Florida Panthers Sign Serron Noel To Entry-Level Contract
The Florida Panthers have inked one of their top prospects, signing Serron Noel to a three-year entry-level contract. Noel is currently playing with the Oshawa Generals in the OHL after being selected 34th overall last June. Unlike some of the other prospects being signed right now, Noel is still young enough to potentially see the contract slide forward a year and not kick in until 2020-21.
That all depends on whether the Panthers believe he could help in the NHL next season, and after the strong year he’s had for Oshawa he’ll likely get a chance to battle for a spot in the fall. The 6’5″ winger has 75 points in 62 games and is already an excellent skater for his size. GM Dale Tallon expressed exactly that sentiment when speaking about his newest forward:
Serron is a highly skilled, hard-working, young player who we believe has the potential to be an excellent power forward for the Panthers for many years to come. At just 18 years of age, his impressive combination of size, speed and character are qualities that have helped him excel this season in Oshawa. We are thrilled to have signed Serron and look forward to his development with the Panthers.
If he doesn’t make the Panthers out of camp, which is still an extreme long shot at this point, Noel will not be allowed to play in the AHL and would be expected to return to the OHL for another season. That could very well come with an invitation to compete at the World Juniors with Team Canada, given he has already taken part in international tournaments like the Hlinka-Gretzky and the World Junior Summer Showcase.
Anaheim Ducks Sign Defenseman Simon Benoit
3/7: The Duck have confirmed the signing and the terms of the deal for Benoit, noting that the first-year pro leads the Gulls and is third among all AHL rookie defensemen in plus/minus, while also leading San Diego rookie defenders in goals, shots, and games played. The strong performance from the under-the-radar junior signing has clearly impressed the Anaheim brass this season.
3/4: The Anaheim Ducks have made an unexpected splash into the free agent market, signing a player off their AHL squad. TVA’s Renaud Lavoie reports that the Ducks have signed undrafted QMJHL product Simon Benoit to a three-year entry-level contract. CapFriendly adds that the contract begins next season and carries an AAV of $925K, offset by a $278K signing bonus and $348K in potential performance bonuses over the term of the deal. Benoit has played all season on an AHL contract with the San Diego Gulls.
Benoit, 20, has made the most of his first pro season after he failed to draw NHL interest this past summer. The 6’3″, 192-lb. possession defenseman has established himself as a capable two-way defender in the AHL and looks to have NHL upside. A former standout with the QMJHL’s Shawinigan Cataractes, Benoit has moved to the pro level seamlessly, recording 12 points and a team-best +17 rating thus far through 50 games with the Gulls.
With San Diego head coach Dallas Eakins as the heavy favorite to take over as head coach in Anaheim next season, the future could be bright for Benoit if he can continue his dependable defensive play. The Ducks have lost Shea Theodore, Sami Vatanen, Marcus Pettersson, and Brandon Montour from their blue line in the last 18 months, opening up the door for prospects to play a bigger role moving forward. With Anaheim’s cap crunch so tight, they are unlikely to make many major additions on the back end this off-season either. With just three core defensemen remaining and signed through next season, it is very likely that there could be three, if not four or five, spots on the Ducks blue line up for grabs in training camp next year. Benoit will certainly throw his hat in the ring and at the very least could earn his NHL debut at some point in the 2019-20 season.
Atlantic Notes: Zadina, Holmstrom, Steen
When Detroit Red Wings rookie forward Filip Zadina takes the ice tonight, it will mark his fifth NHL game. More importantly, it means he is halfway toward burning the first year of his entry-level contract. Under the NHL CBA, an 18- or 19-year-old player may have their entry-level contract “slide” if he does not play a minimum of 10 NHL games in a given season. For the first-year pro Zadina, this looked like a likely outcome for much of the year. The No. 6 overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft had played exclusively in the AHL this season until late last month, when he was finally recalled by the Red Wings. Now Detroit has a decision to make.
