Arizona Coyotes Activate Ryan Dzingel
As reported by AZCentral Sports’ Jose M. Romero, the Arizona Coyotes have officially activated forward Ryan Dzingel from injured reserve.
The Coyotes originally placed Dzingel on injured reserve on October 27th with an upper-body injury. He’s missed the team’s last 10 games.
Like much of the Coyotes squad this year, Dzingel was having an uninspiring start prior to the injury. He’s netted two assists in six games, averaging 13:18 per game. Dzingel is expected to flank Jan Jenik on the team’s fourth line in his return to the lineup, with Liam O’Brien on the other wing.
Still, those two points are tied for tenth on the team in scoring. The Coyotes have scored just 26 goals through 16 games en route to a 2-13-1 record. That’s just 1.63 goals per game.
The team hopes that Dzingel, a two-time 20-goal scorer, can help provide some scoring punch to the team’s bottom six. However, he’s got just 16 goals in his past 110 games as it’s been a really rough go for the former Ottawa Senator.
Coyotes Focused On Building Through Draft
The word “tank” is avoided at all costs by professional sports teams, but across the landscapes of the NHL, MLB, NFL, and NBA there are always clubs that embrace the losing, at least for a short period of time, in order to secure better draft positions. Though he won’t use the word either, it appears as though Arizona Coyotes Bill Armstrong understands exactly what it will take for his team to get to the top. Armstrong spoke with Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, and explained clearly what his thought process was like in the summer.
We could have just re-loaded and gone at it and made the playoffs once every four years — if lucky, get by a first round, but most times get beat out. We had the conversation, ‘We want to be great here. We want to take the chance to be great.’ And the only way to do that is through the draft.
This kind of mindset isn’t a surprise, but it does shed some light on what the Coyotes will think about as the trade deadline approaches this season. The team is all-in on a complete teardown, with their eyes on the draft as the way to move forward. Arizona has already collected 12 picks for the 2022 class, including eight in the first two rounds. With players like Phil Kessel, Anton Stralman, Johan Larsson, and Ryan Dzingel all on expiring deals, perhaps they can add a few more before the deadline.
- The Montreal Canadiens don’t look like a competitive team this season either, but they’ll move forward with two youngsters entering the lineup tonight. Mattias Norlinder is set to make his NHL debut and Cole Caufield was recalled today from the minor leagues. Still, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet wrote yesterday in his latest 32 Thoughts column that he believes Montreal would consider adding a puck-moving defender. With Shea Weber gone and Jeff Petry struggling at times this season, the Canadiens have had a lot of trouble generating offense from the back end.
- Dylan Strome played just over ten minutes last night with the Chicago Blackhawks, so despite the team’s recent winning streak (they’re 4-0 since making a coaching change) all eyes remain on the former top prospect. Friedman writes that in previous talks, the team was looking for a prospect or a draft pick in exchange for the underperforming 24-year-old. Strome, who looked like he was going to turn into a star during his first year in Chicago, has just two points in nine games this season and has been scratched several times. His $3MM cap hit is actually the fifth-highest among active Blackhawks forwards, with Tyler Johnson on injured reserve and Brett Connolly in the minor leagues.
Conor Timmins Undergoes Knee Surgery; Out Rest Of Season
The Arizona Coyotes have announced that defenseman Conor Timmins has undergone successful knee surgery and, as previously reported, will not return this season. The team also announced that prospect Liam Kirk has had knee surgery and will also not play again this season.
Timmins, 23, just can’t catch a break when it comes to his health, as he’ll now miss another full season due to injury. Selected 32nd overall in 2017, he has played just 97 games since the start of the 2018-19 season. He missed that entire year and a good chunk of the following ones with concussion issues and now will be 24 before he hits the ice for a competitive game again.
It’s a troubling trend for a player that was so impressive with the Soo Greyhounds and Team Canada in junior. At his peak, Timmins would immediately shut down opposition rushes with a quick stick, and transition the puck back with crisp passing. The 6’2″ defenseman had 61 points in 67 games in his draft year, and then helped Canada win gold at the WJC in 2018.
