else it would be more of the same. The Flames don’t have much off their roster that they would be willing to move outside of Dennis Wideman who is making too much money for too little performance for anyone to want him. The team could trade Micheal Ferland or Matt Stajan if they thought they could upgrade in the bottom-six, but it would be tough to find a deal that makes sense for either one. Sam Bennett

The most talked about name going into the deadline will be Sam Bennett, but without much cause. The team doesn’t seem like it is anywhere close to accepting the idea that they need to move on from the former 4th-overall pick, despite his down season. Bennett is only 20, and if teams gave up on their top picks that early they’d find themselves in the lottery more often than not.

In terms of prospect capital, the Flames could waive Hunter Shinkaruk or Tyler Wotherspoon around hoping for a bite, though neither would get the return that the team would jump at. There system is filled with former top prospects who are almost getting to the point where they need to be tested in the NHL, and perhaps a rebuilding squad would take a chance on one or two of them.

Five Players To Watch: G Brian Elliott, D Dennis Wideman, F Micheal Ferland, D Jyrki Jokipakka, F Kris Versteeg

Team Needs

1) Goaltending – It almost stops here (no pun intended) for the Flames after they addressed their second defense pairing with Stone. Their goaltending has simply not been good enough for a team that wants to make a splash in the playoffs. Elliott hasn’t been anything close to what the team had thought they were getting, and Chad Johnson has been admirable but average in his takeover. If the Flames could find a legitimate number 1 goaltender it would be a big help, but even a capable 1A guy that can split the rest of the season with Johnson could be helpful. If Mike Smith hadn’t been told he’s staying in Arizona it would be a perfect fit.

2) Third-Line Center – Though the team shouldn’t give up long-term on Bennett, they need to find a capable leader for their third line that isn’t him. Stajan is no longer capable of that kind of role, and the bouncing ball of wingers isn’t helping. If the Flames could find a legitimate shutdown center capable of driving that line, their forward group would get a lot more dangerous as a whole.

3) Top-Six Right Winger – If they can’t find the center, then adding a better option than Versteeg or Troy Brouwer on the top line is a must. Though both are capable of 20+ goal seasons at their best, they haven’t shown that ability this season. Replacing Versteeg with a more dangerous scoring threat would take some of the pressure off the kids up front and allow Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan to show what they can do offensively.

Pacific Notes: Anaheim’s Coaching, Versteeg, Tanev

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While it’s not often that a team will change their head coach but keep all of the assistants around, that’s what the Ducks did this offseason when they brought back Randy Carlyle, writes Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register.  GM Bob Murray noted that he and Carlyle had agreed to try working with the retained assistants for a year and then they would decide from there what to do but it’s hard to imagine changes at this point considering the team is comfortably in a playoff spot and only two points out of the division lead.  That was different from when Murray fired Carlyle back in 2011 as both assistant coaches were let go at the same time as well.

One of Anaheim’s assistants is former Ottawa bench boss Paul MacLean.  While he’s pleased with his current situation – it certainly helps that MacLean and Carlyle were teammates back with Winnipeg back in the 1980s – he indicated to Stephens that he would like to be a head coach again someday:

“Do I want to be a head coach again? Absolutely. I’d take that opportunity. If it comes my way, it would be something I would accept. But at the same time, I can’t just say I want to be that (team’s) coach. They’d have to come and ask you. If they don’t ask you, you’re not even in the conversation. My goal would be to move on and be a head coach at another point in time. Until that time arrives – or if it never arrives – I’m perfectly satisfied with the type of work that I can get done here.”

If the Ducks continue their strong play this season, it’s likely that MacLean will be in the conversation for any potential head coaching openings so that continuity behind the bench may not last much longer.

Elsewhere in the Pacific Division:

  • It has been an adventurous few months for Kris Versteeg. After his deal in Switzerland was voided, he wound up with Edmonton in training camp, then spurned an offer from them to join Calgary.  Now, as Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Sun notes, Versteeg has had some tough luck with the injury bug, dealing with three separate injuries over the past six weeks.  The 30 year old made his latest return to the lineup yesterday against Tampa Bay after missing two games with an upper body issue.  When healthy, Versteeg has been a nice addition for the Flames with 11 points in just 20 games, giving them a bargain for his $950K cap hit.
  • Canucks defenseman Chris Tanev took part in practice today, reports Sportsnet’s Dan Murphy (Twitter link). He has missed the last 20 games with an ankle injury and while he likely won’t be ready to return after just one practice, this suggests he’s at least closer to returning which would be a big boost for a Vancouver back end that is also missing Alex Edler and Philip Larsen.

Calgary Flames Send Shinkaruk To AHL

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After a huge win powered by the return of Johnny Gaudreau last night, the Calgary Flames have trimmed their roster by one. Hunter Shinkaruk, the former first-round pick of the Vancouver Canucks has been sent to the Stockton Heat of the AHL. The team will likely hold the roster spot open for Lance Bouma’s return from injured reserve this week.

Shinkaruk was recalled exactly a month ago when Kris Versteeg was sidelined with a groin issue, and stayed with the team through various other injuries. The forward didn’t see much icetime however, as he only suited up for seven NHL games and played less than 10 minutes most nights. A single assist is all he can show for it and, as Mark Spector of Sportsnet says: “by all accounts, he’s not ready.”

The 22-year old Shinkaruk had a great season in the AHL last year, split between Utica and Stockton – he was traded for Markus Granlund in Feburary – scoring 51 points in 62 games. The former Medicine Hat Tiger has always been projected as a top-six forward capable of scoring in bunches, but hasn’t been given a real chance in the NHL yet.

Bouma, sidelined at the same time as Versteeg a month ago, has gotten into 13 contests this year and has just one point. The veteran forward is a much better fit for the bottom-six role, and offers a much more physical game. Just two seasons ago Bouma ranked seventh in the league in hits with 264 though has dealt with injuries since then. That was also his best offensive season, one in which he scored 16 goals and 34 points and looked like a key piece going forward for the upstart Flames.

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