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Mikhail Grigorenko, Patrick Wiercioch In Play As Deadline Approaches

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On the latest installment of Insider Trading on TSN, the panel—which includes Darren Dreger, Bob McKenzie and Pierre LeBrun—discussed several topics going into the last two weeks before the NHL Trade Deadline. While LeBrun relays that some front office members around the league believe that Colorado GM Joe Sakic will wait until the summer for any possible Matt Duchene move, Dreger reports that there are other names in play.

Both Mikhail Grigorenko and Patrick Wiercioch are mentioned by name, the first we’ve heard one these two directly. The two weren’t listed in Sakic’s “untouchables” recently, and come as little surprise as the team looks to rebuild from the disaster that has been this season.

Grigorenko especially will come with some interest, due to his young age—he turns 23 on May 16th—and former first-round pick status. Since going 12th overall in 2012 though, Grigorenko has failed to deliver on his promise of a big top-six center. Instead, he’s recorded just 18 goals and 59 points in 193 games.

Wiercioch signed a one-year deal with the Avalanche after not receiving a qualifying offer from the Ottawa Senators last summer, and has put up numbers similar to those he did in Ottawa between 2012-15. While he only plays 17 minutes a night, he does have 11 points in 43 games (all at even strength) and has a bit of upside for a team needing a depth defenseman for a playoff run. Both players are restricted free agents at the end of the season and eligible for arbitration.

McKenzie also mentioned that Duchene is seen as a winger by many teams around the league, who think he can perform better there than in the middle. It will be interesting to see if his market develops as a center or a winger as we get closer to the deadline, or if Sakic will have to wait until the summer to deal him to a team willing to slot him into the middle for 2017-18.

Snapshots: Scouts, Blackhawks, Yakupov

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With the trade deadline rapidly approaching, but not many teams finding themselves out of the playoff race a team like Colorado is becoming the scouting capital for the NHL. Tonight as they take on the Buffalo Sabres in a rare trip to the North East, teams have come out in full force to watch players like Matt Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog. Terry Frei of the Denver Post tweeted out the list of scouts in attendance, and it includes 24 names including three from the Maple Leafs and two each from Montreal, Los Angeles, Columbus, Winnipeg and Calgary.

The Maple Leafs in particular have a strong contingent, sending assistant GM Kyle Dubas down in person. The Maple Leafs are being tight-lipped on the status of Mitch Marner after leaving the game last night, though there have been reports of the amount of cap space the team has opened up prior to the deadline. Don’t forget that Buffalo has struggled this year as well, and have multiple players (like Evander Kane) that would be interesting to teams around the league.

  • The Chicago Blackhawks have gotten some reinforcements today, bringing Nick Schmaltz and Tanner Kero up from the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL according to Tracey Myers of CSN Chicago. The Hawks have been off since February 11th on their mandatory bye-week, but get back into the swing of things with three games in four nights (and four in six) starting Saturday.
  • Former first-overall pick Nail Yakupov is back in the St. Louis Blues lineup tonight for the first time in nearly two weeks. With a career almost completely off the rails it will be interesting to see what happens to him at the deadline, and whether a team makes a play for his upside. Still just 23-years old, Yakupov only has six points in 31 games this season and is barely playing over 10 minutes a night whenever he does crack the lineup. He’s arbitration eligible this offseason, and is a clear candidate to not even be tendered a qualifying offer. His $2.5MM salary is currently way more than he is producing, and the QO would need to be the same.

Friedman’s Latest: Dallas, Colorado, Flyers, MVP

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Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman made his weekly appearance on Edmonton radio, and commented on a few topics from around the NHL.

Friedman broke down some potential sellers, saying he could see “a lot of teams throwing themselves at Johnny Oduya” out of Dallas. The Stars have lost six of their last seven games, and are now seven points out of the final wildcard spot. Other names out of Dallas include pending UFAs Patrick Eaves and Patrick Sharp, and “maybe” Ales Hemsky. The latter was expected to be done for the season, but will play again this season according to Mike Heika of the Dallas News.

One of the few clear sellers, the Colorado Avalanche, has set a “very high price” for their players, according to Friedman. However, there may be a wider market than many realized. Friedman listed Pittsburgh among others as unexpected teams calling GM Joe Sakic. Citing GM Jim Rutherford’s willingness to win now and “sort things out” in the offseason, Friedman speculated that the Penguins could consider moving Olli Maatta as part of a package for Matt Duchene. To be clear, Friedman isn’t suggesting the Penguins have made an offer, simply that they’re interested and Maatta is the kind of player that the Avalanche would be interested in. Another potential suitor for Duchene could be Montreal, but GM Marc Bergevin “doesn’t like the price.”

