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Sonny Milano

Free Agent Profile: Sonny Milano

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Before 2021-22, it looked like Sonny Milano’s career was headed in the direction many other former top prospects’ careers had gone. A talented run of scoring at lower levels, a solid first season in pro hockey, and then a stagnant development track that leads to an inability to hold down an NHL spot. That’s seemed to be where Milano was going.

The 16th overall pick at the 2014 draft, Milano’s puck skills and overall creativity made him an intriguing forward prospect. After a successful year in the OHL in his first season as a Blue Jacket, Milano made the transition to pro hockey, playing in 54 games for the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters. He played decently well, scoring 31 points, and even earned a three-game cup of tea at the NHL level.

From that point, Milano progressed slowly, but steadily. He had another productive AHL year, a few more NHL games, and then finally got an extended look in Columbus in 2017-18, scoring 14 goals and 22 points in 55 games. The offensive talent was there, but Milano’s struggles away from the puck meant that his NHL role was limited and his overall usage inconsistent. Under a demanding coach like John Tortorella, Milano needed to become a more well-rounded player in order to thrive, and he wasn’t able to.

Milano was dealt to the Anaheim Ducks in February 2020 for Devin Shore, and then missed most of 2020-21 due to an upper-body injury. He cleared waivers at the start of 2021-22 and then went on to have the most productive season of his career. In 66 games Milano scored 14 goals and 34 points, and featured in highlight-reel plays as a frequent running mate of superstar rookie Trevor Zegras.

It looked like Milano had finally found a home in the NHL, but earlier this summer the Ducks made a surprising move. They chose not to issue Milano a qualifying offer and let him hit unrestricted free agency, where he remains today. So, why might Milano still be on the market?

Well, it likely comes down to his flaws away from the puck, the holes in his game that have dogged him for his entire career. We know what Milano can do. He can stick with talented players and help finish their plays. He can dazzle with his creativity and help drive offense. But he can also hurt his team away from the puck and struggle to make any sort of impact when he’s not “on.”

His inability to polish his game is likely why he remains unsigned, but that doesn’t mean there’s no place for him in the NHL. Despite the issues in his two-way game, Milano is still an undoubtedly talented offensive player. He’s also still young at just 26 years old, and the combination of his offensive skill level and age isn’t easily found at this stage of the offseason market. Some teams might be weary of his overall profile, but the bottom line with him is that he can help a team score goals, so he’ll find a way to catch on somewhere.

Stats:

2021-22: 66 GP, 14G 20A 34pts, -9 rating, 10 PIMs, 94 shots, 15:17 ATOI

Career: 197 GP, 36G 45A 81pts, -26 rating, 46 PIMs, 255 shots, 13:15 ATOI

Potential Suitors:

Based on Milano’s profile on the ice, he’ll likely fit best on two types of teams: cap-strapped contenders looking to add some more offensive juice to their attack, or rebuilders who want to take a flyer on a relatively young free agent to occupy a roster spot and protect their current young forwards from being rushed to the NHL. With those two types of teams in mind, there are a few franchises that could make sense for Milano.

One team that makes sense for Milano is the St. Louis Blues. The Blues had one of the deepest top-nines in hockey last year, but the loss of David Perron this offseason means there could be a hole in their top nine that needs to be filled. They don’t have a ton of cap space, but assuming they can find room for Milano he could be a solid add to their lineup. He would have quality linemates to feed off of in St. Louis and would give coach Craig Berube more options as to how to deploy his top three forward lines.

Perhaps most importantly, the Blues have an overabundance of talented forwards who are responsible in their own end, such as Ryan O’Reilly, Ivan Barbashev, and Pavel Buchnevich. Their presence could limit the negative impact of Milano’s poor defensive game and free him up to focus on the offensive side of the ice.

Another club that could make sense on a one-year deal is the New York Rangers. Like St. Louis, they have a wealth of talented forwards to stick Milano with. The Rangers also have a pretty wide-open right side of their forward group, and although Milano is a left winger he could possibly slot in and compete with Vitali Kravtsov, Kaapo Kakko, and Sammy Blais for minutes on one of the Rangers’ top-two lines.

