Morning Notes: Dzingel, Hall, Kadri
Ryan Dzingel is arguably the top remaining unrestricted free agent, ranked No. 12 overall by PHR and the leading scorer this past season among all available names. Yet, there’s been surprisingly little noise surrounding Dzingel, a 27-year-old coming off of a career high’s across the board. The New York Post’s Larry Brooks writes that some teams are skeptical about Dzingel’s potential for production, not based on his year overall but rather his late-season stint with the Columbus Blue Jackets. After being moved at the NHL Trade Deadline by the Ottawa Senators, Dzingel recorded just 12 points in 21 games with Columbus and eventually lost the trust of the coaching staff in the postseason, with one point in nine games earning him a healthy scratch. Brooks remarks that the Blue Jackets’ lack of interest in retaining Dzingel, a former star at nearby Ohio State University, is one of several “red flags” for the young winger this off-season.
It’s likely that price is playing a role in Dzingel’s market as well. After a 56-point campaign, Dzingel’s camp was though to be seeking a $5MM AAV over a long-term contract. In a vacuum, that would seem to be a fair offer, but in a market where many teams are closer to the salary cap limit than expected, a player who is coming off a disappointing final few months of the season may need to lower his expectations. That rings especially true if he wants to land with one of his reported top destinations and a team known to have interest, the Chicago Blackhawks. Dzingel is an Illinois native and his skill set would seem to fit in perfectly with his hometown Blackhawks, who could still use another top-six winger. However, The Chicago Sun-Times’ Ben Pope writes that the team would have to move out a player, likely Artem Anisimov or Connor Murphy, to accommodate Dzingel’s salary demands. Until that happens, Pope cites GM Stan Bowman, who recently said his roster is “pretty full” and currently only in need of “housekeeping”. That doesn’t mean that Chicago, whose off-season moves have pointed toward a deep desire to return to contender status, will not continue to pursue Dzingel, but it may prove too difficult at his current asking price. If the scoring winger wants to ensure he has a long-term fit in a place that he’d like to be, Dzingel could consider taking a lesser deal to join the Blackhawks.
- Another team looking to return to the playoffs are the New Jersey Devils and GM Ray Shero and company have certainly done their part in that pursuit this summer, drafting Jack Hughes, trading for P.K. Subban, and signing Wayne Simmonds. While the ultimate goal is to become a contender as soon as possible, the more pressing need – also with that goal in mind – is to convince superstar forward Taylor Hall that New Jersey is a team worth staying with to win a Stanley Cup. Hall is an impending free agent next summer and could be in line for a record-breaking contract, whether he tests the open market or not. The Devils have the cap space to meet his salary demands, but needed to focus this off-season on improving the talent around him after a season in which the team finished well outside the playoff picture. On paper, New Jersey should return to relevance next season and early indications are that Hall is happy with the transformation. In an interview with TSN, the 2018 Hart Trophy winner said that seeing the summer used to improve the talent level of the team and inject new blood after a disappointing campaign is exactly what you want to see. He added that Shero asked his opinion of the Subban trade before it was made and that he was totally on board and excited to play with his fellow star. All signs point to Hall being in favor of these off-season changes and eager to get started with the new season. If the Devils perform to the level they should on paper, Hall will have much more reason to consider a long-term extension to stay in New Jersey.
- New Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri could have gone elsewhere if he wanted. The Toronto Sun’s Steve Simmons reports that Kadri flexed his No-Trade Clause to block a trade to the Calgary Flames. Even after taking calls from Flames GM Brad Treliving and head coach Bill Peters, Kadri nixed a deal that would have seen he and Connor Brown, now an Ottawa Senator, go to Calgary in exchange for T.J. Brodie and Mark Jankowski. Simmons did not explain why Kadri was anti-Calgary, but did note that the fit in Colorado is better. As for the end result for the Leafs, Tyson Barrie and Alexander Kerfoot are a better package, but cost the the team young defenseman Calle Rosen, who Simmons states they did not wish to move, as well as a third-round pick. Also, Brodie would have been a more affordable defenseman to re-sign compare to Barrie, who could very well price himself out of Toronto after one year. It’s a toss up on which deal would have been better had Kadri not put his foot down.
