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Red Wings Notes: Rebuilding, LCA, Parenteau, Athanasiou

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After 25 years of sustained success where the team didn’t miss the playoffs, the Detroit Red Wings are entering a new phase of reality—and it will be painful writes the Athletic’s Corey Pronman. There is an entire generation of Detroit fans who didn’t know the playoffs without the Red Wings in them, but that will become a harsh truth as Detroit attempts to restock a steady–but hardly elite cupboard of talent. Pronman identifies Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha, and Andreas Athanasiou as the pillars of hope for Detroit, but they are hardly the likes of Steve Yzerman, Sergei Fedorov or Nicklas Lidstrom, players the Red Wings rode into Stanley Cup glory two decades ago. Pronman continues, writing that it’s not a knock on the players but instead, shows just how hard it is to win consistently in the NHL. Additionally, he reminds Wings fans looking for a full teardown that there is only a 25% chance that tanking will garner a #1 pick–which may not even pan out. Regardless of the path they take, Detroit is surely in for bumpy times ahead.

  • The Detroit Free Press’ Helene St. James quotes Wings coach Jeff Blashill calling the new Little Caesars Arena the “Ritz Carlton” of hockey arenas. After years of playing at the hastily constructed and outdated Joe Louis Arena, the Red Wings step into a state of the art facility that houses a practice rink and mammoth 25,000 square foot locker room.
  • St. James also writes that P.A. Parenteau, who signed a PTO with the Red Wings has the best chance of getting a permanent spot by boosting the Red Wings powerplay. Last season, Detroit was dreadful with the man advantage and Parenteau has made a career of potting powerplay goals and it may be a perfect match for both the Wings and the nine-year veteran.
  • The Red Wings are “standing firm” on their contract offer to forward Andreas Athanasiou, putting a two-year, $3.8M deal on the table. TSN’s Bob McKenzie cited progress between the camps and TSN reported that general manager Ken Holland expects to make a move in order to get cap compliant.

Brian Hart, Cameron Darcy Clear Unconditional Waivers

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The Tampa Bay Lightning placed both Brian Hart and Cameron Darcy on unconditional waivers yesterday for the purpose of a mutual contract termination according to CapFriendly. The pair each had one year left on their entry-level contracts, but will become free agents after the termination is made official.

Hart was drafted in the second round five years ago, but hasn’t been able to develop into the power forward that was expected. In three seasons at Harvard, and two professional seasons split between the AHL and ECHL, Hart never did bring the offensive game that he showed in his high school days in Maine. In 33 games with the Syracuse Crunch last season, he registered just seven points. He’ll likely have to settle for a two-way minor league deal somewhere.

Darcy on the other hand was a seventh-round pick who was exceptional in the QMJHL, but has had trouble at the professional level. Still, he scored 25 points in 20 games for the ECHL Kalamazoo Wings last season, and has always shown a knack for setting up his teammates.

Stralman Misses Third Day Of Camp

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Nail Yakupov’s story is quite well known. Edmonton’s first-overall pick in the 2012 draft, who started his career off right with 17 goals in a 48-game strike-shortened season, started a downward spiral that led to him getting traded to St. Louis and then finding himself getting benched and sitting in the press box not long after coach Mike Yeo took over. Now, signing a one-year “prove it” deal with the offensively challenged Colorado Avalanche, the 23-year-old is out to show that he still belongs in the NHL.

After that 17 goal season in 2012-13, his numbers tapered off, dropping to 11, then up to 14 and down to eight. His three goals in 40 games was a sign that he may be running out of time. However, according to AJ Haefele of BSN Denver, Yakupov is doing everything he can to resurrect his career in Colorado. “This is a chance I have to take,” the normally chatty Yakupov said succinctly.

Early reports say that Yakupov’s effort and skills are showing in training camp. During today’s scrimmage, BSN’s Adrian Dater tweeted that Yakupov was diving in front of pucks and showed his hunger. He had two assists in the scrimmage. The Avalanche need the youngster to rebound as the team finished last with 165 goals and managed just 48 points as a team. He is currently partnered with Matt Duchene and while that matchup is likely not going to stick, he looks like he is heading for regular minutes again.

  • Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times writes that Tampa Bay veteran defenseman Anton Stralman missed his third straight practice today with an undisclosed injury, but he did skate and stickhandle on his own. The 31-year-old defenseman had a down year with just 22 points, but is still considered to be a top-pairing defenseman.
  • Another defenseman who is also missing time is Buffalo’s Marco Scandella missed practice, according to John Vogl of the Buffalo News. The 27-year-old blueliner, who came over from Minnesota this offseason had arthroscopic surgery on his left hip in May was forced to take a day off. After putting up 13 points in limited minutes with the Wild a year ago, the Sabres hope Scandella can take that next step this year.
  • Kristen Odland of the Calgary Herald writes that Curtis Lazar is ready to make the Calgary Flames roster. The 22-year-old center and former 2013 first-round pick of the Ottawa Senators had mononucleosis last year, missing all of training camp and the early part of the season and was never able to regain his form, prompting a trade from Ottawa to Calgary. According to Odland, he has regained the weight he lost from the illness and bulked up and has looked good in camp so far.

Tampa Bay Lightning Angling For Outdoor Game

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Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik spoke to media today ahead of training camp, and said that he is trying to get an outdoor game. Reported by both Tampa Bay Times reporter Joe Smith and NHL.com writer Bryan Burns, Vinik said that he’s talking to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman about hosting an outdoor game in Tampa Bay. Vinik also dismissed the hot Florida climate as an obstacle.

Vinik has a point about the climate. The NHL has held outdoor games in Las Vegas (1991), Los Angeles (2014), and Santa Clara (2015) without issue. Cooling technology has come far enough that hosting an outdoor game in a traditionally hot climate more than a pipe dream.

Boosting the Lightning’s chances of hosting is that the team has never participated in an outdoor game—one of just seven teams without any outdoor game experience. Tampa Bay is also slated to host the 2018 NHL All-Star Game this season on short notice. Tampa Bay was chosen later than usual because the NHL thought it might be heading to the Olympics this year instead. When those plans were scuttled, the league chose Tampa Bay as the All-Star venue.

Atlantic Notes: Eichel, Lightning, Panthers’ Playoff Hopes

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NHL.com’s Joe Yerdon writes that Buffalo star center Jack Eichel says that he “hasn’t proven anything”  despite a couple great seasons scoring over 20 goals and being nearly a point-per-game player last season. But the thirst for regular and postseason success drives Eichel, and calling his past work “mediocre,” it’s clear that the 2015 second overall pick is ready for his Sabres to turn the corner:

“It’s the third year, so if there’s ever a time to start winning and being a good team in this league, it’s right now. I think all the guys are pretty sick of losing and not playing in the playoffs. I don’t think I’m the only guy; I think I can speak for a lot of guys in the room, that we’ve got to be there at the end of the year.”

Set with a new general manager and head coach, a fresh approach may just be what the Sabres need to finally break through.

  • The Tampa Bay Times Tom Jones wonders if the Bolts have another deep playoff run in the horizon. Or, as Jones asks, could last year’s playoff miss be the start of Tampa’s descent in the Atlantic, and Eastern Conference? He quotes head coach Jon Cooper, who says that after two deep playoff runs, anyone asks “what happens,” when a team completely misses the playoffs. The Lightning held a 2-1 advantage during the 2015 Stanley Cup Final before Chicago roared back to take three in a row. Two seasons ago, they came within a game of returning to the Final. General manager Steve Yzerman called it “humbling” while players say there’s a certain “hunger” to the playoffs this season. Though Yzerman says the expectations remain high, certainly no one thought that was a cause for decline. It was the injury bug that bit hard in Tampa and crippled any chances at postseason glory. Should they stay healthy, the Lightning a formidable opponent not only in the conference, but also the league.
  • The other Floridian team also has a shot at making a playoff run opines the Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn. The Panthers, despite an off year in 2016-17 after such a strong 2015-16, are projected by Luszczyzyn to see a marked improvement based on his metrics. Anyone familiar with his work knows that Luszczyzyn uses advanced stats more than most writers. Similar to the Lightning, the Panthers suffered from injuries and just having Jonathan Huberdeau back a full season will do wonders for a team that was starved for goals in his absence. Ludzczyzyn admits that there isn’t much further to go down from here, but he advises that no one should sleep on the Panthers, either.

