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Philippe Myers Loaned To Toronto Marlies

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When the Toronto Maple Leafs traded Alex Biega to the Nashville Predators on deadline day, the return was listed as future considerations. It seems now that those considerations may have revolved around Philippe Myers, the big defenseman who cleared waivers over the weekend.

Myers has been loaned from the Nashville Predators to the Toronto Marlies of the AHL, where he will apparently continue his season instead of joining the Milwaukee Admirals, the AHL affiliate of the Predators.

The 25-year-old Myers, who once looked like he would be a long-term pillar in the Philadelphia Flyers defense corps, was traded to the Predators as a major part of the deal that sent Ryan Ellis out of town. His time in Nashville hasn’t gone smoothly though, registering just four points in 27 games while seeing his playing time trend endlessly downward. While he led of his season with 21 minutes against the Seattle Kraken in October, Myers was averaging just over 12 minutes by the end of his run earlier this month. After clearing waivers, it is not clear where exactly his future lies.

With a back-loaded contract that carries a $2.55MM cap hit through next season, Myers actually is an interesting buyout candidate for the Predators. Because of his age, the team would only need to cover one-third of the remaining salary, and it would actually result in a $616,666 cap bonus in 2022-23, before a $633,334 penalty in 2023-24. That is to say, the Predators could clear his entire hit off the books for next season and even create a little bit extra room, if they were to, for instance, be trying to fit in an expensive extension for a goal-scoring winger.

At any rate, it’s unclear how long his stay in Toronto will be, but the Marlies have for now added a player that was once a dominant presence at the AHL level. In 2018-19, before he burst onto the NHL scene, the undrafted Myers had 33 points in 53 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms while being a physical defensive force in his own end.

Toronto Maple Leafs Sign Curtis Douglas

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One of the things Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas was asked about yesterday was whether he considered signing some of his standout AHL players to NHL contracts before the deadline, which would have made them eligible for the playoffs. While he explained that they needed to leave slots open for some college signings, the team has now worked out a future deal with one of those minor league players.

Curtis Douglas has signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Maple Leafs that will begin in the 2022-23 season. Douglas is currently playing for the Toronto Marlies on an AHL contract.

Standing 6’8″, the 22-year-old Douglas is an intriguing forward prospect. Originally selected by the Dallas Stars in the fourth round of the 2018 NHL Draft, he ended up an unrestricted free agent when the two sides failed to work out a contract. After spending part of last season playing for the Linz Steel Wings in Austria, he joined the Belleville Senators and played 11 games in the AHL.

This season, with the Marlies, he has eight goals and 27 points in 49 games, good enough to earn himself an entry-level deal. Douglas only turned 22 a few months ago and is still very raw, but at least is showing signs that he is starting to harness his size effectively.

Because it is a future deal, it does not take up one of the Maple Leafs’ remaining contract slots, which could potentially go to college standouts–and U.S. Olympians–Matthew Knies and Nick Abruzzese in the coming weeks.

Petr Mrazek, Four Others Clear Waivers

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March 21: Mrazek, Clifford, Turris, Jaros, and Nash cleared waivers today ahead of the Trade Deadline. Sateri, Richardson, and Pouliot were all claimed.

March 20: The Toronto Maple Leafs have been dealing with goaltending issues for the past while, and after Erik Kallgren was given the net for the last several games, it was unclear where Petr Mrazek fit into the future of the team. Today, the Maple Leafs have offered Mrazek to the rest of the league by placing him on waivers according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. He is one of three Maple Leafs on the list today, joined by Kyle Clifford and Harri Sateri, a free agent goaltender the Maple Leafs have signed from the KHL, who has to clear waivers before he comes back to North America.

Those aren’t the only players on waivers though. The full list is as follows:

Riley Nash (ARI)
Brad Richardson (CGY)
Kyle Turris (EDM)
Christian Jaros (NJD)
Kyle Clifford (TOR)
Petr Mrazek (TOR)
Harri Sateri (TOR)
Derrick Pouliot (VGK)

Sateri, 32, just won an Olympic gold medal with Finland and has been an excellent netminder in the KHL for the last three seasons, but certainly doesn’t have a very long track record of success in North America. Drafted 106th overall back in 2008 by the San Jose Sharks, he struggled in parts of four minor league seasons before going to Russia. A few years later he was back with the Florida Panthers, where he played in nine NHL games and posted a .911 save percentage. After another sub-par year in the minors he was back overseas.

