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Pacific Notes: Oilers, Puljujarvi, Couture, Jones, Hutton

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The Edmonton Oilers are having a rough time this season as they currently sit in seventh place in the Pacific Division. However, David Staples of the Edmonton Journal writes that after Saturday’s 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild, the Oilers are starting to play quality hockey again, citing the team’s past five games as an indicator. Granted the team has a long way to go if they team has any hopes of reaching the playoffs. However, the scribe sees a team that is suddenly working hard and refusing to give up.

In fact, Staples writes that he no longer believes that the team’s issues has to do with speed. Originally, he believed the Oilers were built slow and could not overcome that deficiency. He now writes that he believes the team wasn’t working hard enough and was relying on their talent and reputation to get through games. Suddenly, he sees a team that is working harder to get goals and showing true grit that could spark the team to some success.

The team showed that effort against the Montreal Canadiens on Dec. 9 when they walked away with a 6-2 victory. The team followed that up with a 1-0, quality loss the next day. They then had an inspiring victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 14 before a 4-0 loss to Nashville. Saturday’s hard-fought win was just another step in the team’s hopeful turnaround.

  • Staples also writes the Edmonton Oilers need to start giving more playing time to winger Jesse Puljujarvi. The fourth-overall pick in the 2016 draft is starting to put things together, but isn’t getting the time on the ice as the 19-year-old only received 9:59 minutes Saturday and isn’t playing on the team’s lackluster power play. Puljujarvi, who scored his sixth goal of the season, should be playing more and showing the team what he can do as he played like a “beast” Saturday, according to Staples.
  • The San Jose Sharks have two concerns, according to The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz (subscription required). The team is worried about Logan Couture after he sustained a shoulder to his surgically-repaired face in Friday’s game against Vancouver. While there has been no word on the team’s leading scorer, there is talk that the 28-year-old center may have sustained a concussion on the play. Kurz adds that a second concern is the suddenly poor play of goaltender Martin Jones, who has struggled now over the past five games, having allowed at least four goals in each of those starts. After starting the season with a 2.05 GAA and a .930 save percentage, those numbers have increased to a 2.55 and .914 after just five games.
  • The Vancouver Canucks tweeted that coach Travis Green had no update after defenseman Ben Hutton came off the ice limping after practice. He is currently listed as day-to-day. The team’s second-line defenseman has four assists in 33 games this year. Vancouver has already lost defenseman Chris Tanev for three weeks due to injury as well as a number of other players on the forward lines.

Atlantic Notes: Hoffman, Kane, Red Wings Rebuild

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While a lot of talk about the Ottawa Senators currently revolves around defenseman Erik Karlsson, who will become a free agent in 2019 and expects top dollar, the Hockey News’ Lyle Richardson writes that a deal isn’t likely to happen any time soon as general manager Pierre Dorion still has hope that he can eventually work out an extension when the two parties can begin negotiating next July.

However, Richardson instead suggests the team might focus on moving some other pieces this season, especially pointing a finger at center Mike Hoffman. The 28-year-old will have two years remaining at 5.19MM AAV after this season, which increases his value. While his numbers are a little down (he’s only scored once in his last nine games), Hoffman is still in line for a solid 20-goal season as he currently has nine goals and 13 assists in 30 games. On top of that, he has put up 20 goals in each of his last three seasons.

Besides that, players such as Cody Ceci and Jean-Gabriel Pageau are other trade options, according to Richardson, but considering they are 23 and 25, respectively, the team may want to keep their youth if the goal is to rebuild the team. Bobby Ryan, Dion Phaneuf and Derick Brassard are also trade possibilities, but even less likely as all three have modified no-trade clauses and because of their high salaries, are unlikely to be going anywhere.