2017-18 Primer: Tampa Bay Lightning

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With the NHL season now just a month away, it’s time to look at what each team has done this summer and what to watch for in the year to come.  Today, we focus on the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Last Season: 42-30-10 record (94 points), fifth in Atlantic Division (missed the playoffs)

Remaining Cap Space: $3.25MM per CapFriendly

Key Newcomers: D Dan Girardi (free agency, NY Rangers)m F Chris Kunitz (free agency, Pittsburgh), D Mikhail Sergachev (trade with Montreal)

Key Departures: F Jonathan Drouin (trade with Montreal), D Jason Garrison (expansion), F Joel Vermin (free agency, Lausanne, Swiss NLA), D Luke Witkowski (free agency, Detroit)

[Related: Lightning Depth Chart From Roster Resource]

Player To Watch: G Andrei Vasilevskiy – For the past few years, Vasilevskiy had been referred to as Tampa’s goalie of the future.  With Ben Bishop now out of the picture, he’s now their goalie of the present.  Can he step up and take over that number one role?

Mar 9, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) against the Minnesota Wild during the second period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY SportsWith Bishop missing a good chunk of time last season due to an injury as well as the eventual trade to the Kings, the Lightning got a good look at what the 23-year-old could do and the results were mixed.  Vasilevskiy struggled considerably in his first stint as the starter in December and January with Bishop injured but once the trade occurred, he fared much better down the stretch and the team is undoubtedly hoping that finish is a sign of things to come.

The pressure is certainly going to be on and Tampa’s depth at that position isn’t what it was.  Peter Budaj is coming off of a nice resurgent season but he’s best suited as a backup while journeyman veteran Michael Leighton was brought in to replace Kristers Gudlevskis.  That’s not a great safety net to have behind a relatively unproven starter.

Key Storyline: Tampa Bay’s defense corps last season was led by Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman but the supporting cast had a lot of question marks.  Although the team moved out a couple of big salaries in Drouin (who signed for $5.5MM with Montreal after the trade) and Garrison, those were more to free up cap space over bringing in more proven players on the back end (with the exception of Girardi who is coming off a tough season himself).  Sergachev could push for a roster spot but even if he makes it, it’s unlikely he’d play a key role right away.

Is that group going to be good enough, especially with one of the younger starting goaltenders in the league playing behind them?  There’s no denying that the Bolts should have plenty of firepower, particularly with Steven Stamkos returning (and a healthy Ryan Callahan won’t hurt either) but aside from Hedman and Stralman, their talent level beyond their top-two isn’t great.  If they struggle early on, it wouldn’t be surprising if GM Steve Yzerman looks to bring in another proven veteran at some point.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Mikhail Sergachev Believes He Can Make NHL This Season

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  • Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times caught up with prospect Mikhail Sergachev, and the young defender was clear that he intends on making the Lightning out of training camp. “For me, going back to junior is not an option,” said Sergachev, who was acquired from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Jonathan Drouin earlier this summer. Sergachev has dominated the OHL in his first two seasons in North America, and even suited up for four games at the beginning of last season with the Canadiens. While the Tampa Bay defense is quite crowded, he clearly has the talent to break through and establish himself as an NHL force.

Snapshots: Eichel, Franson, Girardi

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We’ve heard several reports over the past few weeks regarding an extension for Sabres center Jack Eichel. The 20-year-old recently made it clear that he wanted to remain in Buffalo, and he reemphasized those sentiments earlier today. However, as opposed to last time, Eichel wasn’t so keen to give a timeframe on any contractual resolution.

“It’s kind of in my agent’s hands and Mr. Botterill’s,” Eichel said (via Tom Gulitti of NHL.com). “For me, it’s all about just going out and performing, playing well, being a good teammate and trying to help make a positive impact on the Sabres and get the organization back to the playoffs. I want to be in Buffalo. I want to be there for a long time. I want to be there when we’re winning. I want to bring that to the city.

“But in terms of the deal, it’s going to get done at some point whether it’s now or a couple months or next year. Who knows? I just know if my play takes care of itself, then good things will happen.”

The former second-overall pick has been productive during his two seasons in the league, compiling 48 goals and 65 assists in 142 games.

