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Ryan Getzlaf

Ducks Notes: Volkov, Drysdale, Getzlaf

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Anaheim’s acquisition of Alexander Volkov from Tampa Bay last month raised some eyebrows considering the relatively low acquisition cost of prospect Antoine Morand and a 2023 seventh-round pick.  But Tampa Bay needed more cap flexibility and the Ducks were able to take advantage of that.

However, it turns out that wasn’t the only factor in the trade.  The 23-year-old told Elliott Teaford of the Orange County Register that he had requested a trade from the Lightning, citing a desire to play more regularly instead of being someone that was in and out of the lineup.  He should get that opportunity with Anaheim and played a season-high 13:32 in his debut last night while scoring a goal.  A good showing down the stretch would go a long way towards bolstering his case in restricted free agency where he will have arbitration eligibility for the first time this summer.

More from Anaheim:

  • Jamie Drysdale played in his seventh game of the season on Friday. Normally, that’s not a particularly notable milestone but using the proration factor that’s being applied this season (56/82), he has reached the equivalent of the ten-game mark that officially activates the first year of his entry-level deal, meaning the contract can no longer slide.  The next threshold to watch for in these situations is the 40-game mark for accruing a season towards UFA eligibility.  Using that same proration factor, that will be hit at 27 games.  However, Anaheim only has 20 games left in their season and with them sitting last in the West Division, they’re not making the playoffs so it’s safe to say that Drysdale isn’t going to reach that threshold.  That means they will still have seven years of team control remaining.
  • Center Ryan Getzlaf left Friday’s game in the first period due to an upper-body injury, Teaford notes in a separate column. It has been a tough season for the long-time captain as he has just three goals in 36 games so far.  GM Bob Murray has previously indicated that he wouldn’t move Getzlaf unless he wanted to be traded but with so many teams being close to being capped out, it would be difficult to put a viable trade together regardless of his no-move clause.

Latest On Ryan Getzlaf’s Future

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The Anaheim Ducks lost again last night, adding just a single mark to the goals for column that they have struggled so much to fill this season. The team has just 33 goals in 17 games, the fewest on a per-game basis in the league and a historically low rate. They do have some offensive weapons pushing for a call-up but some wonder if the team should be selling off some expiring or aging assets to rebuild for the future. When you scroll over the Ducks’ CapFriendly page looking for potential trade chips, one name might stick out above all the rest: Ryan Getzlaf.

The 35-year-old center is on the last season of the eight-year, $66MM contract he signed in 2013 and is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer. That could potentially make him an attractive piece on the market, especially since he isn’t actually earning the $8.5MM cap hit that his contract carries. Getzlaf is owed just $6MM for the 2020-21 season, and half of that was in a signing bonus. That means he would come at a considerable discount for a cash-strapped contender, though obviously, the cap structure would need to work.

Hold that thought. Getzlaf also has a full no-movement clause in his contract and Frank Seravalli of TSN reported last night on Insider Trading that the Ducks have no plans to ask him to waive it at this time. The only way the veteran forward would be on the move is if he asked for a trade to go chase a Stanley Cup. That chase, which is so alluring to many of the league’s greatest players as they get to the twilight of their career, may not be so for Getzlaf, who already won a championship in 2007 with the Ducks.

There’s also the fact that he’s not the same Hart Trophy-level star that he once was, meaning the return wouldn’t likely be a big one. Getzlaf has just six points through 15 games, including zero even-strength goals. His ice time is down and he’s now just playing a support and leadership role as the team transitions to the next wave of talent.

As of now, it doesn’t appear as though he’ll be on the block. But Seravalli points out that could change if he “raises his hand” and tells the Ducks he wants to chase another ring.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Pacific Notes: Getzlaf, Hughes, Demers, Ekman-Larsson

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While some veterans will be considering whether or not to leave their teams in pursuit of a Stanley Cup title, it doesn’t appear as if Anaheim center Ryan Getzlaf has any interest in doing so.  Speaking with Eric Stephens of The Athletic (subscription required), the veteran stated that he has “no desire to try to chase a Cup somewhere else”.  The 34-year-old has spent the entirety of his 15-year career with the Ducks and still has one year on his current deal left after this one with a cap hit of $8.25MM and a full no-move clause.  The lack of interest in a trade appears to be mutual as Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic adds (Twitter link) that management has no intention of taking calls from teams that might be interested in bringing the veteran in for the stretch run.

