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Snapshots: Franson, Bean, Senators

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Cody Franson hasn’t had a very successful Buffalo Sabres career. In two seasons marred by injury, the right-handed defender has failed to reach the 30 point mark that he had broken the past two seasons and will miss the playoffs once again. Today, when he was back in Toronto to face the Maple Leafs he was asked about a possible return to his former team in the offseason. Franson is a pending unrestricted free agent, and will have to make a decision on where he wants to try and rebuild his value.

To several reporters including Chris Johnston of Sportsnet, Franson made it very clear that he would be open to a return. “Oh yeah, for sure” he told Johnston, before explaining that playing in Toronto was a “dream come true” for him and his family. Despite having poor point totals and injury concerns, Franson actually still has solid possession numbers and is a candidate for a nice value contract on the open market. He’s clearly not a lock-down defender and never will be, but since he moves the puck so efficiently he doesn’t spend as much time in his own zone. For Toronto fans screaming for the heads of Roman Polak and Matt Hunwick, Franson would likely be welcomed back with open arms.

  • Jake Bean is headed to the Charlotte Checkers to get a taste of professional hockey now that his Calgary Hitmen have been eliminated from the WHL playoffs. The first-round pick (13th overall) of the Carolina Hurricanes last summer, Bean is about as good of a defensive prospect as you’ll find around the league. His 45 points in 43 games this season in junior showed once again that his offensive game is ready for the next level, and he is starting to fill out physically. The 18-year old will have to make the NHL team out of camp next season or return to the Hitmen for a fourth year and anchor a Team Canada blueline at the World Juniors.
  • The Ottawa Senators are in a fight with the Maple Leafs for second place in the Atlantic Division, and they keep getting hit with injuries. According to Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia, Cody Ceci, Marc Methot and Zack Smith will all not return before the end of the regular season, while Erik Karlsson again missed practice today and is out for tonight’s game. The team will have one reinforcement though, as Colin White will make his NHL debut on the fourth line alongside Tommy Wingels and Chris Kelly. Ryan Dzingel will be scratched in favor of the top prospect, who signed his entry-level contract just yesterday.

Roman Polak Suspended Two Games For Illegal Check

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The Department of Player Safety has handed out a two-game suspension to Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Roman Polak for his hit from behind on Oliver Bjorkstrand last night. This is the first time in over 600 NHL games that Polak has ever received supplementary discipline—suspensions or fines—from the league, despite playing a physical style for his entire career. He’ll miss games against New Jersey and Buffalo before being eligible to return on Tuesday against the Florida Panthers.

Polak has had an up-and-down calendar year to say the least, after being traded from the Leafs to the San Jose Sharks at the 2016 trade deadline. He was celebrated for his tough play in the Western Conference playoffs before being exposed in the Finals by Pittsburgh’s speed and skill. When put up against other physical players he can often hold his own, but trying to shut down speedy forwards like Carl Hagelin and Phil Kessel was impossible. He re-signed with the Leafs in the offseason and has heard cries for his head all year from fans hoping to see “Hunlack” (a pairing with Matt Hunwick) jettisoned as soon as possible. His coach, Mike Babcock, has continually come to his defense, praising his penalty killing ability most of all.

It’s ironic then, that the Maple Leafs would kill off an almost seven minute powerplay allowing just one shot after Polak was ejected last night. Even though his teammates stepped up and battled through that kill, Polak will be missed. Even analytically, as James Mirtle of The Athletic points out, Polak has been playing much better of late and is part of the reason the Maple Leafs have tightened defensively in recent weeks. He’ll be replaced by Alexey Marchenko for the time being as Toronto continues its playoff drive.

Eric Fehr Expected To Miss Remainder Of Regular Season

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Though he got into his first game with the Maple Leafs last night, Eric Fehr’s stint on the fourth line is already over. Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun is reporting that Fehr spent the night in a hospital after breaking his hand in last night’s game. With the season only lasting another two and a half weeks, it would be hard to see Fehr make it back before the playoffs.