One club that is rebuilding that Milano could fit with is the Chicago Blackhawks. He would be a similar signing to their prior deals with Andreas Athanasiou and Max Domi, only at a lower cost. Milano would help the Blackhawks fill out their top two lines and keep them from needing to rush Lukas Reichel into a top-six role. The Blackhawks’ roster is among the weakest in the league, and adding a scorer like Milano would be wise in the case that he has a productive first half to his season, as he then could become a flippable asset at the deadline.

Projected Contract:

If a free agent is still available in August, they probably won’t be able to issue huge salary demands to interested teams, save for special cases like with still-unsigned center Nazem Kadri. As a result, Milano’s next deal is unlikely to pass the $1.7MM figure he played on last season. A one-year deal at around $1MM seems like the most likely outcome at this point, if he’s getting an NHL contract.

Adding a player in his mid-twenties who scored at a 42-point pace for just $1MM against the cap is a solid bit of business for many teams. But a team will have to be confident in their ability to properly utilize Milano so he doesn’t end up a net negative thanks to his defensive play.

Finding a proper fit in a lineup could be a challenge, but it’s far from impossible. At a cost at or below $1MM, Milano could quickly make it worth the hassle for any team that signs him.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images. Financial information courtesy of CapFriendly.

West Notes: Byram, Oilers, Milano

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There is no timeline for Avalanche defenseman Bowen Byram to return from his leave of absence, notes Mike Chambers of the Denver Post.  The blueliner was a late scratch on Tuesday and Peter Baugh of The Athletic recently reported (Twitter link) that Byram doesn’t have another concussion but is dealing with symptoms that are likely related to the previous ones he has suffered that have gotten to the point where he didn’t feel he could play.  The 21-year-old has been a key part of Colorado’s lineup when he has been healthy, logging just shy of 20 minutes a game while chipping in with 11 points in 18 contests.  However, given his concussion history, it’s quite possible that Byram will be out for a while.

More from the West:

  • The Oilers are hoping that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins can resume skating next week, relays Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic (Twitter link). The center has been out since the start of the month with an undisclosed injury, a tough blow for an Edmonton team that has largely struggled for any consistent secondary scoring behind their two superstars.  Meanwhile, defenseman Kris Russell isn’t expected to return against Saturday against Ottawa; the veteran has been out for more than a month with an upper-body injury.
  • Ducks winger Sonny Milano left tonight’s game against Minnesota due to an upper-body injury, mentions Eric Stephens of The Athletic (Twitter link). He took an elbow to the face from Wild defenseman Jon Merrill and did not return.  The 25-year-old recently set a new career high in points and is up to 25 this season in 35 games.

Snapshots: Zucker, Bertuzzi, Ducks

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While the Penguins sent winger Jason Zucker back to Pittsburgh today to be evaluated, it appears they’re not particularly optimistic that his absence will be a short one.  Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes that while they’re hopeful his lower-body injury isn’t as bad as they initially feared, they are preparing to be without the 29-year-old for an extended period of time.  Zucker is off to a quiet start to the season by his standards with just four goals and three assists in 17 games but his absence will open up a vacancy in their top-six.  If he’s going to miss more than 10 games or 24 days, he’ll be eligible to be placed on long-term injured reserve, giving them some short-term cap flexibility to recall a replacement.

Elsewhere around the league:

  • The Red Wings have been without winger Tyler Bertuzzi for all of February and it doesn’t sound as if he’ll be back anytime soon. Head coach Jeff Blashill told reporters, including Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press (Twitter link), that he has “no idea” when the 26-year-old will be able to return.  Bertuzzi was off to a strong start to his season with five goals and two assists in eight games and with his contract expiring this summer, missing this much time isn’t going to give him the type of platform season he was hoping for.
  • The Ducks activated Sonny Milano from IR and recalled him from his AHL conditioning loan, relays Elliott Teaford of the Orange County Register (Twitter link). The winger suffered an upper-body just a week into the season, limiting him to just two games.  He was quietly productive after joining Anaheim last season with five points in nine contests, making him an intriguing addition to a lineup that has struggled mightily offensively in the early going.  The team also placed winger Carter Rowney on IR due to a lower-body injury.  While the veteran is known more as a bottom-six player, he’s tied for the team lead in assists with six in 19 games.