More from the Pacific:

  • Quinn Hughes’ second period assist on Thursday against Minnesota may not have seemed like a big deal at the time but it was a notable one for the Canucks. Postmedia’s Patrick Johnston notes that the helper ensured that the rookie would max out his Schedule A bonuses in his contract, worth a total of $850K.  He had to hit four separate marks to get there; he has already reached 25 assists, 40 points, and played in the All-Star Game.  His point per game average is also guaranteed to be over the 0.49 threshold which is the fourth one he’ll hit.  With Vancouver already into LTIR, it’s likely that the bonuses will be carried over and applied on their salary cap for next season.
  • Coyotes defenseman Jason Demers is dealing with an oblique injury that will keep him out for a while, reports Craig Morgan of The Athletic (Twitter link) who notes that the likely designation will be week-to-week. The 31-year-old ranks fourth among Arizona defenders in ice time per game at just under 21 minutes a night.  Meanwhile, Morgan adds that blueliner Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who has been out with a lower-body injury sustained late last month, is expected to travel with the team for their upcoming four-game road trip which suggests that he could be nearing a return.

Anaheim’s GM Bob Murray Talks About Taking Interim Coaching Job

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When the Anaheim Ducks fired head coach Randy Carlyle earlier today, many were a bit surprised when Executive Vice President/General Manager Bob Murray named himself the interim coach. The general manager has never been behind the bench, but made it clear in a press conference earlier today that he wants to see things for himself.

“I think this is the only way for me to determine what all the problems are,” Murray said (via Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston). “I don’t think it would be fair to put anybody else in this position right now.”

The Ducks are mired in a horrible slump in which it has won just twice in the last 21 games and have had multiple embarrassing losses recently as they have been outscored 37-8 in their most recent seven-game losing streak. Murray said that Carlyle’s fate was decided last Tuesday after the team’s loss in Montreal. However, with the look that the team has given up on the season, Murray has said that he wants to see for himself where the problems lie.

“It’s my job. I’m looking forward to figuring out what the issues are,” Murray said (via the Ducks). “One of the biggest things I have to determine is if we have people who can (lead). I haven’t given up on them yet, but I’m worried. I don’t think it would be fair to put anyone else in this position right now. I felt I needed to be in the trenches. I strongly felt this way. I know this is the right move for our organization right now. In order to win, you need to have people who aren’t afraid of the adversity. That’s what I’m looking for.”

On top of coaching duties now, Murray also must solve several roster dilemmas as the team has gotten old and slow and need an influx of young talent. With the trade deadline, Murray wants to get a good look at what he wants to hold onto and what he will likley move on from. The team has a number of veterans with big contracts, including Corey Perry, Ryan Kesler, Ryan Getzlaf and Patrick Eaves. However, although it would be challenging to move their contracts, Murray said he isn’t afraid to ask them whether they want to leave.

“I have no fear whatsoever in asking them myself,” Murray said.

Murray doesn’t feel the team needs a full-fledged rebuild as there is already quite a bit of talent in their minor league system as they have a number of top forwards close to joining the franchise, including Isac Lundestrom, Max Comtois, Sam Steel, Max Jones and Troy Terry amongst many. Regardless of the outcome of the season, Murray said the coaching search will start the minute that this season ends.

Ondrej Kase Out 5-6 Months With Torn Labrum

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The Anaheim Ducks’ playoff odds just took a major hit. The team has announced this evening that young forward Ondrej Kase suffered a torn labrum in his shoulder in last Thursday’s game against the Minnesota Wild. The injury will require surgery, scheduled for next week, and Kase will miss the next five to six months for recovery. His season is over.

