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COVID Protocol Related Absences: 01/23/21

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Each day, the NHL will publicly release the list of players that are unavailable to their respective teams due to being in COVID-19 protocol. The Nashville Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins are still listed as TBA, but the rest of the list is in:

Carolina – Warren Foegele, Jordan Martinook, Jaccob Slavin, Jordan Staal, Teuvo Teravainen, Jesper Fast*
Columbus – Patrik Laine*, Jack Roslovic*
Dallas – Blake Comeau
Detroit – Adam Erne, Robby Fabbri, Sam Gagner, Jon Merrill, Filip Zadina
New Jersey – Jesper Bratt, Mackenzie Blackwood
Tampa Bay –  Curtis McElhinney
Washington – Evgeny Kuznetsov, Dmitry Orlov, Alex Ovechkin, Ilya Samsonov
Winnipeg – Tucker Poolman, Pierre-Luc Dubois*

As a reminder, inclusion on this list does not mean that a player has tested positive for Coronavirus or even that they have been confirmed as a close contact to another positive person. Included in the NHL’s list of possible reasons for someone being on the list is are the following:

(1) an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (2) mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (3) required quarantine as a high-risk close contact in accordance with the Positive Test Protocol; (4) isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or; (5) quarantine for travel or other reasons as outlined in the COVID-19 Protocol

Players removed today: Mikko Koivu, Columbus Blue Jackets; Anton Forsberg, Winnipeg Jets

Obviously, the big names today are those that swapped teams, as Laine, Roslovic, and Dubois are all listed. Roslovic was already in his hometown of Columbus awaiting a new contract, meaning he has immediately entered the protocol, while Laine and Dubois will also need to travel and face government-imposed quarantines.

Fast becomes the sixth Hurricanes player on the list, taking away another option as they wait out the postponed games.

*denotes new addition

COVID Protocol Related Absences: 01/22/21

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Each day, the NHL will publicly release the list of players that are unavailable to their respective teams due to being in COVID-19 protocol. The Los Angeles Kings are still listed as TBA, but the rest of the list is in:

Carolina – Warren Foegele, Jordan Martinook, Jaccob Slavin, Jordan Staal, Teuvo Teravainen
Columbus – Mikko Koivu
Dallas – Blake Comeau*
Detroit – Adam Erne, Robby Fabbri, Sam Gagner, Jon Merrill, Filip Zadina*
New Jersey – Jesper Bratt, Mackenzie Blackwood
Tampa Bay –  Curtis McElhinney
Washington – Evgeny Kuznetsov, Dmitry Orlov, Alex Ovechkin, Ilya Samsonov
Winnipeg – Anton Forsberg, Tucker Poolman

As a reminder, inclusion on this list does not mean that a player has tested positive for Coronavirus or even that they have been confirmed as a close contact to another positive person. Included in the NHL’s list of possible reasons for someone being on the list is are the following:

(1) an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (2) mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (3) required quarantine as a high-risk close contact in accordance with the Positive Test Protocol; (4) isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or; (5) quarantine for travel or other reasons as outlined in the COVID-19 Protocol

Players removed today: Juho Lammikko, Florida Panthers; Alex Stalock, Minnesota Wild

This is the first time that the Dallas Stars have been included on the list as they prepare to start their season tonight. They had a significant outbreak early in camp as 17 of the 27 players that tested positive in training camp were from the Stars, but Comeau is now the only player listed on the CPRA.

Koivu’s presence on the list does raise some questions since he returned to the optional practice the Blue Jackets held this morning. Perhaps this is simply an oversight and he will be removed, but for now it appears as though he is still in the COVID protocol.

Zadina joins a growing list of Red Wings on the list for the first time, now down five players. The team recalled Givani Smith earlier today, giving them another forward option for their game tonight.

*denotes new addition

Poll: How Should New Jersey Replace Corey Crawford?