Traded from the Pittsburgh Penguins at the deadline, Fehr brought a physical component against the Columbus Blue Jackets, throwing big hits—that were sometimes from behind—all throughout the first period. The fourth line for the Maple Leafs has seen wingers suffer an injury in back to back games, as Nikita Soshnikov went down against the Boston Bruins.

Fehr isn’t the only player the Maple Leafs may lose, as Roman Polak will receive a disciplinary hearing today for his hit on Oliver Bjorkstrand that earned him a five minute major—which turned into almost seven minutes of shorthanded time—and a game misconduct. The Maple Leafs will likely have Josh Leivo and Alexey Marchenko back into the lineup for tonight’s game should both veterans be out.

Deadline Trade Market: Defensemen

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Rental defensemen are often a hot commodity leading into the NHL Trade Deadline and this year is set to be no exception.  While there are several depth players available, there are also some blueliners that could be moved that would be impact acquisitions for their new teams.  Here’s a closer look at how the market is shaping up.

Top Player Available

Jan 10, 2017; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (22) handles the puck against the Boston Bruins during the first period at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY SportsKevin Shattenkirk – St. Louis – Last season, the Blues lost wingers David Backes and Troy Brouwer for nothing in free agency and the belief is that GM Doug Armstrong isn’t willing to let the same thing happen here even though they have climbed right back into the playoff picture.

Shattenkirk, who was ranked as the top UFA this year in our midseason power rankings, would be a top pairing player on quite a few contenders and would step onto the top power play unit just about everywhere.  Not surprisingly, the asking price is believed to be quite high with a first rounder and a top prospect among the assets the Blues are seeking.

What’s particularly interesting is that St. Louis is amenable to let teams speak to Shattenkirk’s agent regarding a possible extension in a sign-and-trade scenario.  If an agreement could be reached prior to a trade, the Blues would likely be in line for a stronger return for their top scoring blueliner.

Potential Top Four Options

Ron Hainsey – Hurricanes – While his numbers don’t jump out at anyone, Hainsey has quietly been an effective minute-munching defenseman for several years now.  He doesn’t have the offensive upside that some of the others do but teams looking for stability on their second pairing will likely have some interest in adding him to the fold.

Dmitry Kulikov – Buffalo – He hasn’t fared particularly well with the Sabres after being acquired back at the draft from Florida and lingering back issues are certainly a concern as well.  However, he has shown himself to be capable of logging considerable minutes (over 22 per game).  He’s also one of the younger players believed to be available at just 26 years of age.

Johnny Oduya – Dallas – The Stars haven’t used him as a top four player too often this season but the veteran has been one dating back several years now and there are buyers where he would fit in on a second pairing.  Like Hainsey, the two-way upside isn’t really there but Oduya can anchor a penalty kill and be a reliable presence in the defensive end.

Michael Stone – Arizona – After a breakout season offensively last year, Stone has yet to make anywhere near the type of impact he or the Coyotes were expecting this season.  He also has seen his ice time drop by two minutes a night but is still over 20 minutes on average.  After taking a one year, ‘show me’ deal in the summer, Stone will be motivated to show he still can be an effective offensive threat wherever he winds up.

[Closer Look: Trade Candidate Profiles for Hainsey, Kulikov, Oduya, and Stone]

Notable Depth/Role Players

Michael Del Zotto/Mark Streit – Philadelphia – Both players have been top four options in the past but Streit is better served as a power play specialist and a third pairing player at this point while Del Zotto’s inconsistency has resulted in a drop in usage this season.  If teams are looking to add someone that they could envision themselves re-signing in the summer, the younger Del Zotto (he’s 26) will likely be the preferred option.

Cody Franson – Buffalo – After struggling to find a new contract in 2015, Franson wound up with the Sabres where he hoped he’d be able to continue the offensive progression he showed with Toronto beforehand.  That hasn’t happened and as a result, he has been more of a third pairing player with the Sabres.  With the shot he has though, he could still be an intriguing option on a power play.

