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Snapshots: Bouwmeester, CBA Talks, Orr

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The St. Louis Blues will move on without the services of veteran defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, who had been with the team since 2013 but saw his playing career come to an end after a cardiac episode last season. The 37-year-old hasn’t officially retired, but it seems unlikely that he would return to the ice. That doesn’t mean he’ll never be back with the Blues though, as St. Louis GM Doug Armstrong suggested on the Cam & Strick Podcast.

I would love to work with him. I would love to get him to do some scouting for us in the future. He’s one of those guys, he’s got a great hockey mind. Also, retirement is great until you’re home all the time. Now I’m not saying that he’s going to want to travel like a pro scout and do four games in five nights in five cities. But he can go into Calgary, up to Edmonton, he can go into Vancouver, he can come in when we’re there.

It’s hard to overstate just how well-respected Bouwmeester is around the league after a 1,240-game career. The proverbial “horse” on the blueline, he averaged more than 24 minutes a night over his long career, reaching incredible highs early on. In the 2007-08 season, for instance, Bouwmeester averaged 27:28 for the Florida Panthers, playing nearly half the game every night. If he did decide to hang up his skates and join a scouting department, St. Louis likely wouldn’t be the only team interested.

  • Gary Bettman spoke with Sports Business Journal today, and according to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet was adamant that the NHL is not trying to “renegotiate” the deal they signed with the players earlier this year. Instead, he referred to “stresses on the system” which is mainly the fact that player contracts will make up more than 50 percent of the hockey-related revenue thanks to a depressed market. Overall as Frank Seravalli of TSN tweets, Bettman explained that he is disappointed with how the talks have been portrayed to this point.
  • Want some good news? How about a player named Bobby Orr earning Rookie of the Month honors in the QMJHL. The 17-year-old forward scored 13 points in his first 15 games for the Halifax Mooseheads, including scoring in all five held in November. Orr has worked his way up to the top line and is tied for the rookie scoring lead in the Q.

Snapshots: Liiga, Paajarvi, Bradley

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Just days after the QMJHL announced a month-long pause due to the heightened spread of the Coronavirus, another league is set to make a similar call, but this time it’s a pro league out of Europe. According to a number of sources including The Athletic’s Saad Yousuf, the Finnish Liiga is expected to halt all play through the month of December. This move is expected to carry over to Finland’s junior leagues as well. A number of NHL prospects will be impacted, as will NHL players currently on loan who will return to North America sooner than expected. It does seem as though the shut down will end in January, but the COVID numbers in Finland will ultimately determine when play resumes.

  • Veteran NHL forward Magnus Paajarvi opted to take his talents to Russia last summer, signing a two-year deal with the KHL’s Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. His first season fell short of expectations, as Paajarvi played in only 39 games and recorded just 19 points. His second season has started off much better, as Paajarvi already has 11 ponts through 26 games and will far exceed last season if he stays healthy. Yaroslavl decided to take advantage of the success of the impending free agent, as they have traded Paajarvi to Dynamo Moscow in exchange for another name familiar to NHL fans, Teemu Pulkkinen. Given that Paajarvi was still a serviceable bottom-six forward when he left the NHL, is on pace for a superior season this year with his contract expiring, and has now abandoned any loyalty he might have felt to the KHL club he initially signed with, this could all be leading to an NHL comeback for the skilled power forward next year.
  • Detroit Red Wings prospect Chase Bradley has made his collegiate selection. The 2020 seventh-round pick out of the USHL has committed to the University of Connecticut, the program announced. The St. Louis native is a hard-working forward who is expecting to take a big step forward offensively in his final junior season before moving to the NCAA. Bradley becomes the second NHL prospect commitment for the Huskies this month, as fellow 2020 seventh-rounder Ryan Tverberg (TOR) will also join UConn next season.

QMJHL To Pause Season Until January

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With the COVID-19 situation worsening in the eastern part of Canada, the QMJHL has decided to pause all activities between December 1, 2020 and January 3, 2021. The league released a short statement from commissioner Gilles Courteau explaining the decision:

The current situation with the pandemic in the regions in which we operate makes it extremely difficult to play games. With the holidays just around the corner, the provinces in the Maritimes have restricted access and travel, while red zone restrictions in Quebec do not permit us to play.

The junior league started their season at the beginning of October despite the WHL and OHL, the two other members of the Canadian Hockey League, pushing things back indefinitely, with continued concerns over the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Working through difficult travel restrictions and a few breakouts among the member teams, the league managed to complete 111 games so far. The Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, Rimouski Oceanic, and Halifax Mooseheads led the way with 16 games played each, while the Sherbrooke Phoenix were only able to complete five contests.

It may be a frustrating decision for fans of the league and the players trying to continue to develop and compete, but at this point moving forward was almost impossible given the provincial and regional restrictions. Hopefully, by the new year, the situation will have improved, though of course that is no guarantee at this point. The league will provide further updates on the new schedule down the road when the situation is more clear.

