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Marco Scandella

West Notes: Second Round Schedule, Blues, Glendening

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Even with so many Game 7s on the calendar this weekend, we’re starting to receive some clarity on the upcoming Second Round schedule. NHL.com writer Lou Korac reports that it “sounds like” the Second Round matchup between the Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues will start Tuesday, May 17.

With that said, there’s a strong potential we could see an off day with no games on Monday. The only series that could begin on Monday without a team playing back-to-back is the matchups between the Florida Panthers and the winner of tonight’s Game 7 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning. With the league strictly using an alternating schedule of games during the First Round, it’s not outlandish to say that it’s either two games or no games on Monday night.

Marco Scandella Leaves Game With Lower-Body Injury

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Make that four regular defensemen out of the lineup for the St. Louis Blues. On the TBS broadcast of the game, it was revealed that Marco Scandella would not return to Game 4 of the First Round Series between the Blues and the Minnesota Wild with a lower-body injury.

Fortunately for the Blues, youngster Scott Perunovich was ready to go for today’s game after almost four months’ worth of inactivity, permitting them to dress seven defensemen. However, this now means the entirety of the Blues’ top three left defensemen are out of the lineup (Scandella, Torey Krug, Nick Leddy). Right-shot man Robert Bortuzzo is out of the lineup as well.

It’s an incredible turn of bad luck for the Blues, who had a strong start to Game 4 but trail in the series 2-1. Against a team like the Wild who can roll three lines, that many injuries on defense are almost a death sentence for the Blues.

They’ll need Perunovich, Calle Rosen, and Niko Mikkola to step up in a big way, in addition to whatever goalie is in net, in order for the Blues to come back in the series and complete what at this point would be a very large upset.

Central Notes: Kubalik, Blues, MacDonald

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Blackhawks winger Dominik Kubalik is one of the more interesting wingers that currently is in trade speculation.  He’s only two years removed from a 30-goal campaign and still has another year of team control remaining through arbitration.  However, he isn’t having a particularly strong year and that qualifying offer stands at $4MM, a high price for someone whose production is on pace for a 31-point season.  Accordingly, Mark Lazerus of The Athletic pegs (subscription link) the 26-year-old as a deadline enigma.  If Kubalik has his way, he’d like to stick around with Chicago and not be moved:

Chicago gave me an opportunity to be in the NHL and I love it there. So I’d love to stay.

The question for Blackhawks interim GM Kyle Davidson will be figuring out where the line is between opting for what would probably be an underwhelming trade return (relative to how he played a couple of years ago as a rookie) and where the smarter play would be to keep and qualify him this summer to give him one more chance.  In the meantime, Kubalik will have another month to try to up his value both on the trade and contract front.

More from the Central Division:

  • Blues defenseman Marco Scandella traveled with the team on their road trip and could play at some point in this four-game stretch, notes Tom Timmermann of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The veteran is dealing with a lower-body injury and missed his first game of the season over the weekend.  Meanwhile, the same can’t be said for fellow blueliner Scott Perunovich as Timmermann notes the youngster won’t be on the trip as he continues to battle an upper-body injury.  At this point, with Perunovich already being out for a month, a short-term stint in the minors seems likely when he is cleared to return.
  • Avalanche blueliner Jacob MacDonald has been cleared for contact as he works his way back from an injury that has kept him out of the lineup for more than two months, relays Peter Baugh of The Athletic (Twitter link). The 28-year-old has been limited to just seven games this season and is currently on LTIR.  Even with this step, MacDonald is still likely at least a couple of weeks away from returning.

Snapshots: Vanecek, Rierden, Brassard, Scandella

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Although the Capitals find themselves comfortably in a playoff spot, goaltending has been an issue for them at times this season.  Both Vitek Vanecek and Ilya Samsonov have had chances at starting and at other times, they’ve platooned when both are healthy.  Speaking with J.J. Regan of NBC Sports Washington, head coach Peter Laviolette indicated that he’d like to give Vanecek a chance to run with the number one job when he returns from his upper-body injury with the hope of solidifying their netminding before the playoffs.  While Washington has very limited cap space to work with, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them keep tabs on the goalie market for the time being in case Vanecek isn’t able to play with consistency which was an issue for him in the first half of the season.