With 14 games remaining in the regular season for a team that is well beyond any playoff hopes, the Red Wings brass must decide if they want to limit Zadina to less than five more games down the stretch, thereby extending his rookie deal by one year, or instead continue to provide NHL experience to an elite young player who is likely to be a regular contributor beginning next season. Zadina, a talented forward who had recorded 31 points in 45 AHL games prior to his recall, projects to see a major raise in his next contract given his draft pedigree and expected production over the next few years, giving Detroit all the more reason to extend his affordable entry-level deal if possible. However, to both appease the young core player and further his development, they may just opt to keep Zadina in Detroit for the remainder of the season at the cost of burning a year off the deal. Either way, Zadina is bound for a return to the Grand Rapids Griffins for a postseason run, so the only question is simply when he is sent back down. Two other players who risk losing their “slide” status are Boston Bruins defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and Carolina Hurricanes forward Martin Necas, both of whom are presently in the AHL and have played a handful of games in the NHL this season and would be near the top of the recall list if their team was to suffer injuries down the stretch or in the postseason.
- One Red Wings prospect who looks like he may never suit up for the team is Axel Holmstrom. All season long, there has been rumors that the 22-year-old Swedish forward was eyeing a return to Europe when his current contract expired at the end of the season. Although Holmstrom will be a restricted free agent, Detroit can do nothing to keep him in the system if he wishes to leave and can only retain his NHL rights moving forward by making a qualifying offer. The doubt about Holmstrom’s longevity in North America even prompted his KHL rights to be traded this season. However, a new report from Swedish news source Kvall Posten has turned up the heat on the Holmstrom rumors and makes it sound as if the NHL and KHL are both out of the running already. The article states instead that Holmstrom has become a hot commodity back home in Sweden, with several SHL teams reportedly already bidding for his services. In fact, it is stated that two well-known teams have already been priced out. Skelleftea AIK, the team Holmstrom played for prior to coming to North America three years ago, and the Vaxjo Lakers HC, another top contender in SHL this season, are both expected to be out of the running. The remaining bidders are thought to be current league leader Lulea HF, whose GM recently met with Holmstrom in person in Grand Rapids, and HV71, who are believed to have made the highest offer. With this kind of bidding war going on among teams in his home country, it is very unlikely that Holmstrom will be back with Detroit next season. The young forward has been consistent if unspectacular in two full AHL seasons with the Griffins and does not seem all that close to pushing for a regular role with the Red Wings. He is bound to land a greater role and a raise on his current salary of less than $700K if (when) he returns to Sweden.
- One player looking to make the opposite move – a jump to the NHL – is Boston Bruins prospect Oskar Steen. A sixth-round pick in 2016, Steen immediately looked like a steal for the Bruins. The small, but skilled forward played 47 games in the SHL as an 18-year-old in 2016-17 and then followed it up by making the Swedish World Junior team last year while again playing in 45 SHL games and doubling his previous point total. However, this year he has shed his role player status and blossomed into a top scorer for Farjestad BK. Still just 20, Steen has nevertheless posted 37 points in 44 games to lead all forwards in scoring and help the team to a top playoff seed. His play has begun to garner attention outside of Sweden. The Providence Journal’s Mark Divver notes that Steen is being considered for a spot on Sweden’s entry into the upcoming World Championships, while adding that he is expected to sign with Boston this off-season. Steen will likely have to spend some time in the AHL at first, but is yet another young forward who will push for ice time with the Bruins next year.
Mac Hollowell Signs Entry-Level Contract
The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed one of their impressive defensive prospects, inking Mac Hollowell to a three-year entry-level contract. Hollowell is currently playing for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL. The deal will kick in for the 2019-20 season.
Selected 118th overall last June in his second year of eligibility, Hollowell went back to the OHL for his overage season and currently leads all OHL defensemen in scoring with 72 points in 59 games. The undersized, right-handed defenseman is a natural powerplay quarterback and can move the puck with ease through his junior competition. The big test will come next season though when he will be jumping into professional hockey.
There is an obvious connection between Hollowell and Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas, who ran the Greyhounds before moving to Toronto. The small defenseman also represents Dubas’ vision of a blue line loaded with players capable of moving the puck quickly and effectively up to their talented forwards. Obviously Hollowell has a long way to go to see the NHL—if he gets there at all—but this season certainly proved he could dominate the junior ranks if given the opportunity.