  • In the same article, Richardson writes the Buffalo Sabres are not likely to trade forward Evander Kane before the upcoming holiday trade freeze (Dec. 19 to 26). It’s more likely the team will make a move after that as they are still trying to raise his pricetag. The 26-year-old looks to be having a career year as he already has 31 points this season in 33 contests, nearly a point a game, along with 14 goals. Richardson writes that several teams are likely to bid on Kane, including the San Jose Sharks, the St. Louis Blues, the Anaheim Ducks and the Calgary Flames, although few of them are good fits.
  • Craig Custance of The Athletic (subscription required) compares the Toronto Maple Leafs roster and to the rebuilding plan of the Detroit Red Wings, pointing out where Detroit stands when it comes to building a franchise like the Maple Leafs. Custance writes that the obvious missing piece on the Red Wings is the lack of a superstar like Auston Matthews, but there some of the other pieces are present on the Red Wings roster. He compares Mitch Marner to that of Anthony Mantha, William Nylander to that of Dylan Larkin and Nazem Kadri to that of prospect Michael Rasussen and keeps going. Among many conclusions, Custance points out the lack of a superstar as well as the team’s need to grab a franchise-changing defenseman and goaltender, but feels Detroit might not be that far away if luck rolls their way.

Aaron Dell: “The Next Scott Darling”

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Much was said yesterday about San Jose Sharks goaltender Aaron Dell, after Pierre LeBrun profiled him on the latest edition of Insider Trading on TSN. LeBrun compared him to a certain former Chicago Blackhawks netminder:

Aaron DellGenerating some interest I think, or at least people are taking notice. Could he be this year’s Scott Darling? The guy that goes from backup to number one. A year ago Darling was entering his UFA year getting a lot of interest. Aaron Dell, also, UFA on July 1st. Now, do the Sharks use him as trade bait closer to the February 26th trade deadline, or do they think about re-signing him as insurance to Martin Jones. We don’t know that yet.

At one point in the offseason, being labeled as this year’s Darling would have been a compliment. After all, Darling hit a big payday in Carolina when he signed a four-year, $16.6MM contract to become their new starter. It was a huge raise for a player who’d only been on a one-way contract for a single season, and had never made more than $600K in a year.

The comparison isn’t even fair on its face. Darling had been the backup in Chicago for three seasons, playing in 75 regular season games with the Blackhawks and posting a superb .923 save percentage. That also came with a five-game stint in the playoffs during Chicago’s 2015 Stanley Cup run where he admirably held the fort and went 4-1 with a .936. Darling had basically never shown anything but an exceptional ability at the NHL level, even if he did come by it later in his professional career.

Dell on the other hand has just 31 appearances under his belt in San Jose, and though so far they’ve been incredible—including a league-leading .939 save percentage this season—it’s hard to crown him a starting goaltender with such little experience.

Scott DarlingAnyone looking to place the mantle of “starter” on him should do so with caution, and you don’t have to look much further than the comparison LeBrun makes. Darling has been one of the biggest disappointments in Carolina this season, posting an .899 save percentage and allowing some unfortunate goals in the process. If he can’t get his game back together, that contract could look awfully bad.

The thing is, these aren’t improving goaltenders. Darling will turn 29 in a week’s time, and Dell isn’t far behind with a birthday in March. They’ve put on solid work as backup goaltenders, but starting in the NHL on a nightly basis is a different game entirely.

It’s true, that San Jose could use Dell as solid trade bait as the season progresses. We’ve examined recently how bad the goaltending market is right now, and that shiny save percentage should entice just about anyone looking for depth at the position. But come July 1st, signing him to a starter-type contract will be a risk. It’s not clear anyone will be willing to take it.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Snapshots: Penguins, Sharks, Predators

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The Pittsburgh Penguins might be in the news for a trade before long, that is if they don’t improve their play very soon. GM Jim Rutherford spoke to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, telling the reporter that the team is “coming in to a critical period where we’ll make a decision whether we need to shake things up or not.” 

What that trade would be is unclear, but as we examined just this week the Penguins still need help down the middle and seem willing to use whatever assets necessary to put forward a Stanley Cup contender again this season. The team does have its top two picks in the upcoming draft, and several young players that could be moved. A shake up would seem to suggest a roster player moving out though, which should be expected since the team is pressed right up against the cap. Either way, they’re a team to watch before we enter the holiday roster freeze on December 19th.