Let’s take a look at more notes from around the NHL…

  • Defenseman Cody Franson signed a professional tryout contract with the Blackhawks earlier this evening, and Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun Times believes the move could give the squad “a much-needed boost on the back end of their back end.” The 30-year-old compiled three goals and 16 assists in 68 games for the Sabres last season, and the writer believes the veteran will be a welcome addition to a team that is “desperate for help on the blue line.” Ultimately, Franson is expected to compete with Jan Rutta, Ville Pokka and Erik Gustafsson for a spot on the team’s third line.
  • Veteran defenseman Dan Girardi signed a two-year, $6MM deal with the Lightning earlier this offseason, and the 33-year-old told Joe Smith of TampaBay.com that general manager Steve Yzerman was a big reason why he chose to sign with the organization. “I came here because ’Stevie Y’ called me personally and said, ’We want you here,'” Girardi said. “I felt that meant a lot to me as a guy who pretty much played his heart out for 11 years in New York, got bought out. You don’t know what’s happening and you get a guy like Steve Yzerman call you personally. It’s like, ’Okay, that’s where I know I need to be.'” Girardi had played the past 11 seasons with the Rangers, and he finished the 2016 campaign with four goals and 11 assists.
  • Alex Nylander is trying to build off his four-game cameo from last season, and the Sabres prospect appeared to be “bigger and more confident” as he prepared for the upcoming Prospect Challenge. As John Vogl of the Buffalo News writes, a solid performance during the rookie tourney could lead to the former first-rounder earning a spot on the team’s NHL roster. “You’ve got to have a good impression on them,” Nylander said. “You’ve got to be working hard and showing what you can do on the ice. It’s like a new start, so it feels really good coming into this year.”

 

Evening Notes: Johnson, Markstrom, Green

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You would think that after signing a new seven-year, $35MM deal, that could cause some complacency for a hockey player. However, not for Tampa Bay Lightning’s Tyler Johnson. The 27-year-old wing is coming off a solid season in which he scored 19 goals and added 26 assists. But after signing a new deal this offseason, Johnson has dedicated himself to a better offseason regimen and plans to be ready for an even better season next year.

According to Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times, Johnson has changed everything from the way he eats to how he works out. He switched to a Keto diet, which is a high-fat, low carb regimen, such as more fish, meat and vegetables and less bread and pasta. In the gym, he is focused on strength training, which he hasn’t been able to do since he has broken his wrist twice over the past three years. Johnson hopes that both his training and eating adjustments should help him stay healthier this year after missing 13 games in 2015-16 and then another 16 last year.

He also hopes to take his game up a notch and help his team return to the playoffs, which is the first time he’s ever not been in the playoffs, including AHL and junior days. “Something I’d rather not do again,” added Johnson.

  • According to Ed Willes of The Province, Vancouver Canucks President of Hockey Operations Trevor Linden has high expectations for  Jacob Markstrom, who is ready to take over starting goaltending duties this year. The 27-year-old was a highly touted second-round pick by the Florida Panthers back in 2008 and shown some promise as a backup over the past two years. He played in 25 games last year as the backup to Ryan Miller and finished with a 2.63 GAA and a .910 save percentage. The Canucks also signed the Buffalo Sabres’ Anders Nilsson to a two-year deal this offseason, who could also cut into Markstrom’s playing time if he starts slowly. Nilsson, also 27, had similar numbers to Markstrom. In 26 games, Nilsson finished with a 2.67 GAA, but did have a stronger save percentage at .923.
  • In the same piece, Linden tells Willes that he believes that considering that a significant number of their players are under 25, they have the right coach in Travis Green. He emphasizes the franchise’s focus is on the youth and they believe Green is the perfect coach to complement those players. “Outside of wins and losses, that’s going to be the key. We have to understand we’re in a transitional period,” added Linden.

Danis Zaripov Has Two NHL Offers

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We heard yesterday that Danis Zaripov—the 36-year old Russian winger under a two-year KHL suspension for doping—had interest in the Tampa Bay Lightning, and now Darren Dreger of TSN gives us even more information. Zaripov is believed to have two NHL offers in hand already, and is waiting for two more before deciding where he’ll make his North American professional debut. Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times confirms that the Lightning are not one of those offers, even though they are one of a few “preferred landing spots” for Zaripov.

Zaripov represents a late-summer wildcard, as an unexpected free agent entering the market. His upside is that of a proven playoff performer who can chip in offense at a pretty consistent rate, but it is curious that he could sign before proven NHL scorers like Thomas Vanek and Jaromir Jagr. Zaripov spent one season in North America back in 1998 when he played for the Swift Current Broncos of the WHL, but was before his time as a slightly undersized forward.

That type of player is much more welcome in today’s NHL, and there is definitely interest in bringing him aboard. Outside of the Lightning, the Rangers have been tenuously linked and Evgeni Malkin has thrown his support behind bringing him into the Penguins’ locker room. He’ll likely be brought in on a one-year deal in order to use performance bonuses to mitigate risk.

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