World Cup Notes: Team USA, Seguin, Olympics
The World Cup of Hockey starts today in Toronto, and Team USA will take on Team Europe in the first game of the revamped tournament. While the American team has one of the strongest teams in their history, head coach John Tortorella has made some interesting decisions going into the opener. As Dan Rosen of NHL.com tweets, the infamous head coach has scratched Kyle Palmieri, Dustin Byfuglien and Cory Schneider for the afternoon matchup.
Byfuglien, part of the team’s original 16 named players, was expected to be a big part of the top pairing on this team and a weapon on the powerplay. As Tom Gulitti adds, Tortorella said just this week that he was excited about the Jets’ blueliner’s big shot. Instead, Erik Johnson will suit up as the team’s sixth defenseman.
- Tyler Seguin, who injured his foot this week in a pre-tournament match, is not expected to miss any training camp, as Mike Leslie of WFAA in Dallas reports. The hairline fracture that the Stars’ forward suffered is not serious enough to warrant him missing much time, and did not come as a surprise to the Dallas medical staff. Seguin was replaced by Ryan O’Reilly on Team Canada’s roster.
- In a new column from Helene Elliott of the LA Times, she examines how any success at the World Cup will give the NHL leverage in any Olympic negotiations down the road. With players and fans getting their international fix from the pre-season tournament, the league is not necessarily obligated to send players to the Winter Games, which usually causes an ugly stoppage mid-season, and prevents the league from hosting their all-star events. With the build up for the tournament being mixed, but overall fairly positive, it seems the league and NHLPA will have a strong bargaining chip to play to try and get a pay structure put in place for any player headed to the Olympics.
Arbitration Breakdown: Chris Kreider
With the clock ticking down, the New York Rangers and the camp for Chris Kreider have filed their respective briefs in advance of Friday’s scheduled arbitration hearing, as we earlier reported on Pro Hockey Rumors. The Rangers offered a figure of $3.2MM while Kreider has requested $4.75MM in salary for the 2016-17 campaign.
The apparently wide gulf is indicative of a typical negotiating ploy being utilized by both parties. Kreider’s side comes in on the high end while the club submits a lower number, each with the knowledge that arbitrators typically award a number comfortably between the two positions. Should this actually go to a hearing, and there is every reason to believe negotiations on a long-term deal are being conducted as we speak, the arbitrator likely would award a one-year salary of around $4MM, roughly near the midpoint of the figures exchanged.
If we operate under the supposition both sides are willing to do a long term deal, what would Kreider then be worth?
Kreider’s is an interesting case. Still just 25, the former Boston College standout and former first-round pick possesses a rare blend of size, speed and skill. The six-foot-three, 226-pound winger is among the fastest straight line skaters in the game today and creates numerous scoring chances due solely to his physical skills. When fully engaged, Kreider has the ability to dominate entire games with his speed and physicality.
Following a 21-goal performance during the 2014-15 campaign, it was believed Kreider might finally be realizing his vast potential and a 30-goal season was considered the logical next step in his development. But Kreider struggled with consistency in 2015-16, an all-too-frequent experience during his burgeoning career (and frankly one shared by many young players), and needed five tallies in his final eight games to match his 2014-15 output.
Still, 20-goal scorers in their prime and with additional offensive upside are not cheap. Fortunately, a couple of recent RFA signings can be used for comparative purposes to help determine just how much Kreider may be worth.
Kyle Palmieri recently inked a five-year deal with New Jersey that comes with an AAV of $4.65MM per season. Palmieri is coming off a better platform campaign than Kreider, tallying career highs in both goals with 30 and points with 57.
Meanwhile, Washington Capitals forward Marcus Johansson, avoided arbitration by agreeing to a three-year, $13.75MM contract which averages out to just under $4.6MM annually. Johansson finished the 2015-16 season with 17 goals and 46 points.
On the surface both would seem to serve as obvious comparables. And while their contracts certainly help us hone in on Kreider’s potential value, the big winger has some advantages over his peers that could boost his value.
