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Anaheim Ducks Trade Mitch Hults

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The Anaheim Ducks were getting close to the 50-contract limit after signing Jake Dotchin recently, so have decided to send Mitch Hults to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for future considerations. Hults was playing with the San Diego Gulls of the AHL, and will now immediately report to the Syracuse Crunch.

One has to wonder if this trade has even more to do with the Dotchin situation, given that it was the Lightning who terminated his contract in training camp after he showed up overweight, but regardless Tampa Bay will add another prospect to their system. Hults doesn’t bring a ton of offensive upside to the table despite his strong numbers in the NCAA, and instead will add some size to the Crunch and give them a little more depth up front. As a rookie last year he did score 24 points in 53 games, but at this point it doesn’t look like he has a real NHL future.

Hults will turn 24 next month and went undrafted out of the USHL, though there was certainly interest in him coming out of college. Perhaps the Lightning’s development team can turn him into a worthwhile bottom-six player, but the first thing they’ll do is get him playing for the AHL squad. He becomes the 49th player under contract for the Lightning, meaning they’re closing in on handcuffing themselves when it comes to any college free agents this year. Though they still do have one spot, we may see them move another contract out at some point to free up room for waiver claims or free agent signings.

Cory Conacher, Phillip Di Giuseppe Placed On Waivers

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Thursday: Both Conacher and Di Giueseppe have cleared, but only the former will be sent down right away. The Hurricanes have decided to keep Di Giuseppe for now, likely because of their recent demotions of both Martin Necas and Haydn Fleury.

Wednesday: Another day, another set of waivers for the NHL. The Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes have placed Cory Conacher and Phillip Di Giuseppe on waivers respectively, after Jacob de La Rose was claimed by the Detroit Red Wings. Conacher and Di Giuseppe have both suited up already this season, but will likely be assigned to the minor leagues should they clear.

Conacher, 28, has bounced around the league several times but keeps landing in the Tampa Bay organization. A veteran of 189 games split between the Lightning, Senators, Sabres and Islanders, he played in 36 last season with the Lightning and recorded 12 points. A proficient minor league scorer, capable of producing at nearly a point-per-game pace, he unfortunately hasn’t been able to find the same success at the NHL level. Still, for any team looking for an energy player for their bottom-six, you could do worse than adding Conacher on waivers. He’s on the final year of his current deal, which is currently two-way and pays him just $650K at the NHL level.

Di Giuseppe is a different story entirely, given his status as a former top prospect. The 38th overall pick from the 2012 draft, Di Giuseppe has remained in the Carolina organization for several years but never found a ton of success at the NHL level. He did play in 49 games last season with the Hurricanes, but recorded just 13 games and couldn’t break into their top six despite some inconsistent performances from the players ahead of him. Still just 25, any claiming team would likely be doing so for his ability to play in various different spots than any hopes on him becoming a prolific scoring threat.

Anaheim Ducks Sign Jake Dotchin

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Thursday: Dotchin has cleared waivers, officially signed with the Ducks and been assigned to the San Diego Gulls. He’ll play there until his conditioning is back to where it needs to be, at which point the Ducks will make a decision on whether he can help the NHL squad.

Wednesday: While the waiver wire today included two names already playing in the NHL, there was also another name that Tampa Bay Lightning fans will be familiar with. According to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, Jake Dotchin was placed on waivers by the Anaheim Ducks. That’s the process required at this point in the season if the team has signed him to an NHL contract. Dotchin saw his previous deal terminated earlier this summer when he showed up to Lightning camp out of shape, but has been working hard to try and land a deal elsewhere around the league. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports that it is a one-year deal, while LeBrun tweets it will be worth $800K.

Dotchin, 24, was an up-and-coming defenseman for the Lightning not long ago, partnered at times with Victor Hedman and valued for his physical style. In 35 games at the end of the 2016-17 season, Dotchin had impressed nearly everyone around the league and looked like a key part of the Tampa Bay core moving forward. Unfortunately that quickly turned, and the right-handed defenseman saw his role quickly diminish. When training camp came around this year, he apparently showed up very out of shape and saw his contract terminated for a “material breach.” That termination didn’t come without backlash though, and Dotchin has filed a grievance through the NHLPA and will still attempt to receive compensation for the slight difference between this contract and the one that Tampa Bay terminated.

