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Riley Sheahan

Buffalo Sabres Sign Riley Sheahan

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It’s hard to say that Riley Sheahan was hoping for an injury when he took a PTO with the Buffalo Sabres, but it certainly benefited him when Zemgus Girgensons went down with a hamstring injury that will keep him out the whole year. Just a few days later, the Sabres have signed Sheahan to a one-year, $700K contract for the upcoming season.

The 29-year-old Sheahan isn’t just some minor league journeyman that is getting a chance just before the start of the season. The 2010 first-round pick has played in more than 500 NHL games and twice recorded more than 30 points in a season. Even last year in a depth role with the Edmonton Oilers he managed to score eight times in 66 games, more than Girgensons has tallied in four of his seven seasons in Buffalo. Sure, it seems unlikely that Shehan will be given all of the exact same responsibilities and ice time that Girgensons would have, but he does make a handy replacement to have in training camp, making his PTO quite a savvy move for Sabres GM Kevyn Adams.

A $700K league-minimum contract won’t do anything to the Sabres financial situation and is the lowest amount that Sheahan has signed for in his career. In 2018 he earned himself a $2.1MM deal from the Pittsburgh Penguins and last season brought a $900K contract with Edmonton. If nothing else, that suggests that he could be a nice little bargain piece for Buffalo if he can turn back the clock a few years and reach his former level of play as a responsible two-way pivot.

Buffalo Sabres Sign Riley Sheahan To PTO

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The Buffalo Sabres left a few spots open on the training camp roster they released yesterday and now at least one of them will be filled by a veteran forward. Riley Sheahan has agreed to a professional tryout for the Sabres and will attend training camp in a few days.

Sheahan, who is amazingly still only 29, feels like he’s taken a lap around the entire NHL in the last few seasons. The 6’3″ center has played for four different teams since the start of the 2017-18 season, suiting up for the Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins, Florida Panthers, and Edmonton Oilers. He’ll now try to continue his circuit in Buffalo, though an NHL contract is far from a sure thing.

Never a top offensive player, Sheahan has still produced solid seasons over the years as a bottom-six center that can penalty kill and doesn’t drown you at even-strength. That said, a team looking for a playoff spot likely needs more than the handful of goals that he’ll provide. Over the past two seasons, Shehan has just 17 goals and 34 points in 148 games.

The Sabres have plenty of added depth up front, but a name like Sheahan might still be useful as a taxi squad player that can come in and out of the lineup when injury strikes. He’d need an NHL deal for that and to clear waivers, but that may not be a problem given the restricted market free agents are dealing with.

Snapshots: Dubois, Extended Camp, Sheahan, Miller

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The Blue Jackets have started contract talks with soon-to-be restricted free agent center Pierre-Luc Dubois, reports Michael Arace of the Columbus Dispatch.  GM Jarmo Kekalainen indicated a desire to get this done relatively quickly, stating that “The sooner we get these things done, the better opportunity we have to make the team better”.  Columbus has nearly $74.5MM in commitments for next season already although that includes LTIR-bound Brandon Dubinsky which would allow them to spend up to $5.85MM over the Upper Limit.  Still, that doesn’t leave much room to re-sign Dubois who they would like to sign to a long-term deal and their other RFAs while having space left over to try to add pieces.  That’s why getting something done with the 22-year-old would be ideal for Kekalainen who would have a much better idea of his financial picture heading into free agency next month.

Elsewhere around the NHL:

