Doughty, Kings Progressing On An Extension
As is always the case, a much-anticipated free agent market loses many top names before it actually opens. As it currently stands, the talent level and depth of the potential 2019 class makes it one of the best the NHL has ever (hypothetically) seen. However, each player in that class can sign an extension beginning on July 1st of this year and has an entire calendar year before they become available. In that time, this epic free agent group could shrink considerably.
One of the top names already seems destined to be removed from the market. For a time, it was believed that Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty may test the open waters of free agency and could even be the final piece of the championship puzzle for his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs. However, Doughty has made it clear in recent months that his preference is to remain in L.A. Now, Sportsnet insider Nick Kypreos reports that the two sides are already closing in on an agreement to make that happen. Given that an extension offer cannot even officially be made for another month, this early progress seems to indicate that this deal will get done.
According to Kypreos, the 28-year-old Norris Trophy-winning defender will get a significant raise in his next contract over what is already a considerable cap hit at $7MM. Doughty has gone on the record as saying that he would like to be paid more than Nashville Predators blue liner P.K. Subban, who is currently the highest-paid defenseman in the league at $9MM AAV. Kypreos estimates that Doughty will land somewhere in the $10.5-11MM per year range on a long-term deal, which would make him the new top dog among defenseman – until Erik Karlsson hits the market. While it may seem overwhelming that the Kings would have two players, captain Anze Kopitar being the other, making $10MM+, a rising salary cap would make it much less of a burden than it has been on the only other team in that scenario, the Chicago Blackhawks. L.A. would have two of the league’s best players locked up long-term and would not be as strapped for space to build around them in pursuit of more championships for one the best teams in this century.
Pittsburgh Is Not Looking To Trade Phil Kessel
Following the recent report from The Athletic’s Josh Yohe that Penguins star forward Phil Kessel was upset about his usage in the playoffs and that he and head coach Mike Sullivan were at odds that had led the team to look at moving Kessel, colleague Pierre Lebrun clarified the situation after speaking with Pittsburgh GM Jim Rutherford. LeBrun reports that Rutherford feels the rumors of dissension in the locker room have been “blown out of proportion”. If this sounds familiar, it is because Rutherford responded to Kessel rumors similarly last summer and, of course, he was not traded. It appears to again be a topic that is inflated by the media more than it is grounded in reality.
Rutherford tells Lebrun that both he and Sullivan understand that it is Kessel’s preference to play with Evgeni Malkin, but defends his coach, saying “there’s times where they play together, when they’re both really going, and there’s times when they don’t… (Sullivan) believes balance throughout the lineup is the best way to win, and we won two Cups that way”. He continues that “for someone to suggest it’s an issue within our team, that can’t be taken care of or resolved, I don’t believe that’s accurate… I don’t feel that we have to trade Phil Kessel.”
If there is no discourse, why would the Penguins trade Kessel? Yes, there are salary cap concerns, but some of those could be eliminated by the estimated significant cap increase, while others could be assisted by shipping out a less-crucial player like Carl Hagelin or Matt Hunwick. After all, Kessel’s 92 points this season did finish tied for seventh in the league in scoring – ahead of Sidney Crosby – and he was among the league’s best in goals, assists, and power play production. At a reduced cap hit courtesy of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Penguins would much rather keep Kessel and his enormous output rather than try to find a fair return for him. If not for the rumored rift between he and Sullivan, there is little reason they would rush to deal him away. It appears that we can close the book on this hypothetical, at least until next off-season.