  • Speaking of dealing young assets, the San Jose Sharks aren’t ready to do something like that anytime soon just to get back to the playoffs. Curtis Pashelka of the East Bay Times spoke with Sharks GM Doug Wilson, who told him that you won’t “see me trading key young core players” for rentals that could help them this year. The Sharks have turned around their season recently and now sit in third place in the Pacific Division, but are still far from guaranteed a spot in the postseason. Getting there may have to come from the inside, if they don’t find a fit on a short-term rental.
  • The Nashville Predators are back near the top of the Central Division after going 7-1-2 in their last ten games and will get a boost tonight after activating both Ryan Johansen and Scott Hartnell from injured reserve. Their returns make the Predators lineup something to marvel at, with four lines capable of scoring at any time. At some point this season the team is also expecting Ryan Ellis to get back into the lineup, at which point few will doubt them as a Stanley Cup contender. For now, they’ll hope Johansen and Hartnell are enough to overcome the Vancouver Canucks and get another two point.

Vegas Golden Knights Claim Ryan Carpenter

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After hitting waivers yesterday, Ryan Carpenter has been claimed by the Vegas Golden Knights according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. The former San Jose Sharks forward played 16 games with the team this season, recording a single point. A corresponding move will have to happen for the Golden Knights, who currently have 23 players on their active roster.

This is a very interesting move by the Golden Knights, as they don’t seem to have any need for Carpenter at the moment. The team is full of forwards capable of centering the fourth line and penalty killing, the two things Carpenter did for the Sharks. Perhaps the team sees a higher potential in the 26-year old, since he has shown a high offensive profile in the minor leagues.

As Pierre LeBrun reports, the Golden Knights have scouting Carpenter since before the expansion draft but weren’t able to select him when the Sharks used a protection slot on him. They eventually did select David Schlemko, but immediately flipped him to the Montreal Canadiens for nothing more than a fifth-round pick.

Carpenter went undrafted, but after starring at Bowling Green University the Sharks signed him in the spring of 2014. He’s since earned two additional contracts, including the two-year deal he’s currently under that runs through the 2018-19 season. The contract is two-way in nature this season—meaning he earns different amounts depending on whether he’s in the AHL or NHL—but turns into a one-way minimum salary deal next season.

Interestingly, the Golden Knights only have two waiver-exempt players on the roster at the moment, and neither of them seem poised to be sent down. Alex Tuch and Shea Theodore started the year in the minor leagues to give the team some flexibility, but are key parts of the team now. Instead, Stefan Matteau is the likely candidate to go back down as though he’s not waiver-exempt, he did clear in late September and has yet to spend the 30 days on the active roster that would reset his clock.

Ryan Carpenter Placed On Waivers

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The San Jose Sharks have placed Ryan Carpenter on waivers according to CapFriendly. This move could mean that Joonas Donskoi is healthy enough to return from injured reserve, but it means Carpenter is likely headed for the minor leagues.

In 16 games this season, the 26-year old Carpenter has just a single point. The undrafted center has been an excellent minor league offensive producer, but hasn’t been able to carry that scoring touch over to the NHL level. Though he’s not been afforded much ice time in his 28 career games, the Sharks need some more production from the fringes of their roster.

Interestingly, his value at center could be enticing to other clubs around the league. Carpenter is signed to a two-year deal that pays him the minimum salary at the NHL level, and has been an average faceoff man and penalty killer for the Sharks. Any team looking for some more depth down the middle could put in a claim, though there isn’t a ton of upside there to receive.

Pacific Notes: Subban, Heed, Martin, Henrique, Dowd

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Many people in Boston had already written off goaltender Malcolm Subban, who never seemed able to earn himself a place with the Boston Bruins, minus 62 minutes of time over the course of his career. That was one reason the team placed the 23-year-old netminder on waivers to start the season. However, few expected Subban to thrive after he was claimed by the Vegas Golden Knights. In fact, Subban has done more than that. He might just be the team’s goaltender of the future.

Even NBC Sports Joe Haggerty admits that he may have misjudged the goaltender as well. Subban took his performance to a new level Friday when he saved 41 shots and staved off six penalty shots in leading Vegas to a 4-3 victory over the Nashville Predators. Even despite missing time earlier this year with an injury, Subban now has a 7-2 record with a 2.33 GAA and a .924 save percentage. 