Kase, 23, had been on pace for the best season of his career despite missing 20 games already. In the 30 games he had played for the Ducks, Kase has registered 20 points and trailed only Ryan Getzlaf in points-per-game for the team. Kase is developing into dynamic right wing and a dependable one at that. In the first season of a three-year extension worth $2.6MM against the cap each year, Kase is already looking like an immense bargain for Anaheim. However, the concern moving forward is whether the upstart Czech winger can stay healthy.

Yet, the more pressing concern for the Ducks is their fate this season. GM Bob Murray has been busy lately reshaping his roster for a playoff push, but he likely won’t be able to replace Kase’s production internally and probably will be unwilling to pay the price to replace him via trade. Fortunately, Corey Perry, Patrick Eaves, and Jakob Silfverberg should all be back in the lineup sooner rather than later, providing a nice boost up front. However, Anaheim is one of seven teams currently competing for just two wild card spots in the Western Conference and likely needed their team at full strength – including Kase – to ensure they were able to secure a playoff berth. This injury could convince Murray to swing another deal or instead could switch the Ducks into selling mode. Only time will tell, but no good will come from losing the scoring punch that Kase provided.

Snapshots: Edler, Montreal, Kesler

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The Vancouver Canucks have had an interesting start to the year, with impressive performances from rookie Elias Pettersson but bad losses at the hands of the Calgary Flames and Carolina Hurricanes. The team has allowed 14 goals in three games, and is busy shaking up their blue line to try to find answers. One player that won’t be taken out of the lineup because of his play is Alexander Edler, but there might be a break-up coming down the line anyway. Edler is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end, but has made it clear he wants to spend the rest of his career in Vancouver.

Still, as Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet points out in his latest 31 Thoughts column, Edler would be an attractive rental piece at the trade deadline for a contender. The 32-year old defenseman is averaging more than 25 minutes of ice time through the first three games and is coming off his most effective offensive season in some time. Friedman notes that the Tampa Bay Lightning has shown interest in the left-hander before, and that “someone” will again even if he’s determined to return to the Canucks in 2019-20.

  • The Montreal Canadiens will face a tough decision in the coming days, as Eric Engels of Sportsnet writes that the team will likely put either Jacob de La Rose or Nikita Scherbak on waivers once the former is back to full health. Both high draft selections, neither player has really found much consistency in the NHL and even their youth can’t get them into the current lineup. Engels believes that both would be prime targets for a waiver claim, given that they still hold some substantial potential. There are obviously other ways out of the roster crunch, but if it does come down to a waiver placement and attempted minor league assignment, the Canadiens could find themselves losing some of their forward depth for nothing in the coming days.
  • Ryan Kesler was on the ice at the Anaheim Ducks morning skate, and even took line rushes between Andrew Cogliano and Kiefer Sherwood according to Josh Cooper of The Athletic. The veteran forward was not expected to return so soon, and head coach Randy Carlyle wouldn’t even confirm that he’ll be in the lineup tonight against the Arizona Coyotes. If he is back to health it’s at the perfect time as the Ducks are without Ryan Getzlaf and are struggling to find much offense up front. An expected Stanley Cup contender, the Ducks have been ravaged by injuries early and could use some good news on that front.

Pacific Notes: Juolevi, Kase, Smith, Klefbom

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While asking the question of when will Vancouver Canucks prospect Olli Juolevi play his first NHL game, Ben Kuzma of The Province writes that his chances of making this year’s squad has already been hampered when he suffered a lower-back injury during offseason training. The 20-year–old fifth-overall pick in 2016 had a minimally invasive disk procedure to relieve pressure on his spinal nerve column, which was expected to sideline him for eight to 10 weeks.

Kuzma writes that defenseman Alexander Edler suffered a similar injury back in the 2010-11 season and needed a full 10 weeks to recover. Juolevi likely won’t begin full-intensive training until the end of August, therefore, and will only get about three weeks to get in shape for training camp. With his chances of making the team already a question mark before 2018 first-rounder Quinn Hughes announced he would return to the University of Michigan, what are his chances now?

“He’s on schedule,” said Canucks’ general manager Jim Benning. “He has been working out and will be ready for training camp. We expect him to come to put his best foot forward. We’ll see where he is at and go from there.”

