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Blake Pietila, Daniel Walcott Clear Waivers

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Saturday: Pietila has cleared waivers, reports NHL.com’s Mike Morreale (Twitter link).  He will remain with the Devils, at least for the time being.  Meanwhile, Walcott is listed as being assigned to Syracuse (AHL) per the AHL’s Transactions Page which means he has also passed through unclaimed.

Friday: You don’t often see waivers at this time of the year, but today two players have been designated. According to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports, Blake Pietila of the New Jersey Devils and Daniel Walcott of the Tampa Bay Lightning have both been placed on waivers. Walcott has not played at all this season as he dealt with a major shoulder injury, while Pietila could now join the Binghamton Devils.

It’s actually great news for Walcott, who is likely healthy enough to contribute for the Syracuse Crunch. The 25-year old defenseman has played the last three seasons with the team and will be joining them as they battle for first place in the entire AHL. He has spent the entire year so far on season-opening injured reserve, and would have required waivers to go down at any time.

For Pietila though this comes after 19 mostly uneventful games with the Devils. The 26-year old forward has just a single point with the team this year and now just four total through his 38-game NHL career. Despite scoring at the college and AHL level, Pietila doesn’t seem to have what it takes to produce in the NHL. He will however help Binghamton if sent there, though they are well out of the playoff race this season.

Lightning’s Yanni Gourde Suspended Two Games

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The NHL Department of Player Safety is on a run. After assigning Ottawa Senators forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau a one-game suspension yesterday, they have stayed in the Atlantic Division with a punishment for Tampa Bay Lightning forward Yanni Gourde. Player Safety has determined that Gourde’s illegal check to the head of the Carolina Hurricanes’ Jordan Staal is worthy of a two-game suspension.

The ban is almost more of a three-game suspension, as Gourde was tossed from Thursday night’s game after the first period altercation due to a match penalty. This is Gourde’s first incidence of supplemental discipline, having never been previously suspended or fined, but he has already set a career-high in penalty minutes this season and his often overly-aggressive style and the clear intent of the hit were enough to levy a substantial suspension. Player Safety explained as much (video):

With one hand on his stick, Staal holds off (Ryan) Callahan and moves the puck to a teammates. As he does so, Gourde cuts across the front of Staal and delivers a forceful hit that picks Staal’s head, making it the main point of contact. On a play where such head contact was avoidable, this is an illegal check to the head. It is important to note that the head is the main point of contact on this play, as Gourde’s shoulder makes clear and forceful contact with Staal’s head. While we acknowledge Gourde’s argument that Staal was bent low and stumbling as he plays the puck, this hit does not meet any of the criteria for unavoidable head contact… Based on their relative positions on the ice, Gourde has angles of approach available to him that do not require hitting through Staal’s head. In addition, Staal’s head does not materially change position just prior to contact to cause it to become the main point of contact for a hit that otherwise would have been legal… Even before Staal stumbles, Gourde takes an angle that cuts in front of Staal’s core, picks Staal’s head, and makes it the main point of contact.

Gourde clearly used his hearing with Player Safety this morning to argue that the hit to the head would not have occurred if Staal – at 6’4″ – was not stumbling forward while Gourde – at 5’9″ – was trying to make the check. Player Safety throws out this explanation, stating that Gourde’s trajectory was always one with intent to hit a defenseless Staal in the head area. Fortunately, Staal was able to return to the game. The Hurricanes star has a history of concussions and an injury absence may have landed Gourde with a longer suspension. Instead, he will miss the next to games for the Lightning, who have little to play for having already locked up the President’s Trophy.

Yanni Gourde To Face Hearing With Department Of Player Safety

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The Tampa Bay Lightning may lose one of their talented forwards for at least a game, as Yanni Gourde is scheduled to have a hearing with the Department of Player Safety today. Gourde made clear head contact with Carolina Hurricanes forward Jordan Staal last night, and received a match penalty for it. Staal returned to the game.

Gourde was guaranteed a hearing with the league as a match penalty carries with it an indefinite automatic suspension, and it’s easy to see why he was assessed the penalty. Though there may be some leniency given due to the fact that Staal was being hauled down from behind and may have not been in the position Gourde expected, but there is clear, hard contact with his head and not really any other part of his body.