Exclusive Negotiating Rights Of 33 Draft Picks Expire
The deadline for signing draft picks has come and gone, and unless more deals come in after the fact, 33 players—the same total as last year—will see their exclusive negotiating rights expire. With it they will either re-enter the 2018 draft for the final time or become free agents, depending on their age. Adam Mascherin is the highest picked player among those who will be headed back into the draft, selected 38th overall by the Florida Panthers two years ago. Below is the full list of players:
Anaheim Ducks:
F Tyler Soy (7th round, 2016)
Arizona Coyotes:
F Anton Karlsson (3rd round, 2014)
D David Westlund (6th round, 2014)
Buffalo Sabres:
D Vojtech Budik (5th round, 2016)
F Brandon Hagel (6th round, 2016)
D Austin Osmanski (7th round, 2016)
Calgary Flames:
D Adam Ollas Mattsson (6th round, 2014)
Carolina Hurricanes:
C Hudson Elynuik (3rd round, 2016)
D Noah Carroll (6th round, 2016)
Chicago Blackhawks:
D Andreas Soderberg (5th round, 2014)
Colorado Avalanche:
G Maximilian Pajpach (6th round, 2014)
Dallas Stars:
D Miro Karjalainen (5th round, 2014)
Detroit Red Wings:
D Jordan Sambrook (5th round, 2016)
F Julius Vahatalo (6th round, 2014)
Florida Panthers:
G Hugo Fagerblom (7th round, 2014)
C Adam Mascherin (2nd round, 2016)
Los Angeles Kings:
D Jacob Friend (7th round, 2016)
Minnesota Wild:
D Pontus Sjalin (6th round, 2014)
D Brayden Chizen (7th round, 2016)
New Jersey Devils:
G Evan Cormier (4th round, 2016)
Philadelphia Flyers:
C Anthony Salinitri (6th round, 2016)
Pittsburgh Penguins:
D Connor Hall (3rd round, 2016)
San Jose Sharks:
D Mark Shoemaker (6th round, 2016)
Tampa Bay Lightning:
C Christopher Paquette (5th round, 2016)
Toronto Maple Leafs:
D Keaton Middleton (4th rond, 2016)
F J.J. Piccinich (4th round, 2014)
D Nicolas Mattinen (6th round, 2016)
Vancouver Canucks:
D Cole Candella (5th round, 2016)
F Jakob Stukel (6th round, 2016)
C Brett McKenzie (7th round, 2016)
Washington Capitals:
F Kevin Elgestal (7th round, 2014)
D Dmitri Zaitsev (7th round, 2016)
Winnipeg Jets:
C Jordan Stallard (5th round, 2016)
Schedule Set For AHL Calder Cup Finals
While most eyes are glued to the Stanley Cup Finals between the Vegas Golden Knights and Washington Capitals, some other markets may be more interested in what the AHL has to offer. Tomorrow night marks the beginning of the Calder Cup Finals between the Toronto Marlies and Texas Stars, with top prospects and outstanding players on both sides. The AHL released all the schedule and broadcast information for the series, as all seven games will be hosted on both TSN and the NHL Network. The schedule is as follows:
All times CST
Game 1 – Saturday, June 2nd @ Toronto, 3pm
Game 2 – Sunday, June 3rd @ Toronto, 3pm
Game 3 – Tuesday, June 5th @ Texas, 7pm
Game 4 – Thursday, June 7th @ Texas, 7pm
Game 5 – Saturday, June 9th, @ Texas, 7pm*
Game 6 – Tuesday, June 12th @ Toronto, 6pm*
Game 7 – Thursday, June 14th @ Toronto, 6pm*
*if necessary
For more information on specific broadcasters, visit the AHL site for all the detailed information.
Toronto Maple Leafs Re-Sign Kasimir Kaskisuo
The Toronto Maple Leafs have locked up part of their goaltending depth, re-signing Kasimir Kaskisuo to a two-year, two-way contract with an average annual value of $675K in the NHL. Kaskisuo was scheduled to become a restricted free agent this summer, after spending the 2017-18 season in the minor leagues. The 24-year old goaltender spent most of the season on loan to the Chicago Wolves, since Garret Sparks and Calvin Pickard were given the jobs with the Toronto Marlies.