Former Canadiens forward and Flyers UFA signing Dale Weise will be a healthy scratch in Edmonton tonight; he has just two goals and five points in 46 games after signing a four-year contract worth $2.35MM per season. Friedman pointed out that many players struggle in their first year with a new team, but the Canadiens won’t be interested in re-acquiring Weise at his current term.

Staying in Philadelphia, Friedman said it’s not just Shayne Gostisbehere who “doesn’t look like himself.” The whole team is looking for answers; after their ten-game winning streak earlier this season, they’ve won just eight games of their last 25. Friedman told Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer that several teams scouted Gostisbehere “to death” over the summer, and he hasn’t been able to adjust his style.

It remains to be seen what will happen in the next couple weeks, as the GMs are all playing “one big poker game” leading up to the deadline, according to Friedman.

Trade deadline aside, Friedman chatted about the MVP race this season. With Brent Burns sitting between Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby at the top of the scoring race, Friedman predicted a scoring title would guarantee an MVP title for Burns. However, he also said that if Edmonton makes the playoffs, then Friedman “doesn’t know how [he’s] not going to vote for Connor McDavid.”

Another consideration is goal scoring. Both Burns and Crosby are outscoring McDavid considerably, but Friedman pointed out that McDavid has clearly put the Oilers on his shoulders and elevated them to a playoff team.

Joe Sakic On Avalanche: “We Still Have To Get Younger”

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Colorado Avalanche GM Joe Sakic is perhaps the most sought after interview in the league these days, as rumors swirls about his two star forwards Gabriel Landeskog and Matt Duchene. It seems like half the league has been in contact with Sakic, who confirmed to Terry Frei of the Denver Post that he has been getting calls on the pair. Sakic disputes though that they’re on the block, saying that “I’m not going to make a deal just to make a deal,” and that he’s not the one spreading the rumors.

Sakic later says that he knows “we still have to get younger” and that “we’re going to free up some cap room and try and keep building up the younger guys.” While this makes sense for any rebuilding team, it’s interesting that Duchene and Landeskog would not be included in that youth movement. Landeskog is only 24, and currently the team captain, while Duchene is 26 and a former 30-goal scorer. Most teams would kill for their core to be that young and talented. In fact, Frei reports that when Sakic was speaking about the untouchables on the team, he only mentioned Nathan MacKinnon (21), Mikko Rantanen (20) and Tyson Jost (18).

The team only has a handful of older players, and even fewer that play important minutes for them. The idea of getting younger is always a good one—especially in an NHL that is continually shifting towards speed and skill—but not always possible. The second part of the statement is one that holds more weight, that they are looking to clear out cap room. If they are looking to get younger, it’s not clear who they would need that cap room for. The team has a handful of contracts coming off the books next season, and only a couple of important RFAs to sign. Perhaps it’s just a commentary on the contracts of Duchene, Landeskog and even Tyson Barrie who are all not performing to their standards.

If Sakic is truly looking to move age and money out, Jarome Iginla, Francois Beauchemin and Carl Soderberg are all on the wrong side of 30 and carry hefty cap hits (for at least the rest of this season). Perhaps those are the names he’d be floating if he had the choice.

For now, Avalanche fans should expect more of the same at the bottom of the NHL standings. “Getting younger” usually doesn’t result in immediate upgrades to the big-league roster (Toronto Maple Leafs be damned).

Trade Candidates: Brendan Smith

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With the trade deadline quickly approaching, we will be profiling several players in the weeks ahead that are likely to be dealt by March 1st.

As the Detroit Red Wings slip deeper into the Eastern Conference basement, their hopes of a 26th consecutive playoff appearance slip away as well. Brendan Smith is one of many names rumored to be shipped out of Hockeytown.

Contract

Final season of a two-year, $5.5MM deal. $2.75MM AAV.

2016-17

Smith has been somewhat of an enigma in Detroit. On one hand, it’s never seemed like he got a fair shake in the Motor City. On another, when given chances this season, Smith has not been at his best. Fighting injury and other defensemen for ice time, Smith is in the final year of his contract and is destined to be wearing a different jersey next season.