Negotiation Notes: Kravtsov, Killins, Signing Deadline
The New York Rangers are closing in on a contract with one of their top prospects. According to Sportsnet’s Mike Johnston, who relays a report from KHL insider Aivis Kalnins, Russian forward Vitali Kravtsov is expected to sign an entry-level contract with the Rangers sooner rather than later. It’s unclear if Kravtsov, whose current club Traktor Chelyabinsk has been knocked out of the KHL playoffs, intends to play immediately this season or if the contract would begin next season. Either way, Rangers fans will be excited to have the talented teenager pushing for a roster spot. Kravtsov, the ninth overall pick in last year’s NHL Draft, stands 6’4″ and plays a physical game, but also has great speed and high-end skill. A total package on the wing, Kravtsov recorded 21 points in 50 games this season, rare production from a teenager in the KHL, as younger players typically receive little ice time. His size and skill set should translate well to the North American game and Kravtsov should find his way to New York without spending much time in the minors. If Kalnin’s report is accurate and Kravtsov signs in the coming days, he may even make his NHL debut this season.
- Ryker Killins today became the first NCAA free agent to sign a contract this season. The one caveat is that he signed not in the NHL or AHL, but the ECHL. The South Carolina Stingrays, affiliate of the Washington Capitals, have announced a contract for the remainder of the season with the Ferris State defenseman. Killins, 22, just wrapped up an injury-plagued senior season and, now healthy, is hoping to show what he can do at the pro level before he hits free agency again this summer. Killins enjoyed a breakout season last year for the Bulldogs, leading all defensemen with 22 points in 36 games. In a program that features just one NHL prospect – Boston Bruins selection Cam Clarke – Killins was able to shine. At the pro level, it remains to be seen whether Killins can impress the Capitals or another NHL squad enough to earn a contract or if he’ll instead settle for an AHL or ECHL deal this off-season. One thing that is certain, Killins won’t be the last college player signed this year. The free agent market is full of interesting names, including many who could be available sooner rather than later.
- While college and junior free agents are the popular signings to watch for at this time of year, NHL teams are also on a deadline to get certain draft picks signed to their entry-level contracts. As of June 1st, all 2017 selections out of Canadian major juniors – the OHL, WHL, and QMJHL – must be tendered an entry-level contract or else the drafting team will lose the rights to those players, who can then re-enter the draft. That list of those names, including several notable young players, is below:
- F Kyle Olson (ANA)
- D Noel Hoefenmayer (ARI)
- D Daniel Bukac (BOS)
- F Cedric Pare (BOS)
- F Zach Fischer (CGY)
- F D’Artagnan Joly (CGY)
- F Adam Ruzicka (CGY)
- D Brendan De Jong (CAR)
- F Stelio Mattheos (CAR)
- F Brett Davis (DAL)
- F Liam Hawel (DAL)
- D Cole Fraser (DET)
- F Zach Gallant (DET)
- F Brady Gilmour (DET)
- D Reilly Webb (DET)
- F Lane Zablocki (DET)
- D Markus Phillips (LAK)
- D Jacob Golden (MIN)
- D Jarrett Tyszka (MTL)
- D Scott Walford (MTL)
- F Pavel Koltygin (NSH)
- D Jacob Paquette (NSH)
- D Jocktan Chainey (NJD)
- F Arnaud Durandeau (NYI)
- F Dominik Lakatos (NYR)
- G Jordan Hollett (OTT)
- D Zachary Lauzon (PIT)
- D Trenton Bourque (STL)
- D David Noel (STL)
- D Fedor Gordeev (TOR)
- F Ryan McGregor (TOR)
- D Matt Brassard (VAN)
- D Kristoffer Gunnarsson (VAN)
- G Maxim Zhukov (VGK)
- D Leon Gawanke (WIN)
Penguins Sign Jan Drozg To Entry-Level Contract
Monday: The Penguins have officially announced the contract.