Signed out of the NCAA in 2016, Kaskisuo may be the forgotten goaltender among Maple Leafs fans. While the other four names ahead of him on the depth chart have found immediate success in Toronto, Kaskisuo has had to battle in different cities to prove he has what it takes at the professional level. Playing for the Orlando Solar Bears in the ECHL and now the Wolves this season, the Finnish goaltender would need to take some big steps forward to overtake Sparks or Pickard in the pecking order. Either that, or Toronto is thinking about moving one of the two minor league goaltenders this offseason.
Sparks is under contract for another season and has shown he’s ready for the NHL, while Pickard is a restricted free agent this summer. Though the team doesn’t desperately need the former Colorado Avalanche goaltender for their minor league club, he still presents an experienced option to step in and play some NHL games if necessary. Curtis McElhinney, the current NHL backup, is now 35 years old and could take a step backwards at any time. All of this uncertainty is a positive for Kaskisuo, who likely just wants a chance to prove himself for the Marlies.
Eemeli Rasanen, Viktor Loov Sign In KHL
The KHL presents an opportunity for professional hockey players who can’t seem to get a chance in the NHL, as it will for Viktor Loov. The former Toronto Maple Leafs prospect has bounced around the AHL the last few seasons, but will now head to Finland to join Jokerit for the 2018-19 KHL season. Loov signed a one-year deal, though at 25 with just four NHL games under his belt it seems unlikely that he’ll get a real opportunity in the future.
It can also be a development league for players who find themselves somewhere between the CHL and AHL, and that’s what Eemeli Rasanen will use it as. The Maple Leafs second-round pick from 2017 has signed a two-year deal with Jokerit and will begin his professional career in the KHL. Rasanen, a towering 6’7″ defenseman with good offensive skills, will get to go home to Finland while continuing his development.
Though he was drafted out of the CHL, Rasanen’s rights are likely now owned by the Maple Leafs for four seasons. As CapFriendly points out, that depends on whether the Maple Leafs extended a Bona Fide offer over the last year, something we can’t be sure of just yet. Still, one can assume that the team had discussed everything with him lately as Rasanen began practicing with the Toronto Marlies after his junior season (and, as we now learn, career) ended earlier this spring.
Toronto Maple Leafs Hire Laurence Gilman As Assistant GM
Kyle Dubas isn’t waiting around. The Toronto Maple Leafs new GM announced yesterday that Brandon Pridham had been promoted to Assistant General Manager, and today added another AGM to the front office. The Maple Leafs have hired Laurence Gilman, who will take over Dubas’ old duties as GM of the Toronto Marlies and managing the organization’s player development. Dubas had this to say about his newest hire:
Laurence provides terrific experience to our management team. His 20-plus years in the NHL have seen him manage nearly every type of department in professional hockey and have success doing so. Adding Laurence to our front office and having him work alongside Brandon Pridham as an Assistant General Manager gives our program great depth and breadth of knowledge across all areas of hockey operations. We feel very fortunate to have both Brandon and Laurence as key parts of our executive team.
Gilman was expected by many to become the next commissioner of the ECHL, but will instead join the Maple Leafs and bring with him a wealth of hockey knowledge. A former AGM with the Vancouver Canucks and Winnipeg Jets/Phoenix Coyotes organizations, the last few years he’s spent consulting in various ways around the league. Just last year he was part of the committee that developed the expansion draft rules, and then–as Scott Wheeler of The Athletic points out–helped the Vegas Golden Knights hone their draft strategy in both the expansion and entry events.
Along with Pridham, the Maple Leafs now employ two of the people who may know the Collective Bargaining Agreement best. Both executives helped design the latest agreement, and should be extremely helpful to Dubas as he takes over as one of the youngest GMs in history. While there is still not exact replacement for Mark Hunter as a “scouting guru,” there is plenty of hockey experience in the Maple Leafs’ front office.