  • A decision still hasn’t been made regarding extended training camps for the seven teams that didn’t participate in the NHL’s Return to Play, notes Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch. Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly indicated talks are ongoing with the NHLPA but with no firm date for the beginning of training camps to begin, it’s unlikely that there will be any concrete plans on this for a while.
  • Oilers center Riley Sheahan was believed to be seeking $2MM per year to sign an extension midseason, relays Postmedia’s David Staples. The veteran had to wait until early September to sign a one-year, $900K deal for this past season and while he took a lot of faceoffs, he only managed to pick up eight goals and seven assists in 66 games.  Between that and the flattened cap environment, Sheahan’s next contract may wind up being closer to what he made in 2019-20 compared to that previous asking price.
  • The Ducks aren’t sure yet about bringing backup goaltender Ryan Miller back for next season, GM Bob Murray told Eric Stephens of The Athletic (subscription link). The 40-year-old has spent the last three seasons in Anaheim and has been working out with an eye on playing in 2020-21 if it’s the right situation.  Miller had a base salary of $1.125MM this season with another $1.2MM in performance bonuses and posted a 3.10 GAA with a .907 SV% in 23 games.  Anaheim is quite tight to the Upper Limit already for next season (although Ryan Kesler will probably be on LTIR again to give them some flexibility) so if the veteran does return, another incentive-laden deal would make sense.

West Notes: Oilers, Seabrook, Ward

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The Oilers clearly like what they’ve seen from some of their depth players this season and have already handed out extensions to center Gaetan Haas and winger Joakim Nygard.  They may not be done there yet either.  Postmedia’s Jim Matheson reports that the team has interest in re-signing center Riley Sheahan although he’d have to take an amount close to his current $900K price tag even though he has spent a fair bit of time on the third line this season.  While his production has tailed off in recent years, he still takes a lot of key faceoffs and can help on the penalty kill.  Matheson also suggests that there’s interest in re-signing Tyler Ennis, who didn’t look out of place after being acquired at the trade deadline.  However, after putting up 37 points between Ottawa and Edmonton and no longer being paid by Minnesota on his buyout, he may be seeking a fair bit more than his $800K salary.

More from out West:

  • Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook participated in a fundraiser for Chicago’s Community COVID-19 Response Fund earlier this week. NBC Sports Chicago’s Scott King relays an important note from the blueliner who mentioned that there haven’t been any setbacks from his three surgeries from earlier this season (both hips and his right shoulder) and that he’s hopeful to resume hockey-related activities in the next three to four months.  He has been a speculative buyout candidate as of late but even if there is a compliance buyout put in as a result of a levelled out salary cap due to this pandemic, the extended timeline to resume hockey activities may make him ineligible to be bought out unless the official offseason is delayed long enough for him to be cleared.
  • While Joel Ward is now retired, he’s hoping to rejoin the Sharks organization. Speaking with reporters including NBC Sports Bay Area’s Brian Witt, the former winger indicated that he has had some brief discussions already about potentially returning in a coaching role but that those talks are on hold until this pandemic passes.  While jumping behind an NHL bench right away seems unlikely, Ward could do like several other veterans have done in recent years and work in a player development role.

Pacific Notes: Sheahan, Tuch, Carter, Middleton

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In advance of another trip through unrestricted free agency, it appears Oilers center Riley Sheahan is changing things up.  Kurt Leavins of the Edmonton Journal reports that the 28-year-old has switched agents and is now represented by Ritch Winter; previously, Pat Brisson was representing him.  Sheahan’s offensive pace is basically identical to that of a year ago as he sits with eight goals and seven assists through 64 games this season.  He’s currently making $900K but with Edmonton’s salary cap situation, it seems unlikely that they’ll be able to give him much more than that on a new deal.

More from the Pacific Division:

  • Golden Knights winger Alex Tuch has had a setback in his recovery from his lower-body injury, notes David Schoen of the Las Vegas Review-Journal (Twitter link). Instead of being available to play as anticipated, he has been sent back for further evaluation.  It has been a tough season for Tuch who has battled injuries on multiple occasions and has struggled when he is in the lineup.  After collecting 52 points in 2018-19, he has just eight goals and nine assists in 42 contests so far this season.
  • Although Kings center Jeff Carter has yet to skate since March 1st when he had a setback in his recovery, head coach Todd McLellan told Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider that they haven’t ruled out him returning at some point over the final few weeks. The veteran has been out with a lower-body injury for nearly three weeks now but even though Los Angeles is well out of playoff contention, McLellan indicated that Carter wants to get back before the season ends.
  • Sharks defenseman Jacob Middleton was just starting to secure a regular role in the lineup after being recalled late last month but that momentum has been derailed. Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News mentions that Middleton is listed as week-to-week with his lower-body injury and may not be back this season.  The 24-year-old has played in ten NHL games this season and will be a restricted free agent with arbitration eligibility in July.