His signing, which will consist of a one-year contract that carries a cap hit of $750K through the end of this season, could be seen as nothing more than organizational depth at the deadline. With Mrazek’s struggles and placement on waivers today though, along with a recent injury to Jack Campbell, the Maple Leafs crease is completely up for grabs, even for a player like Sateri that is coming in fresh from outside the organization. That is of course as long as he clears, something that is certainly not a guarantee given how inexpensive his contract is.

It’s Mrazek that is the big name, given the fact that he signed a three-year, $11.4MM contract with the Maple Leafs just last summer. With a $3.8MM cap hit through 2023-24, a loan to the minor leagues would only clear $1.125MM for Toronto ahead of the deadline. With how quickly he has fallen out of favor with the Maple Leafs, Mrazek seems a prime buyout candidate for this offseason, should the team be unable to trade his contract elsewhere in the coming months.

Among the rest of the names are some veterans who could be snatched for a playoff run, though none are difference-makers at this point in their respective careers. Notably, for a player to be eligible for the rest of the AHL season and playoffs, he has to be on the roster at tomorrow’s deadline. For these players to get to that threshold, they needed to be placed on waivers today, if there was any thought of stashing them in the AHL down the stretch.

Harri Sateri, Brad Richardson, Derrick Pouliot Claimed On Waivers

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Trade Deadline day doesn’t mean trades are the only player movement. Three players were claimed on waivers today, with goalie Harri Sateri heading to Toronto from Arizona, forward Brad Richardson going to Vancouver from Calgary, and defenseman Derrick Pouliot going to Seattle from Vegas.

Sateri is a fresh NHL arrival. The Maple Leafs signed him to a contract yesterday, immediately placing him on re-entry waivers. Sateri had a .926 save percentage in 38 games with the KHL’s Novosibirsk Sibir this season, helping them to a 14-16-5 record with him in the net.

Richardson was placed on waivers yesterday as he’s been pushed out of the NHL lineup with the acquisitions of Tyler Toffoli and Calle Jarnkrok in Calgary. He had two goals and four points in 27 Flames games this year, and he’ll get a chance to supplement Vancouver’s bottom-six forward group as Brandon Sutter remains out with long COVID symptoms.

Pouliot signed an NHL contract earlier in the week after Vegas’ blueline was continually struck with injuries. He got into two games, notching one assist before the team attempted to send him back to AHL Henderson. He’ll now get another NHL shot in Seattle as they continue to ship out players at the deadline.

Nashville Predators Acquire Alex Biega

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The Nashville Predators are adding a bit of defensive depth, as Darren Dreger of TSN reports that they have acquired Alex Biega from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Kevin Weekes of ESPN adds that the deal is for future considerations.

Biega, 33, has spent almost the entire season in the minor leagues, playing 31 games for the Toronto Marlies and just two for the Maple Leafs. A right-handed option with nearly 250 games of NHL experience, he shouldn’t be expected to hold a regular role in Nashville but does provide the kind of depth that many teams need during a playoff push.

Signed to a one-year, two-way contract with a cap hit of just $750K, the key here is that Biega has already cleared waivers and can be stashed in the minor leagues until needed.

For Toronto, the key is clearing out a contract slot ahead of today’s deadline. Before the deal they had already used 49 of 50 slots, meaning they would have been restricted if they wanted to make any more trades. Even with Rasmus Sandin dealing with an injury and Jake Muzzin still working his way back from a concussion, the Maple Leafs were very unlikely to use Biega at any point, making him completely expendable.