Season Stats

GP 29; 2 goals, 3 assists, 5 points; -1; 18:19 TOI; 50% CF

Suitors

Depth on the blue line is one of the greatest assets come playoff time. A promising playoff run can be derailed by injury, especially due to the grueling nature of the NHL playoffs. Smith’s affordable contract and offensive upside could be an asset looking for a top six defenseman. Though Smith would fill in best as a fifth or sixth defenseman, he could still bring value to a team.

The Chicago Blackhawks could squeeze him in, should they not acquire anyone else, especially since there are rumors tied to them about having interest in Thomas Vanek as well. Should the Red Wings be willing to eat salary, the Blackhawks could offer a mid round or lower end pick. Or, they could get creative in terms of trading players that can match up monetarily. The Los Angeles Kings are another option, always looking for defenseman to strengthen their blue line. In the east, Montreal would be an option, while the Columbus Blue Jackets could bring him into the fold to help its depth. While Smith won’t garner much in the way of prospects, getting a draft pick instead of losing him as a free agent is certainly a better option.

Likelihood Of A Trade

General manager Ken Holland has indicated that selling is becoming the more realistic option as Detroit’s playoff hopes fade. Smith offers a chance to snag a draft pick or a prospect, depending on the trade partner. With Smith being in the final year of his contract, it’s a high probability that he’s shipped out.

Writers, Analysts Weigh In On Julien’s Hire, Therrien’s Exit

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Well that was fast. PHR’s Mike Furlano asked yesterday if  Michel Therrien was on the hot seat, along with others in the hockey world, and well, it’s obvious now as the Habs canned Therrien and (re) hired Claude Julien for a second stint with the club.

The Canadiens pushed their chips into the middle and are ready to see if Julien can take them further than Therrien. It worked in Pittsburgh when the Pens, half a season removed from a Stanley Cup Final appearance, fired Therrien in favor of Dan Bylsma. The Penguins went on to win the Cup that season.

Here are some thoughts from around the league:

  • CSNNE’s Joe Haggerty writes that it’ll be interesting if the Habs gamble works out. Haggerty is surprised that the Bruins would allow Julien to interview in Montreal, in light of the historic rivalry between the teams. However, Haggerty argues that the Bruins have seen an uptick in play since relieving Julien of his post, and that the Habs, in their own right, gain a French-Canadian–which is important to many in the fanbase. What Haggerty loves most is how this should heat up the rivalry even more–which only makes for good hockey.
  • USA Today’s Kevin Allen explains that Julien will get the most out of the younger players, and be “more open minded” when it comes to deploying them on the ice. Additionally, adding a coach of Julien’s caliber makes Allen believe that it’ll add a spark. Finally, should he be able to restore Carey Price’s confidence, Allen believes the Habs are a sleeper in the Eastern Conference.
  • Puck Daddy’s Greg Wyshynski indicates that it’s a wonderful opportunity for the Canadiens, and a potentially embarrassing one for the Bruins. The Boston front office has taken its fair share of heat since letting Julien go, especially after fans and analysts wondered aloud if it was the front office to blame for the B’s woes. Should Marc Bergevin trade for more assets, Wyshynski believes this to be a potential curveball in what looked like a one division race for the Eastern Conference crown.
  • Wyshynski’s colleague Josh Cooper points out that the Habs hopped on the hiring before anyone could get a chance to acquire Julien’s services. Noting that Julien is considered one of the NHL’s top coaches this decade, it was a no-brainer to swap him in for Therrien as there’s been a noticeable drop off for the Canadiens. But he says the pressure is on Julien to prove that this was indeed, the best move for the organization.

Deadline Primer: Detroit Red Wings

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With the trade deadline now just weeks away, we’re taking 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?

It’s been quite the purgatory for the Detroit Red Wings. Mike Ilitch, who transformed the Dead Wings into a four time Stanley Cup Champion, passed away on Friday. As if losing the owner who many current and former players considered to be a father figure wasn’t enough, the Wings 25-year playoff streak may end at a quarter century. Struggling to piece wins together, Detroit has a historically bad power play, a team besieged by injury, and a horrible return on investment from several players inked to expensive, long term deals.

For the first time since the early 90’s, the Red Wings are sellers. And yet, while it looks that the playoffs are slipping away, general manager Ken Holland may “stand pat” instead of selling off assets.

Record

22-24-10; 54 points. Last in the Atlantic; Last in the Eastern Conference.