In today’s NHL where mobile, lengthy defensemen that can effectively move the puck are worth their weight in gold, Timmins seemed to be a prototypical option. Now, after another lost development year, it’s hard to know exactly where his career path lies. Acquired from the Colorado Avalanche as part of the Darcy Kuemper deal in the offseason, Timmins signed a two-year deal with Arizona that carries a cap hit of just $850K. Hopefully, he can return to full strength next season and play a regular role on the team’s blueline.
Kirk meanwhile was in his first season at the AHL level, after spending last season in the EIHL with his former club team, the Sheffield Steelers. The first player born and trained in England to be selected in the NHL draft, the 21-year-old went 189th overall in 2018. After two successful years at the OHL level, he signed his entry-level contract in June and was off to a fine start with the Tucson Roadrunners. In eight games he had two goals and three points, but will have to wait until next season to continue his development.
Trade Rumors: Kessel, Hertl, Girard
After months and months of speculation, the constant trade talk surrounding Jack Eichel is finally over after the star Buffalo Sabres center was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights earlier this month. So where does the trade market go from here? Though still early in the season, there is thought to be some trade chatter ongoing between teams who expected different results early on this year, whether that is a surprise contender looking to load up, a struggling preseason favorite in need of a shake-up, or a bottom-dweller looking to move talent as soon as possible to maximize the return. The Hockey News’ Ryan Kennedy and Matt Larkin recently broke down the trade market and believe the top available name could be the product of that latter scenario. The pair feel that Phil Kessel is set to step into Eichel’s shoes, not only as a major name on the block but also as a player that is guaranteed to be traded. The 1-13-1 Arizona Coyotes have all the makings of a last-place team and Kessel is an aging veteran and respected champion on an expiring deal; the fit is poor and should be resolved soon rather than waiting until the deadline whilst Kessel plays meaningless games and risks injury for the ‘Yotes. The scoring winger should be attractive to any number of teams and Arizona could take the first impressive futures package offered to them to further their rebuild.
- Though mentioned by Kennedy and Larkin as a top trade chip, piling on top of plenty of recent speculation, Tomas Hertl may not be as guaranteed to move as people have been led to believe. The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz writes in a recent mailbag that Hertl seems be enjoying this season more than last. A winning record so far certainly helps, but Hertl is also appreciative of his growing role as a team leader amidst a culture turnaround in San Jose. Kurz believes that Hertl has a 50/50 chance of signing an extension with the Sharks, which doesn’t even speak to his likelihood of being traded. If the team continues to win and stays in the playoff picture all season and the possibility of a renewed deal between the two sides remains, Hertl may not move after all. There are some cap management factors working against a deal for both team and player, with the Sharks’ restrictions limiting Hertl’s contract potential and making such a move more risky for San Jose, but if the team is playing well and Hertl is happy, producing, and leading the young locker room, it will be difficult for the Sharks to opt for a trade instead of working toward an extension.
- Meanwhile, Kennedy and Larkin do not mention Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard as top trade bait, but his name has been a fixture on the rumor mill in recent days. According to Mike Chambers of The Denver Post, the Avs made a late run at Eichel and floated Girard as the centerpiece of the deal. Now, even with Eichel off the market, Chambers believes that GM Joe Sakic is still willing to part ways with Girard. Though young and offensively gifted, Girard has some glaring defensive weaknesses that Colorado would rather not deal with given his $5MM cap hit. Girard is still an elite defenseman, but the well-balanced Avs are looking to use that cap space in a different way, if at all possible, by landing another elite forward. With phenom Cale Makar locked up long-term, a number of reliable veterans in support, and other promising young defenders like Bowen Byram and Justin Barron, the team could survive the loss of Girard if it means adding another difference-maker to their top-heavy forward corps. If the Avalanche continue to fall short of expectations this season, it will only serve to fuel a potential shake-up with Girard as the most likely trade victim.