First, even though Kreider’s 43-point 2015-16 output falls short of Palmieri (57) and Johansson (46), his 1.85 points/60 at five-on-five (5v5) scoring rate over the last two seasons is superior. Johansson has recorded a 1.68 points/60 at 5v5 and Palmieri comes in at 1.55 over that same time frame.
Second, Kreider already has extensive postseason experience and has excelled when it matters most. He’s potted 20 goals in 65 playoff contests since debuting during the 2011-12 postseason, scoring his first playoff goal a week before his 21st birthday. Palmieri has tallied seven goals in 33 postseason games. Johansson also has seven playoff goals, albeit in 56 contests.
The New York Rangers relatively quiet foray into free agency, and the recent trade of Derick Brassard to Ottawa for Mika Zibanejad, has left the Rangers with $10.65MM in cap space according to General Fanager. With only Kevin Hayes and Marek Hrivik remaining unsigned as RFAs, it seems reasonable to conclude the Rangers have the financial wherewithal to offer a deal in the range of $5MM annually for five years. This would allow the club to buy three unrestricted free agent seasons and lock up one of their top young players through his prime years at what could be a very affordable price should he ever meet his 30-goal potential. Even as a 20-goal scorer, the cost wouldn’t be too out of line with what is paid on the open market.
Devils Re-Sign Kyle Palmieri To a Five Year Deal
New Jersey has avoided arbitration with Kyle Palmieri as the team announced Thursday that they have re-signed him to a five year, $23.25MM contract.
Last season, Palmieri was the Devils’ top point getter, collecting 30 goals and 27 assists while playing in all 82 games for the first time in his career. He also averaged a career high 17:48 of ice time per game. His 57 points nearly doubled his previous career high of 31, set with Anaheim back in 2013-14.
New Jersey acquired Palmieri from the Ducks back at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for a 2nd round pick in 2015 and a 3rd rounder in 2016, a move that looks like a bargain after how he performed last season.
In his career, Palmieri has played in 280 NHL games between Anaheim and New Jersey, scoring 73 goals and 73 assists while averaging 14:01 per night. He projects to remain the top line right winger for the Devils, potentially alongside Adam Henrique and the recently-acquired Taylor Hall.
The breakdown of the deal in terms of salary is as follows:
2016-17: $4.5MM
2017-18: $4.5MM
2018-19: $5MM
2019-20: $5MM
2020-21: $4.25MM
The Devils have a pair of remaining restricted free agents to sign this offseason, forward Reid Boucher and defenseman Reece Scarlett. They have just over $13MM in remaining cap space according to Cap Friendly.
RFAs Still Waiting On Contracts
After a busy few days watching free agent contracts be handed out like candy, and millions of dollars spent like pennies, there are still some key restricted free agents out there negotiating their next contracts. Vincent Trocheck, Filip Forsberg and Seth Jones have already received deals eclipsing $25MM, locking them in long before they even get a sniff of unrestricted free agency. Here are a few more names still waiting on deals:
- Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan of the Flames still are without deals, though reports indicate they are both open to signing long-term with Calgary and want to play with each other for “the next ten years”. The pair combined for 57 goals and 141 points last season, completed before either turned 23.
- The Ducks’ Hampus Lindholm is still without a contract, as discussed earlier today. The 22-year old is considered one of the best young defensemen in the league, and the team would like to lock him up to a similar term as partner Sami Vatanen, who received a four-year deal last month.
- After re-signing Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman and Andrei Vasilevskiy to what seem like team-friendly deals, GM Steve Yzerman still has work to do in the form of Nikita Kucherov, the team’s young sniper. Reports are that the two sides are working on a deal, but Yzerman has to be careful as the team is inching closer and closer to the salary cap with Kucherov and three other players still to sign.
- After acquiring Taylor Hall in a blockbuster deal, the Devils still have another star winger to get under contract in the form of Kyle Palmieri. The 25-year old broke out last season with 30 goals, and will be looking to cash in on his sudden performance. The Devils have over $17MM in cap space even after bringing back Devante Smith-Pelly and signing Ben Lovejoy and Vernon Fiddler.