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There has been no shortage of praise for young New Jersey Devils netminder Mackenzie Blackwood over the past two years. The 24-year-old goalie has already posted back-to-back seasons with a save percentage of .915 or better over a combined 70 appearances. Last year, he got the results to boot, recording a 2214-8 record – a .591 points percentage versus the Devils’ .493 points percentage on the year. Yet, New Jersey still went out and signed veteran keeper Corey Crawford to a substantial two-year deal this off-season. The move signaled that the Devils do not believe that Blackwood is ready to be a workhorse solo act just yet. So, now that Crawford has taken an indefinite leave of absence from the team, what comes next for the Devils in net? New Jersey trusts Blackwood to carry the load in an emergency, but the club does not want to start off a fresh season already short-handed.

How should the Devils replace Crawford?

Internally

Although Crawford is currently gone, there is still no word as to the reasoning nor any projected timeline for his return. Rather than make a move, the Devils could simply look at their internal options to pair with Blackwood for the time being and hope that Crawford’s absence is not too lengthy. Veteran Scott Wedgewood made his return to New Jersey as a free agent this off-season and could be the top option to back up Blackwood as things currently stand. Wedgewood, 28, has 24 games of NHL experience with middling results. He also has considerable AHL experience, but after years as a top workhorse in the league, his numbers have tailed off of late. Wedgewood would be a safe choice given his familiarity with the NHL game, but lacks upside. On the flip side, there is Gilles Senn. Senn, 24, is only in his second season in North America, but already played two games with New Jersey last season. The Swiss wunderkind has been playing games at a top pro level as a teen as well. While he is not yet a polished product and is still adjusting to the competition level of the NHL and AHL, Senn is certainly not afraid of the pressure and is arguably the superior talent to Wedgewood. Evan Cormier, 23, struggled in the AHL and ECHL last year and is not a realistic candidate for an NHL job. So are Wedgewood and/or Senn enough? Or do the Devils need to look elsewhere?

Free Agency

The simplest way to add a goaltender to the mix would simply be to sign one. However, there are not many options to choose from. The top possibility maybe long-time Detroit Red Wing Jimmy Howard, simply because he is an established NHL goaltender and is not currently tied up in a PTO. Yet, there is a genuine question as to whether the sun has set on Howard’s career. Of the 57 NHL goalies who made at least 20 appearances last year, Howard finished dead last in both save percentage and goals against average. At 35, he may be done and not worth another look. However, 2019-20 did mark a steep drop-off in performance for Howard, who had remained a sold starter prior and was an elite keeper for Detroit as recently as 2016-17. So perhaps there is hope for another go-round for Howard.

A similar option to Howard, an aging vet whose play fell off considerably last season but has a long track record of success is Craig Anderson. The former Ottawa Senators starter is currently on a PTO with the Washington Capitals, though. Are the Devils willing to wait for the Capitals’ decision? And if so, is Anderson really much better than Howard, especially given his greater age and injury history?

Another option on a PTO, though expected to be released, is Scott Darling. Darling spent last season overseas, but is back in North America looking for an opportunity. When last he played in the NHL, Darling struggled greatly in two seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes. However, he was playing in the starter’s role at that time. Prior to Carolina, Darling was an incredibly effective backup – arguably the league’s best – in three seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks. Could the possibility that he returns to form in a fallback role behind Blackwood combined with his familiarity with Crawford make him the top candidate?

Ex-Devil Cory Schneider is also awaiting the results of a PTO with the New York Islanders, but either way a reunion seems unlikely. Mike Condon is another option and while he has shown promise in the past, two straight horrendous seasons make it difficult to trust him. Zane McIntyre and Richard Bachman round out the list of uninspiring free agent options.