Brendan Smith – Detroit – Smith has been a player that has left the Wings wanting more over the past few seasons.  While he has flashes of strong play, he also has been prone to some poor decision making which makes him a bit of a wild card.  He’s still fairly young at 28 and should have several suitors but because of his inconsistency, it’s hard to forecast him as more than a third pairing option on a new team.

[Closer Look: Trade Candidate Profiles for Del Zotto, Franson, and Smith]

Others That Could Move

These players would all serve as lower-end depth options for an acquiring team and would likely be available for a mid-round draft pick.

Matt Hunwick/Roman Polak – Toronto, Kyle Quincey – New Jersey, Nick Schultz – Philadelphia, Fedor Tyutin – Colorado

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Maple Leafs Notes: Rielly, Marchenko, Maturity

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Morgan Rielly gave Toronto Maple Leafs fans a scare today as he was absent for practice, but it shouldn’t be too concerning. Head coach Mike Babcock told reporters including David Alter of The Athletic afterwards that Rielly will be skating tomorrow and that it was just a maintenance day coming off injury. Rielly missed a few games for the Leafs with a knee injury recently, and looked a bit tentative in last night’s win against the Boston Bruins. The Maple Leafs will need him if they’re to make it back to the playoffs for the first time since the lockout-shortened season.

  • Alexey Marchenko hit the ice for the first time with his new team today, skating as the extra defenseman at practice. While Mike Babcock admitted to Alter that Marchenko won’t play Monday versus the New York Islanders, the coach will be getting him into the lineup sooner or later. We looked at what the acquisition of Marchenko means for Roman Polak and the other right-handed defenseman yesterday, but it doesn’t look like it will happen right away in Toronto. Polak remained firmly in the third pairing role alongside Matt Hunwick, who will likely figure back into the lineup after Martin Marincin took three minor penalties against Boston.
  • Frank Corrado has indeed been sent to the minors where he will assume big minutes on the Toronto Marlies. With Rinat Valiev out with a lower-body injury, expect Corrado to join the top pairing and have something of a showcase as we get closer to the trade deadline.
  • In winning the see-saw battle last night against the Bruins, and with it slaying any lingering demons from the Maple Leafs collapse in game 7 of their last playoff appearance, Amalie Benjamin of NHL.com considers this group well ahead of schedule. In her latest column, she writes that the team is maturing much faster than was expected and should be considered a completely different entity than the lackluster teams of the last decade (or longer, depending on who you ask).

What Alexey Marchenko Means For Roman Polak

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On Saturday morning, it was announced that the Toronto Maple Leafs had claimed Alexey Marchenko from the Detroit Red Wings. While that headline isn’t the blockbuster we’ve been waiting for, it does have some impact on a team that is still deciding what to do at the quickly approaching deadline.

The Maple Leafs placed the much discussed Frank Corrado on waivers in a corresponding move, possibly ending the defenseman’s tenure in Toronto. Corrado hasn’t played much this year, getting into just two games with the NHL club and seven on an AHL conditioning stint. Clearly in head coach Mike Babcock’s doghouse since he came to Toronto, the team has been looking for a right-handed upgrade for a long time.

Marchenko has ties to Babcock from his days in Detroit, though not many. The 25-year old got into just 14 games while Babcock was coaching. It is that familiarity though that has some people saying that he’ll jump into the lineup (at least on a part-time basis) instead of Roman Polak. James Mirtle of the Athletic was on TSN 1050 today and related his thoughts on the matter.

He’s going to play him. The fact that he’s going to play another right defenseman means Roman Polak is going to be sitting out games, and they can look to trade him at some point.

Maybe they play Polak until the deadline, and then they move him…and now they’ve got Marchenko that can slide into those minutes.