The diminutive Gourde is known for his offense but is also more than willing to engage physically, and has recorded 81 hits in 75 games this season. He has never been suspended in his short career however, which also may keep his penalty down. Regardless, the Lightning almost have nothing to play for down the stretch as they have already locked up the Presidents Trophy and will be the first seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Losing Gourde for a few games will only affect his pocketbook and future disciplinary action.

Tampa Bay Lightning Sign Ryan Lohin

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The run on college prospects continues, as the Tampa Bay Lightning have signed Ryan Lohin to a two-year entry-level contract. Lohin recently finished his junior season at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, but will skip his senior year in order to turn pro. Lohin’s deal will kick in next season and he will report to the Syracuse Crunch on an amateur tryout for the rest of this year.

Originally selected in the seventh round of the 2016 draft, Lohin had quite the college career. Breaking onto the scene with 29 points in his freshman year and being a big part of a Hockey East title, the American-born center followed that up with two more solid offensive seasons. He was named captain prior to the 2018-19 season, and led the team in scoring with 27 points.

The fact that a seventh-round pick has earned an NHL contract is another testament to the Lightning scouting staff, who have repeatedly turned late selections into assets for the organization. Even if Lohin never suits up at the highest level—something that is far from determined given his work ethic and development over the past few seasons—the 22-year old will have a home with the Crunch where he can continue to provide his solid two-way hockey.

NHL Announces Global Series Dates For 2019-20

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The NHL will be heading overseas again next season, bringing the top league in the world to fans all across Europe. Four teams will be included in the 2019 Global Series, as the Philadelphia Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks, Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres will all participate in regular season games in another country. The full series is as follows:

September 29, 2019 – Berlin, Germany

Chicago Blackhawks vs Eisbaren Berlin (exhibition)

September 30, 2019 – Lausanne, Switzerland

Philadelphia Flyers vs Lausanne HC (exhibition)

October 4, 2019 – Prague, Czech Republic

Chicago Blackhawks vs Philadelphia Flyers

November 8-9, 2019 – Stockholm, Sweden

Buffalo Sabres vs Tampa Bay Lightning

The games in Sweden will be special for several players on the Sabres and Lightning, including standout defensemen Victor Hedman and Rasmus Dahlin. The two squads will go head to head in a pair of games, and Dahlin spoke with Mike Zeisberger of NHL.com about his excitement:

Now it’s going to happen, and it’s unreal. It’s awesome. I mean, I’ve been on the same ice surface as [Hedman], but to be able to do it at home in front of friends and family, it’s unbelievable.

I can’t believe it’s actually going to happen.

The league also has details on the outdoor games for next season that had already been announced, including the 2020 Winter Classic between the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars.

Dan Girardi Out Indefinitely With Lower-Body Injury

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It seemed as though Dan Girardi was close to a return for the Tampa Bay Lighting, but any excitement should be tempered for now. The team today announced that Girardi will be out “indefinitely” with a lower-body injury. The 34-year old defenseman hasn’t played since March 7th, and Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times was told by head coach John Cooper on Monday that Girardi hadn’t suffered a setback. Still, it seems as though the Lightning will have to look elsewhere for the time being.

The Lightning certainly haven’t missed a beat with Girardi out of the lineup, winning their last five games to extend their lead and secure the Presidents Trophy. Still, he has been a valuable option for the team this season and his absence will only thin out their depth on the blue line. With the NHL playoff grind just around the corner, losing an experienced right-shot defenseman is never an ideal situation.

Experienced is certainly one way to describe Girardi, who has suited up for 139 playoff games during his long career, including 17 last season with the Lightning. While he has just 36 points in those games, he has averaged nearly 23 minutes of ice time including some incredible totals as a younger player in New York. The team will now have to rely even more heavily on Ryan McDonagh and Erik Cernak while short handed, especially until Stralman returns. Jan Rutta meanwhile will get an extended opportunity to show he can be a full-time contributor.