Trade/Waivers

Of course, the Devils have the best chance to find a more suitable backup in the much deeper pool of already-signed players. While they could go the direct route and pursue a trade, there are also going to be numerous strong options available on waivers in the coming days, including the Anaheim Ducks’ Anthony Stolarz who already hit the wire today. Here are some other trade and waivers possibilities:

Adin Hill, Arizona Coyotes
Dustin Tokarski, Buffalo Sabres
Louis Domingue, Calgary Flames
Alex Nedeljkovic, Carolina Hurricanes
Calvin Pickard, Detroit Red Wings
Anton Forsberg, Edmonton Oilers
Andrew Hammond, Minnesota Wild
Charlie Lindgren, Montreal Canadiens
Keith Kinkaid, New York Rangers
Alex Lyon, Philadelphia Flyers
Jon Gillies, St. Louis Blues
Aaron Dell, Toronto Maple Leafs
Michael Hutchinson, Toronto Maple Leafs
Oscar Dansk, Vegas Golden Knights
Pheonix Copley, Washington Capitals
Eric Comrie, Winnipeg Jets

With some established NHL backups, plenty of intriguing young options, and even soma familiar faces like Kinkaid and Domingue, the Devils certainly have plenty to choose from. Do they feel the need to make a trade and give up assets? Or can they hold out for waivers? Or is all the uncertainty just too much for a situation that needs an immediate and clear solution?

Stand pat, scour the remnants of the open market, or make a move for a signed player? What do you think the Devils should do in light of the news of Crawford’s indefinite leave?

[mobile users vote here]

 

 

Mackenzie Blackwood Re-Signs With New Jersey Devils

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The New Jersey Devils have signed restricted free agent goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood to a new three-year contract. The deal will pay the young netminder $1.475MM in 2020-21, $2.8MM in 2021-22 and $4.125MM in 2022-23 for an average annual value of $2.8MM. Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald explained just what Blackwood means to the organization:

Mackenzie is going to be one of the key young, core pieces for this organization for a long time and we are excited and extremely happy to have him under contract. He’s obviously shown that he can be a number one goalie, and the sky’s the limit for him.

The sky is the limit indeed. The 24-year-old Blackwood was selected 42nd overall in 2015 and has slowly but surely worked his way up the ladder to become a starting goaltender in the NHL. In 2018-19 he appeared in 23 games for the Devils, posting a .918 save percentage and going 10-10 on a dreadful team. Last season the Devils still struggled, but Blackwood was a bright light in the darkness, posting a .915 and a 22-14-8 record. Remember that New Jersey went 28-29-12 overall, meaning the team won only six games all year without Blackwood in the crease.

That kind of reliance might not be necessary this season as the Devils brought in Corey Crawford to serve as a tandem option during a shortened season. The 35-year-old Crawford is still an effective netminder and can help take some of the pressure off Blackwood this year, while still serving as a capable backup in a regular 82-game 2021-22 season.

New Jersey will be spending quite a bit on goaltending, even if it pales in comparison to places like Montreal and Florida who have spent big in recent years. Not only will Crawford carry a $3.9MM hit and Blackwood this $2.8MM, but the Devils will also still owe $2MM to Cory Schneider in each of the next four seasons after his October buyout.

At any rate, this is Blackwood’s net to take for the next decade if he wants it. The Devils are trying to build the organization back up to compete with the other Metropolitan powerhouses, who each seem to have their own young goaltending star, and will need the Thunder Bay native to be a big part.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Mid-Tier Restricted Free Agents Still Waiting On Contracts

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According to many of the reports that have surfaced over the past few days, an NHL season is expected to start on January 13. That means training camp is just a few weeks away and teams only have that time—which includes the holiday season—to get deals done with their restricted free agents. Sure, everyone knows about the negotiations with Mathew Barzal, Pierre-Luc Dubois, and Anthony Cirelli, three players who have grown into NHL stars, but there are many other mid-tier RFAs that are still waiting on contracts too.

Dylan Strome should perhaps have more ink spilled over his ongoing negotiations, given he is a third-overall pick that has scored 89 points in 106 games since coming to the Chicago Blackhawks. For some reason—perhaps because of the stardom of Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews or the up-and-coming status of Kirby Dach—Strome seems to get lost a bit when writing about the Blackhawks. That’s a mistake. The 6’3″ center is still only 23 years old could very well still become the difference-maker that many believe he would when he was picked so high in 2015. Even if he doesn’t ever reach that first-line role, Strome is still an extremely valuable player to the Blackhawks and needs a new deal.