Edmonton Oilers Extend Joakim Nygard

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If Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland is anything, he’s loyal to his players and a man of his word. The veteran executive has shown that yet again today by extending forward Joakim Nygard. The move comes just weeks after a report emerged that Holland and company were happy with the play of their depth forwards and hoping to sign the impending UFA’s in that group. Zack Kassian was re-signed days after that announcement and now Nygard, one of the other players specifically named, can also be checked off the re-signing list. Nygard’s new deal is for the 2020-21 season and carries an $875K cap hit, per PuckPedia.

Nygard, 27, is in his first NHL season after signing with the Oilers this past spring out of Sweden. The left winger had previously been a standout performer for many years for Farjestad BK of the SHL but decided to make the jump to the top level. So far, he has recorded nine points in 33 games, but has battled injuries along the way and is currently sidelined with a broken hand. At his best, Nygard has shown flashes of offensive pop and has even spent some time on Edmonton’s little-used second power play unit. None of Nygard’s numbers this season really jump off the page, but clearly there was mutual interest in an extended relationship between player and team and at worst he is an affordable depth option, especially after taking a slight salary hit off of his $925K number this year.

With Nygard’s new deal complete, Holland can continue down the list. The other forwards named in the prior report include Josh Archibald and Riley Sheahan, who have both been valuable role players for the Oilers this season. At this rate, don’t be surprised to see both ink extensions by the end of the regular season.

Snapshots: Sobotka, Archibald, Hall

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Buffalo Sabres forward Vladimir Sobotka was removed from today’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning after being hit low by Nikita Kucherov, and did not return. John Vogl of The Athletic saw Sobotka after the game in an air cast, but Sabres’ head coach Ralph Krueger wouldn’t speculate on how long he will be out.

Though he has been the whipping boy for many Sabres fans frustrated with the team’s lack of secondary scoring, Sobotka still seems to be a favorite of the coaching staff that continues to give him regular ice time. In his first season with Buffalo last year he failed to make much of an impact scoring just 13 points in 69 games, and has just three so far this season. The Sabres will likely insert Evan Rodrigues into the lineup for the other Global Series game tomorrow afternoon.

  • The Edmonton Oilers have activated Josh Archibald from injured reserve, and will also have Riley Sheahan back in the lineup when they take on the New Jersey Devils tonight. The team is looking to get back in the win column after two straight losses to Western Conference opponents, but still sit atop the Pacific Division with a 10-5-2 record.
  • Taylor Hall will be front and center in that matchup as he returns to Edmonton in the midst of plenty of contract speculation, including some suggesting that the Oilers would have some interest in bringing him back. Mark Spector of Sportsnet examines the Hall situation, explaining how the player has expressed clearly his desire to return to the playoffs before his time as a star in the league runs out. The Devils sit at 4-6-4 on the season, in last place in the Metropolitan Division.

Edmonton Oilers Activate Riley Sheahan

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The Edmonton Oilers have activated center Riley Sheahan from injured reserve, giving the team another option down the middle as they try to continue their recent success. To make room, Josh Archibald has been moved to IR retroactive to his last game on October 2nd.

Sheahan has not yet played this season after signing a one-year $900K contract with the Oilers at the beginning of September, but is expected to play on the third line tonight against the New York Islanders. Interestingly, Archibald actually practiced this morning with the team and is only out with the flu, meaning there is likely another roster move coming later this week.

For now though the Oilers will attempt to extend their winning streak to three games and continue their chase of that elusive playoff spot in the Pacific Division. Sheahan doesn’t come with much offensive guarantee after recording just nine goals and 19 points in 82 games last season, but does have a history of providing at least passable numbers in the bottom-six. He also brings an excellent faceoff percentage to the table, something head coach Dave Tippett will likely rely on in the defensive zone.

