Snapshots: Sorokin, Kapanen, Lapointe
The New York Islanders are hoping that top goalie prospect Ilya Sorokin will be coming over to North America sooner rather than later, but his KHL team is trying to make sure that doesn’t happen. Aivis Kalnins reports that CSKA Moscow has made a long-term contract offer to Sorokin, though at this point that doesn’t come as much of a surprise.
The fact that news of the offer made it out might also be a negotiating tactic for Sorokin, who is now 24 and has dominated the KHL for years. A third-round pick in 2014, Sorokin would be held to the entry-level system when he comes over, limiting his earning potential. If he signed that one-year ELC before the end of this season–his current deal in the KHL expires in April–he could become a restricted free agent and negotiate a more expensive deal. That’s exactly what Nikita Gusev did last season, and ended up signing a two-year, $9MM deal with the New Jersey Devils before playing a game in the NHL.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs have things back on track under new head coach Sheldon Keefe, but still don’t have an answer for their lack of consistent backup goaltending. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet gives his thoughts on some of the potential options, but isn’t convinced they are going to do anything. Friedman does note however that the Maple Leafs could trade Kasperi Kapanen easily if they ever decided to, though currently don’t want to do that. Kapanen, 23, has turned into an extremely valuable two-way player for the Maple Leafs.
- The Montreal Canadiens announced that Guy Lapointe has been diagnosed with oral cancer. The physicians treating the Hall of Fame defenseman included a note that it has a very high cure rate and will start treatment in the coming weeks. Everyone at PHR wants to extend our best wishes to Guy and the Lapointe family.
Atlantic Notes: Krug, Fabbri, Moore
While there has been plenty of debate on what the Boston Bruins should do with pending UFA defenseman Torey Krug this summer, there are other factors that the team must consider besides the team’s salary cap situation in the future.
The Athletic’s Fluto Shinzawa (subscription required) writes the Bruins also need to consider the upcoming Seattle expansion draft as well. The scribe writes that if Krug is retained, the team is more likely to protect four defensemen in Krug, Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo and Matt Grzelcyk. The problem is the team would then only be able to protect four forwards, including Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak and either Charlie Coyle or Jake Debrusk. One of those two would likely be picked by Seattle.
However, if the team opted not to brink back Krug, the team might be able to choose the 7-3-1 protection format instead, which would allow Boston to protect those three defensemen (minus Krug) and then protect up to seven forwards, which might include two more forwards such as Danton Heinen and Anders Bjork as well.
- Despite expecting to have some cap space this offseason, the Detroit Red Wings do have an inordinate number of restricted free agent forwards. In fact, the team has 11 RFAs they will have to deal with this summer. The Athletic’s Max Bultman (subscription required) examines some of the forwards and what their chances of coming back are. While Anthony Mantha‘s status isn’t in doubt and Andreas Athanasiou status could end in a trade, there still are a number of forwards who could be fighting for a contract. The scribe writes that of all those forwards, many who must have solid campaigns this season, Robby Fabbri has definitely earned himself another contract with the Red Wings. The 23-year-old has established himself immediately with the team, posting 10 points in his first 13 games with the franchise. While it remains a long season and his offense could drop off, he has enough potential that it’s very likely the team will bring him back.
- Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said the team could be getting back forward Trevor Moore soon, according to Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun. The 24-year-old has been out since Nov. 15 with a shoulder injury, but Keefe said that Moore could make his return by the end of the team’s current four-game road trip that starts today, which could put him on schedule to return at some point next week. Moore has averaged 14:00 per game and has three goals and five points in 21 games as a bottom-six forward.
Andreas Johnsson Placed On Long-Term Injured Reserve
Just as the Toronto Maple Leafs appeared to be getting healthy, another injury has occurred. The team has placed Andreas Johnsson on long-term injured reserve after sustaining a leg injury on Wednesday night. Johnsson will be re-evaluated after the Christmas break, but for now the Maple Leafs have recalled Nic Petan, Martin Marincin and Pontus Aberg from the minor leagues.