More from the around the NHL:

  • Penguins assistant coach Todd Rierden is out indefinitely after suffering a knee injury when he slipped on ice while shoveling during the All-Star break, notes Johnny McGonigal of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He is set to undergo surgery on Monday.  Matt Cullen, who works in Pittsburgh’s player development department, will join up with the team on Monday to help with their power play.
  • Flyers center Derick Brassard missed today’s game due to soreness, relays Giana Han of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link). The veteran has dealt with lingering hip issues all season long that has caused him to miss time on three separate occasions.  Head coach Mike Yeo indicated that the decision to give him the game off was so that he wouldn’t have to “go through all that” again so it appears they’re taking some precautions to avoid another extended absence.  When healthy, Brassard has done well this season with 11 points in 20 games.
  • Blues defenseman Marco Scandella has a lower-body injury that will keep him out either day-to-day or week-to-week, notes team reporter Chris Pinkert. The injury was sustained on Thursday against New Jersey.  Scandella had played in every game this season although his 17:29 ATOI is the lowest of any of his full seasons.  With that strange of a designation, it seems reasonable to suggest that he’ll miss at least a couple of games.

West Notes: Karlsson, Lehner, Parayko, Walker

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The Sharks will be without defenseman Erik Karlsson for at least the next two games, notes Jon Williams of NBC Sports Bay Area.  The veteran is dealing with another groin injury though it’s not believed to be related to his previous groin injuries.  Nevertheless, head coach Bob Boughner indicated yesterday to reporters, including Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News, that Karlsson’s injury is a nagging one that he had been playing through.  However, with just four assists in 13 games this season, it’s certainly fair to wonder if the veteran would be better served by sitting for a little while and trying to come back at full strength.  With a record-setting $11.5MM AAV, San Jose needs much more offense than they’ve received from Karlsson thus far and perhaps this groin issue is at least partially to blame.

Elsewhere in the West Division:

  • Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner isn’t expected to travel with the team for this weekend’s outdoor game at Lake Tahoe, reports David Schoen of the Las Vegas Review-Journal (Twitter link). However, he is expected to return to the Vegas lineup sooner than later.  Lehner last played on February 7th and has been battling an upper-body injury.  Marc-Andre Fleury has been quite strong in his absence as he tries to retake his former number one role.
  • While the Blues are getting Marco Scandella and Torey Krug back tonight from their respective upper-body injuries, it’s not all good news for their back end as Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch relays that Colton Parayko’s nagging injury is enough to keep him out of the lineup. The 27-year-old was expected to have a big season following the departure of Alex Pietrangelo but has managed just a goal and seven assists through 16 games and was only able to play 15 minutes on Monday against Arizona.
  • The Kings are close to welcoming back Sean Walker to their lineup as Lisa Dillman of The Athletic reports (Twitter link) that the defenseman is expected to play at some point on their six-game road trip. The 26-year-old has missed the last six games after undergoing nasal surgery after he took a slapshot to the face in late-January.

Snapshots: Blues Defensemen, Stars-Predators, Thompson

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The Blues held out defenseman Marco Scandella from today’s seventh and final game against Arizona as they were hesitant to part with a winning lineup, reports Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic (Twitter link).  The veteran has missed the last couple of weeks with an upper-body injury and has averaged nearly 19 minutes per game in nine contests this season.

Meanwhile, the Blues announced that blueliner Torey Krug sustained an upper-body injury in today’s game and is listed as day-to-day.  Krug leads all St. Louis defenders with nine points in 16 games so far this season.  If he’s unable to suit up on Thursday against San Jose, that could provide the opportunity for Scandella to return to the lineup.