Columbus Blue Jackets Issue Qualifying Offers

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced which restricted free agents will receive qualifying offers, with few surprises. Josh Anderson, Gabriel Carlsson, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Vladislav Gavrikov, Matiss Kivlenieks, Ryan MacInnis, Kevin Stenlund and Calvin Thurkauf have all received qualifying offers from the team and will remain in the organization.

That means Devin Shore, Maxime Fortier, Justin Scott, Paul Bittner, Michael Prapavessis and Ryan Collins did not, making them unrestricted free agents on Friday.

The only real surprise is Shore, and only because the Blue Jackets acquired him this season in exchange for Sonny Milano. The 26-year-old Shore has not been particularly effective since the 2017-18 campaign, splitting the last two seasons between three teams and recording just 12 points in 2019-20. Add in the fact that he was due a $2.4MM qualifying offer in order to remain with the Blue Jackets and it’s not hard to see why the team decided to cut bait.

Still, Shore could represent a cheap depth signing for a team this offseason if they think he can be of use to a bottom-six. The 26-year-old forward has experience at center and on the wing and has scored double-digit goals in three different seasons.

Bittner and Collins may also bring a twinge of disappointment to Blue Jackets fans, given they were both second-round selections that never seemed to pan out. Bittner especially was hyped coming off a successful junior career but failed to score much in the AHL. Collins, the 47th pick in 2014, never added any offense to his defensive game and could only rely on his size for so long.

Anaheim Ducks Re-Sign Sonny Milano

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8:00pm: The Ducks have officially confirmed the new deal. Milano is set to make $1.6MM next season and $1.8MM in 2021-22.

4:30pm: The Anaheim Ducks will be handing out an extension to one of their young trade deadline acquisitions according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. The insider reports that Sonny Milano will be signing a two-year extension that will carry an average annual value of $1.7MM. Milano was scheduled to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season.

The 24-year old forward has quite honestly been a disappointment to this point in his NHL career, after going 16th overall in 2014. When the Columbus Blue Jackets selected him Milano had just dominated at the USNTDP and would continue that offensive performance in his one year of CHL hockey. Oozing with skill, the winger took immediately to the professional ranks when transitioning to the AHL and even recorded five points in ten games as a teenager in 2015.

The biggest question with Milano was always his consistency and whether he could round out a defensive game to go along with his offensive skill. It was tough for him to crack John Tortorella’s lineup, and when he did there were long stretches where he would seem to disappear. In 120 games for the Blue Jackets, he recorded just 42 points and averaged fewer than 12 minutes of ice time.

Then came the trade deadline, when it was obvious he needed a fresh start and his contract was coming to an end. The Blue Jackets shipped him to Anaheim in a one-for-one trade that saw Devin Shore go the other way, giving him a chance to play every day in the top-six of a rebuilding club. Milano got into nine games with the Ducks before the season ended, and recorded five points while averaging 15:30 of ice time.

Now, with the Ducks looking to continue their youth movement, Milano will get a chance to prove he belongs there as a core piece. A $1.7MM cap hit is a relatively big commitment for a player who has just 47 career points in 125 regular season games, but the Ducks obviously liked what they saw.

For Milano, this is basically a perfect outcome. He’ll still be a restricted free agent at the end of the deal but he gets some financial security for the next two years, a likely chance to play power play minutes beside talented teammates, and will be arbitration-eligible and able to force his way to UFA status in 2022 if he chooses. Now he just needs to find that consistency which has always eluded him.

Snapshots: McDavid, Manning, Milano

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The legend of Connor McDavid is about to grow at the NHL All-Star Game, where not only will he be a participant, but a documentary will air examining his return after a knee injury at the end of last season. Ryan Rishaug of TSN spoke today about how McDavid turned down the surgical option that could have kept him out for the entire 2019-20 campaign, and instead went down a road of grueling rehab.