Johan Larsson Placed In COVID Protocol
The Arizona Coyotes have placed Johan Larsson in the COVID protocol, making him unavailable for the time being. That comes just minutes after the team placed both Christian Fischer and Dmitrij Jaskin on injured reserve, recalling Hudson Fasching, Jan Jenik, and Ben McCartney in their place.
Larsson joins Andrew Ladd in the protocol, who was placed there over the weekend. The team did not confirm whether or not Larsson has tested positive, or given any indication of how long he will be out. Jaskin meanwhile is expected to miss the rest of the season, while Fischer was last listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury. He’ll have to miss at least a week with the IR designation.
For any Arizona fans hoping for a high draft pick to build the organization around, it appears they will get their wish. The team is 1-13-1 on the season and seems destined to finish in last place in the Central Division. Losing veteran players for any length of time will only provide an opportunity for younger options, though it seems unlikely that they will be able to right the ship and help the Coyotes become a competitive team. For a franchise that has seen draft picks stripped away and others flame out quickly, a strong class in 2022 is imperative.
Luckily, the team currently holds eight picks in the first two rounds, including three first-round selections, meaning there’s at least something to look forward to on the horizon.
Predators’ Mark Borowiecki To Face Player Safety Hearing
3:34 p.m.: Per the Department of Player Safety, there will be no supplemental discipline assessed to Borowiecki. A Twitter statement relays that “after a hearing and a review of all available angles, [the Department has] determined that Borowiecki is braced for contact and does not extend or otherwise direct his knee into Jaskin in a way that merits further discipline.
10:58 a.m.: The Nashville Predators could be about to lose a veteran defenseman for some time, as the NHL Department of Player Safety has announced that they will have a hearing with Mark Borowiecki on Sunday. The league will review Borowiecki’s kneeing penalty from Saturday night, which forced the Arizona Coyotes’ Dmitrij Jaskin from the game.
As far as suspension hearings go, this should be as close to a prima facie case as they come. Borowiecki clearly targets Jaskin with a knee-to-knee hit as the forward slows up at the red line while carrying the puck in transition (video). The referees did not miss the blatant contact, awarding Borowiecki a five-minute major and game misconduct. The Coyotes took notice as well, with Antoine Roussel jumping in to fight Borowiecki, adding another five minutes to his count. It will be hard for Borowiecki to argue that the contact was purely incidental when everyone else on the ice saw it as purposeful.
If Player Safety takes into account whether the victim of the penalty was injured and the severity of the injury, as they typically do, that could result in an even longer absence for Borowiecki. There was no question that Jaskin was hurt on the play, as he had to be helped from the ice and did not return to the game, but the initial outlook of the injury is far worse than just that. PHNX Sports’ Craig Morgan relays word from Arizona head coach Andre Tourigny that Jaskin is expected to be out “really long term” as a result of the kneeing infraction. He adds that Jaskin could miss the rest of the season.
Borowiecki has been suspended three times previously in his NHL career, but not since 2018 and never for boarding. Regardless, is very likely to add a fourth to his resume today and the only real question is the length.
Coyotes Place Andrew Ladd In COVID Protocol
The Coyotes are the latest team to lose a player to the NHL’s COVID protocol as the team announced (Twitter link) that winger Andrew Ladd has been added to the protocol.
The 35-year-old is in his first season with Arizona after being acquired in an offseason trade from the Islanders that saw New York part with two second-round picks and a conditional 2023 third-rounder to take on the remaining two years of his contract, one that carries a $5.5MM AAV. While New York buried Ladd in the minors the last couple of seasons to pick up a tiny bit of cap relief, Arizona has no need to do so and has used him in a regular role this season where he has held his own, notching three goals and an assist in 14 games while averaging 14:24 per game.
The duration of Ladd’s stay in the protocol isn’t known as it was not disclosed as to whether or not Ladd was a close contact of someone or if he tested positive and if so, whether he’s symptomatic or asymptomatic. In the meantime, the Coyotes had been carrying 14 forwards on the active roster so no corresponding roster move will need to be made in Ladd’s absence.