Sunday: The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed a recent draft pick to his entry-level contract. Whispers emerged early last month that 2017 fifth-round choice Jan Drozg, a right wing for the QMJHL’s Shawinigan Cataractes, was close to signing his rookie deal with Pittsburgh, but it was unclear whether the pact would begin this year or next. CapFriendly reports that the three-year deal has been completed and it does in fact begin with the 2019-20 season. The Penguins have yet to confirm the signing.
Drozg’s ELC carries an AAV of $925K, but a base salary of just $700K in the first two years and $750K in the final year. The young forward, who turns 20 next month, will be supplemented by a $278K signing bonus, as well as performance bonuses of up to $132,500 in the first two seasons and $82,500 in the final season. Of course, none of this is guaranteed to begin next season, as Drozg has a year of junior eligibility remaining and could be a candidate for an entry-level slide next year if the Penguins decide they would prefer for him to return to the QMJHL.
Drozg, who stands tall but slight at 6’2″ and 174 pounds, became just the seventh Slovenian player drafted and the highest selection outside of Anze Kopitar when the Penguins took him 152nd overall in 2017 out of the Swedish junior ranks. A fast, hard-working forward, Drozg is omnipresent on the ice and helps to create a lot of offense for the Cataractes, a team that lacks much game-breaking talent. Last season, Drozg made the jump to North America after being selected by Shawinigan in the first round of the CHL Import Draft and immediately made his presence felt, leading the team with 50 points in 61 games. The effort even earned him a tryout game with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, in which he notched an assist. Drozg has outdone himself this year, scoring at a point-per-game pace to again lead the Cataractes with 52 points in 53 games thus far. Making Drozg’s accomplishments more impressive is the fact that Shawinigan has been arguably the worst team in the QMJHL over the past two years and Drozg’s offensive potential has a much higher ceiling once he is surrounded by superior talent. As such, the Penguins could opt to start Drozg in the AHL next season rather than return him to junior, as putting him in a competent lineup may be the best thing for the young winger’s development. If he can continue to produce consistently at the pro level as he has in junior, Pittsburgh may have found a diamond in the rough in the late-round forward.
Deadline Notes: Ferland, Vaakanainen, Draft Picks
The 2019 NHL Trade Deadline came and went yesterday and Micheal Ferland remained with the Carolina Hurricanes. Ferland seems destined to test the free agent market this summer, but the ‘Canes opted to hold on to the power forward in the midst of a career years as an “own rental”, writes Pierre LeBrun for The Athletic. However, he adds that it wasn’t an easy decision for GM Don Waddell and company. Early on this season, Ferland’s play was exceeding that of his team and the trade market began to develop for the likely deadline casualty. However, Carolina has been one of the league’s hottest teams since the calendar turned to 2019 and they are now in the thick of the Eastern Conference wild card race. That improvement all but took them out of “seller” status, but LeBrun states that the team continued to field calls on Ferland write up until the deadline. Specifically, LeBrun says the Nashville Predators made a hard push and he speculates that Ryan Hartman, who was eventually traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for Wayne Simmonds, was the likely offer. Yet, Waddell stuck with Ferland, who has fit in so well in Raleigh, and hopes that the decision will help the team end their nine-year playoff drought. LeBrun also adds that Carolina, who largely stood pat at the deadline, had interest in Minnesota Wild forward Jason Zucker. Given the early results of the trade those two teams made earlier this season, it’s no surprise that the Wild weren’t eager to make another deal with the Hurricanes.