Metropolitan Notes: Devils Moves, Flyers Roster, Backstrom
There still remains a number of intriguing free agents available on the open market, including Jake Gardiner, Ryan Dzingel and Micheal Ferland. However, despite having $20.77MM in projected cap space remaining on their roster, it’s unlikely the New Jersey Devils will be adding one of them unless their asking price drops significantly, according to The Athletic’s Corey Masisak (subscription required).
That cap number is somewhat deceiving as New Jersey has several restricted free agents they must deal with, including Pavel Zacha, Will Butcher, Mirco Mueller and Connor Carrick, amongst others. No player should walk away with too significant a deal, meaning the Devils would have the cap space to sign one of those free agents, but that still seems unlikely. The team already made their major moves earlier, trading for P.K. Subban and signing winger Wayne Simmonds in free agency. That, however, doesn’t mean they are done making moves.
“I made some calls,” Shero. “This week will be the same thing, and we certainly would want to see what’s out there, if there’s a chance as we go into the summertime and the rest of the summer into training camp.”
- Sam Carchidi of Philly.com comes up with an early projection of the Philadelphia Flyers’ lineup with one interesting hole on the team’s third line. The scribe pencils in Nolan Patrick centering Oskar Lindblom, but lists the other wing position to a mystery man, likely to be battled during training camp. He notes that there are two logical candidates to win the role including veteran Scott Laughton as well as youngsters Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee. The 20-year-old Frost, a 2017 first-rounder, wrapped up his junior career last season and combined for 79 goals and 221 points over his last two years for the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL. The 19-year-old Farabee, a 2018 first-rounder, signed with the Flyers after one season with Boston University in which he scored 17 goals and 36 points in 37 games.
- While the discussions of whether the Washington Capitals will be able to retain goaltender Braden Holtby after next season has been discussed, the Washington Capitals have another significant free agent as well next offseason in Niklas Backstrom. The Washington Post’s Barry Svrluga suggests that the Capitals are almost certainly going to find a way to bring the veteran center back. Backstrom will be 32 by then, but has been such an integral piece to the first line next to Alexander Ovechkin, that it seems inconceivable the team will allow the veteran to walk away, especially without a young center waiting in the wings, which Washington does not have. Backstrom is still putting up solid numbers as he scored 22 goals and 74 points last season.
Wayne Simmonds Signs With New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils have signed free agent forward Wayne Simmonds to a one-year contract worth $5MM. Coming off a brutal season, Simmonds won’t sign for any term but does get a nice paycheck as he tried to re-establish his value around the league.
After scoring at least 24 goals for the last five consecutive seasons, Simmonds’ offense dropped off a cliff in 2018-19 and he had just 16 goals and 27 points when the trade deadline rolled around. At that point he was shipped off to the Nashville Predators, where things just got worse. Simmonds didn’t fit in at all with his new team, eventually being demoted to the fourth line and taken off the powerplay. He scored just three points for the Predators in 17 games down the stretch, and then was held scoreless in his two postseason appearances.
The question was whether Simmonds, who plays a physical, powerful game was hitting his decline phase early and would be out of the NHL in a few years. Even though he’s only 30 and hasn’t ever played fewer than 75 games in a non-lockout-shortened season, his effectiveness rapidly disintegrating. New Jersey is obviously willing to take a chance that he can bounce back, as a $5MM deal provides little room for excess value. It also doesn’t have a lot of risk for a team with plenty of cap space though, as even if he fails to get back to the 30-goal powerhouse he once was, he’ll be a free agent again in a year’s time.
If he can regain any of that production though, the Devils’ powerplay could be getting another elite talent. Already adding star draft pick Jack Hughes and offensive dynamo P.K. Subban, the Taylor Hall-led team could potentially be extremely dangerous with the man advantage.