  • The San Jose Sharks have announced they have activated defenseman Tim Heed off of injured reserve and have sent veteran defender Paul Martin to San Jose on a conditioning assignment with the Barracudas of the AHL. Heed was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 2 after suffering an upper-body injury in a game against the Winnipeg Jets on Nov. 25. As for Martin, he is closing in on being ready after aggravating an ankle injury on Oct. 10, and has been on injured reserve since. At 36 years old, Martin will make his first-ever appearance in an AHL game as he went directly from the University of Minnesota to the NHL back in 2003. He has played
  • Scott Billeck of NBC Sports writes that while it’s still early, so far the Anaheim Ducks look like they made a great deal in acquiring center Adam Henrique from New Jersey for defenseman Sami Vatanen. Since the Ducks have been without without center Ryan Getzlaf, the Ducks top line of Rickard Rakell and Corey Perry have struggled without Getzlaf, but Henrique’s addition has changed everything as he has fit in well with those two immediately. So far Henrique has three goals and six points in five games with Anaheim, while he had four goals in 24 games with New Jersey. In fact, the 27-year-old had just one goal in his previous 14 with the Devils. If he can keep this up, he could return to his 30-goal ways back in 2015-16.
  • JD Burke of The Athletic (subscription required) writes that Vancouver Canucks acquisition of Nic Dowd is an underrated one in which he breaks down the success of the 27-year-old center who arrived in a quiet trade from the Los Angeles Kings. According to Burke, Dowd’s presence on the ice, mostly due to his ability to keep offensive players from getting off shots, had given the Kings their second-most lopsided ratio of shot attempts when he is on the ice at even strength last year. While those numbers could be inflated due to previous coach Darryl Sutter’s style of play, he could be a big addition to the Canucks. He had six goals and 16 assists last year in 70 games, but has had just one assist this year in 16 contests.

Brenden Dillon Suspended One Game For Slashing

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Wednesday: Dillon indeed has been suspended for one game for the slash. As the video explanation notes:

It is important to note that this is not a slash delivered as part of a hockey play. Dillon is not attempting to alert an opponent to his presence, or to make a defensive play on a player with the puck. This is simply a frustrated player delivering a retaliatory and forceful slash to a vulnerable area of an opponent’s body.

Tuesday: TSN’s Bob McKenzie predicted it this morning and now it has come to fruition: San Jose Sharks defenseman Brenden Dillon will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety this evening regarding his actions in last night’s game against the Washington Capitals. The incident is question was a slash by Dillon on the Caps’ Madison Bowey late in the contest.

With just five seconds remaining in the game, a 4-1 Washington win, Dillon hit Bowey with a two-handed slash. The action earned him a five-minute major and game misconduct – serious albeit meaningless penalties with nearly no time left. Should Dillon receive a suspension, that could very well play a role in the decision. However, the overall intensity of the game could play in his favor. It was a chippy affair throughout, including a questionable hit by Joe Thornton on T.J. Oshie and even a roughing penalty for Bowey in response to Dillon’s slash. An outburst at the end of a combative game may not be seen as an individual attack by Dillon that warrants a suspension. It also helps Dillon’s case that Patrick Kane was just recently given only a fine for a similar two-handed chop.

While the Sharks await word on whether they will lose Dillon to suspension or not, they’ll need a contingency plan. San Jose has worked hard to climb back into playoff position in the Pacific Division and don’t want to drop one or more of their upcoming games against the Carolina Hurricanes, Ottawa Senators, and Minnesota Wild because they couldn’t properly replace Dillon, given the recent injury to frequent backup Tim Heed. A strong defensive rearguard and a left shot, Dillon has been regularly skating alongside Brent Burns one the top pair this season, especially with Paul Martin sidelined. While the easy fix, should he miss time, would simply be to move Marc-Edouard Vlasic up a pair, but that could leave the bottom four too weak. Instead, moving Joakim Ryan up to the top pair and/or calling up young Jeremy Roy could be the solution.

Pacific Notes: Thornton, Chychrun, Fleury, Mitchell

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The NHL Department of Player Safety handed down a $5,000 fine to San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton Saturday for his slash Saturday night on Tampa Bay Lightning’s Tyler Johnson. The $5,000 is the maximum allowable fine allowed by the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The incident occurred late in the second period of the game and he received a two-minute for high-sticking. Thornton, who has been playing through multiple minor injuries has struggled to get his offense goinas picked up the pace the last few games. He currently has four goals and 12 assists in 25 games. The money is designated to go to the players’ emergency assistance fund.