Johnsson’s injury actually relieves some of the salary cap pressure for the Maple Leafs, who were set to move forward with just 21 players on the roster for the time being. Now that they can move Johnsson’s $3.4MM cap hit onto long-term injured reserve and replace him with several players from the minor leagues.
Aberg is the most interesting name in the group, if only because he hadn’t gotten a chance with the Maple Leafs prior to this recall. The 37th overall pick in 2012, he has bounced around from Nashville to Edmonton to Anaheim to Minnesota before arriving in Toronto, never spending a full season in the NHL. Through 22 games in the AHL this season, Aberg has 24 points to lead the Marlies and very well could get an opportunity alongside some of Toronto’s best players.
Mitch Marner Activated From Injured Reserve
The Toronto Maple Leafs have officially activated Mitch Marner from long-term injured reserve, sending Martin Marincin and Nic Petan to the minor leagues in the process. Marner has been out for several weeks with a high-ankle sprain but is expected to be back in the lineup tonight against the Colorado Avalanche. The team has also activated Mason Marchment from season-opening injured reserve and sent him to the AHL.
Marner has yet to play a game for new head coach Sheldon Keefe, but he’ll get the chance to try out the Maple Leafs’ new puck possession system tonight as the team tries to right the ship. Coming off a 6-1 pounding at the hands of the Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto now sits 13-12-4 on the season and in a very precarious position.
Because of the huge cap number that the young forward brings, Trevor Moore has likely been moved to long-term injured reserve to clear a bit more and keep the Maple Leafs at 21 players for the time being. When he returns, the team will have to send another forward down to the minor leagues or make a trade of some sort.
Even with that kind of cap pressure, Marner’s return will be a huge boost to the group. After scoring 94 points last season to lead the club, he was off to another strong start with 18 in his first 18 games. While he’ll be back beside John Tavares tonight, it appears as though Ilya Mikheyev has taken the place of Zach Hyman on the left side despite that trio’s strong work last season.
Injury Notes: Juolevi, Spurgeon, Avalanche
The Vancouver Canucks issued an update on top prospect Olli Juolevi, explaining that his recent removal from the Utica Comets roster was precautionary but that he is now fit to return to action.
Juolevi hasn’t played an AHL game since November 17th, but will seemingly return soon for the Comets and continue his development. The 21-year old defenseman is such an important prospect for the Canucks after they used the fifth-overall pick on him in 2016, but he has yet to find any modicum of health during his relatively short professional career. In 14 games this season he has five points and still seems a long way from becoming a full-time NHL option.
- Jared Spurgeon will be out for two weeks after suffering an upper-body injury last night. The newly-extended defenseman is one of the Minnesota Wild’s most important players and averages close to 23 minutes a game. The team will also lose Mikko Koivu on a day-to-day basis with a lower-body injury.
- After returning to the Colorado Avalanche lineup and contributing four points in fewer than 11 minutes of ice time, Mikko Rantanen sat out the entire third period of Saturday’s contest against the Chicago Blackhawks and then missed a practice on Monday. He’s good to go for tonight’s game in Toronto however and will suit up against the Maple Leafs. Matt Calvert, who hasn’t played since taking a puck to the head against the Vancouver Canucks, will also return to the Colorado lineup tonight.
Winnipeg Jets Claim Nick Shore
The Toronto Maple Leafs won’t get to sneak Nick Shore through waivers and down to the minor leagues, as the Winnipeg Jets have claimed the veteran forward. To make room on the roster, Dmitry Kulikov has been placed on injured reserve.
The Maple Leafs were forced into a tough cap situation with the imminent return of high-priced forward Mitch Marner, meaning Shore needed to be cut loose. It was clear that he wasn’t going to be used as frequently by the new coaching staff, as Sheldon Keefe only dressed him for one of his six games behind the Toronto bench. Still, the claim obviously shows that he still has some value around the league. In fact, Chris Johnston of Sportsnet reports that at least one other team also put in a claim on Shore.