Think back to the start of the 2017-18 season and remember, when a barely 19-year-old sixth-round pick made his entrance. Jesper Bratt, a late-round flier for the New Jersey Devils, played so well in training camp that he earned a roster spot and then scored six points in his first three NHL games. It’s a few unspectacular years later, but Bratt is still not one to be completely overlooked. Now just 22, he has 100 points in 185 career games including a strong 16-goal effort in 60 games last season. It’s not just Bratt either, the Devils also have Mackenzie Blackwood to sign, their goaltender of the future.

One of the more interesting mid-tier names to follow is Ethan Bear, who really stood out as a potential star on the Edmonton Oilers blueline last season. The 23-year-old doesn’t have a lot of leverage after playing just 89 games to this point in his career, but the Oilers would do well to lock him up before a true breakout. Of course, Edmonton doesn’t have any cap space at the moment and will need to make a transaction of some sort to even fit Bear in. Oscar Klefbom’s status likely has a lot to do with the holdup, as the veteran defenseman is expected to miss a good chunk of the season. Placing him on long-term injured reserve would give the Oilers room to sign Bear, but the team could be waiting for the mechanics of the cap in a shortened COVID-19 season to be sorted out before making any moves.

Perhaps most interesting (at least to this writer), is the situation with Casey Mittelstadt and the Buffalo Sabres. Picked eighth overall in 2017, this is a make-or-break year for the young forward, who hasn’t at all established himself at the NHL level to this point. Mittelstadt did play in 77 games during the 2018-19 season but was often overwhelmed by more experienced players at even-strength and ended up with just 25 points—ten of them on the powerplay. This year he split the season between the NHL and AHL, and though he did find some success in the minor leagues, he wasn’t the dominant playmaking force that many expected. Instead, he scored just 25 points in 36 games, finishing close to the very bottom of the roster at -15.

For a player like Mittelstadt, what is the answer here? The AHL isn’t even guaranteed to have a season at this point and a full year of taxi service—traveling but rarely playing with the improved Sabres—seems counterproductive for his development. It’s not often that a trip overseas is a good thing for a high draft pick three years into his professional career, but it’s easy to see how a full year playing abroad could have been more beneficial to Mittelstadt than whatever this season holds. Given his complete lack of leverage, you would expect him to be signed already, but alas, he’s now nine months from his last competitive game and it’s not clear when his next one will be.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Corey Crawford Signs With New Jersey Devils

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The New Jersey Devils have jumped into the free agent mix with their first signing of the day, and it’s a big one. Corey Crawford has signed a two-year contract with the team, joining Mackenzie Blackwood as a formidable tandem in net. Crawford’s new deal will have an average annual value of $3.9MM. Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald released a statement on his new netminder:

We are excited to bring Corey into our organization, as he is a proven winner and two-time Stanley Cup Champion. We will look to him to assume a leadership role and be a strong presence for our young core. Crawford’s compete level and ability to battle will rub off on the entire group. This opportunity also provides him with a new challenge in his career.

Crawford will earn $3.6MM in 2020-21 and $4.2MM in 2021-22.  He leaves Chicago after nearly 600 games, including the 96 postseason matches that landed him and the organization two Stanley Cup championships. The 35-year-old goaltender has dealt with concussion issues and a revolving door of teammates, but still managed to put up at least a .917 save percentage in nine of his 13 seasons with the Blackhawks.

In New Jersey, he won’t be the full-time starter, even though he’s likely going to be paid substantially more than Blackwood. The 23-year-old is the heir to the crease for the Devils, but is also a restricted free agent without arbitration rights this offseason. He’ll now have a mentor to work alongside as New Jersey attempts to continue to build a team around Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes and others. Crawford will get a chance to play a lot and prove he still has game, especially in a condensed 2020-21 season where both goaltenders will be needed frequently.

New Jersey Devils Issue Qualifying Offers

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The New Jersey Devils have issued qualifying offers to Mackenzie Blackwood, Jesper Bratt, Joey Anderson, Nick Merkley and Colton White, keeping them in the organization. The team did not qualify John Hayden or Mirco Mueller, meaning both players will become unrestricted free agents on Friday.