The idea that Polak would be moved out of Toronto for the second time in two years is a persistent one in Toronto, as he continues to struggle when paired with Matt Hunwick in all situations other than the penalty kill. While he brought back a pair of second-round picks (when combined with Nick Spaling) last season, it would be surprising to see the Leafs receive anything like that this time around. Polak doess bring a physical presence and the experience of a long Stanley Cup run last season with San Jose, still valued attributes around the league.

For the Maple Leafs, it’s not clear whether they would want to add, sell or just stay the course with a team that is unexpectedly vying for a playoff spot this season. The plan has always been to build slow through the draft, but with the Atlantic Division wide open they have a chance at a playoff seed as soon as this year. Keeping Polak for their push might be beneficial in the long run; this team will be extremely inexperienced if they do make it, as even their veterans haven’t seen more than a handful of playoff games.

We’ll see soon enough how Mike Babcock is leaning, as the Maple Leafs don’t have a second to breathe. After tonight in Boston, they have four more games in seven days including rematches against the Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues, both clubs that destroyed them this week. If Marchenko gets into the lineup for Polak right away, start looking around to see where he might fit around the league. Lou Lamoriello is known for getting his work done a little early, and the Leafs may pull the trigger quicker than you expect.

Snapshots: Kings, Hunlack, Bogosian

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In his latest column, ESPN Insider Pierre LeBrun takes a look at the Los Angeles Kings roster and suggest strategies for the upcoming expansion draft. LeBrun boils the issue down to two names: Brayden McNabb and Dustin Brown. If the team wishes to protect McNabb, they’ll have to go the “eight skaters” option, since Drew Doughty, Jake Muzzin and Alec Martinez will undoubtedly need protection. If they do, they put at risk some of their big names up front, including former captain Dustin Brown. While Brown is coming off the worst year of his career, he’s turned it around a bit this season and may be an interesting option for the Vegas team to bring in a veteran forward who could immediately become their first captain.

On the other hand, if they choose to leave McNabb exposed he may not necessarily be the selection since he only has one year remaining before becoming a highly sought after free agent in 2018. At 27, the shutdown defender would have teams lining up to bring him into the fold, and he’ll be looking for a substantial raise from the $1.8MM he’ll make next season.  For the Kings, just like every other team, the expansion draft will be a game of chicken with George McPhee and the Vegas front office.

  • In Toronto, a nickname has surfaced for the veteran third pairing of Matt Hunwick and Roman Polak; “Hunlack”, as many fans refer to the duo has been chided incessantly by the analytics community for their constant struggle with possession metrics. While the two rank terribly in terms of Corsi and Fenwick, head coach Mike Babcock dismisses the notion that they’re unplayable. When asked by Chris Johnston of Sportsnet what makes up a good game for them, Babcock replied “There’s a bunch of ways to look at the game. So Corsi’s one, maybe. But who turns the video on and rewinds to see if those shots actually hit the net or not? Because our math and theirs don’t add up. So what I do is I say: ’Did the puck go in or did they get scoring chances against?'” While the metrics available to the public don’t necessarily share Babcock’s assesment of the pairing, he does seem to imply that the Maple Leafs’ internal numbers don’t match up exactly.  Perhaps even though ’Hunlack’ doesn’t generate shots like Toronto’s other pairings, they can be effective in other ways – or maybe it’s just talking them up for the trade deadline.
  • For Buffalo, their season-long struggle with injuries is starting to see an end. After Jack Eichel has rejoined the team and shown why he shouldn’t be forgotten as last season’s second-overall pick, the team got more good news today. Zach Bogosian, out since the beginning of November with a knee injury, took full part in today’s practice and should be back before long. Now they just have to figure out a way to motivate Zemgus Girgensons and Evander Kane, both of whom will skate on the fourth line tonight against the Los Angeles Kings.