Now 27, Shore has played 257 regular season games in the NHL and before this season had very good possession numbers as a depth player. Much of the turn in those numbers can be explained by the heavy defensive deployment he faced under Mike Babcock in the early part of the season, meaning he could change things if given a more offensive role in Winnipeg.
Selected in the third round by the Los Angeles Kings back in 2011, Shore costs just $750K this year and can play both center and wing. That gives the Jets some extra versatility at the bottom of their lineup and a cheap depth option they can plug in. The Maple Leafs meanwhile will have to send several other players down when Marner returns, as his long-term injured reserve cap flexibility will disappear.
Coach Behavior To Be Main Topic At NHL Board Of Governors Meetings
It has been a whirlwind few weeks in the NHL coaching ranks. After the Toronto Maple Leafs fired head coach Mike Babcock back on November 20, several former players used the opportunity to criticize the veteran coach’s tactics and the way he treated some of his players. Former NHLer Akim Aliu used these comments as a jumping off point to make his own accusations of mistreatment against former AHL coach and then-Calgary Flames head coach Bill Peters. Aliu’s recollection of racists epithets from Peters while with AHL Rockford were also echoed by stories of physical abuse from former players of Peters with the Carolina Hurricanes and confirmed by current Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’amour. Peters ended up resigning last week. The latest coach to be exposed is Chicago Blackhawks assistant Marc Crawford, who faces allegations of physical abuse from some of his former players with the Los Angeles Kings. Crawford has left the team temporarily while under investigation.
The behavior of coaches has been brought to the forefront of NHL headlines and is not going to be a conversation that disappears quickly. In fact, the NHL Coaches’ Association – which ironically includes Babcock and Peters as executive members – addressed these ongoing issues with a statement earlier today:
We believe the NHL is a league built on hard work, respect, and teamwork. It is a coach’s job to understand how best to motivate players while respecting them as individuals and valuing them as people. Coaching philosophies differ from coach to coach, and season to season, but there are lines that cannot be crossed and there is certainly no room in the NHL, or anywhere else, for abusive behavior of any kind… The NHLCA is committed to working with the NHL and NHLPA to ensure respectful working environments for everyone.
TSN’s Darren Dreger adds that coach behavior will be the biggest topic of conversation among NHL owners at the upcoming Board of Governors meeting in California next week. He believes that coach behavior has never been scrutinized to this extent and that these meetings could produce a substantive change to how coaches are governed by the NHL. Commissioner Gary Bettman has already met with Aliu, who came away from the meeting with a positive reaction and a feeling that changes are coming. One possible shift, suggested by Dreger’s colleague Bob McKenzie, is enhanced vetting when hiring coaches and deeper background checks, including interviews with former players and assistants. One way or another, these incidences and allegations have made clear that there has been an ongoing issue related to coach behavior in the NHL that has flown under the radar but now must be addressed.
Matt Stajan Announces Retirement
Though he hasn’t played in an NHL game since the end of the 2017-18 season, Matt Stajan officially announced his retirement today. The 35-year old spent last season playing in the German DEL, but will hang up his skates after a long and productive professional career. The former Toronto Maple Leafs and Calgary Flames forward released a long letter through the NHLPA that thanked both organizations as well as his German team. A snippet:
As a kid growing up in Mississauga, Ontario, it was my dream to one day play in the NHL. To have had this dream come true, and have been able to play the sport that I love so much for so many years, is something I feel extremely fortunate and grateful for. The memories that I have made will truly last a lifetime.
Thank you to the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Calgary Flames organizations for giving me the opportunity to play and compete in the best league in the world. I wore both jerseys with great pride, and I will be forever grateful for the experiences that came along with that. Also, thank you EHC Red Bull Munich it was a great experience to play overseas for such a great organization.