Minor Transactions: 03/19/19

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If there were a list of the most important nights on the NHL schedule, this evening may rank pretty high. With ten games on tap there are key matchups all across the league, including a massive battle between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Carolina Hurricanes. Both teams are playing well and have actually started to chase down the top teams in the Metropolitan Division, coming into tonight’s action just three and six points behind the New York Islanders respectively. As teams prepare for all the big showdowns tonight, we’ll be here keeping track of all the minor moves.

  • The Tampa Bay Lightning have sent Cameron Gaunce back to the minor leagues after serving as insurance last night. With Dan Girardi and Anton Stralman continuing their recovery, the team needed an extra defenseman just in case. Gaunce will return to the AHL where he has had an outstanding season and wait for his next opportunity at the NHL level.
  • Justin Bailey has been recalled by the Philadelphia Flyers once again, a normal occurrence lately for the young forward. Bailey has played seven games for the Flyers since being acquired earlier this season, but is still looking for his first point in the black and orange.

Minor Transactions: 03/18/19

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With ten games left in the regular season for most teams in the NHL, every match is incredibly important for those looking for a playoff spot. The schedule has just four games for tonight, but there are still some key matchups. The Arizona Coyotes try to keep their season alive against the league’s top team, while the Vegas Golden Knights and San Jose Sharks face off in a potential first round preview. As teams prepare for the action, we’ll be here keeping track of all the minor moves.

  • Cameron Gaunce has been recalled by the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are currently still without Dan Girardi and Anton Stralman. Gaunce likely won’t get into the lineup tonight—instead serving as insurance—but is certainly having a strong enough season to warrant an NHL stint. The 28-year old defenseman has 42 points in 56 games for the Syracuse Crunch, easily a career high.
  • The Boston Bruins have recalled Connor Clifton and Paul Carey from the AHL under emergency conditions, and had them both on the ice today at practice. Clifton was skating with Steven Kampfer on the third pairing, while Carey was working as an extra forward. The Bruins take on the New York Islanders tomorrow night in a matchup of potential Eastern Conference playoff teams, and are working to get healthy again before the postseason begins.
  • The Calgary Flames have recalled Curtis Lazar from Stockton, bringing up the former top prospect after a strong season in the AHL. Lazar has 37 points in 49 games for the Heat this season but has failed to get into a single NHL game.
  • Lukas Radil and Jacob Middleton are on their way back to the San Jose Sharks, back up after just a few days in the AHL. The pair were sent down on Friday to stay fresh but will be back up to help the team as they prepare for the Golden Knights tonight.
  • Speaking of quick turnarounds, Justin Bailey is on his way back to the minor leagues. The Philadelphia Flyers forward has been involved in almost daily transactions all month, bouncing back and forth between the NHL and AHL.

Quotable: Stamkos, Lehner, Tavares

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It’s not hard to find a critic of the NHL’s current playoff format, but it refreshing to hear criticism come from a player, particularly one of the game’s biggest names. Asked by the media the other night how he felt about the current format and it’s effect on the Tampa Bay Lightning, Steven Stamkos has this to say (video courtesy of TSN):

It is what it is. It’s been that way for a while now… I understand where they’re coming from from a marketing perspective, wanting to get some rivalries early on, but from a perspective of what you’re grinding 82 games for during a season is to finish as high as you can so you can have that advantage come playoffs. I don’t think that’s an advantage to Toronto or Boston to be what could be the top three teams in the whole league from one division and then have to play that team in the first round. I don’t think that’s right…. It is what it is, you can’t change it now, but I don’t think it’s the most fair in terms of why you play and the advantage you’re supposed to have come playoff time.

Stamkos very clearly demonstrates the core problem with current format which is, in an effort to improve divisional rivalries and boost TV ratings in the postseason, the league is devaluing the entire regular season. As Stamkos references, the Bruins and Maple Leafs are inching closer to locking in the second and third spots in the Atlantic Division and a guaranteed meeting in the first round, despite the fact that they are both top-five teams in the league standings. While he avoids seeming like he’s complaining by framing the argument through Toronto and Boston, Stamkos also knows that the format is a detriment to Tampa Bay, who are awarded with a first-round win this year by likely having to play the next-best team in the conference in the second round. Similarly, the current format will prevent the San Jose Sharks and Calgary Flames, both top-three teams in the league, from meeting in the Western Conference final, as they will be forced to play in the second round per the current divisional emphasis. A strong performance in the regular season should offer more of an advantage to teams in the postseason, Stamkos states. For exmaple, by the old 1-8 playoff format, the Bruins and Maple Leafs could not meet until the second round and neither could play the Lighting until the conference final, while the Sharks and Flames also could not play until the conference final. The NHL has not expressed any desire to change this current format, but with a star of Stamkos’ caliber speaking out with a very logical argument, perhaps they will begin to look at changes.

