Snapshots: Return Plans, Murray, Nilsson
In recent days, the NHL had briefly shifted their focus from restarting in centralized hubs towards playing in club cities, reports Larry Brooks of the New York Post. That would have assuaged some concerns from players over the potential from being away for their families for an extended period of time. However, Brooks notes that the league has quickly pivoted away from that to focus exclusively on the four-city plan. It remains to be seen if the regular season will be concluded or if they will jump to the playoffs if they are indeed able to get things back underway.
Elsewhere around the hockey world:
- To say that Blue Jackets defenseman Ryan Murray has been injury-plagued throughout his career would be an understatement. He has only played more than 66 games just once and multiple ailments have limited him to just 27 games this season. The blueliner admitted to John Matisz of The Score that he wondered if he’d be forced to hang up his skates early as a result of everything but after consulting with doctors, there has been no reason to seriously consider that. The 26-year-old has one more year left on his deal with a $4.6MM price tag and will be eligible for unrestricted free agency in the 2021 offseason.
- Senators goaltender Anders Nilsson should be able to return if regular season play resumes, goalie coach Pierre Groulx told Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch. He was sidelined by a concussion back in December and only passed his baseline testing last month. However, with Ottawa well out of contention and a likely desire to give Marcus Hogberg as much playing time to evaluate him for a full-time spot for 2020-21, they will likely limit Nilsson’s action to only a handful of games at most.
Snapshots: Phase 2, Melnichuk, Franco
Yesterday, the NHL and NHLPA released a joint statement on the status of the regular season and the encouraging signs that have started to make engaging “Phase 2” look like a realistic possibility. That would mean a return to their team cities for players spread out around the globe and the resuming of team workouts. On the latest Insider Trading for TSN however, Darren Dreger explains that it won’t be mandatory:
The goal is to initiate Phase 2 at some point around the middle of May, perhaps the third week of May. But it is a recommendation, it’s not mandatory. What is mandatory, assuming there is a go-ahead, is that NHL players report to their NHL cities for the start of training camp—potentially that could be around June 1.
But there are others who say that Phase 2 may not be initiated, there is certainly no guarantee of that and that’s all health-related. Important to note though, there will be no agreement on an NHL resumption unless players have an allowance to visit with their families.
The topic of family access has been brought up by several players in recent days, including Phillip Danault of the Montreal Canadiens and John Tavares of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Even with the hopeful nature of some of the recent reports, there is still plenty of work to do in order to make anything possible this summer.
- The San Jose Sharks may be landing a KHL free agent, as a report out of Russia has Alexei Melnichuk set to sign with the team. Kevin Kurz of The Athletic, however, hears that though the Sharks are a finalist for Melnichuk’s services, there is another team “in the mix” and that nothing is final just yet. Melnichuk, 21, is an up-and-coming goaltender in the KHL who posted a .930 save percentage in 16 games this season.
- The Rochester Americans have signed Dominic Franco to an AHL contract, following his senior season at West Point. The 24-year old winger scored 23 points in 33 games while serving as an alternate captain, leading the team in scoring for the third season.
Snapshots: Draft Date, AHL, Weise
While it would create a rather unusual situation, the NHL continues to assess the viability of moving up the NHL Entry Draft. Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch that they are still vetting the responses to the idea from teams and anticipate having a decision in the near future. As things stand, this plan would involve bumping the draft up to early June so there would need to be time to allow for the Draft Lottery to take place (likely based on points percentage) and to put together the plans to hold one virtually as the NFL just did.
Of course, that would mean holding the draft before the season potentially ends and would significantly limit the ability to trade with the potential for play to resume afterwards. There has been some trepidation from general managers so far but it appears the league is still giving serious consideration to this idea and we shouldn’t have to wait too long to find out if this is the path they indeed choose.
More from around the hockey world:
- While the NHL still hopes to resume play this season, the AHL may not be able to follow suit. John Wawrow and Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press report that it’s quite likely that the league won’t be able to get back going. That would certainly be understandable as games would inevitably have to be played without fans and with the AHL not having significant television contracts like the NHL does, they don’t have that level of revenue to fall back on. The league, meanwhile, responded that there is “nothing imminent” when it comes to a possible cancellation of the rest of their season.
- Canadiens winger Dale Weise has spent a good chunk of the season in the minors and it appears he knows that his NHL time may be numbered. In an appearance on Sportsnet 650 (audio link), the 31-year-old acknowledged that he is considering playing in Europe next season, a prospect that could be complicated by the resumption of the NHL’s season. The pending unrestricted free agent has played in 23 games with Montreal this season where he has a goal and four assists in 23 games and wasn’t much more productive with AHL Laval, tallying three goals and four helpers in 27 contests.