McDavid, who turned 23 just over a week ago, is having another outstanding season with 76 points through 49 games. The young forward is on track for his fourth consecutive season with more than 100 points, and third Art Ross Trophy as the top offensive player in the league.

  • While McDavid is heading to St. Louis to represent the Edmonton Oilers organization, Brandon Manning won’t even be getting on the ice for a while. The Oilers’ minor league defenseman has been suspended five games for using a racial slur towards an opponent last night. Keith Gretzky, the Bakersfield Condors’ general manager, released a statement supporting the league’s suspension and condemning Manning’s actions.
  • Sonny Milano missed Columbus Blue Jackets practice today due to a court appearance in New York, according to Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch. Milano and Colorado Avalanche forward A.J. Greer had their assault charges dismissed after showing proof of community service and paying the medical bills of the victim.

Snapshots: Milano, Bergeron, Krejci, Officials

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One way or another, Sonny Milano’s time in Columbus could be drawing to a close. The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline writes that the Blue Jackets are ready to move on from the talented, but inconsistent winger. Milano, 23, was a 2014 first-round pick who entered the pro ranks with high expectations. However, in the years since Milano has struggled to stick in Columbus. He played in just seven combined NHL games in his first two seasons and played in only eight games last year, with a 55-game 2017-18 campaign sandwiched in between. Yet, even in that season Milano had a hard time with consistency and work ethic, scoring in bunches for a total 22 points. It was a major step forward for the prospect, but wasn’t exactly a season that left the Blue Jackets with visions of grandeur. As such, his regression last season was far from a surprise. Portzline notes that while Milano has struggled, rookies Emil Bemstrom and Alexandre Texier have passed him up on the organizational depth chart. For the first time this season, Milano is no longer waiver exempt, but there doesn’t seem to be much room for him on the NHL roster. Portzline feels that on raw talent alone a team would be likely to take a chance on him via waivers. Unsurprisingly, he reports that Columbus would prefer to trade him rather than lose him on the wire. If they are successful, such a move would likely be occurring by the start of the regular season next week.

  • While the Blue Jackets are anticipating the departure of Milano, the Bruins are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Patrice Bergeron. The team’s top center has been sidelined for much of training camp with a lingering groin injury, but Boston held out hope that he would be ready for the start of the regular season. After steadily increasing his participation in practice over the last week, the team announced that Bergeron is expected to see his first (and only) preseason action in Chicago on Saturday. This is very positive news for the Bruins, as many questioned whether Bergeron would even be ready to begin the real season, nevertheless healthy enough to play in an exhibition game. The timing could not be better either, as No. 2 center David Krejci suffered an injury in the team’s preseason contest on Monday night and he availability to begin the year is now in question. Head coach Bruce Cassidy does not believe the injury to be serious, but the team will take their time with Krejci. Boston is better prepared for the absence of a top-six center this year than in years past with Charlie Coyle in the fold, but it would be a tough start to the year if both Bergeron and Krejci were sidelined for the Bruins.
  • After the NHL and the Officials’ Association agreed to terms on a new contract on Friday, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that the officials have voted to ratify the proposed deal. The NHL owners must now do the same, although the vote is expected to be consistent. A new, four-year deal between the league and its on-ice officials will be formalized before the start of the season, avoiding any drama to take away from the beginning of a new campaign.

Sonny Milano Signs With Columbus

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Sonny Milano has accepted his qualifying offer from the Columbus Blue Jackets, signing a one-year two-way contract worth $874,125 at the NHL level. Milano will still be a restricted free agent next summer, and is no longer waiver-exempt.

The 23-year old Milano was originally selected 16th overall by the Blue Jackets in 2014, but has still not been able to establish himself as a full-time NHL player. In 70 games at that level—55 of which came in 2017-18—he has 15 goals and 24 points, but has spent most of his short professional career at the AHL level. Admittedly an strong offensive player at the minor league level, Milano hasn’t really been able to dominate that level like many expected him to coming out of the USNDTP and OHL.

2019-20 may represent his best opportunity in the NHL though, as the Blue Jackets will be looking for offensive players to replace some outgoing forwards. Artemi Panarin, Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel have all left for greener pastures, opening up room for a player like Milano to see powerplay time and show what he can do. The fact that he would need to clear waivers should all but guarantee him a roster spot, as he would almost certainly be claimed by a team willing to give him a shot.