Elsewhere around the league:

  • Tonight’s game between the Stars and Predators was postponed. This had nothing to due with COVID-19 but instead, Matthew DeFranks of the Dallas Morning News notes that the decision was made at the request the Mayor of Dallas due to ongoing power issues from the storm that has hit the area hard.  DeFranks adds that a similar request could be made for tomorrow’s game.  The league has not yet decided when the game will be rescheduled for.
  • After welcoming winger Jansen Harkins back from injured reserve today, the Jets may soon be doing the same for center Nate Thompson. Sportsnet’s Ken Wiebe reports (Twitter link) that the team expects the veteran to be available to play soon.  Thompson has played in four games on Winnipeg’s fourth line this season after signing a one-year, $750K contract in free agency.

Injury Notes: Blues, Armia, Necas, Kase

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The St. Louis Blues’ Tyler Bozak, who has been sidelined since January 26th, has finally been retroactively placed on the injured reserve per a team release. Ironically, the Blues waited so long to make the the move that Bozak is already eligible to be activated from IR. However, he is still considered day-to-day and there is not definitive timeline for his return. Bozak has been out with an undisclosed upper-body injury since taking a heavy hit from Vegas’ Mark Stone nearly two weeks ago. Defenseman Marco Scandella has additionally been ruled out for the time being with an upper-body injury, reports Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Scandella was a late scratch for the Blues’ game on Thursday, believed to have been the result of this same nagging injury. Thomas adds that Zach Sanford is also out for the Blues with, of all things in the age of COVID, the flu. Sanford is off to a slow start this season despite playing on the team’s top line recently, but perhaps taking some time to get back to full strength will put him back on track.

  • Sanford is not alone in his struggles with the flu. While the virus is certainly the lesser of two evils this season, it is still hampering a return to action for the Montreal Canadiens’ Joel Armia as well. Armia, who was initially sidelined by a concussion, is doing better in that regard, head coach Claude Julien tells TSN’s John Lu. However, he has been unable to skate with the team due to flu symptoms. The team hopes to have Armia back at practice on Monday at the earliest.
  • Young Carolina Hurricanes forward Martin Necas has also entered the concussion protocol after suffering an injury on Thursday, reports Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer. However, head coach Rod Brind’Amour is not worried that he will miss a considerable amount of time. Specifically, he tells Alexander that Necas is “going to be out for a little while but I don’t think it’s going to be very long.” His injury is only being termed as an “upper-body” ailment.
  • The Boston Bruins are hoping to have Jake DeBrusk and Matt Grzelcyk back before their next game on Wednesday, but it seems Ondrej Kase is still a ways behind in his recovery from a concussion. Head coach Bruce Cassidy tells The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa that Kase has been able to ride the exercise bike, but he has not yet resumed skating. Kase has been out since the Bruins’ second game of the season and is currently on injured reserve. A talented, but injury-prone young forward with a history of head trauma, Kase needs to return to the Bruins lineup and show some durability and consistency and establish chemistry with his team ahead of an off-season in which he will be a restricted free agent and the subject of a difficult Expansion Draft decision.

West Notes: Zuccarello, Scandella, Hutton, Raanta

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Although Wild winger Mats Zuccarello has been skating on his own for a while as he works his way back from arm surgery back in November, head coach Dean Evason told Dane Mizutani of the Pioneer Press that he’s unsure when the veteran will be able to return.  The 33-year-old had a quiet first season with Minnesota by his standards but still managed to pick up 15 goals and 22 assists.  His eventual return will be a welcome addition for a team that is typically in the middle of the pack offensively but considering he has yet to take part in a practice with the team yet, he is likely out for at least another week.

Elsewhere in the West:

  • Blues defenseman Marco Scandella is expected to be back in the lineup on Saturday against Los Angeles after missing Wednesday’s game to an upper-body injury, relays Tom Timmermann of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The veteran has logged more than 19 minutes in each of his three games so far this season and will likely reclaim his spot which was filled by Niko Mikkola against San Jose.
  • Ducks defenseman Ben Hutton has not yet received immigration clearance to suit up for Anaheim, notes Elliott Teaford of the Orange County Register. He was okay to participate in camp on a tryout deal but that situation changed once he signed his one-year, $950K contract.  In the meantime, while waiting for that to be resolved, Jani Hakanpaa will continue to fill in for the injured Josh Manson.
  • Coyotes goaltender Antti Raanta is dealing with a “minor thing”, head coach Rick Tocchet told Jose M. Romero of the Arizona Republic (Twitter link). While declining to go into any further details about what that is, he noted that the netminder is expected to be available on Tuesday against Anaheim.