The five that were qualified don’t come as much of a surprise, but figuring out contract extensions with Blackwood and Bratt should be a priority for GM Tom Fitzgerald this offseason. The 23-year-old Blackwood has established himself as the team’s starting goaltender after posting a .916 save percentage across his first 70 appearances. Bratt meanwhile scored 16 goals this season, trailing only Kyle Palmieri and the departed Blake Coleman for the team lead.

It’s Hayden and Mueller that may raise some eyebrows, as both were regulars for the Devils this year. Hayden, a third-round pick by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013, suited up 43 times for the Devils this year but scored just three goals. He was arbitration-eligible and could have secured a bigger deal than his qualifying offer, but with only 11 goals and 26 points in 156 games it is not like he was going to break the bank.

Mueller meanwhile was a first-round pick back in 2013 by the San Jose Sharks and has spent the last three seasons with the Devils. In 2019-20 he played 50 games for the team on a one-year $1.4MM contract, meaning his qualifying offer would have cost them the same amount.

Perhaps the team is just ready to move on, or perhaps this is another example of finances playing a part in the team’s decisions this offseason. Most have expected a few extra names to go unqualified, adding to a big free agent pool.

Cory Schneider, Ryan Miller Discuss Playing Futures

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The current pause in the NHL season has had a major effect on each and every player in the league and could have a lasting impact on careers beyond this year. However, veteran players may be influenced the most, as the past two months have provided insight as to what a life after hockey might look like. The New Jersey Devils’ Cory Schneider and the Anaheim Ducks’ Ryan Miller, two aging goalies whose futures were in question even before the pandemic, recently spoke on how they are feeling about their current circumstances and the outlook on the rest of their careers.

Schneider, 34, remains optimistic that his playing days are far from over. Schneider told NHL.com’s Mike Morreale that he is using this time to get back into “peak physical condition” and that he has not “entertained thoughts of retirement at all.” Schneider suffered a major core injury in 2015-16 and has not been the same player since. Once one of the league’s top goalies, his numbers have dropped precipitously year-to-year as he has struggled to stay healthy and to rediscover his elite form. Now passed up as the Devils’ started by young MacKenzie Blackwood, Schneider has two years left on his contract at $6MM AAV and would be a prime buyout candidate, standard or compliance, for New Jersey. However, Schneider’s hope is to remain with the team. “”I’m not naive to the business side of things,” Schneider explained, “but I feel that when I’m playing well, I can do a lot for our team on the ice and off the ice. That’s the role that I want to fill.” Schneider best chance to continue playing in a meaningful NHL role may also come with New Jersey. If he were bought out, Schneider would find himself in a free agent market this off-season that is chock-full of veteran keepers looking for one last contract and teams without much money to spend on aging backups.

Miller, 39, is part of that group. While Miller’s numbers in 2019-20 are the worst of his career, they are still palatable, especially in a backup role. Miller has in fact maintained a solid and at times stellar level of performance throughout his late 30’s. While no one would blame the former star netminder for calling it quits at his age with his resume, Miller has maintained that he would like to continue playing. Previously, the obstacles to that plan were Miller’s insistence on remaining in the California area near his family, as well as the aforementioned market, which also includes names like Mike Smith, Jimmy Howard, Craig Anderson, Corey Crawford, and Brian Elliott as older names who are past their prime and just looking for one last go-round. However, Miller recently spoke to Sportsnet’s Gene Principe and admitted that the COVID-19 pause has placed another roadblock in the way of extending his career: not wanting to leave newfound day-to-day role with his family amid the return to a “new normal” post-pandemic. “There’s a lot of talk here in California that schools are not going to be fully in session possibly into next year. That changes the dynamic around the house and what needs to happen and what’s important,” Miller stated, adding “what that means for sports and life – and wrapped up in that is family and how family is going to need to be taken care of during this time.” It remains to be seen whether remaining with the Ducks would be an option for Miller and if that would even allow him to be comfortable in his role with his family. If not, no one would blame Miller for hanging up his skates and his departure would allow for one other veteran keeper, perhaps even Schneider, to continue pursuing his career dreams.