Free Agent Profile: Kyle Quincey

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One of the best remaining defensive options available on the open market, Kyle Quincey is somewhat of a tragic tale.  After being selected in the fourth round by Detroit, he slowly crawled towards the NHL but could never establish himself on the Red Wings’ blueline. It took a waiver claim by Los Angeles – then a bottom-feeder of the NHL – to give him his chance, and he ran with it.

Playing in 72 games for the Kings that year, Quincey put up what would turn out to be a career-high 38 points, including a whopping 25 assists on the powerplay. Though he wasn’t considered an excellent offensive defenseman, the Kings just didn’t have many other options then – a 19-year old Drew Doughty was still learning the game, and Jack Johnson was injured for much of the season.

In July of that year, still rehabbing a herniated disc that cut short his season, Quincey was the centerpiece in a deal with the Avalanche for Ryan Smyth, a key member in the turnaround the Kings experienced a year later. In joining Colorado, Quincey – still just 24 – was on his third team already in his young career.

Colorado wouldn’t keep him around very long either, as they dealt the young blueliner back to his original Detroit Red Wings mid-season in 2011-12 (via Tampa Bay, who received a first-round pick in the transaction).  He was back with the team who wouldn’t give him a chance in the first place, and immediately saw his numbers plummet again.  He’d see the ice 36 times in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign, but only logged three points all season.

Still, the Red Wings thought of him enough to hand him a two-year, $8.5MM deal on July 1st of 2014, even though he qualified as an unrestricted free agent and could have chosen anywhere else (that would have him).

Now, with that deal expired, the Red Wings have shown no interest in keeping Quincey around, and have moved on to other options.  He now represents one of the best options left available, if you believe his early career success can be replicated in any way.

Potential Suitors

Before free agency started, we had Quincey on our Top 50 UFA list going to the Minnesota Wild, and it still seems to be a fit, though there has been no discussion about the 30-year old thus far in the media. Having given deals to both Eric Staal and Chris Stewart as they try to rebuild there value, it’s clear the team is willing to try and re-energize former stars on short-term deals.

Another possibility would be that of the Edmonton Oilers, despite already bringing in Adam Larsson and Mark Fraser. Though they look to have too many (luke-warm) bodies already, expect a few of them to be shipped out by the start of the season. If the team is committed to rebuilding a blueline that was horrible last year, Quincey could be a nice option on a bottom pairing to help some of the youngsters (Darnell Nurse, Jordan Oesterle or Brandon Davidson) develop into legitimate NHL defensemen.

Expected Contract

Needing to rebuild his value, Quincey will probably take a fairly low number on a short-term deal to prove that he’s still an effective NHL blueliner.  With advanced metrics disliking his play the last few seasons, he looks to be in the same boat as fellow unsigned free agent Kris Russell, in that teams are moving towards possession-based metrics, especially for their defense.

The thing that Quincey has going for him, is that he was once regarded positively in this manner, and with a change of scenery and correct role he could be again.  Only 30 years old, he’ll try to secure as much as Roman Polak did for the Leafs (one year, $2.25MM), but – amazingly – might not even get that.

Maple Leafs Sign Roman Polak

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July 3: General Fanager has confirmation on the financials; Polak will recieve $2.25MM from the Maple Leafs on his one-year deal.

July 2: The Toronto Maple Leafs are bringing back a familiar face in D Roman Polak as the team announced Saturday that they have signed him to a one year contract.  Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Polak spent most of last season with Toronto before being dealt to San Jose in the days leading up to the trade deadline.  Between the Leafs and Sharks, he played in 79 games last year, scoring a goal and 15 assists, while playing an average of 19:09 per game.  Polak also played in 24 postseason games with San Jose, being held pointless while seeing his average ice time drop to 15:46.

In his career, Polak has played in 559 games with St. Louis, Toronto, and San Jose.  He has 19 goals and 85 assists in that span, with 439 PIMS.

Polak will bring some physicality to Toronto’s bottom defense pairing next season.  Last season, he had a career high 303 hits and 146 blocks.  He was rated 36th on PHR’s Top 50 UFA list.

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