For the Ducks, adding Dotchin is a low-risk option that could potentially bring quite positive results. It’s not as though he’s completely lost his talent, and if he can get back into (and stay in) shape quickly he could be a low cost option for their third pairing. At the very worst he’s an option for next season, as Dotchin will still be a restricted free agent next summer with arbitration rights. The Ducks now control his rights, and will be able to decide whether he’s worth a qualifying offer a few months down the line.

Minor Transactions: 10/18/18

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Another big night in the NHL with nine games on the schedule including Sidney Crosby facing the high-flying Toronto Maple Leafs, and a Metropolitan clash between the Philadelphia Flyers and Columbus Blue Jackets. We’ll keep track of all the last minute moves right here as teams prepare for the night’s action:

  • Danick Martel has been sent to the AHL on a conditioning stint by the Tampa Bay Lightning, after being claimed off waivers during training camp. Martel played four games for the Philadelphia Flyers last season but will try to carve out an even bigger role in the Tampa Bay organization. A minor league offensive weapon, the undrafted Martel is looking to follow the path set by Yanni Gourde for the Lightning and go from undersized QMJHL scoring phenom to contributing NHL winger.
  • The Anaheim Ducks announced that they have assigned center Chase De Leo back to San Diego of the AHL.  He was recalled back on Tuesday and did not get into a game with the big club.  In four games with the Gulls in the minors, he has a goal and three assists.
  • With Jonathan Quick set to return from injured reserve, the Los Angeles Kings have returned veteran goaltender Peter Budaj to Ontario of the AHL.  He got into Saturday’s loss against Ottawa, allowing one goal on eleven shots in half of the game.
  • After clearing waivers earlier in the week, the Vancouver Canucks have now assigned defenseman Alex Biega to Utica (AHL), via the AHL’s Transactions Page.  Biega hasn’t spent much time in the minors lately, suiting up in just one game for the Comets since 2015-16.  However, he’ll at least get some playing time, something that wouldn’t have been the case had he stayed in Vancouver.
  • The New York Rangers have swapped backup goaltenders, loaning Alexandar Georgiev to AHL Hartford while recalling Marek Mazanec.  Georgiev is just 22 and has only played once this season which isn’t ideal for a young prospect.  He’ll get some extra playing time in with the Wolf Pack while Mazanec is no stranger to being a backup in the NHL having spent parts of three seasons in that role with Nashville.

Tampa Bay Lightning Extend Cory Conacher

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In a very odd twist, the Tampa Bay Lightning have signed Cory Conacher to a one-year, one-way contract extension for 2019-20 worth $700K. The Lightning placed Conacher on waivers earlier today, and this actually may be their way of protecting him from being claimed by another team. Any team that wanted the veteran forward would need to take him with the extension in tow, something that may dissuade some from putting in a claim.

Conacher was first given a chance by the Lightning after being overlooked in the draft and during a solid college career. After bouncing around in the minor leagues he earned an entry-level deal in 2012 and ended up scoring 24 points in 35 games for the Lightning before being part of the trade that brought Ben Bishop to Tampa Bay. After more stops in Ottawa, Buffalo, New York and Switzerland, Conacher found his way back to the Lightning organization in 2016. In 36 games last season he scored 12 points, and was a valuable call-up that could fit into several different roles.

It’s hard to see a team claim him off waivers now that there is an extra year attached, though he still could provide some depth to various organizations around the league. If not, he’ll head to Syracuse where he will likely be the first call-up if Tampa Bay gets into injury trouble.

Calgary Flames Hesitant To Move Sam Bennett Despite Interest

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Through four games this season, young Calgary Flames forward Sam Bennett has just one point. He has yet to score a goal and has taken just six shots. He is seeing just over ten minutes of ice time per game, down more than four minutes from his career average. Bennett is currently on pace for just over 20 points on the year. It seems like a disappointing start and perhaps just an aberration for the 2014 fourth overall pick. In reality, it is par for the course for the 22-year-old forward. Since his strong 36-point rookie campaign in 2015-16, Bennett has failed to improve his production and has seen less and less ice time. This is simply a continuation of the trend.