- To no surprise, The Providence Journal’s Mark Divver reports that Urho Vaakanainen, Jack Studnicka, and Trent Frederic were hot names in the trade talks that the Boston Bruins had with sellers at the deadline. The trio are arguably Boston’s top three prospects, each one an early draft pick over the past few years. Both Vaakanainen and Frederic have made their NHL debuts this season while mostly playing in the AHL, while Studnicka has been tearing up the OHL. In particular, Divver hears that Vaakanainen was a “non-starter” for the Bruins; the team was unwilling to give him up regardless of the return. The 20-year-old defenseman was the No. 18 overall pick in 2017 and his poise and vision as a two-way, puck-moving defenseman have been apparent both in Providence and with the gold medal-winning Team Finland World Junior Championship entry. With 42-year-old Zdeno Chara potentially retiring at the end of the season and Torey Krug‘s contract expiring at the end of next season, the Bruins likely see Vaakanainen as having a regular role on the Boston blue line sooner rather than later. Not only did Boston avoid trading any of these three, but they landed Charlie Coyle and Marcus Johansson without surrendering any of their young prospects. The pair came at the cost of second-, fourth-, and fifth-round picks and Ryan Donato, who will be 23 next month.
- The Bruins were an outlier in that regard at the deadline, as the trend this season ended up with teams favoring moving players and prospects rather than picks. On deadline day, 35 players were moved compared to just 16 draft picks. In recent years, those numbers have been much closer as teams have been more conservative with their current assets and more willing to move out the unknowns of a draft selection instead. The change of course could be a reflection of the strength of this draft class; after all, of the picks moved yesterday only six were 2019 selections. The upcoming draft class is considered one of the deepest in recent years with high-end talent likely available even into the middle rounds. As such, even deadline buyers weren’t willing to gamble many of their 2019 picks. Except for the Columbus Blue Jackets, of course, who have just two draft picks remaining this June – a third- and seventh-rounder – after their all-out deadline.
NCAA Notes: Free Agent Market, Fabbro, Briere
With the trade deadline over, the next event for NHL front offices to be focused on is the college free agent market and this year in particular they won’t have to wait very long. Some of the top names on the market belong to teams well outside the top 20-ranked teams in the NCAA and are long-shots for postseason play. With the regular season coming to an end on March 9th and conference tournaments knocking several more teams out thereafter, prominent college free agent signings could be less than two weeks away. Among the early names to watch is NCAA leading scorer Taro Hirose, whose efforts have somehow done little to keep Michigan State out of the basement of the Big Ten Conference. Hirose, 22, is a small, speedy winger with high-end play-making abilities that have helped him accumulate 50 points through 32 games this season. The junior forward could technically return for another college season, but with his stock as high as it may ever be, Hirose is likely to leave. Spartans teammate Patrick Khodorenko, also a junior, is enjoying a strong year as well and could follow Hirose to the pros. The second-highest scoring skater in college hockey is none other than a defenseman out of Mercyhurst University. Joseph Duszak is having a phenomenal year for a little-known program, recording 43 points through 33 games thus far and routinely showcasing elite puck-moving ability that is turning heads. Diszak is a junior as well, but is very likely to move on. Another top top defenseman is the University of Miami’s Grant Hutton, who spurned NHL offers as a junior last year to return for his senior campaign, but now nothing is stopping him from turning pro. The season hasn’t gone as Hutton may have hoped, both for he and his team, but the well-rounded two-way defender can at least look forward to an NHL contract soon. One final name to watch is Boston University forward Bobo Carpenter. BU hopes that they can overcome a disappointing regular season with a Hockey East Conference tournament win, as they did last year, but otherwise the Terriers could be done early this season. Carpenter, the son of former NHLer Bobby Carpenter, is the senior captain of the team and has been a dependable scorer for four years who is almost certainly in line for an NHL chance. These five players are only some of the undrafted NCAA stars who could sign pro deals, but they have the distinction of being among the best available and likely to have wrapped up their seasons in a matter of weeks. Look out for signing sooner rather than later.
- Carpenter’s teammate at Boston University, defenseman Dante Fabbro, is an interesting player to watch in the coming weeks, whether he signs or not. The Nashville Predators’ first-round pick in 2016, Fabbro is one of the top defensemen in college hockey is more than ready to move on to the pro game. With the Terriers’ season potentially over in short order, he could sign with the Predators and make his NHL debut before the end of March. The question is whether that’s what he wants to do. Fabbro was a player who some considered a likely trade piece for Nashville at the deadline, but the team opted not to move him. With arguably the best top-four in the NHL and seven veteran defensemen already signed through the 2019-20 season, Nashville is not exactly the land of opportunity for Fabbro. Rather than wait around in the minors, the junior defender could instead opt to return to school for his fourth and final year, after which he could sign with the Predators if the blue line situation is more preferable or instead hold out until August and become a highly sought-after free agent. If Fabbro doesn’t sign with Nashville in the next few weeks, the odds of him signing at all take a significant hit.