Snapshots: Early Draft, Brome, Martin
The NHL floated a “trial balloon” earlier this week with the idea that the 2020 Entry Draft could be held in June, before a potential restart for the 2019-20 season. That brought up all kinds of questions about how the draft order would be determined and if teams would be able to complete trades, something draft day has been known for in the past. On yesterday’s edition of Insider Trading for TSN, Pierre LeBrun explained that he asked around front offices to gauge their response to the idea.
LeBrun states that 15 teams gave him a “hard no” on the idea of a June draft, with only five open to the idea. That kind of response certainly won’t help the plan get off the ground, meaning we may have to wait until after the season concludes to get the draft over with.
- One player that won’t have to wait for the draft to find out where he’ll play next year is Mathias Brome, a 25-year old forward that has spent the last three seasons in the SHL. Rick Dhaliwal of TSN reports that the Vancouver Canucks and Detroit Red Wings are “in the mix” to sign Brome once the new transfer agreement comes into place. With 17 goals and 43 points for Orebro HK this season, Brome ranked sixth in league scoring and could be considered an option to step directly into the NHL.
- Max Martin didn’t get drafted when he was eligible either, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be playing professional hockey. The Kamloops Blazers standout has signed a one-year contract with the Texas Stars of the AHL for the 2020-21 season, giving him a chance to show what he can do at the next level. The 20-year old defenseman had 14 goals and 58 points in 57 games after an early-season trade from Prince Albert. The Blazers just so happen to be owned by Tom Gaglardi, who also owns the Dallas and Texas Stars.
Snapshots: Markstrom, Vegas, Hartford
When the 2019-20 NHL season was paused, Vancouver Canucks were right on the edge of returning to the playoffs. It’s not somewhere they’ve been since 2015, so turning things around is an impressive accomplishment for this young group. One of the older players on the team that was around (however infrequently) for that 2014-15 season is Jacob Markstrom, who happens to be scheduled for unrestricted free agency this summer.
If you ask him though, this won’t be his last chance to help Vancouver reach the playoffs. Markstrom was on a conference call with reporters yesterday including Iain MacIntyre of Sportsnet, and explained that he wants to “stay in Vancouver” and has “no plans of leaving.” Markstrom does understand the complicated situation that every team is in with regards to free agents and an uncertain salary cap, but is obviously hoping that he can stick around for a while longer. The 30-year old goaltender was having the best season of his career, posting a 23-16-4 record and .918 save percentage when the season was paused.
- If you’ve been wondering whether or not the Vegas Golden Knights would ever name a captain, Peter DeBoer has some answers for you. According to Ken Boehlke of SinBin.vegas, DeBoer discussed the captain question on a season ticket holder podcast, explaining that he believes a team should have one and that the Golden Knights have several candidates. For what it is worth, Boehlke expects Mark Stone to be the captain if one is named. Stone is currently the highest-paid player on the Golden Knights and is signed through 2026-27.
- The Hartford Wolf Pack are bringing back some experience for next season, signing Vincent LoVerde and Mason Geertsen to one-year AHL contracts for 2020-21. LoVerde, 31, is. two-time Calder Cup champion that scored 21 points in 62 games for the Wolf Pack this season. Geertsen, 25, won the ECHL’s Kelly Cup in 2017 before establishing himself as a full-time AHL player the last three years.
Snapshots: Egle, Handemark, Cehlarik
Over the past two years, Clarkson University forward Haralds Egle has been one of the best and most consistent scoring forwards in college hockey. An undrafted prospect out of the USHL, the Latvian-born winger just completed his final collegiate season but truly began to hit his stride last year. In total, Egle accumulated 33 goals and 72 points in 71 games over the past two seasons, leading a national contender. Now, Egle is ready to take on the pros. The AHL’s Manitoba Moose have announced a two-year deal for the 23-year-old scoring forward. Latvia remains an under-represented nation in the NHL, but if Egle’s NCAA ability translates to the AHL its very possible that his he could be the next name from his country to join the ranks of the elite.