  • Eric Stephens of The Athletic (subscription required) writes that with the signing of Ondrej Kase to three-year, $7.8MM deal, the Anaheim Ducks may have quite the logjam at the forward position this year as the team likely will have to find a more prominent role for Kase, which could be challenging. The team has a logjam at the right wing position as many believe that veteran Patrick Eaves could likely join Ryan Getzlaf on the team’s top line next year. The second line will be either manned by Jakob Silfverberg or Corey Perry, which could force Kase to move to the fourth line. That’s not likely to happen. So what can they do for Kase? Move him to the left side? Stephens writes that might work for temporary situations such as injuries that come up, but is hardly a permanent solution for the 22-year-old who is just starting to enter his prime. Stephens adds that a more likely possibility, especially if Ryan Kesler is not ready for the regular season, would be to move Silfverberg off the right side to accommodate Kase.
  • Kent Wilson of The Athletic (subscription required) writes that the Calgary Flames may have redesigned their team, but they are taking a big gamble in the net with 36-year-old Mike Smith. The veteran had an amazing first-half of the season before suffering an injury and never looked the same. While the hope is that Smith is fully recovered and should return to form for this season, Wilson writes that he’s entering the “danger age” for goaltenders who have historically fallen off a cliff at 36. If the team can’t get a big year from Smith, the team only has David Rittich and Jon Gillies as insurance, which could crush the team’s hopes for a playoff berth in a very deep Pacific Division.
  • Jamie Umbach of NHL.com takes a look at the Edmonton Oilers defenseman Oscar Klefbom, who regressed last season after a breakout season in the 2016-17 season in which he tallied 12 goals and 38 points. However, a shoulder injury sustained in the Western Conference Finals hovered over him all of last year to the point that he five goals and 21 points in 66 games before he opted to have season-ending surgery to repair his shoulder. Klefbom has been given a clean bill of health this offseason is ready to return for a big season next year. “It feels good going home knowing the shoulder is 100 percent so I don’t have to go through this again with medications and injections,” Klefbom said.

Anaheim Ducks Re-Sign Ondrej Kase To Three-Year Deal

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The Anaheim Ducks are keeping busy in the slowest part of the summer, finally reaching terms on an extension with restricted free agent forward Ondrej Kase. The team has announced a three-year deal with the young right winger, who set career highs across the board last season. Beat writer Eric Stephens adds that the contract carries a $2.6MM AAV for a total of $7.8MM over the three-year term.

Kase, 22, has developed well beyond anyone’s estimations since he was selected in the seventh round of the 2014 NHL Draft. He not only debuted in the NHL just two years after being drafted, but played in 53 games with the Ducks in 2016-17. He followed that up with a sophomore campaign last season that more than doubled his production over 66 games and showcased a more well-rounded skill set. Kase scored 20 goals, tied for second-most on the Ducks, and totaled 38 points overall, fifth-best for Anaheim. Additionally, he led all Ducks forwards but Ryan Getzlaf in plus/minus. Perhaps most impressive, Kase topped all Anaheim skaters in possession, with a 52.9 Corsi (CF%).

The Czech native has natural offensive instincts and possesses a high-end hockey IQ unbecoming of a player selected in the 200’s of the NHL Draft. Moving forward, he should continue to grow into a scoring weapon and should be given more ice time and a greater special teams role for Anaheim after last season. If Kase continues to exceed expectations, GM Bob Murray and the Ducks will be very happy to have him at such a low cap hit in two or three years. As Anaheim’s old guard – Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and Ryan Kesler – only continue to slow down, Kase looks to be a key piece of the young core coming up behind them.

Pacific Notes: Raanta, Perry, Carter, Couture, Marchessault

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Nothing went exactly the way that Arizona Coyotes goaltender Antti Raanta had hoped in the first half of the season. However, one thing the goaltender hopes is that he can prove to his team that he is a number one netminder, something he hasn’t accomplished so far this year, according to Arizona Sports Craig Morgan.