- One of the newest teams to the college hockey ranks has received perhaps its most high-profile commitment to date. Carson Briere, son of long-time NHLer and former Phoenix Coyote Daniel Briere, has announced that he is set to join Arizona State University, beginning in 2020-21. Briere, 19, is currently third in scoring in the NAHL with 75 points in 39 games with the Johnstown Tomahawks. A small, but skilled forward, just like his dad, Carson will be a major addition for a Sun Devils program that is already well ahead of expectations and challenging for an NCAA Tournament berth this season. Speaking with The Athletic’s Craig Morgan, Daniel stated that Carson sees the move as “coming home” since he was born in Arizona during Daniel’s early days with the Coyotes after he was drafted in the first round by the team in 1996. Daniel also spoke glowingly of the program’s progress, saying “We believe in what they are building and where they’re heading with their program and Carson wants to be part of it. We have been impressed with their coaching staff and can’t wait to meet everyone that makes it a top destination already after such a short amount of time at NCAA Division I level.”
Trade Rumors: Hart, Elliott, Tolvanen, Rangers, Senators
Some bad news on one player could turn out to be a blessing in disguise in regards to another. The Philadelphia Flyers have announced that rookie sensation Carter Hart will be out at least ten days with a lower-body injury. Hart has been playing phenomenally this season and his absence could end what little hope the Flyers had of reaching the postseason this year. However, it will force the team to start Brian Elliott tonight in their Stadium Series game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Philly’s final game before the deadline. Recent acquisition Cam Talbot is still new to the team and unable to jump in net just yet. However, Talbot’s presence makes Elliott expendable and the Flyers are known to be shopping him. The team tried to move Elliott to the Edmonton Oilers as part of the Talbot return, but ended up trading away the younger Anthony Stolarz. However, with playoff-bound teams like the San Jose Sharks and Vegas Golden Knights in need of reinforcements in net, Elliott is very much still in play. A strong performance on a grand stage tonight could be enough to convince those kicking the tires to take a shot on Elliott. Moreso, the injury news on Hart could be the final straw for new GM Chuck Fletcher, as he is still allegedly unsure of whether to sell or not at the deadline. With Elliott, Wayne Simmonds, Michael Raffl, and several others drawing interest, Fletcher should be more encouraged to part with those pieces now that his stud goaltender is out for what could be weeks.
- The New York Rangers are one of the most talked-about teams as the deadline approaches, as rentals Kevin Hayes, Mats Zuccarello, and Adam McQuaid and even term players like Chris Kreider and Vladislav Namestnikov are drawing considerable interest. The New York Post’s Larry Brooks writes that the Nashville Predators are one of the teams in talks with the Rangers, but it appears that one of their best assets may be off the table. Brooks reports that the Predators will not trade 2017 first-round pick Eeli Tolvanen for a rental this season. Nashville does not have interest in Hayes, but has looked into Zuccarello, however they won’t offer up Tolvanen to land him. Brooks believes Tolvanen would only be available to the Rangers in a deal for Kreider. The talented Finnish forward has only seen limited NHL action thus far, but is still coveted by sellers – not only the Rangers – for his potential. In this scenario, it’s the sellers who may have to ante up with a signed player to get the prized prospect. As for the Rangers, they may have better luck getting a top return for Zuccarello elsewhere. Brooks states that the Calgary Flames and Pittsburgh Penguins are among the teams pursuing the veteran winger, while a report yesterday stated some contenders are willing to pay the price to package Zucarello and Hayes together.