  • The Arizona Coyotes announced they have activated Jakob Chychrun off of injured reserve and he is expected to play tonight against the Vegas Golden Knights. Chychrun, the team’s first-round pick in 2016, played a full season for the Coyotes as an 18 year old last year and held his own. He picked up three goals and 17 assists in 68 games. He underwent knee surgery in early August and has made a quick recovery. He was assigned last week to the Tucson Roadrunners on a conditioning loan, but didn’t play in any games for them. In a corresponding move, the team sent defenseman Andrew Campbell back to Tucson. He had been recalled as an emergency defenseman on Wednesday, but didn’t appear in a game.
  •  Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Steve Carp tweeted that Vegas Golden Knights general manager George McPhee said that starting goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who has been out since Oct. 13 with concussion symptoms, has passed his tests and has been cleared to return to practice on Wednesday assuming the veteran goalie has no setbacks. Fleury, the face of the franchise, has only appeared in four games for the Golden Knights and has a 2.48 GAA and a .925 save percentage. Vegas has struggled with injuries in goal, although backup Malcolm Subban returned last week and has assumed the starting job. McPhee said he was not sure when Fleury would be ready to return to a game, however.
  • Jon Rosen of LA Kings Insider writes that Torrey Mitchell, acquired in a trade on Nov. 23, could make his Kings’ debut tonight against the Chicago Blackhawks, according to coach John Stevens. “As long as there’s no issues during the day, I think he’s a good consideration to come in,” Stevens said. “He’s been off the ice for a few days, so skated him yesterday, skated him today, and he said he felt pretty good, so he’s an option to go in, for sure.” Mitchell had some trouble acquiring his work visa after being traded from Montreal to Los Angeles, but is now cleared to play. The 32-year-old didn’t have a point with the Canadiens in 11 games this year, but is expected to help center one of the team’s bottom two lines.

 

What Your Team Is Thankful For: San Jose Sharks

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As the holiday season approaches, PHR will look at what teams are thankful for as the season nears the quarter point of completion. There also might be a few things your team would like down the road. We take a look at what’s gone well in the first month and what could improve as the season rolls on. So far we’ve covered ANA, ARZ, BUF, CGY, CAR, CBJ, COL, DET, LAK, NSH, NJD, NYI, STL, TOR, WSH, and VGK.

What are the Sharks most thankful for?

After the departure of long-time star Patrick Marleau to Toronto, many believed that San Jose’s might take a step back this season which could force the team to rebuild. The team, however, despite an anemic offense, has played well and are riding a three-game winning streak and are closing in fast on a top spot in the Pacific Division with a 14-8-2 record. A mixture of veterans and younger players, the team still seems to be run well under head coach Peter DeBoar. It probably does help that teams like the Anaheim Ducks and Edmonton Oilers are having their own problems and are floundering in the division.

Who are the Sharks most thankful for?

Two players come to mind as the play of 28-year-old center Logan Couture seems to be taking over as the team’s top player. While the team has struggled in putting the puck in the net, Couture has led the team with 13 goals and 21 points this year in 24 games (no one else has more than seven goals on the team). He leads the team in power play goals and is tied for the team lead in short-handed goals. The team has also gotten magnificent play from goaltender Martin Jones, who sports a 10-5-1 record and a 2.05 GAA with a .930 save percentage. He has also received little support as he has the fifth-lowest goal support on the year. Without these two, it’s likely the team wouldn’t be where they are.

What would the Sharks be even more thankful for?

The team needs the return to form of several of their veterans, especially defenseman Brent Burns, who has struggled this year putting the puck in the net. The 32-year-old blueliner is the catalyst to this offense putting up points and he has just one goal this season as opposing defenses are focusing on shutting him down. If Burns can find a way to start putting the puck in the net, perhaps the offense might start to take that next step and get back on track. Joe Pavelski’s struggles to find the net are also an issue on a team lacking in goal scoring. His five goals in 24 games is no where near last year’s pace where he put up 29 goals. Even 38-year-old Joe Thornton’s numbers are fading.

What should be on the Sharks’ Holiday Wish List?

The team needs scoring and should look into acquiring a goal scorer who might help get the team’s offense back on track. Besides Couture, the team has little else in terms of scoring besides Joonas Donskoi, who just went onto injured reserve. The team needs to replace Marleau and are rumored to be looking at various options, although it is unknown what the team is willing to move to get a goal scorer. A player like Buffalo’s Evander Kane might be the perfect piece to add to this team.

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