To say that Bennett has failed to live up to the expectations of his lofty draft position would be to understate the issue. Drafted ahead of the likes of William Nylander, Nikolaj Ehlers, Dylan Larkin, and David Pastrnak in 2014, the Flames certainly expected far more out of Bennett thus far. His overall production is decreasing, he has never cracked 20 goals or 20 assists in a season, and a center when drafted now plays almost exclusively on the wing. Bennett has simply not at all been what the Flames thought they were getting at fourth overall. Meanwhile, the team is without a playoff win in the three years since Bennett became a regular and patience is running out in Calgary. Bennett has shown flashes of immense ability, but has lacked consistency and, more than anything, has been a poor fit in the Flames’ system. With the hire of new head coach Bill Peters, many expected a turnaround from Bennett this year, but it has been far from it so far. It would seem that Bennett’s time in Calgary is almost up, right?

Wrong, in fact. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman led off his latest edition of “31 Thoughts” by acknowledging the trade interest in Bennett, but doubting that GM Brad Treliving and the Flames were ready to move on. Calgary is wary of trading Bennett while his value is at its lowest to a team seeking to buy low on the talented forward and finally find a way to get the most out of his ability. Friedman expanded on his comments with Sportsnet Radio 960 in Calgary, stating that the Flames appear to be obsessed with avoiding the mistake that provincial rivals the Edmonton Oilers made in trading away Taylor Hall at well below his true value. Hall was also struggling to meet the expectations of his draft slot, first overall in 2010, and it was compounded by the team’s struggles as well. Hall was traded to the New Jersey Devils for Adam Larsson and is now the reigning Hart Trophy winner and a top ten forward in the league. The Flames could certainly use a Larsson-caliber piece in their pursuit of a playoff berth this season, but not at the cost of losing a player that they still believe has untapped potential.

That is not to say that the team hasn’t considered offers, though. Friedman states that, while no deal was ever close, Calgary went “far down the road” in trade talks with several teams. Friedman specifically names the Anaheim Ducks, Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, and Tampa Bay Lightning as teams that he knows have had interest in Bennett before and, especially in the case of Anaheim and Montreal, likely continue to. The fact that Bennett is perceived as being available via trade would seem to indicate that the Flames continue to field offers for the young forward, even if they aren’t actively selling. While Friedman doesn’t see it happening, Bennett’s play so far this year is trending towards 2018-19 being a new career low. With a year remaining on his contract beyond this season, giving a new team the time to attempt to turn his development around, a poor season for Bennett could see Calgary finally give up on their once-top prospect. It’s fair to want to avoid giving up on potential, particularly for a disappointing return, but a point is fast approaching when Bennett can no longer be seriously compared to a player like Hall.

Snapshots: Edler, Montreal, Kesler

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The Vancouver Canucks have had an interesting start to the year, with impressive performances from rookie Elias Pettersson but bad losses at the hands of the Calgary Flames and Carolina Hurricanes. The team has allowed 14 goals in three games, and is busy shaking up their blue line to try to find answers. One player that won’t be taken out of the lineup because of his play is Alexander Edler, but there might be a break-up coming down the line anyway. Edler is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end, but has made it clear he wants to spend the rest of his career in Vancouver.

Still, as Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet points out in his latest 31 Thoughts column, Edler would be an attractive rental piece at the trade deadline for a contender. The 32-year old defenseman is averaging more than 25 minutes of ice time through the first three games and is coming off his most effective offensive season in some time. Friedman notes that the Tampa Bay Lightning has shown interest in the left-hander before, and that “someone” will again even if he’s determined to return to the Canucks in 2019-20.