Acquired as part of a major package this offseason along with center Derek Stepan for defensive prospect Anthony DeAngelo and the seventh-overall pick in the 2017 draft (Lias Andersson), Raanta was supposed to make people forget about longtime veteran Mike Smith, who the team traded to Calgary in the offseason. Instead, Raanta has spent quite a bit of time on injured reserve with two lower-body ailments and a concussion and has only appeared in 21 games, posting a 2.82 GAA and a .915 save percentage.

“I’m waiting for him to get into a rhythm,” general manager John Chayka said Tuesday. “I don’t think you can evaluate him until he gets into a rhythm. There have been some games, Colorado is one (a 3-1 win on Dec. 27) where I thought he played exceptionally well. I’m hoping now is that time when he can get on a roll and solidify things for us in net.”

The 28-year-old netminder will be an unrestricted free-agent this summer and the team must decide over the next three and a half months whether Raanta is their goalie of the future and if he is worth locking up to a long-term deal.

  • Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register writes that Anaheim Ducks winger Corey Perry is set to return to the Ducks lineup tonight after missing 11 straight games with a knee injury. This will be the first time this year that Perry will get an opportunity to play with Ryan Kesler and Ryan Getzlaf. Kesler came back on Dec. 11, the same day that Perry went down, while Getzlaf hadn’t returned at that point. The three made one of the top lines in hockey in recent years. In 31 games before the injury, Perry has six goals and 16 assists.
  • While there is no timetable for his return, Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider writes that Los Angeles Kings veteran center Jeff Carter has been much more visible in the last week. He’s shed the Roll-A-Bout and crutches and is walking around without a boot. He has suffered no setbacks so far since he was injured on Oct. 18 and required ankle surgery. “Progression-wise and everything he’s doing right now shows he will be back this season,” Blake said.
  • Paul Gackle of The Mercury News writes that center Logan Couture has finally found his pre-concussion form after Friday’s three assist night against Ottawa. Couture, who had been leading the team in scoring before going down with a head injury on Dec. 15. The scribe writes that Couture, who has struggled in his first three games back after missing four games, looked like the old Couture Friday. “He’s coming off an injury where you never know how long it takes to feel good again,” head coach Peter DeBoer said. “He was obviously good again tonight.”
  • One fact about the six-year, $30MM contract that Vegas Golden Knights winger Jon Marchessault signed earlier this week is that it has a modified no-trade clause in it, tweets SinBin. Details on the specifics of the NTC, however, is unknown, according to CapFriendly.

Injury Updates: Ducks, Hartnell, Zibanejad, Dadonov, Mason

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Ducks centers Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler have both returned to practice, notes Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register.  Of the two, it’s Getzlaf (fractured cheekbone) that will be the quickest to return as he is hoping to play sometime next week, potentially as early as Monday.  As for Kesler, who has yet to suit up this season after undergoing hip surgery in June, his return date is still in question but there is a possibility he will accompany Anaheim on their six-game road trip next week, though that may just be to continue to skate with the team.

More injury news from around the NHL:

  • Predators winger Scott Hartnell has returned to practice and could be ready to return to the lineup on their upcoming three-game road trip, reports Adam Vingan of The Tennessean. He has been out since November 11th due to a lower-body issue.  The veteran had gotten off to a good start with Nashville prior to the injury, collecting seven points in 16 games.
  • Rangers center Mika Zibanejad will not be able to return tonight against the Devils, notes Brett Cyrgalis of the New York Post. He is dealing with concussion-like symptoms sustained from a hit on November 24th although they were late to appear as he actually suited up in their next game before missing four straight.  There’s no timeframe for when he might get the green light to return.
  • It appears that Florida could get winger Evgenii Dadonov back sooner than expected. He has resumed on-ice workouts and head coach Bob Boughner told Jameson Olive of the Panthers’ team site (Twitter link) that Dadonov will be back sooner than later.  The 28-year-old is dealing with a shoulder injury, one that was originally expected to keep him out four-to-six weeks.  He’s just two weeks into that so it appears that he is ahead of schedule in his recovery.
  • Jets goaltender Steve Mason has passed through concussion protocol, reports Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun (Twitter link). Head coach Paul Maurice said that the earliest he will be activated off injured reserve will be on Monday and that depends on how Mason’s workout goes later today.

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