Snapshots: CBA Talks, Juolevi, QMJHL

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After yesterday’s discussions with the NHL, the NHLPA is not happy. The league asked for further financial concessions in the form of payment deferrals and increased escrow, just a few months after negotiating a new CBA, and things are now a little more heated between the two sides. Both Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet and Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic have now released columns explaining the situation, using terms like “angry” and “betrayed” when describing how the players feel.

Both insiders finish their columns with messages of hope, however, with the idea that the two sides will eventually come together on a deal for the sake of the sport. But with December coming quickly and players needing time to return to North America, quarantine (in some cases), and prepare for the season, work will have to be done quickly on a new arrangement.

  • One player hoping to get things going so he can continue some of the momentum he built this summer is Olli Juolevi, who Iain MacIntyre profiled yesterday for Sportsnet. Juolevi, the fifth-overall pick in 2016, is finally healthy after years of dealing with various injuries and surgeries. The 22-year-old defenseman made his NHL debut in the bubble when he played one postseason game for the Vancouver Canucks, but certainly has ground to make up to catch some of his draft contemporaries. Several defensemen selected after him have already established themselves as full-time NHL options (if not stars), while the name selected directly after him—Matthew Tkachuk—is arguably the most important player on their division rival Calgary Flames.
  • The Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL have had a staff member test positive for COVID-19, meaning their upcoming games have been postponed and team in-person activities have been suspended. The Cape Breton Eagles, who played the Sea Dogs yesterday, will also have their games postponed until an investigation is complete.

Snapshots: DeBrusk, Lindholm, QMJHL

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While the Rangers and center Ryan Strome are content with the two-year, $9MM deal he signed earlier this week, Boston Hockey Now’s Joe Haggerty posits that Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk’s asking price likely was negatively affected by this signing.  While the two situations are different – one was arbitration-bound and the other just coming off an entry-level deal – Strome’s $4.5MM price tag will be difficult for DeBrusk to eclipse on his next contract after he came off of a career-best 59-point season while DeBrusk had a career-low 35.  The 24-year-old is a good candidate for a bridge contract over the coming weeks and doing so would also give Boston a little bit of cap flexibility if GM Don Sweeney has his eyes set on trying to add someone else to their roster.

Elsewhere around the hockey world:

  • The Flames are considering shifting Elias Lindholm into a full-time center role, notes Sportsnet’s Eric Francis. While he was drafted as a middleman, the 25-year-old has spent considerable time on the wing as well.  It’s worth noting that Lindholm and Mikael Backlund (another center) are their two longest-signed players up front with contracts running through 2023-24.  If they do go ahead with the transition and it goes well, it could potentially create some questions surrounding the long-term future of Sean Monahan, a player who has already been in trade speculation at times this offseason.
  • Kevin Dube of TVA Sports provides some details on a short-term bubble that the QMJHL is trying to put in place for seven teams that have been out of action for a month due to rising COVID-19 cases in Quebec. If it receives the green light, it would last ten days with each team playing in six games.  As the other Canadian junior leagues look to resume in 2021, they’ll certainly be keeping an eye on this in case they find themselves in a similar situation at some point.

Minor Transactions: 11/07/20

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There have only been four unrestricted free agent signings so far in the month of November, as the NHL market has been stagnant in light of the flat salary cap despite considerable talent still available. However, the impact of delayed season starts continues to result in a number of loans, both at the pro level in Europe and the junior levels in North America. Loans have also begun to displace other players, as a number of notable names are on the move. With some minor moves carrying over from Friday and more expected today, keep track of all of these transactions here:

  • 2020 Tampa Bay Lightning second-rounder Jack Finley will get his season started outside of the WHL, but close to home. The Kelowna, BC native has been loaned by his club, the Spokane Chiefs, to the BCHL’s West Kelowna Warriors, the league announced. Finley is one of a large number of western junior players who will get some time in down a level before the WHL opens up next month. A hulking, 6’5″ center, Finley will be a lot to handle for BCHL competition over the next few weeks.
  • Goalie Jan Bednar, a recent fourth-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings, was expected to open up this season with his North American debut with the QMJHL’s Acadie-Bathurst Titan. Instead, he has been loaned back to his pro club in the Czech Republic, HC Energie Karlovy Vary, for the time being, the team announced. While the Titan have not been one of the Quebec clubs who have lost games due to COVID-19, Bednar still has not joined the team yet this season. After spending the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 CHL Import Draft on the netminder, Acadie-Bathurst hopes to have Bednar soon and Vary’s announcement implies that he will only play for the team until that point that he decides to finally head overseas.
  • Seeking more ice time in the SHL, Carolina Hurricanes’ 2020 second-round selection Noel Gunler has been loaned out for the remainder of the season. Lulea HF announced that Gunler has been loaned to Brynas IF after requesting a move. The team hoped to keep Gunler on the roster, but understood his desire for a greater opportunity. Considered by many to have fallen in the draft, making him a potential steal for the Hurricanes, Gunler is an exciting player to watch who may finally produce at a high level in Sweden now that he has a greater role.
  • Also on the move in Europe, although unknown where they will end up at this point, are former NHL defensemen Julian Melchiori and Raman Hrabarenka. The KHL’s Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk has terminated the contracts of both players, the league announced. Hrabarenka had two points in nine games to open up the season, whereas Melchiori had not yet played. With rumors surrounding Neftekhimik and former non-qualified Washington Capitals free agent defenseman Colby Williams, it could be that these departures were made in anticipation of another addition by the team.