- Swedish forward Fredrik Handemark is no stranger to the NHL rumor mill, with the most recent reports naming the Detroit Red Wings and San Jose Sharks as suitors should the SHL veteran choose to make the jump this off-season. It appears he has made his choice though, as Swedish news source Aftonbladet reports that Handemark is expected to sign with the Sharks this summer. After posting a career-high 14 goals and 38 points this season, the 26-year-old Malmo Redhawks captain has decided to take the next step in his career with San Jose. While the terms have not been confirmed, Aftonbladet expects Handemark to sign a one-year entry-level contract with a $900K AAV, which could prove to be a bargain for the Sharks if the Swedish star can replicate his production at the next level.
- Boston Bruins forward Peter Cehlarik may be eyeing a move to the opposite side of the Atlantic. Slovakian news source TA3 reports that the local product may be considering a move to Europe, namely the SHL, after another season in which he was unable to secure a consistent NHL job. Cehlarik, 24, played his developmental years in Sweden and was drafted by Boston from Lulea HF in 2013. In his four years since coming over from Europe, Cehlarik has played in at least three NHL games each season, including a career-high 20 in 2018-19. However, his considerable scoring ability – 136 points in 185 career AHL games – has not translated to the NHL, where he has just 11 points in 40 games. Beyond just his production, Cehlarik has struggled to find a natural fit in the Bruins’ lineup and has been passed up on the organizational depth chart. A restricted free agent this summer, Boston may qualify Cehlarik as a useful minor league depth player, but he could opt instead to chase a starring role back in the SHL.
Snapshots: Spezza, Hlinka-Gretzky, Coaching
For players nearing the end of their careers, a lost playoff would be devastating. One of their last few chances to raise the Stanley Cup evaporates without anything they can do to stop it. That would be the case for Jason Spezza, who went to Toronto on a one-year deal with the Maple Leafs chasing that elusive championship. Spezza has played more than 1,200 NHL games between the regular season and playoffs but still hasn’t been able to see his name engraved on the sparkling chalice.
All through this season Spezza has been clear that his intention is to play beyond 2020, and on a conference call with reporters today including Luke Fox of Sportsnet, he clarified that there is “nowhere else” he’d rather be than in Toronto. Spezza has been excellent in a depth role for the Maple Leafs this season, scoring nine goals and 25 points in 58 games despite averaging fewer than 11 minutes a night. It seems likely that if he is willing to take another bargain to stay in Toronto, the team would be open to it given how inexpensive they need their fourth line to be.
- Scouting for this year’s draft took a huge hit when junior and college seasons were abruptly ended, and the 2021 class looks to be in danger of losing some valuable face time as well. The Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, a huge opportunity for the upcoming draft prospects to show what they can do against the best competition in the world, is expected to be canceled for this year according to Bob McKenzie of TSN. The tournament is scheduled for August in Edmonton, Alberta but is already on the chopping block. McKenzie also notes other events like the World Junior Summer Showcase are also in jeopardy, meaning this year’s draft class could miss plenty of opportunities to show NHL scouts what they can do.
- Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic (subscription required) followed up his earlier report on Gerard Gallant‘s interview with the New Jersey Devils by adding that other teams with interim head coaches—specifically the Calgary Flames, Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild—aren’t going to address the situation until they find out what happens with the rest of the 2019-20 season. Those three, in particular, are still in playoff contention, something that the Devils (and San Jose Sharks, who currently have interim coach Bob Boughner in place) don’t have to worry about.
Snapshots: Player’s Last Paycheck, Hyman, Yzerman
NHL players and have deferred their decision on their last paycheck until May 15, which they hope will give both the NHL and NHLPA extra time to figure out if there will be games played this season, according to TVA’s Renaud Lavoie. Players have been debating on how much of their final paycheck should go back to owners via escrow.
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun notes that players are already getting their 2018-19 escrow return next week, which should alleviate some of the pain in delaying their final paycheck. The NHLPA must decide what to do with their last paycheck, which is estimated at $140MM, but the players also owe escrow money to the system for this year, which could require giving up some of that final paycheck.
- With the recent admission that forward Zach Hyman hopes to remain with the Toronto Maple Leafs, The Athletic’s James Mirtle (subscription required) looks at what a contract with the Maple Leafs might look at, especially considering the importance of the salary cap to the team. However, the importance of a bang-and-crash winger is an important element to the team. Mirtle’s best comparable is Colorado winger Joonas Donskoi, who signed a four-year, $3.9MM AAV deal last summer. However, Hyman produces a little more than Donskoi, suggesting he is likely to make more than Donskoi’s $3.9MM cap number. A number closer to $4.5MM per season is more likely, but Mirtle wonders if Hyman’s camp would be willing to take a lower number for more term, such as maybe a six-year deal?