Snapshots: Rask, Housley, Carrier
TSN’s Chris Johnston notes on Thursday’s edition of Insider Trading that free agent goaltender Tuukka Rask is working his way back after offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum and could be ready to return to game action as soon as January. Johnston notes specifically that Rask could be an option for Team Finland at the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, potentially a huge boost to an already strong Finnish program. While Johnston reports that Rask’s main focus in his “mind and his heart” remains with the Boston Bruins, the door isn’t completely closed on other options, either. Regardless, it’s good to see one of the league’s best goalies of his generation working his way back to health for what could be his last chance at a championship.
More notes from around the league:
- Arizona Coyotes assistant coach Phil Housley has entered the league’s COVID-19 protocol, per the team’s public relations department. He won’t travel with the team on their upcoming road trip. He’ll miss three games, including a back-to-back set against the Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators this Friday and Saturday. Arizona’s next home game is a week from today against the Columbus Blue Jackets, and pending test results, Housley could be available to return then.
- According to the team, Nashville Predators defenseman Alexandre Carrier is out for Thursday night’s game against the St. Louis Blues with an upper-body injury. The Predators note that he’ll be evaluated further when the team returns home. Carrier blocked a shot that hit him up high during Wednesday night’s game against the Dallas Stars and did not return.
Kyle Capobianco, Marian Studenic Clear Waivers
Nov 8: Both players have cleared waivers and can now be assigned to the minor leagues.
Nov 7: Two names are appearing on NHL waivers Sunday, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. The Arizona Coyotes placed defenseman Kyle Capobianco there, while the New Jersey Devils waived forward Marian Studenic.
Capobianco, a 24-year-old who was expected to possibly steal a lineup spot this season, hasn’t played this season as a knee injury has sidelined him. Capobianco was activated from injured reserve today in order to permit the Coyotes to waive him. It appears as though recent call-ups Dysin Mayo and Cam Dineen have now surpassed Capobianco on the team’s depth chart.
The Devils have utilized Studenic in five games this season, but the 23-year-old Slovakian has yet to register a point. He was technically the team’s only extra healthy forward, but they’ve also played Mason Geertsen at forward instead of his usual defense at some points this season. Studenic’s averaged just 11:33 of ice time in those five games.
Both Capobianco and Studenic were younger players that appeared to have the inside track on roster spots heading into the season. It’s entirely possible that a team could choose to take a chance on either one of Capobianco or Studenic.
Snapshots: Tkachuk, Drouin, Coyotes
While many fans will be eager to move on from the Jack Eichel trade saga that finally wrapped up Thursday after an early-morning deal to the Vegas Golden Knights, there were many rumors in the days leading up to the trade that deserves attention. While it was common knowledge in the week or so prior to Thursday that the Calgary Flames were potential suitors for the star forward, ESPN’s Kevin Weekes tweeted Wednesday that the team had offered winger Matthew Tkachuk in a potential package for Eichel. However, Tkachuk said today that he “had a hard time believing” that Calgary would have been willing to part with him, supporting other reports today that Tkachuk was not on the table. Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams also stated that the report “was not accurate.” It would’ve been shocking to see the Flames part with Tkachuk, who’s entering the final season of a $7MM contract. The 23-year-old has four goals and six points through nine games this season.
More from around the league:
- Jonathan Drouin sits out tonight for the Montreal Canadiens, per Newsday’s Andrew Gross. Drouin left Montreal’s game on Tuesday night after taking a puck to the head and was actually transported to the hospital for further evaluation, but was discharged and was seen at the Bell Centre after the game. No timeline has been issued by the team on his injury, but it continues an unfortunate slew of health issues that have plagued the Canadiens this season.
- The Arizona Coyotes tried to be a part of the Eichel trade, as mentioned in today’s episode of TSN’s Insider Trading. As a third-party member, the Coyotes likely could’ve taken on considerable value by offering to retain a small portion of Eichel’s salary in the deal. Salary retention in three-team deals has been an increasing trend in the league, with multiple low-spending teams gaining draft capital at last year’s Trade Deadline by helping facilitate deals.