In order to really establish himself at the NHL level and carve out top-six playing time, Milano will need to focus on more than just his own scoring opportunities. He’s proven in the past that his shot is an asset and he can score from difficult angles and situations, but nine assists in 70 career games for a player expected to drive the offense just hasn’t cut it. He also needs to engage more on the defensive side if he expects to be playing against top competition. In all, this very well could be a make-or-break season for the young forward.

Sonny Milano Could Be Used As Trade “Sweetener”

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All eyes are on a handful of teams as the trade deadline approaches. If a front office isn’t calling the Ottawa Senators about Matt Duchene, there’s a good chance they’re on the phone with the Columbus Blue Jackets given the uncertain futures of Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky. The pair of pending unrestricted free agents are almost certainly going to market in the summer if the Blue Jackets keep them through the end of the season, meaning they have to see what is available for them in trade before making a final decision. Aaron Portzline of The Athletic (subscription required) breaks down the entire Blue Jackets trade deadline situation including the most likely trade pieces if the team decides to go out and add a player for a potential playoff run—Duchene being the most recently linked option.

Of those potential trade pieces, Sonny Milano stands out as an interesting option. Portzline lists the 2014 first-round pick as a potential “sweetener” in any deal, explaining that it appears as though Milano no longer “factors into their plans.” If that’s true, and Milano is available as a sort of throw-in there will no doubt be teams interested.

Selected 16th overall in 2014, Milano had been part of an outstanding US National Development Team alongside players like Jack Eichel, Alex Tuch and Dylan Larkin (and even younger stars like Auston Matthews, Noah Hanifin and Zach Werenski for a time). The 17-year old Milano trailed in scoring only to Eichel, and would end up selected just between Larkin (15th overall) and Tuch (18th) in June’s draft. A jump to the OHL was a successful one, and Milano then transitioned to the minor leagues with immediate results.

Unfortunately, that success hasn’t quite translated to the NHL level. Through 70 games over four seasons, Milano has recorded 24 points but struggled to impact the game in various ways or consistently crack the Blue Jackets’ top-six. He’s played just eight games with the big club this season, instead spending most of the year with the Cleveland Monsters where he has 21 points in 24 games. Portzline writes that it was notable when Columbus did not recall the young forward when Nick Foligno was unavailable for a week last month.

For any acquiring team, there is also the issue of Milano’s pending free agency. The 22-year old will be a restricted free agent this summer but luckily is still not eligible for salary arbitration.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Columbus Blue Jackets Demote Milano To Make Room For Dubinsky

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The Columbus Blue Jackets needed a roster spot to activate veteran forward Brandon Dubinsky from injured reserve, according to Columbus Post-Dispatch’s Brian Hedger. However, the team surprised a few by opting to send winger Sonny Milano, who is not waiver-eligible, to the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL.

It is a surprise for a few since Milano posted 14 goals last year and many thought that the 22-year-old was ready to take that next step up in his game and even develop into a top-six left wing for the franchise in the future. However, it hasn’t been a good year for Milano so far, who has appeared in just eight games for the Blue Jackets with just one goal and four healthy scratches. Milano averaged 11:39 of ATOI last season, but found his playing time dwindle to just 8:19 this season.

While there may have been better options, it’s the easiest decision for the team who otherwise would have had to place a player on waivers, which they obviously preferred not to do. The team hopes that Milano can find his scoring prowess as well as work on his defensive game while in Cleveland, hoping that the demotion sparks his play.

The team does get a big boost in the return of Dubinsky. The veteran has only played in the first two games of the season before straining an oblique muscle during practice and has since missed 10 games. The 32-year-old veteran had a career-low 16 points in 62 games last season and many believed he desperately needed a bounce-back season. While it’s too early to tell, Dubinsky looked good in the first two games of the season, putting up a goal and an assist, while receiving 14:27 of ATOI in those two games. Dubinsky still has three years remaining on his deal, paying him $5.85MM AAV.

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