Snapshots: Draft Odds, Blackwood, Canucks

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The Detroit Red Wings would be the beneficiaries of the revised draft lottery the league suggested in a memo over the weekend, given that they are currently the team last in the NHL standings. Not only would they have the highest chance to win the lottery themselves, but with the winner only allowed to move up four spots Detroit would have a good chance at losing the lottery but maintaining their first-overall selection.

Travis Yost of TSN broke out the numbers today, showing how Detroit went from having a 51% chance of selecting fourth in the regular format to a 57% of selecting first in the revised one. That kind of change is huge for a club like Detroit who are looking for another star to build their next competitive team around. The entire set of odds is in Yost’s article, but it is important to note that this format has not yet been officially adopted by the league.

  • MacKenzie Blackwood is scheduled to become a restricted free agent for the first time after this season comes to an end, but it doesn’t sound like he’s going to be a tough negotiation for the New Jersey Devils. The young goaltender told Mike Morreale of NHL.com that he loves playing in New Jersey and hopes the two sides “can figure something out” to keep him there for a long time. The 23-year old Blackwood posted a .915 save percentage in 47 appearances this season and looks to be the Devils’ starter for the foreseeable future.
  • Edmonton isn’t the only western Canadian city that is offering to host games should the NHL resume this summer. Ryan Rishaug of TSN reports that Vancouver has also submitted a proposal to the league to be a host city. There is obviously nothing decided yet by the league on where games will be held should they be played at some point in the next few months.

NHL Announces Player Gaming Challenge

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The NHL is trying desperately to stay relevant even as their season sits in limbo and have today announced a new feature for fans to tune into. The NHL Player Gaming Challenge will be a tournament of EA SPORTS NHL 20 games featuring players from each of the 32 organizations. The tournament will go for four weeks starting on April 30th. The league and EA will donate a combined $100,000 in support of COVID-19 relief.

Because the Seattle expansion franchise doesn’t have any players to represent them at this point, Luke Willson from the Seattle Seahawks of the NHL will carry the torch.

The full list of participants:

Anaheim Ducks: Cam Fowler

Arizona Coyotes: Conor Garland, Clayton Keller

Boston Bruins: Jake Debrusk, Charlie McAvoy

Buffalo Sabres: Brandon Montour

Calgary Flames: Noah Hanifin, Matthew Tkachuk

Carolina Hurricanes: Warren Foegele

Chicago Blackhawks: Drake Caggiula, Alex DeBrincat

Columbus Blue Jackets: Elvis Merzlikins, Zach Werenski

Colorado Avalanche: J.T. Compher

Dallas Stars: Stephen Johns, Jamie Oleksiak

Detroit Redwings: Madison Bowey, Anthony Mantha

Edmonton Oilers: Caleb Jones, Darnell Nurse

Florida Panthers: Jonathan Huberdeau

Los Angeles Kings: Michael Amadio, Blake Lizotte

Minnesota Wild: Devan Dubnyk, Jordan Greenway

Montreal Canadiens: Victor Mete, Nick Suzuki

Nashville Predators: Filip Forsberg

New Jersey Devils: MacKenzie Blackwood

New York Islanders: Matt Martin

New York Rangers: Chris Kreider

NHL Seattle: Luke Willson, Seattle Seahawks (NFL)

Ottawa Senators: Brady Tkachuk, Chris Tierney

Philadelphia Flyers: James van Riemsdyk

Pittsburgh Penguins: Zach Aston-Reese, Bryan Rust

San Jose Sharks: Evander Kane, Marcus Sorensen

St Louis Blues: Colton Parayko, Robert Thomas

Tampa Bay Lightning: Tyler Johnson

Toronto Maple Leafs: Zach Hyman

Vancouver Canucks: Thatcher Demko, Adam Gaudette

Vegas Golden Knights: Ryan Reaves, Alex Tuch

Washington Capitals: Evgeny Kuznetsov

Winnipeg Jets: Anthony Bitetto, Kyle Connor

Select games can be seen on NBC Sports and Sportsnet ONE. All matches will also air within NHL Network’s on-air programming or its Twitch channel.

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

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