  • New York Islanders goaltender Robin Lehner is back from injury and ready to put an end to skaters crashing the net and running over goalies, as Ottawa’s Brady Tkachuk did to him earlier this month. Lehner told Brett Cygralis of the New York Post that he won’t be a victim again. Instead, he’s advocating that goalies do a better job of defending themselves, perhaps with some leniency from the referees, to teach skaters that there are consequences for these dangerous plays:

Got to be honest, everyone always does it on purpose… Plays like that, all of sudden, you tear a knee and [your] career is over. They’re the ones that do it. It’s still part of the game. Maybe I need to brace myself more for next time. Next time someone comes in, I’ll protect myself and we’ll see if they do it again. I think it’s a joke… You look around at all the different hits and all the different stuff, it’s so inconsistent… I don’t think they really know what they’re doing. This is a problem around the league that a lot of goalies get run into like that. I cannot complain about it, but maybe all the goalies should start protecting ourselves with our blockers and our sticks, and they shouldn’t call anything about that if we do it.

  • Toronto Maple Leafs star John Tavares has a problem with a lack of calls in net too, but different from Lehner’s. Tavares is sick of non-calls for the goal being intentionally knocked off it’s moorings. The Maple Leafs went down 5-0 to the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night, but mounted an impressive comeback to come within a goal of tying the game. However, in the waning seconds of the game with goalie pulled and possession in the Chicago zone, the net came loose and play was stopped and Tavares at least suspects Blackhawks goaltender Collin Delia of doing it on purpose. Tavares told the media after the game, including TSN’s Kristen Shilton, that there should be more to it than just a whistle and a face-off:

If that’s on purpose by them, especially in the last couple minutes in big situations, I would love to see that be a challenge at some point. When we get that kind of pressure, that’s kind of a free out if that’s what happened. I didn’t really see it, but…”

 

Zuccarello, Point Will Wait Until Season’s End To Negotiate Next Contracts

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The Dallas Stars went out and acquired Mats Zuccarello at the deadline in order to give them some extra secondary scoring, but lost him almost immediately to a broken arm. While he should be back in time to contribute during the playoffs (should Dallas get there), the former New York Rangers forward isn’t using the time off to negotiate his next contract. In fact, Stars GM Jim Nill told Matthew DeFranks of Dallas Morning News that the team will wait until the season is over to discuss any contract extension with Zuccarello.

Nill of course has more to consider than just salary structure and cap hit when it comes to Zuccarello’s next contract. If the Stars decide to re-sign the diminutive forward, they would sacrifice a 2020 first-round pick instead of the third-round selection they sent to the Rangers as part of the package to acquire him at the deadline. Without seeing his impact on the team over a longer term it’s hard to say whether that would be worth it.

In Tampa Bay they are facing a similar situation with young star Brayden Point. Unlike Zuccarello who is set for unrestricted free agency, Point is still controlled as a restricted free agent but will be looking for a huge contract after proving himself to be such an important piece of the Lightning puzzle this season. To that end, Point—who turned 23 today—has told Lightning GM Julien BriseBois that he doesn’t want to negotiate until the end of the year, according to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic (subscription required). That affords Point another chance to prove he is worth as much as any of his RFA contemporaries, especially if he helps lead the Lightning to a Stanley Cup this season.

In 68 games this season the Tampa Bay forward has amassed 83 points while being one of the most consistent defensive players in the entire league. He leads the Lightning in goals with 37 and would have a case for team MVP if it weren’t for the existence of Nikita Kucherov. A third-round pick in 2014, Point has consistently improved every year and looks like he will be a superstar for a long time in the NHL. It will be interesting to see if he wants to be paid like it right away, or is willing to take a bridge deal like Kucherov did in 2016.

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