For the entire list of RFA players, and the projected depth charts for each team head to Roster Resource and check out their detailed info.
Edmonton Trades Taylor Hall To New Jersey
First reported by Bob McKenzie of TSN, the Edmonton Oilers and New Jersey Devils have completed a deal that will see winger Taylor Hall change teams. In return, the Devils will send Adam Larsson the other way. It is a one-for-one deal, only including the two young stars.
The Oilers have been long rumored to be chasing a long-term defensive piece, and Elliotte Friedman adds that there was talk of a Hall for Larsson deal at the draft last weekend. Of course, when Jesse Puljujarvi fell to the Oilers with the fourth selection, they couldn’t convince themselves to draft a defenseman.
With the glut of young forwards that Edmonton now has they would be wise to deal one of them, however Hall looks like perhaps the best one not named McDavid. His 65 point 2015-16 season was excellent, and he’s now put up 328 points in 381 games.
In Larsson, the Oilers get an excellent young blueliner that is still locked up long-term. The 23-year old is signed through the 2020-21 season at a reasonable $4.17MM rate. While he’s not quite the shutdown number one guy many people thought that Hall would command, he is a young top-pairing defenseman who the Oilers so desperately needed. This may lend more credence to the idea that Milan Lucic has already agreed to a contract, as the Oilers completed this deal quickly after his Monday visit.
For the Devils, they get another young powerhouse talent to add to their forward group alongside Adam Henrique, Kyle Palmieri and Pavel Zacha. With a young corps of defensemen still under contract, Larsson was deemed expendable in order to get this kind of talent. First impressions are an absolute robbery by the Devils, who have more than enough room to add a top talent on a $6MM/year deal.
Free Agent Focus: New Jersey Devils
The first post-Lou Lamoriello year didn’t go as well as many fans in New Jersey would have hoped as the team missed the postseason by a dozen points. GM Ray Shero has some work to do to if he wants to turn this roster into a playoff contender for next season. Here is a look at their free agent situation.
Key Restricted Free Agents: Kyle Palmieri was a major bright spot for the Devils after being acquired at the 2015 draft from Anaheim. The 25 year old winger posted a career best 57 points (his previous high was 31) while adding 30 goals, leading the team in both of those categories. Palmieri earned just $1.6MM and could potentially triple that on a long-term deal.
Blueliner Jon Merrill is coming off his entry-level contract and has spent the last two years strictly in the NHL. However, various injuries (including shoulder surgery back in March) limited him to 47 games last year. Merrill is a candidate to move into a top-4 role for 2016-17 but may have to settle for a one year pact, allowing the team to evaluate how his shoulder heals and he how he fares in a bigger role.
Other RFA’s: F Reid Boucher, F Jacob Josefson, F Sergei Kalinin, F Devante Smith-Pelly
Key Unrestricted Free Agents: Patrik Elias missed most of last season with knee problems (and underwent surgery again back in May) but still managed to pick up eight points in 16 games, a similar points-per-game mark as 2014-15. The 40 year old forward is clearly on the downswing of his career but still has the potential to be a second liner moving forward if he’s fully healthy.
David Schlemko was largely an unnoticed pick up for New Jersey last offseason but he wound up playing an important role for them, averaging 18:38 per game, good for fourth amongst Devils defensemen. He also picked up a career high in points with 17 in 67 games. Schlemko made just $625,000 last year but should be poised to receive a decent raise in free agency.
Other UFA’s: F Bobby Farnham, F Stephen Gionta, F Tyler Kennedy, F Tuomo Ruutu, F Jiri Tlusty, F Jordin Tootoo, D David Warsofsky
Cap Situation: The Devils find themselves with over $25MM in projected cap space, according to Cap Friendly. They have 6-7 roster spots to fill but New Jersey is not typically a spend-to-the-max team so while they have a lot of cap space, their actual budget room is likely considerably lower.