- Meanwhile, the price for McQuaid has gone up significantly today following the trade of Ben Lovejoy to the Dallas Stars. McQuaid is arguably the top rental defenseman left on the market, currently ranked No. 21 overall on TSN’s Trade Bait List. With the trade statuses of Alex Edler, Niklas Kronwall, Cody Ceci, and others still unclear, McQuaid looks like the top target for defense-needy teams versus the likes of Michael Del Zotto and Bogdan Kiselevich. McQuaid is by no means a star or season-changing acquisition, but he is likely the best available defenseman even as just a physical, stay-at-home defender. If the New Jersey Devils can draw a third-round pick and young roster player for Lovejoy, the Rangers are suddenly looking at second-round territory with McQuaid. To protect their top trade assets, New York will not play McQuaid, Zuccarello, or Hayes today, reports Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
- Many have felt that the allure of the free agent market for Matt Duchene and Mark Stone and the caliber of return the Ottawa Senators could get for trading them left Ryan Dzingel as the most likely of the trio to re-sign with the team. That certainly isn’t going to be the case. The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch reports that Dzingel recently turned down a five-year extension offer worth more than $20MM, a significant pay raise over his current $1.8MM cap hit. After that, the team made the definitive decision to trade him before the deadline. Garrioch adds that Stone also rejected the Senators’ last offer, and eight-year pact of unknown value, but the team has not yet completely closed the door on a new deal. They continue to take offers on the star winger though, as Garrioch writes that the Winnipeg Jets, Calgary Flames, Boston Bruins, and Tampa Bay Lightning are the team’s most involved in Stone talks. He believes the Bruins are also interested in Dzingel. It remains to be seen who ends up with Stone or Dzingel and how the returns compare to that of Duchene, but one way or another the Senators are walking away from the deadline with a complete lack of star power on the roster, but a massive influx of picks and prospects to show for it.
Deadline Primer: Carolina Hurricanes
With the trade deadline just days away, we continue our look at the situation for each team over the coming weeks. Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs? As we continue with the Metropolitan Division, here is a look at the Carolina Hurricanes.
In less than 100 hours, the 2019 NHL Trade Deadline will come and go. While there are many deals still to be made, most teams have at least decided if they are buying, selling, or sitting out at the deadline. Perhaps the one team still waiting to make that call are the Carolina Hurricanes, and for good reason.
Tuesday night was a rough result for the Hurricanes. The team fell to the non-playoff New York Rangers, while the Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens both picked up wins. Carolina now trails both of those teams by three points, while the Columbus Blue Jackets occupy the final wild card spot with a one-point lead and a game in hand on the Hurricanes. Despite their strong play of late, Carolina looks like the first team out in the Eastern Conference right now. Of course, that can change before the deadline. The ‘Canes have a winnable match-up tonight against the Florida Panthers, followed by a tougher test against the Dallas Stars on Saturday. How they perform, as well as the results for the Blue Jackets, Penguins, and Canadiens, before Monday will inform their deadline decision.
Carolina holds the NHL’s longest playoff drought of nine years and desperately would like to make the playoffs. At the same time, they are a young team who could really use the return on any trade assets if the postseason doesn’t look realistic. It’s a difficult choice to make, but where they sit in the playoff race after the next few days could cause them to lean one way or another or, perhaps the most likely outcome, no way at all.
Record
31-23-6, fifth in the Metropolitan Division
Deadline Status
TBD
Deadline Cap Space
$76.26MM in full-season cap hit, 1/3 used salary cap retention slots, 43/50 contracts per CapFriendly
Upcoming Draft Picks
2019: CAR 1st, BUF 2nd, CAR 2nd, CAR 3rd, CAR 4th, CAR 5th, CAR 6th, CGY 6th, BOS 7th
2020: CAR 1st, CAR 2nd, BUF 3rd, CAR 3rd, CAR 4th, CAR 5th, BUF 6th, CAR 6th, CAR 7th
Trade Chips
With their status at the deadline still so uncertain, chances are the Hurricanes will be involved in both the buyers’ and sellers’ markets, but could very well choose to do nothing at all. For discussion’s sake though, let’s say the Hurricanes decide to sell. Of the two options, selling is more probable as there are no pieces that Carolina could move that would automatically end their push for the postseason. The one player who would certainly be on the move is impending UFA power forward Micheal Ferland. Ferland, acquired from the Calgary Flames in the off-season, has been excellent in Carolina and is in fact on pace for a career high in points. However, Ferland seems destined to test the free agent market and the recent acquisition of Nino Niederreiter has made his departure manageable. Carolina would miss Ferland’s contributions down the stretch this season, but are prepared for life without him and would likely land a nice return if they chose to trade him. Several contenders are in search of grit and offense at this time of the year and Ferland checks both boxes.