  • The Montreal Canadiens will face a tough decision in the coming days, as Eric Engels of Sportsnet writes that the team will likely put either Jacob de La Rose or Nikita Scherbak on waivers once the former is back to full health. Both high draft selections, neither player has really found much consistency in the NHL and even their youth can’t get them into the current lineup. Engels believes that both would be prime targets for a waiver claim, given that they still hold some substantial potential. There are obviously other ways out of the roster crunch, but if it does come down to a waiver placement and attempted minor league assignment, the Canadiens could find themselves losing some of their forward depth for nothing in the coming days.
  • Ryan Kesler was on the ice at the Anaheim Ducks morning skate, and even took line rushes between Andrew Cogliano and Kiefer Sherwood according to Josh Cooper of The Athletic. The veteran forward was not expected to return so soon, and head coach Randy Carlyle wouldn’t even confirm that he’ll be in the lineup tonight against the Arizona Coyotes. If he is back to health it’s at the perfect time as the Ducks are without Ryan Getzlaf and are struggling to find much offense up front. An expected Stanley Cup contender, the Ducks have been ravaged by injuries early and could use some good news on that front.

Cedric Paquette Was Unable To Participate In Full Practice

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  • Tampa Bay center Cedric Paquette was only able to participate in part of practice today. He left Saturday’s game early after having his glove stepped on but head coach Jon Cooper indicated to reporters, including Bryan Burns of the Lightning’s team website (Twitter link), that his injury isn’t too serious.  The team is off until Thursday so there’s a chance that the 25-year-old may be back in the lineup without even missing a game.

Atlantic Notes: Cooper, Nylander, Kotkaniemi, Kronwall, O’Brien

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Despite the fact that Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper is in the final year of his contract, often a bad sign if a team hasn’t extended him, that isn’t the case here. Cooper and new general manager Julien BriseBois have a long history together as BriseBois was the one who originally hired Cooper back in 2010 as the head coach of their AHL franchise when BriseBois was the assistant general manager.

The Athletic’s Joe Smith (subscription required) documents their long history together and writes that even though negotiations haven’t started, BriseBois and Cooper aren’t worried about it at all, considering the trust and bond the two share together.

“I don’t see anyone else I’d want to work with right now,” BriseBois said, who hoisted a Calder Cup trophy with Cooper seven years ago. “The people who were there with you, you never forget that.”

  • Damien Cox of The Star writes that while the Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t done anything wrong when it comes to the contract situation with holdout William Nylander, the team does need to think about how it intends to manage their next two major contract discussions when they must tangle with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. While Nylander is rumored to be asking for $8MM plus in his next deal, both Matthews and Marner could ask for quite a bit more. With the team’s significant cap issues in front of them, the scribe writes the team would be well advised to avoid a similar situation next season by trying to lock those two youngsters up during the season.
  • Montreal Canadiens’ centers have already begun training their newest addition in Jesperi Kotkaniemi by working separately after practice with him on faceoffs on Friday. According to The Athletic’s Marc Antoine Godin (subscription required), Tomas Plekanec, Mathew Peca, Andrew Shaw and Phillip Danault got together and helped teach the 18-year-old some tips and tricks on taking faceoffs with the hopes that the youngster improves his game as quickly as possible.
  • The Detroit Red Wings will be without Niklas Kronwall and Jonathan Ericsson for their two-game road-trip, according to the Detroit Free Press’ Helene St. James. Both defensemen have been on injured reserve and still are not ready to return to action.
  • While not on the Ottawa Senators NHL roster, Matt Tidcombe of the Belleville Senators website reports that team lost forward Jim O’Brien for four to six months after the 29-year-old forward underwent surgery on a severed tendon in his right leg in an AHL preseason game. O’Brien played 10 games for Ottawa last year.

Ryan Callahan Cleared For Contact

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  • Tampa Bay winger Ryan Callahan has been cleared for contact, notes Bryan Burns of the Lightning’s team site (Twitter link). However, the veteran indicated that this does not mean that his timeline to return has been changed.  Callahan underwent shoulder surgery at the end of May that was expected to keep him out five-to-six months.  We’re still several weeks away from the earliest possible return based on that timeline so it appears they’re going to ere on the side of caution before putting him back in the lineup.  Considering he has missed 79 games due to injury over the past two years, that’s probably a good idea.

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