Wayne Simmonds Drawing Interest As Free Agency Nears
Things didn’t work out for Wayne Simmonds last season. After recording just 27 points through his first 62 games for the Philadelphia Flyers, he was flipped to the Nashville Predators at the deadline and absolutely fell off a cliff. In 17 games for the Predators, Simmonds recorded just three points and was demoted to the fourth line. He suited up for only two of the team’s playoff games, meaning it came as little surprise when GM David Poile announced they would not be bringing him back. That doesn’t mean there won’t be interest in him as a free agent though, as Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic (subscription required) reports in his newest column.
LeBrun suggests that the Montreal Canadiens and Minnesota Wild are both among “about a dozen” teams that have reached out to Simmonds and agent Eustace King, who are expected to conduct negotiations over the phone instead of visiting with teams. The 30-year old forward is coming off a six-year deal signed back in 2012 with the Philadelphia Flyers that carried an average annual value of $3.975MM and was once considered one of the biggest bargains in the league.
He could be that once again if his market is drastically reduced by his down year. Simmonds recorded between 24 and 32 goals in the six full seasons between 2011-2018, plus added 15 in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 year. That kind of consistency is exactly what every team is looking for out of a physical, net-front presence and if he can reclaim any of that ability he would be an asset to anyone. Unfortunately injuries have taken their toll on him throughout the years and it is unclear if he can ever get back to that point.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Nashville Predators Will Not Bring Back Wayne Simmonds
The Nashville Predators may have opened up some cap space earlier today when they moved out defenseman P.K. Subban and his $9MM contract over the next three years. However, even with that extra cap space, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that Nashville general manager David Poile said that the team will not be bringing back unrestricted free agent Wayne Simmonds this offseason. The Tennessean’s Paul Skrbina adds that Poile also said that the team has no intention of bringing back Zac Rinaldo or Cody McLeod either.
Poile also notes that the team is still interested in bringing back unrestricted free agent Brian Boyle.
Simmonds was one Nashville’s biggest trade-deadline acquisition as they traded winger Ryan Hartman and a 2020 fourth-round pick in order to get the 6-foot-2 power forward in hopes of adding more physicality and scoring to their middle-six lines. However, Simmonds struggled once he joined Nashville, scoring one goal and three points in 17 games and then going scoreless in two playoff games. The 30-year-old Simmonds was a big-time scorer while with the Philadelphia Flyers, potting more than 20 goals six times and even reaching 30 goals twice. However, he tallied a combined 17 goals last season and his 30 points is one of the fewest of his career.
The 29-year-old Rinaldo spent most of the season with Nashville, but spent much of that time in the press box, playing a total of 23 games with one goal, three points and 20 penalty minutes. The 34-year-old McLeod came over in a deadline deal as well, this one with the New York Rangers. He played seven games for Nashville and didn’t register a point. Boyle, on the other hand, scored five goals in 26 games after being picked up for a second-round pick at the trade deadline. He also added two assists in three playoff games.
Wayne Simmonds, Brian Boyle Out Week-To-Week
The Nashville Predators will be without two of their trade deadline acquisitions for awhile, as the team announced today that both Wayne Simmonds and Brian Boyle will be out on a week-to-week basis. Simmonds is dealing with a knee injury, while Boyle underwent “an appendix procedure.”
Nashville has their hands full in a first round matchup with the Dallas Stars and needed all the help they could get. The team will now turn to Rocco Grimaldi on the fourth line and could even see the return of Miikka Salomaki in game three. Salomaki hasn’t played for the Predators since early January due to injury, but could end up playing a big role if Simmonds and Boyle aren’t able to return quickly. The team still has incredible depth at the forward position, but will need to get production from all four lines if they want to break the suffocating Dallas defense and goaltending.
