Free Agent Profile: Noah Gregor
We’re at the point of free agency where the word bargain starts to come into play a little more. The top-dollar deals aren’t there now but low-cost depth pieces are still available. Playoff-bound teams will have their eye on veterans to fill specific roles. But what about teams that are rebuilding? Is there much left for them on the open market?
Noah Gregor is the type of player that could catch the eye of some of those teams. Just 25, the winger has shown some physicality early in his career that would play well in the bottom six with enough offense to potentially make him an intriguing addition for someone.
Gregor is coming off his only full NHL season, one that saw him set a career-high in goals with ten despite missing 25 games. The year before that, he had 23 points despite clearing waivers and spending seven weeks on an AHL assignment. San Jose opted to try someone else in that role back in June, declining to tender him a qualifying offer of just under $1MM that would have also given him salary arbitration rights.
The consistency hasn’t always been there but he’s young enough that there is still room for improvement. If that improvement happens, Gregor could be a quality under-the-radar pickup for someone in the coming weeks. With two years of club control through restricted free agency, it could be more than a one-year pickup for whoever lands him.
Stats
2022-23: 57 GP, 10-7-17, -9 rating, 32 PIMS, 119 shots, 97 hits, 44.2% CF, 12:58 ATOI
Career: 178 GP, 25-26-51, -51 rating, 71 PIMS, 368 shots, 312 hits, 44.6% CF, 13:00 ATOI
Potential Suitors
From an NHL perspective, the teams that make the most sense for Gregor are ones that are rebuilding or are lacking some depth on the wing. But if a team is eyeing Gregor as someone to try to sneak through waivers, just about anyone is a viable option. For the purpose of this exercise, we’ll focus on the potential NHL openings.
In the East, Buffalo has a short-term roster opening with Jack Quinn out for the first few months due to a torn Achilles tendon. They could fill that spot internally with someone like Lukas Rousek or they could turn to a player like Gregor that might be a better fit style-wise in a lower role on the depth chart. Montreal moved out two wingers today in their portion of the Erik Karlsson trade and could view Gregor as a possible replacement for one of them to replenish some of that forward depth. Washington has a short-term opening with Max Pacioretty likely out to start next season and Gregor could be a better fit for them over Joe Snively who wasn’t quite as impactful in his NHL duty last season compared to 2021-22.
Out West, Isac Lundestrom’s Achilles injury has opened up a spot up front with Gregor being a young enough fit to potentially be around beyond a single season. Nashville’s current depth chart has some forwards that are relatively safe bets to get through waivers so adding Gregor could give them a small boost on the fourth line and bolster their depth. If Minnesota is able to afford an extra forward (they need to re-sign Calen Addison first), Gregor would fit in a bottom six group that plays with a bit of an edge.
Projected Contract
Gregor is almost certain to be looking at a contract that is going to carry an NHL salary of $775K, the league minimum. Depending on how long it takes for him to sign, there might even be a relatively pricey two-way portion. But in terms of what’s still out there, there aren’t many players left with potentially a little more upside while being controllable for a couple more years. That makes Gregor one of the more intriguing under-the-radar options left on the open market.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
West Notes: Miller, Athanasiou, Gregor
While there has been some speculation that the Canucks might move forward J.T. Miller before today’s deadline, Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli suggests that’s unlikely to happen. A lot of teams would be needing some sort of salary retention to facilitate a move now but doing so would also require them to retain a similar percentage on his seven-year, $56MM extension that kicks in next season. That’s something Vancouver won’t want to do so there’s a good chance that the 29-year-old will be staying put today, even though he’s having a productive season with 20 goals and 34 assists in 60 games. It’s also worth noting that he’s listed as out week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
More from the Western Conference:
- When Andreas Athanasiou was signed to a one-year, $3MM deal by the Blackhawks in free agency, it seemed likely that he’d be getting moved by the trade deadline. However, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period indicates (Twitter link) that at the moment, the sense is that the winger will be sticking around. Athanasiou has 14 goals and eight assists in 60 games this season and it would likely take salary retention to get a deal done. Chicago does have one retained salary slot remaining.
- Sharks winger Noah Gregor told San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng that he has not requested a trade, denying a report from earlier this week. The 24-year-old has been a frequent scratch this season in San Jose, suiting up in 37 games where he has just four goals and two assists. Last season, Gregor had 23 points in 63 contests which earned him a one-year, $950K deal for 2022-23. He’s set to be a restricted free agent with arbitration eligibility this summer.
Pacific Notes: Klingberg, Gregor, Skinner
The Ducks are believed to be seeking a first-round pick for defenseman John Klingberg, reports Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic (subscription link). The 30-year-old didn’t get the long-term contract he was hoping for in the summer so he instead opted for a one-year, $7MM pillow deal with Anaheim to try to rebuild his value. However, it has been a tough season thus far for the veteran as he has just 13 points in 35 games so far with his new squad, by far the lowest point-per-game average of his career. Klingberg’s deal moved from a full no-trade clause to a ten-team clause at the start of this month although with a high price tag on the cap and a high acquisition cost, that trade protection isn’t likely to be the hold-up in any potential move unless Klingberg is able to become more of the offensive threat that he was over eight years in Dallas.
More from the Pacific:
- Sharks winger Noah Gregor will be a healthy scratch for the eighth straight game tonight and he voiced some frustration to Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News, feeling that there should be more communication coming from the coaching staff as to what they’re expecting from him. It has been a tough year for the 24-year-old; after putting up 23 points in 63 games last season, he has just two goals in 19 contests in 2022-23 while seeing his ice time drop by nearly three minutes per night. The team has added several depth players up front dating back to the summer and that has created much more of a competition for playing time. Gregor is eligible for a conditioning stint but noted that he hasn’t discussed that option with the team right now, stating that his focus is simply on getting back into the NHL lineup.
- Stuart Skinner’s personal leave is likely to be extended a little longer than expected as Sportsnet’s Mark Spector relays (Twitter link) that his wife has not yet given birth. Accordingly, it’s looking less likely that he’ll be able to rejoin the Oilers for tomorrow’s game in Vegas. Jack Campbell could start both ends of the back-to-back or AHL recall Calvin Pickard could see his first NHL action of the season.