Toronto Maple Leafs Acquire Mark Giordano, Colin Blackwell

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4:20pm CT: The return for Giordano and Blackwell has been revealed. ESPN’s Kevin Weekes was first to report that the Maple Leafs are sending two second-round picks and a third-round pick to the Kraken for the duo. Seattle is also retaining 50% of Giordano’s $6.75MM cap hit. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun clarified that it is a 2022 second-rounder, 2023 second-rounder, and 2024 third-rounder, all Toronto’s own. Both teams have now confirmed the deal.

Given the market set by the Josh Manson, Ben Chiarot, and Hampus Lindholm trades, the relative affordability of this deal is impressive work by Toronto GM Kyle Dubas. Giordano and Blackwell may not be more than rentals for the Leafs, but fill important gaps in the lineup for a team desperate for a deep postseason run. Meanwhile, neither player was likely to re-sign with the Kraken, who now possess seven second-round picks and five third-round picks over the next three drafts.

3:39pm CT: Giordano will not be making the trek to Toronto alone. ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reports that forward Colin Blackwell is also headed to the Maple Leafs in the deal. The return is still unclear as Toronto works through the salary cap implications, but they will be adding a valuable two-way depth forward in Blackwell, checking off another box on their deadline wish list. Blackwell has 17 points in 39 games for Seattle this season, making the most of his time since returning from injury while still flying under the radar as an underrated acquisition for Toronto.

2:05pm CT: After clearing out some additional cap space (or at least starting the process) by waiving Petr Mrazek, the Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired one of the top rental options on the market. Mark Giordano is heading home, acquired by the Maple Leafs from the Seattle Kraken according to several reports including Ryan Leslie of Sportsnet. It is not yet clear what the Kraken will be receiving in return, though Darren Dreger of TSN tweets that multiple draft picks will be involved.

Giordano, 38, may not be the player who recorded 74 points and won the Norris Trophy in 2019, but he’s still a strong play-driving defenseman that can give the Maple Leafs a much-needed boost down the stretch. The fact that his partner during that Norris season was none other than T.J. Brodie only makes the deal that much better of a fit, even if he’s not the right-handed option that Toronto has been looking for for so long.

With Jake Muzzin out with his second concussion of the year and facing an uncertain recovery timeline, adding in a player like Giordano was an obvious move for the Maple Leafs. Still, given the high price of rentals this season and the tight cap situation that Toronto always finds itself in, acquiring a name this big was not always a guarantee.

Vancouver Canucks Acquire Travis Dermott

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In order for the Toronto Maple Leafs to figure out the salary cap gymnastics of their acquisition of Mark Giordano and Colin Blackwell, they have opened up some space and honored a trade request by sending young defenseman Travis Dermott to the Vancouver Canucks. TSN’s Darren Dreger was the first to report the deal, with colleague Pierre LeBrun adding that the return is a 2022 third-round pick, a pick originally belonging to the Winnipeg Jets. Both clubs have confirmed the deal.

After trading Travis Hamonic earlier today for a third-round pick, the Canucks essentially made a Travis-for-Travis swap after receiving and sending similar draft selections. However, it is difficult to call that anything but a win for Vancouver. Dermott, 25, is much younger and at this point in his career a more dynamic player than Hamonic and likely has his best days ahead of him. Yet, he also costs half as much at $1.5MM through next season compared to Hamonic’s $3MM, something highly valuable to the cap-strapped Canucks. Vancouver will also maintain control of Dermott after the 2022-23 season, as he will be a restricted free agent.

Dermott requested a trade out of Toronto seeking greater opportunity and he will find that in Vancouver. The Canucks’ defense corps is led by young Quinn Hughes and includes veterans Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Tyler Myers, but Dermott could wind up as the final piece of the top four. Tucker Poolman and Luke Schenn are both signed through at least next season while Jack Rathbone and others could make a push from the AHL, but this is less stiff competition than what Dermott faced with the Leafs. A player who flashed greater ability earlier in his career than he has in recent years, Dermott could find his way back to the player he was expected to be, which would make this an excellent deal for the Canucks.