It’s a tough break for the Predators and GM David Poile, who spent heavily on the pair of in-season additions. Boyle cost the team a second-round pick despite having just 19 points in the first half of the season, and Ryan Hartman was the price to acquire Simmonds. The former Philadelphia Flyers forward ended up with just three points in 17 games for the Predators down the stretch and was routinely limited to minimal even-strength ice time. He’ll now have to wait and watch from the press box and hope he gets another chance to prove his worth in the postseason.
Snapshots: Hedman, Ferland, Hamilton, McKenna, Simmonds
It looks like the Tampa Bay Lightning will be without another key player Sunday. Already without the suspended Nikita Kucherov, NHL.com’s Bryan Burns reports that star defenseman Victor Hedman will miss Game 3 with an unknown injury.
Head coach Jon Cooper said earlier today that Hedman would be a game-time decision, but now Braydon Coburn is on the ice, taking Hedman’s place. Hedman has been playing injured in the first two games of the playoffs.
- There won’t be any supplementary discipline from Saturday’s Game 2 between the Washington Capitals and the Carolina Hurricanes despite a number of controversial hits. Carolina Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said that neither Micheal Ferland or Dougie Hamilton will receive any attention from the Department of Player Safety, according to News & Observer’s Luke DeCock. Ferland gave a big hit to Washington’s Nic Dowd, but the angle looks like Ferland hit through Dowd’s body and did not aim for the head. Hamilton’s elbow to Washington’s Evgeny Kuznetsov was also heavily criticized, but it wasn’t believed that the elbow had enough force for supplementary discipline.
- Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Mike McKenna sent out a tweet Sunday, saying he would have a “humongous big announcement” coming on Monday. While there no confirmation what it is about, speculation has risen that McKenna might be ready to announce his retirement. AHLcom’s Tony Androckitis wrote that the 36-year-old McKenna was leaning towards ending his career Saturday night after the Lehigh Valley Phantoms ended their AHL season. “I’m pragmatically saying I’m not sure,” said McKenna. “It’s going to take an awful lot to convince me to play again I think. In terms of what I need to have happen for my family, more so than me.” McKenna, who could be considered an AHL-lifer, made 11 NHL appearances this season — 10 with Ottawa and another one with the Philadelphia Flyers. He’s made 35 NHL appearances over the course of his career.
- NHL.com’s Robby Stanley reports that Brian Boyle remains “ill” and is day-to-day for Monday’s Game 3 matchup with the Dallas Stars. Boyle missed Game 2 with the flu. The scribe adds that there still isn’t an update on the status of Wayne Simmonds. Simmonds left Saturday’s game after taking a puck to the knee. A update is expected on Monday.
Metropolitan Notes: Mueller, Patrick, Martin, Flyers, Blackwood
The New Jersey Devils got some good news on the injury front as defenseman Mirco Mueller was recently released from the hospital after taking a scary hit Wednesday against Calgary, which required him to be stretchered off, according to NJ.com’s Chris Ryan.
Mueller stated that the injury won’t keep him out long-term. Head coach John Hynes stated that Mueller didn’t suffer any significant head or neck injuries and Mueller would likely play again this season. Mueller has played a career-high 47 games this year, putting up a goal and 10 points.
- With Jakub Voracek already out, the Philadelphia Flyers lost another forward as Nolan Patrick was hit in the head with a shot and is unlikely to return to the game against the New York Islanders, according to Philly.com’s Sam Donnellon. Patrick has had a rough few days as he was boarded by New Jersey’s Kurtis Gabriel Friday, which cost Gabriel a one-game suspension. No word on how serious the injury is.
- The New York Islanders played without forward Matt Martin today, who is out with an upper-body injury. However, Newsday’s Andrew Gross reports that Islanders head coach Barry Trotz said that the injury isn’t long-term and that he was a real possibility to play today. Martin, a key bottom-six forward, has five goals and 13 points in 52 games this season.
- One downside to the Philadelphia Flyers trading away the physical Wayne Simmonds is that teams are taking advantage of them more on the ice, according to Sam Carchidi of Philly.com. Nolan Patrick was hit hard into the boards by New Jersey’s Kurtis Gabriel, who got a one-game suspension for the hit, but the team knows it has to show that they are physical even without Simmonds around. “But we’re still the same team. We still stick together,” Travis Konecny said. “I think Simmer left a lot of that with us. He taught us young guys to stick up for our teammates.”