Stajan played 1,003 regular season games in the NHL, but incredibly only made it to the playoffs three times. Not only was he a consistent two-way center for years, but Stajan was extremely well-respected by his teammates and served as an NHLPA player rep for a good chunk of his career. Mark Giordano, Luke Schenn and Matthew Tkachuk all lent their voice to his retirement announcement, each using the phrase “best teammate” in reference to Stajan.
Nick Shore Placed On Waivers
The Toronto Maple Leafs have placed Nick Shore on waivers today, as Mitch Marner nears his return. The team will have to make several other moves tomorrow when the high-priced forward is eligible to return from long-term injured reserve. Shore has found himself on the outside looking in more often than not since Sheldon Keefe took over as head coach, and seemed an obvious choice to try and sneak through.
It will be interesting to see if Shore does make it through waivers though. While he has just three points in 21 games for the Maple Leafs this season, his versatility may be of some use around the league. The 27-year old is a legitimate option at center or wing and has experience penalty killing. Before this year—during which he has been used almost exclusively as a defensive option—Shore actually had strong possession numbers in his more than 200 games of NHL experience.
Still, even with a contract that carries just a $750K cap hit, there may not be teams that can really fit him in. More than half the league has used long-term injured reserve space at one point or another this season and sometimes can’t justify bringing in another NHL body. The fact that Shore earns that $750K whether he plays in the NHL or AHL is of no matter to the Maple Leafs, who routinely stash one-way deals in the minor leagues.
Marner’s return puts the Maple Leafs at close to full health—Trevor Moore remains sidelined—but will also force them into a tight cap crunch. As Chris Johnston of Sportsnet explains, the team will likely send Nic Petan, Pierre Engvall and Martin Marincin back down tomorrow along with Shore to create enough room to activate Marner.
Minor Transactions: 12/03/19
There are ten games on the schedule for this evening around the NHL, including a rematch of the Eastern Conference Final when the Carolina Hurricanes travel to take on the Boston Bruins. The Bruins haven’t lost a game in regulation in nearly a month, while the Hurricanes are still battling to hold onto a Metropolitan Division playoff spot. As they and the rest of the league prepares for tonight, we’ll keep track of all the minor moves.
- Nicolas Roy has been returned to the minor leagues by the Vegas Golden Knights, after his latest emergency recall. Roy has actually played in seven games for the NHL club this season, recording three points and six penalty minutes.
- Curtis Lazar too has been sent to the minor leagues, this time by the Buffalo Sabres. The 24-year old has been great in the AHL, but still can’t find a level of consistency in the NHL that warrants a full-time roster spot.
- With the Toronto Maple Leafs back in action tonight, Martin Marincin is back up to serve as insurance. The team likely won’t insert the lanky defenseman into the lineup unless an injury occurs, but now that he has cleared waivers he can pop up and down on game days.
- Robin Lehner must have felt better this morning, as the Chicago Blackhawks returned Kevin Lankinen to the minor leagues. The young goaltender was recalled when Lehner was experiencing flu-like symptoms, but won’t get a chance to see any NHL action.
- Cory Conacher is up in Tampa Bay, as the Lightning prepare for their game against the Nashville Predators. The move is likely done so that they’ll have an option if Alex Killorn can’t go tonight, though Conacher has plenty of experience if he’s forced into the lineup.
- The Anaheim Ducks have recalled Josh Mahura and Max Comtois, while sending Max Jones back to the AHL. Jones has just five points in 23 games this season for the Ducks, but may get a chance to get his game back on track in the minor leagues. The Ducks’ young forwards are all having a tough go in the NHL this season but have plenty of time to grow and develop.
- Filip Zadina and Taro Hirose have been sent to the minor leagues by the Detroit Red Wings, as the team doesn’t play again until Saturday. Zadina is a key part of the team’s future and actually has an assist in each of the last two NHL games he has played.
- The Edmonton Oilers have made several changes, recalling Joel Persson while assigning Caleb Jones and Stuart Skinner to the minor leagues. Matt Benning has also been moved to injured reserve. With Skinner heading back to the AHL, Mike Smith must be healthy enough to at least serve as a backup for the Oilers.