Ferland is the only impending UFA skater thought to have any value on the trade market. Captain Justin Williams is not available and Greg McKegg has been a serviceable player that is more valuable to the ‘Canes as a depth option than any low-end return might be. However, goaltenders are a different story. Both Curtis McElhinney and Petr Mrazek are impending free agents and both have performed well this season, especially McElhinney. With Scott Darling still under contract next year, young Alex Nedeljkovic in consideration, and a strong goalie free agent class, it’s unclear if McElhinney or Mrazek will be back in Raleigh next season. With that in mind, the Hurricanes may be willing to part with one or the other at the deadline if the right offer presents itself. It goes without saying that if the team could move Darling, they would.
Elsewhere in the lineup, there continues to be speculation that the Hurricanes would like to deal from a position of strength on defense. With Dougie Hamilton, Justin Faulk, Brett Pesce, and Trevor van Riemsdyk on the roster, Carolina is flush with talented right-shot defenders. Chances are one will be dealt at some point soon. However, it will be in a hockey trade, with the ‘Canes getting a top-nine forward back in return. Such trades are uncommon at the deadline, so don’t hold out hope that the team will be make such a move before the off-season.
What if the Hurricanes are buyers? Then the list of trade chips is a slightly more extensive. Charlotte Checkers defensemen Haydn Fleury and Roland McKeown continue to wait patiently for roles in Carolina that may never come and the time may have arrived for the Hurricanes to move them in the right deal. The same could be said for another pair of impending RFA’s, forwards Andrew Poturalski and Saku Maenalanen, both of whom have been productive in the minors but underutilized at the top level. This is just the tip of the iceberg of what is an impressive pipeline for the Hurricanes, but as they’re not expected to be major buyers, top names like Martin Necas, Janne Kuokkanen, Jake Bean, and Adam Fox are likely untouchable. Carolina has plenty of draft picks to peddle as well, rather than moving their top prospects
Five Players To Watch For: F Micheal Ferland, G Curtis McElhinney, D Haydn Fleury, D Roland McKeown, F Saku Maenalanen
Team Needs
1) Top-Six Forward: It’s no secret that the Hurricanes desire a top-six forward. The team was in on William Nylander for months before he re-signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs (they could revisit that option this summer) and eventually swung a deal with the Minnesota Wild for Nino Niederreiter. However, scoring is still an issue. This season, only the Dallas Stars and New York Islanders have scored fewer goals per game than Carolina among teams in playoff position. The offense is stagnant at times and has been carried by Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen all year. Looking ahead, the likely loss of Micheal Ferland could further diminish scoring next season. Although the pipeline is loaded with capable forward in Carolina, the team needs a long-term top-six addition. It remains to be seen if such a player is available at the deadline this year. Expect the ‘Canes to kick the tires on Jonathan Huberdeau and Mike Hoffman, as well as the likes of Jason Zucker or Adam Henrique.
2) Value Forwards: If Carolina decides to buy in to playoff run this year, but the prices are too high on a long-term forward acquisition, the team would be better off trying to wait out the market to add some bargains than give up considerable future pieces for top rentals. For example, the idea of an Eric Staal return is great, but not an affordable option for Carolina. Instead, players like Richard Panik, Sven Andrighetto, or Alex Chiasson would come at a much lesser cost and would be less risky acquisitions in light of Carolina’s current playoff position, but would help fill some gaps in the lineup and create some more offense. The Hurricanes may very well stand pat at the deadline, but making even just a minor addition up front could go a long way.