- With the impressive play of New Jersey Devils goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood, the team might have an opportunity for him to compete for the Calder Trophy next season. Blackwood has appeared in 15 games for New Jersey, but with just 16 games remaining in the season for the Devils, The Athletic’s Corey Masisak writes that if Blackwood plays in 10 or fewer games, he’d be eligible for the Calder Trophy next year.
2019 Trade Deadline Day Recap
The trade deadline for the 2018-19 season has come and gone, with teams all around the league loading up for a Stanley Cup run. This year saw a nearly unprecedented level of skill available, though things got started quite early. Before deadline day, names like Matt Duchene, Brandon Montour, Mats Zuccarello, Charlie Coyle, Ryan Dzingel, Gustav Nyquist and Nick Jensen all switched teams. However, the day was no disappointment; a slow pace early on ended in fireworks right before the deadline and as deal trickled in right after. Below is a complete list of the 21 trades featuring all but seven of the NHL’s teams made on February 25th alone (chronologically):
To Anaheim Ducks:
D Patrick Sieloff
To Ottawa Senators:
F Brian Gibbons
To New Jersey Devils:
2022 fifth-round pick
To Columbus Blue Jackets:
G Keith Kinkaid
To Winnipeg Jets:
F Kevin Hayes
To New York Rangers:
F Brendan Lemieux
2019 first-round pick (top-3 protected)
2022 conditional fourth-round pick (if Winnipeg wins Stanley Cup)
To Montreal Canadiens:
F Jordan Weal
To Arizona Coyotes:
F Michael Chaput
To Florida Panthers:
F Cliff Pu
Future Considerations
To Carolina Hurricanes:
F Tomas Jurco (AHL contract)
Future Considerations
To Colorado Avalanche:
F Derick Brassard
2020 conditional sixth-round pick (no pick if Brassard re-signs)
To Florida Panthers:
2020 third-round pick
To Columbus Blue Jackets:
D Adam McQuaid
To New York Rangers:
D Julius Bergman
2019 fourth-round pick
2019 seventh-round pick
Nashville Predators Acquire Wayne Simmonds
The Nashville Predators have acquired a second top forward, as Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic tweets that Wayne Simmonds has been traded there. The deal will see Ryan Hartman and a conditional 2020 fourth-round pick go to Philadelphia. If the Predators win a playoff round, the pick will become a 2020 third-round selection.
Simmonds, 30, has been one of the most effective power forwards in the league throughout his career, but has taken a clear step backwards this season. With just 16 goals and 27 points he likely won’t come close to his previous career averages, but should help one key aspect of the Predators attack. Simmonds has 94 career powerplay goals and is one of the best net-front players in the league, a huge addition for a team that has struggled mightily with the man advantage this year. He also brings a good amount of physicality to a lineup that lost some when Austin Watson was suspended indefinitely.
With the team also acquiring Mikael Granlund today, the Predators have made a substantial change to their top-nine forward group. Still, while Granlund comes with some term, Simmonds joins Nashville on an expiring contract and likely can’t be retained given how much salary the Predators have already committed to next season. That means they could lose Hartman—who was acquired for a first-round pick just a year ago—for just a few months of Simmonds and one playoff run. That comes in direct response to the Winnipeg Jets making several moves, setting up a battle in the Central Division for the rest of the season.
It looked for a moment like the Flyers would not find a buyer for Simmonds, and they didn’t get the first-round pick that they had hoped for. They did however acquire Hartman who is looking for another opportunity to show he can be a top-six player. The 24-year old plays a heavy, Flyers-style game and scored 19 goals in 2016-17, but hasn’t got back to that level over the last two seasons. His 20 points this year isn’t an impressive total, but given an increased role in Philadelphia could come into his own as a power forward.