Deadline Status

Seller

Deadline Cap Space

Current Cap Space: $0 ($8.3MM with LTIR relief)
Deadline Cap Space: $0 ($8.3MM with LTIR relief)
46/50 contracts, via CapFriendly

Draft Picks

2017: ( 9 Total) DET 1st, DET 2nd, DET 3rd, TOR 3rd, DET 4th, DET 5th, DET 6th, FLA 6th, DET 7th
2018: 7 Total) DET 1st, DET 2nd, DET 3rd, DET 4th, DET 5th, DET 6th, DET 7th.

Trade Chips

Mar 29, 2016; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Detroit Red Wings forward <a rel=There are a number of players to choose from but topping the list is Thomas Vanek, who has been linked to the Chicago Blackhawks among other teams. Should he stay healthy (he’s currently battling an ankle injury), he could fetch some prospects or a draft pick. Mike Green has been another name, though he seems less likely to be moved as the Wings are trying to upgrade on the blue line–and he has been good for them this season. Gustav Nyquist and Tomas Tatar were also mentioned, targets by the Chicago Blackhawks. Petr Mrazek, though it seems odd since he has struggled and was just signed to a deal in the offseason, could also be shopped. Finally, Brendan Smith, in the final year of a contract, could be moved as well.

Team Needs

1) #1 defenseman. Good luck. Almost every team in the NHL seeks that top pair defenseman, the Red Wings truly haven’t had one since Nick Lidstrom retired. Worse, their young defensemen have regressed while the veterans are broken down versions of their once steady selves (Niklas Kronwall comes to mind). The problem in getting the top pairing defenseman they seek is two fold. First, only a young player with team control could garner the top d-man, be it Anthony Mantha, Dylan Larkin, or Andreas Athanasiou. But those are players the Red Wings aren’t willing to give up. Second, the salary cap situation is a mess being that Holland has handed out expensive, long-term contracts to players like Justin Abdelkader, who hasn’t scored a goal since November. To add and retain a top pair defenseman, a team needs salary cap space. The Wings are in trouble for years to come unless they can shed those contracts. Until the Red Wings fix the blue line, their slide will continue and only get worse.

2) An elite, generational player. In all of the seasons for the Red Wings to fall off, it would be the season where there isn’t a clear cut one and two option. Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine were all clear cut options in the last two drafts. Now? While Nolan Patrick, Nico Hischier, and Tim Liljegren are all great options, scouts are having a hard time agreeing on a clear cut favorite. Holland could trade draft picks and players to go after former top picks, like Matt Duchene, Nathan MacKinnon or Gabriel Landeskog, but that seems pretty far fetched. Plus, Holland has been gun shy during the Cap era when it comes to trades. But this year’s draft is not as certain as in previous seasons, and that doesn’t bode well for a team who desperately needs a top tier talent to get back on the right track. Larkin, Mantha, and Athanasiou are great starts as building blocks, but they are at least one, if not two, generational players away from getting back to the top of the hockey world again.

Trade Candidates: Evander Kane

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With the trade deadline quickly approaching, we will be profiling several players in the weeks ahead that are likely to be dealt by March 1st.

Evander Kane is one of the game’s gifted talents, but has been a lightning rod for criticism both on and off the ice. From his arrest in Buffalo last July to what Buffalo News scribe Mike Harrington called “shenanigans” in Winnipeg, Kane could be a catch for a team, but come with a “buyer beware” for his past issues.

Contract

Kane is in year five of a six-year, $31.5MM deal. With an AAV of $5.25MM, he would carry a hefty hit for a contender looking to add him.

2016-17

Harrington describes Kane as “an absolute beast.” Though sidelined by injury this season, Kane has played well in the 45 games he’s appeared in. Kane has been complimented for his game by general manager Tim Murray according to a report from WGR 550.  Despite rumors that Vancouver was chasing him back in November, it turned out that he would stay put as Vancouver backed off. With each passing day, the Buffalo forward seems less and less likely to be dealt.

Season Stats

45 GP, 18 G, 10 A, 28 Pts, -9, 79 PIM, 46.9 CF% 18:48 ATOI

Suitors

The cap hit and strong play makes Kane’s value difficult to gauge in terms of where he would land. Buffalo could take some of the salary back, but unless it was a significant return, that seems unlikely. Based on CapFriendly, it would have to be a trade that would offset assets from the other team to balance it financially. The Rangers could be a potential target but with several players due raises next season, it would be too tough financially to massage a deal. Another option? The Blue Jackets, though again, unlikely. While they have the cap room and having another scorer like Kane on the roster would boost their depth in a competitive Metropolitan Division, the logistics of such a trade seem unlikely. The Wild were rumored months ago to be interested, but that chatter never amounted to anything.