- With his one-year anniversary hitting Sunday, Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman made it clear to Detroit News’ Ted Kulfan that everything is going according to plan despite a dismal season that has the Red Wings at the bottom of the standings in the NHL with a 17-45-9 record. “I knew what I was getting into, and I think I had a general idea what it takes to build a team,” said Yzerman. “(Patience) is very difficult to sell, and we gotta show progress. I’m hoping the progress shows next year in wins and losses, but it will show in prospects and their development.” Yzerman, along with former GM Ken Holland, have been stockpiling picks. Yzerman acquired two second-rounders and a fourth for Andreas Athanasiou and Mike Green (all from Edmonton) and have 10 total picks in the upcoming draft. Considering quite a bit of prospect depth already in the system, the team’s long-term future looks bright so far.
Snapshots: Bilyalov, Jaskin, Combs
While the NHL has assured fans that the 2020-21 season will not be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and a number of international players and college prospects have signed contracts for next season based on that premise, KHL goaltender Timur Bilyalov is not feeling as comfortable with the league’s unknown future. Despite garnering interest from NHL teams, Bilyalov has opted to re-sign with Ak Bars Kazan on a one-year deal, citing doubts as to when the new NHL league year will begin. However, the 25-year-old specifically noted that he has not ruled out pursuing an NHL career in the future. Bilyalov was one the best goalies in the KHL this season, recording a .943 save percentage and 1.45 goals-against average in the regular season and even better numbers in an undefeated playoff run prior to the KHL’s cancellation of the season. Interest will undoubtedly renew this time next year if his top performance continues.
- Former NHLer Dmitrij Jaskin also appears poised to re-sign in the KHL. RIA News in Moscow reports that Dynamo Moscow has come to terms on an extension for their star forward. Jaskin recorded 31 goals and 63 points in a dominant first season in the KHL. The power forward made the jump last off-season after failing to find a job in the NHL. He had played the previous six seasons with the St. Louis Blues and Washington Capitals, totaling 27 goals and 69 points in 303 games, a mark he nearly topped in just one season back in Russia. Despite his impressive production this combined with previous experience in the league, Jaskin appears content to continue starring for Dynamo rather than seeking out another NHL opportunity.
- The college transfer market is mostly used to make depth additions, but occasionally a program can find a diamond in the rough. Michigan State may have a good one on their hands in forward Charlie Combs. Combs announced that he will leave Bemidji State and join the Spartans for his senior season. The former BCHL standout had a slightly down 2019-20 campaign, but was one of the Beavers’ best players a season ago. He has compiled 60 points in three collegiate seasons and was on his way to an NCAA Tournament appearance this season with Bemidji State prior to the cancellation of the postseason. He will look to make the most of his final college season with a Michigan State team that was competitive in the Big Ten Conference this year.
Snapshots: Slepyshev, Eliasson, Hudon
There has been some recent talk about the Oilers trying to bring back winger Anton Slepyshev. In a recent video conference with reporters (video link), GM Ken Holland confirmed that he has made an offer to Slepyshev’s camp and is waiting to hear back. The 25-year-old is signed through the end of the month and while some KHL teams will let their players out of their deals early to sign in the NHL, most don’t so even if they’re able to reach an agreement over the coming weeks, it may take some time before a deal is made official. Slepyshev didn’t do much offensively in his first stint with Edmonton where he scored just 10 goals in 103 but has shown more of a scoring touch back home, collecting 18 goals and 27 assists in 54 games with CSKA Moscow this season.
Elsewhere around the hockey world:
- Red Wings prospect Jesper Eliasson is transferring to the SHL as Farjestad announced that they have signed the goaltender to a two-year deal that runs through the 2021-22 season. Eliasson was a third-round pick (84th overall) back in 2018 and the two-year term means that at the completion of the final season, Detroit will have a limited window to get him signed before the June 1, 2022 signing deadline. The 20-year-old spent this season playing down a level with Almtuna (Allsvenskan) while on loan from Vaxjo.
- Agent Allain Roy confirmed to Guillaume Lefrancois of La Presse that Canadiens winger Charles Hudon has received interest from the KHL and the NLA for next season. However, Hudon’s preference is to try to remain in the NHL. It has been a tough year for the 25-year-old as he has struggled with Montreal, picking up just one goal and one assist in 15 games. However, he is in the top-five in AHL goals with 27 in just 46 games with Laval which is helping to generate his interest from those other leagues. He will be a restricted free agent this offseason with arbitration eligibility.