Snapshots: KHL Awards, Sambrook, Middleton
The KHL announced their award winners today and there were plenty of surprises, not the least of which was their Rookie of the Year recipient. One would think that Eeli Tolvanen, the 19-year old phenom who broke nearly every junior-aged scoring record in the league would have walked away with the award, but instead Vitaly Kravtsov was the winner after scoring four goals and three assists for Traktor Chelyabinsk.
Just playing in the KHL was impressive for Kravtsov, who was just 17 for much of the season, but it does seem unlikely that Tolvanen’s 19 goals and 36 points for Jokerit wasn’t good enough to win. Tolvanen of course bolted for the NHL after his season ended, and played three games for the Nashville Predators down the stretch. Other winners today included Nikita Gusev as league MVP, Philip Larsen as the top defenseman, and Pavel Francouz as the top goaltender.
- Jordan Sambrook will not be offered a contract by the Detroit Red Wings, according to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press. Sambrook, selected in the fifth round in 2016, is one of many players who will see their draft rights expire on June 1st. Sambrook had a good season split between the Erie Otters and Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL, recording 39 points in the regular season and helping the Greyhounds make it all the way to the OHL Finals.
- Keaton Middleton is in a similar situation, as Dhiren Mahiban reports that the Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick will not be signed by the deadline. Middleton will instead go back into the draft again, hoping to find another team who wants to bring him into the organization. The 6’5″ defenseman recorded 24 points for the Saginaw Spirit this year, after being selected in the fourth round in 2016.
- Another Maple Leafs prospect, Nicolas Mattinen, has yet to decide whether he’ll sign or not according to Mahiban. The sixth-round pick from 2016 is still playing in the Memorial Cup with the Hamilton Bulldogs, where he continues to show what a long reach and good defensive positioning can accomplish.
Toronto Maple Leafs Promote Brandon Pridham To Assistant GM
After two key executives have left in recent days and another was promoted to the role of General Manager, the Toronto Maple Leafs had a void to fill in their front office. They’ve continued to move people up the ladder today to try and fill it, as Brandon Pridham has been promoted to Assistant GM. Pridham had previously been titled Assistant to the General Manager, specializing in cap-related decisions over the last few seasons. New Maple Leafs’ GM Kyle Dubas had this to say about his new AGM:
Brandon’s promotion to Assistant General Manager is most deserving. Working closely with him for the last four seasons has allowed me to see the value that he brings to our program across many domains. Brandon is a vital part of our organization today and moving forward. He has earned this title with his selfless contributions to the Maple Leafs during his time here.
Lou Lamoriello Named New York Islanders President Of Hockey Operations
The New York Islanders have officially hired former Toronto Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello as their new President of Hockey Operations. In fitting Lamoriello fashion, the press release includes a note that he will “have full authority over all hockey matters with the organization.” It had already recently been reported that Lamoriello spoke with John Tavares as a representative of the Islanders, something he will continue to do now that he has been officially announced.
Lamoriello was pushed out of his role as GM when his contract finished, with the Maple Leafs instead turning to Kyle Dubas to lead their team going forward. Mark Hunter, Lamoriello’s assistant GM, also left the team this morning, though there is no indication yet if he’ll join his former boss in New York. For now, Lamoriello will come into a front office that had been run by Garth Snow, who will likely now move to a different role within the organization. Snow has a long-term contract with the club still that is reportedly difficult to buy him out of, but there is no question who will be running things going forward.
Lamoriello’s son Chris is also with the organization as an assistant GM, and will likely be retained under his father. As for the rest of the group, there’s no telling how it will be restructured.
For the Islanders, this can only be seen as a positive moving forward. The team desperately needs to find some success in the next few years, and their future depends on how negotiations go with Tavares. Either they’re going all-in with their franchise center to compete right away, or building around Mathew Barzal and the rest of the team’s young players. Lamoriello has experience in both from his days in New Jersey and Toronto, and understands the challenges fully.