Likelihood Of A Trade

Though Kane is playing well and would be an upgrade for any team, it just doesn’t make sense financially for a move and further, why would the Sabres give up on him now? They rode out the storm from last year’s arrest and seeing that this season is already a wash, why not give it one more try next year? The possibility for a trade would be far more likely next season, when the Sabres could wash their hands of the contract, absorb dollars in what would be the final year of his deal, and potentially snag some prospects or a high draft pick in exchange. Until then, it looks like Kane should stay put.

Bob McKenzie On Talent Outside The NHL

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In his latest piece, Bob McKenzie of TSN breaks down two players who may be under NHL contract in a few months. First, is Josh Healey who has made an impact on the NCAA ranks in a few different ways. His bone-crushing hits have been felt across the country, with the league even suspending him twice now. One executive that McKenzie quotes says that he “hits too hard for college hockey” and he really does. Even if he’ll never be a top-pairing guy in the NHL, his skating ability and physical presence has basically every team in the league considering signing him when his season at Ohio State finishes.

Healey headlines what is an underwhelming NCAA class, but he will create somewhat of a bidding war regardless. He has attended the summer development camps of the Calgary Flames, Nashville Predators and Edmonton Oilers in the past, and all three should be expected to be in the conversation for him this spring. Other teams—like the defense-strapped Toronto Maple Leafs—will surely have a conversation with him as well.

The other player McKenzie mentions is 25-year old Jakub Jerabek, a Czech defenseman who has been turning heads all year. Though he had several successful years in the Czech men’s league prior to this year, it’s the transition to the KHL and a higher level of competition that has NHL scouts considering him. With 32 points in 56 games and a strong offensive skillset, he’ll likely earn a contract if he chooses to come to North America. As McKenzie notes, at his age he’ll only be able to sign a one-year entry-level contract, like Nikita Zaitsev of the Maple Leafs this past summer.

Snapshots: Tootoo, Barzal, Parenteau

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It’s not easy to open up about alcoholism and the effect it has on your life and the people around you. Jordin Tootoo has done just that over the past few years, and again to Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune. In a stunningly open interview with Kuc that is reminiscent of the piece done by David Pollock of The Hockey News concerning Devin Setoguchi (who cleared waivers today and was sent to the AHL), Tootoo speaks about the past six years of sobriety and how he has changed from a bottle-swigging teenager to a bottle-feeding parent.

A role-model on the ice and off of it, Tootoo has turned from rampant alcoholism onset by the suicide of his brother to clean living and mentoring of younger players of his Inuit background. Those from his hometown of Rankin Inlet in Nunavut, Canada are starting to follow his lead and leave the bottle for a hockey stick instead. The piece is a wonderful look inside a player who has seen pretty much everything in his NHL career, and is now trying to help the Chicago Blackhawks get back to the Stanley Cup finals.

  • The New York Islanders might not have performed exactly as expected this season, but even if they don’t make the playoffs—which, after an excellent stretch is far from certain—they have some bright spots in their future. Kelsey Smith of NHL.com checks in on some of their prospects, including two that received some league honors this week. Mathew Barzal and Ryan Pulock earned player of the week honors in their respective leagues, and the two first-rounders seem like locks to eventually make it to the NHL on a full-time basis. After starring at the World Juniors, Barzal has 54 points (including 46 assists) in just 29 games for the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL, while Pulock has 22 points in 27 games from the back-end of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL.
  • P.A. Parenteau has found a home in New Jersey after being selected off waivers by the Devils just before the season started. The Islanders had signed the free agent winger prior to the year, but decided he wasn’t cut out for John Tavares’ wing anymore and allowed the Devils to take him for nothing. He’s put up 13 goals and 25 points this year in 53 games and doesn’t want to go anywhere at the deadline. “I want to stay here, they’ve been great to me,” Parenteau told Andrew Gross of The Record, while admitting he understands that his name will surface on March 1st, if not before. Just like last year when Parenteau was in the midst of a 20-goal season for the Toronto Maple Leafs, he’s an expiring contract who can provide goal scoring for almost no money; plenty of teams will be after that at the deadline, if they believe that he is capable of playing a role in their playoff push.

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