Snapshots: QMJHL, Foley, Weegar

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The QMJHL has postponed all East and West division teams will have their games up until October 28 postponed. The league was forced to shut things down given the increased COVID-19 situations all across the province, but will reassess in two weeks.

The games in the Maritimes will continue, though the Moncton Wildcats have shut their program down indefinitely as they deal with the outbreak there. Many prospects from the QMJHL climbed draft boards after a few early 2020-21 viewings that took place before last week’s draft, but they’ll have to wait for things to calm down again before resuming play.

  • Speaking of resuming play, Vegas Golden Knights owner Bill Foley was on Vegas Hockey Hotline today and let a few things slip about the potential 2020-21 season structure. Foley referenced a “Canadian division,” an idea that has been thrown around for some time, and noted that the league may be forced to go with a shortened season given the Olympics, a problem that the league was facing this year too until the Games were postponed.
  • Back to trade talks, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet gave some clarity on who could be interested in Florida Panthers defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, whose name has been in the rumor mill the last few weeks. According to Friedman, the Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets are all “among those who have checked in.” He also mentions Travis Dermott, Andreas Johnsson (since traded to the New Jersey Devils), Tyson Jost and Jack Roslovic as potential names that were discussed with Florida.

Calgary Flames Loan Dmitry Zavgorodniy To SKA St. Petersburg

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The Calgary Flames have played a trick on hockey writers everywhere, loaning Dmitry Zavgorodniy to SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL. The announcement does not indicate whether the young forward will be returning to North America when camp opens, but Ryan Pike of FlamesNation notes that the team will be able to recall him at that time.

Zavgorodniy, 20, is coming off three seasons with the Rimouski Oceanic of the QMJHL, including an outstanding 2019-20 that saw him register 29 goals and 67 points in just 40 games. A seventh-round pick in 2018, he stands just 5’9″ but has shown enough to earn the entry-level contract he signed in 2019.

Like so many other teams around the league, the Flames will use overseas loans as a way to keep their prospects playing and developing while the AHL figures out how and when to stage a 2020-21 season. Zavgorodniy is joining a strong team in SKA, one that he’ll have to battle for playing time on.

Justin Barron Out Indefinitely Following Medical Procedure

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One of the top prospects available for the 2020 NHL Entry Draft will not start his junior season on time. Justin Barron is out indefinitely following a medical procedure. A further timeline will be given after a follow-up examination. Barron missed several months last season with a blood clot, though the press release does not clarify whether this is the same issue or even related.

The QMJHL season is set to start next week, with the Halifax Mooseheads playing their first game on October 2. Barron is ranked 16th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting and was expected to be taken in the first round.

The 18-year-old is among the most polished defenders available in the draft and scored 41 points in 68 games during the 2018-19 season. While those numbers fell as he dealt with the blood clot issue this year, Barron was still considered a strong prospect that would be snatched up quickly in the draft.

Raphael Lavoie Headed To Sweden

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Sep 22: Lavoie ended up leaving Rogle before playing a single game, but will still be heading to Sweden for the 2020-21 season. The Oilers have announced that the young forward has now been loaned to Vasby IK in the Swedish second league. Like before, the release indicates that Lavoie is going for the whole season, though obviously, that could still change depending on the situation.

Aug 20: The Edmonton Oilers continue to be flexible with their prospects, sending them overseas amid the uncertainty surrounding an AHL season. The minor leagues are still hoping to have full seasons, but since nothing is set in stone at this point, organizations are finding playing time for their youngsters all over the world. According to Dave Ainsley of Le Quotidien and a report out of Sweden, Oilers prospect Raphael Lavoie will play the 2020-21 season with Rogle of the SHL.

Interestingly, Lavoie is expected to play the entire season instead of returning for NHL training camp and an AHL campaign like so many other prospects. The second-round pick from 2019 spent last season in the QMJHL, split between the Halifax Mooseheads and Chicoutimi Sagueneens scoring 38 goals and 82 points in just 55 games. He also was a member of the gold medal-winning Canadian World Junior club, though he failed to score a goal in the tournament.

Lavoie only signed his entry-level contract a few months ago, officially joining the Oilers organization. Interestingly though, that means his contract will actually not slide forward like many of the 2019 draft picks even if he spends the year outside of the NHL. Since he’ll turn 20 in late-September, 2020-21 will be the first year of his deal even if it’s spent on loan in the SHL.

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