Toronto Notes: Giordano, Robertson

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One of the biggest names remaining on the trade-bait list is Seattle Kraken defenseman Mark Giordano. A pending UFA and still producing at a high level, many teams have been calling Seattle about the 38-year-old. Still, the price on Giordano remains high, rumored to be at least a first-round pick. Although this price may be reasonable for Giordano, many teams have balked at the it, some perhaps not necessarily viewing it as unfair, but not a prudent decision for their organization. One such organization is the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have made it known that they do not want to trade a first-round pick or a top prospect for a true rental player.

The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun wondered if perhaps Seattle would be willing to take two second-round picks or a second-round pick and a prospect in lieu of a first-round pick (link). LeBrun speculates that if Seattle was willing to accept a package like this, then that may open the market up to Toronto and the St. Louis Blues, another organization who has made it known they do not want to trade a first-round pick. Another team that is in the mix for Giordano’s services is the New York Rangers, as Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman pointed out on Hockey Night in Canada yesterday evening. The Rangers, unlike Toronto or St. Louis, could be persuaded to trade a first-round pick, considering the young talent they have and the fact that they have not been without one in several years. While that does give the Rangers an advantage, Giordano, Seattle’s captain, has made it clear that if he is to be traded, he strongly prefers his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs.

  • The Maple Leafs announced that they have sent forward Nicholas Robertson to the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. The move does not necessarily mean that the Maple Leafs are planning, or not planning, to trade Robertson, and is more-likely-than-not a result of the Maple Leafs working around salary cap constraints to put themselves in the best position possible for the trade deadline. To date, Robertson has just one goal and zero assists in nine NHL games this season, but three goals and five assists in nine AHL games this season.
  • According to Carolina Hurricanes’ head coach Rod Brind’Amour, forward Jordan Martinook will be out of the lineup for a few weeks after being injured in Thursday’s game against the Maple Leafs (link). Carolina expects to have Martinook back this season, however Hurricanes’ alternate captain is a key figure and leader in the locker room, so his absence, even if temporary, could prove costly to the team.

Maple Leafs Could Be Interested In Justin Braun

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  • Friedman also discussed the Toronto Maple Leafs’ trade deadline plans at length on Hockey Night in Canada. He reiterated Toronto’s strong desire not to move a first-round pick or any top prospects for strictly a rental player. While Mark Giordano has been linked to Toronto and prefers to be traded there, Seattle’s price on Giordano may make him too expensive for the Maple Leafs to bite. Marek suggests, in the alternative, GM Kyle Dubas could look to Justin Braun of the Philadelphia Flyers. Braun certainly isn’t the player Giordano is, however he fills a need for Toronto, that of a veteran shut-down defenseman, and comes at a much more reasonable $1.8MM cap hit that expires this summer, and could presumably be acquired without the Maple Leafs having to part with a top prospect or any of their future first-round picks. Despite Toronto’s search for defensemen, Friedman does still believe that the Maple Leafs will move defenseman Travis Dermott by Monday’s trade deadline. Dermott carries just a $1.5MM cap hit, is signed through next season, and will be a RFA thereafter.

Toronto Reportedly Interested In Calvin De Haan

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  • The San Jose Sharks haven’t had any talks on a new deal for pending unrestricted free agent Alexander Barabanov, per The Mercury News’ Curtis Pashelka. Assistant general manager Joe Will, who’s in effect the team’s interim GM while Doug Wilson is away on a medical leave of absence, knows that “[the team] is trying to replenish” and is listening to offers on many other pending UFAs as well. Barabanov’s continued a strong end to the 2020-21 campaign after being acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs, posting 30 points in 51 games while receiving top-six minutes. It could be a bit of buyer beware in this case, though, as many advanced metrics suggest the 27-year-old’s production can be strongly attributed to playing with Tomas Hertl.
  • The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta reports conversation surrounding Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Calvin de Haan is heating up, and specifically names the Toronto Maple Leafs as a team in the mix to acquire him. De Haan has just five points on the year, but he’s still an extremely capable two-way defenseman who’s helped stop the bleeding defensively this year in Chicago. He’s a solid case of a buy-low candidate who could flourish on a better team, which is exactly the type of player the Maple Leafs have targeted in recent months.

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