Snapshots: Haley, Liljegren, Sheahan

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The New York Rangers made their final cuts today but one name was conspicuously absent: Micheal Haley. The veteran tough guy was in training camp on a professional tryout, but appears to have made the club. Rick Carpiniello of The Athletic has heard just that, though no confirmation has yet come from the club as to what the contract would be. Haley needs an NHL deal to be eligible for the roster, but wouldn’t likely be making more than the $700K minimum salary.

With Haley sticking around, the team decided to send down young forwards like Filip Chytil and Vitali Kravtsov, expecting them to get more out of playing big minutes in the AHL. The duo are integral to the Rangers’ future and will get a chance to really dominate lesser competition in the minor leagues for the first part of the season.

  • Speaking of top prospects going back to the AHL, Timothy Liljegren’s time on the NHL roster might not be very long according to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet, who points out that the young defenseman likely made it past the final cuts for the Toronto Maple Leafs more because of cap mechanisms than performance. Liljegren is still currently on the Toronto roster but looks to need some more seasoning in the minor leagues before making an impact at the NHL level. The 20-year old was selected 17th in 2017 and had 15 points in 43 games for the Marlies last season.
  • The Edmonton Oilers have split up Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl for the time being, putting both at center on different lines with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins taking up the pivot role on the third group. Spreading out that center depth may be in part due to the fact that Riley Sheahan, who was a contender for that third-line center role, is in the concussion protocol and will be out for at least seven to ten days. Sheahan signed a one-year, $900K contract with the Oilers earlier this month after scoring nine goals and 19 points in 82 games last season split between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Florida Panthers.

Pacific Notes: Miller, Gaudette, McLeod

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The Vancouver Canucks paid a heavy price this summer when it went out and traded their 2020 first-round pick to Tampa Bay to acquire forward J.T. Miller. Despite a disappointing season with the Lightning last year in which he scored just 13 goals and 47 points, Vancouver believes they are getting a 20-goal, 50-point player, who can immediately step into the Canucks’ top-six.

One thing that many people like about Miller is the fact that he is a versatile forward, who can play any position on the forward line. And at reasonable cost at $5.25MM over the next four years, he should provide solid value for a team that needs to score goals. However, while most people have Miller penciled in as a winger on one of those top two lines, The Athletic’s Harman Dayal (subscription required) writes that the team should instead consider moving him back to center and placing him on the third line in hopes of stabilizing a line that has been a nightmare for several years now.

Of course trading a first-round pick for what could be a third-line center might not look good for general manager Jim Benning. However, Dayal cites that Miller has solid defensive skills that would make him a solid full-time center and the entire goal is to make the team better and the team might be better off with Miller at center and a lesser winger moving up in the lineup. It also might leave the team better off with a deeper and more talented balance on all three lines, as opposed to putting all their talent in the top two lines.

  • Sticking with the Canucks, the Province’s Ben Kuzma writes that no matter how you look at it, Vancouver center Adam Gaudette just doesn’t have much of a chance to make the team out of training camp. The 22-year-old Gaudette played 56 games for Vancouver last year, but with a loaded roster and the fact that he is waiver-exempt, the math just doesn’t work out for Gaudette staying in the NHL when the season starts. It’s far more likely that the team will send the former Hobey Baker award winner to Utica in the AHL to start the season. He only played 14 games there last year as he spent most of his first professional season learning on the fly as the team’s No. 3 center. However, with more depth in hand, Kuzma writes that the team might be able to develop his skills even better in Utica. He scored five goals and 11 points in the 14 games he played with the Comets last year.
  • Despite continued impressive play by 2018 second-round pick Ryan McLeod in rookie camp so far and considering that McLeod came close to breaking camp with Edmonton last year, the team is very high on his development and potentially making the team this year. However, the Edmonton Journal’s Kurt Leavins writes that despite McLeod’s impressive play, the recent signing of Riley Sheahan almost guarantees that McLeod will return to juniors this year. Regardless, Leavins believes have their future No. 3 center, starting next season.

 

 

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