Marco Scandella Agrees To Four-Year Extension

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The St. Louis Blues are taking care of business. After extending Sammy Blais yesterday, the team has announced another new contract, this time for Marco Scandella. The veteran defenseman has signed a four-year extension that will carry an average annual value of $3.275MM. Scandella was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season after being acquired from the Montreal Canadiens earlier this year.

Because of the extension, the Canadiens will receive an additional draft pick—the Blues’ 2021 fourth-round selection—from the trade to go with the original 2020 second-round pick St. Louis gave up. That deal came just a few weeks after sending a 2020 fourth-round pick to the Buffalo Sabres for Scandella, making this flip quite the impressive transaction for Montreal GM Marc Bergevin.

Scandella, 30, is coming off a five-year, $20MM deal he signed with the Minnesota Wild in 2014. At that point he was considered a rock-solid defensive partner that could play in a lot of situations, but his stock fell considerably over the last few years in Buffalo. In St. Louis, that kind of stay-at-home presence is exactly what will be asked of him after he spent most of his short stint alongside young star Colton Parayko. At a $3.275MM cap hit he essentially replaces Jay Bouwmeester, who is still contemplating his playing future after his cardiac episode but is scheduled for unrestricted free agency.

Any extension for a defenseman in St. Louis will come with other questions though, as free agency also looms for captain Alex Pietrangelo. The team now has five NHL defensemen locked up through next season, for a total of more than $18MM. Pietrangelo would increase that total quite substantially, something that might not be possible given the expected salary cap stagnation coming from the current pause.

Montreal Canadiens Recall Karl Alzner

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For the first time in 2019-20, veteran defenseman Karl Alzner may finally see NHL action. The veteran defenseman has been recalled by the Montreal Canadiens for just the second time this season. The team announced that it is an emergency loan and Alzner will join the team on the road in Ottawa. Alzner, 31, has exclusively played in the AHL this season to the tune of a buried cap hit of $3.55MM.

While every off-season features regrettable signings, few have worked out as poorly in recent years as Montreal’s addition of Alzner in 2017. Alzner had established himself as a solid defensive blue liner over nine years with the Washington Capitals and leveraged that reputation into a five-year, $23.125MM contract that carried a $4.625MM AAV. Alzner actually played in all 82 games for the Habs in year one, but his combination of 12 points and a -7 rating made it arguably the worst season of his career. The Canadiens decided that they were a better team without their big free agent addition and kept Alzner buried in the minors for all but nine games in 2018-19.

This year, Alzner has been utilized even less to this point, making no NHL appearances with the regular season more than 75% complete. Yet, with Marco Scandella traded, Victor Mete on injured reserve, and Xavier Ouellet also sidelined, the Canadiens are hurting on the blue line. They also have a considerable amount of cap space and can easily afford to take on the extra cap bump of brining Alzner back to the NHL level. Whether or not Alzner, who has 13 points for the AHL’s Laval Rocket this season, will actually get into the lineup and even then make a difference remains to be seen, but the odds are that he will at least make an appearance.

As for next year and beyond, Montreal has been content to bury Alzner for two years now, but the question is whether they will continue to do so for another two years. Maybe Alzner could earn his way back into the mix with an impressive showing down the stretch this season, but that seems very unlikely. More probable is that the Canadiens could look to trade Alzner – who does have a seven-team no-trade list – or could buy him out, which would cost just under $4MM in 2020-21, just under $2MM in 2021-22, and only $833K for two years after that. Either way, this call-up could very well be both the first time this season and the last time ever that Alzner dons a Montreal sweater.

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