Trade Candidate: Nikolay Goldobin
Two seasons ago, Vancouver looked like they had acquired an important part of their future when they picked up winger Nikolay Goldobin from San Jose in advance of the 2017 trade deadline in exchange for winger Jannik Hansen (who is currently an unrestricted free agent). Fast forward to today and it’s certainly looking like he could already be on the outs with the Canucks.
Last season, the 22-year-old split the season between Vancouver and their AHL affiliate in Utica. At the minor league level, he was quite productive, collecting 31 points (9-22-31) in 30 games. However, that wasn’t the case with the big club as he had just 14 points (8-6-14) in 38 games while playing just over 12 minutes per game. He’s a player that has outplayed the minors but has yet to really make his mark in the NHL.
With the retirement of the Sedin twins and their recent struggles, it looked as if Vancouver was going to be willing to play more of their younger players. But then they went and acquired an entire bottom-six line in free agency with the additions of wingers Antoine Roussel and Tim Schaller plus center Jay Beagle. Those players didn’t get signed to sit on the bench so they’re going to be in the lineup on a regular basis while rookie forwards Adam Gaudette and Elias Pettersson stand to be ahead of Goldobin on the depth chart and get the spots earmarked for the youngsters. All of a sudden, he’s on the outside looking in.
[Related: Canucks Depth Chart from Roster Resource]
It stands to reason that he could be 15th or 16th among forwards on Vancouver’s depth chart heading into training camp. While it’s certainly possible that there could be some injuries up front in the preseason, there probably won’t be enough for Goldobin to move into an end-of-roster spot (let alone a regular spot in the lineup).
Further impacting things is his waiver situation. Although he is still on his entry-level contract for one more year (with a $832K cap hit plus $212K in performance bonuses), Goldobin now must go through waivers to get back to the minors next season. Considering he’s only four years removed from being a first-round pick (27th overall in 2014), there’s a very good chance a team would put in a claim for him so going this route is off the table as well.
They can’t send him down and it’s improbable that there will be a roster spot for him at the start of next season. That leaves a trade as the best possibility both for him and the Canucks.
What should Vancouver be looking for in a return? They have good forward depth and the same can be said for their back end. They don’t really necessarily need to add someone else on the cusp of making it to the NHL on a full-time basis. That puts a draft pick or prospect (if signed, still waiver exempt) as the best option for them. Of course, other teams know that the Canucks are in this situation with Goldobin so it wouldn’t be surprising if offers aren’t exactly top notch.
In his limited time as a professional, Goldobin has shown some flashes of top-six potential. It wouldn’t be shocking if he gets to continue to show those flashes in a different uniform for 2018-19.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Canucks’ Offseason Signings Were Critical To Improve Team
The Vancouver Canucks dealt with a lot of criticism when free agency started last week when they went out and signed bottom-six players Jay Beagle, Antoine Roussel and Tim Schaller to long-term deals (Beagle & Roussel got four years, while Schaller signed for two). While the general addition of these three players was to add some size, grit and leadership to an incredibly young team, there is another key advantage of bringing in those three, especially with their abilities to help with penalty killing. Both Beagle and Schaller were solid contributors to their teams last season on the penalty kill and they both will bring those skills to Vancouver now.
“We’ve added some players which is, I think, important. We need guys who can kill penalties,” Vancouver head coach Travis Green said. “The longer you’re in the league, the better the penalty killer you are. Some won’t understand what that means, but there’s a lot of reading plays, and making changes on the fly that you get better at over time. It’s an art learned. You don’t see a lot of young guys come in who are great penalty killers.”
The hope is that Beagle and Schaller should improve the team’s 21st-ranked penalty killing unit, which must improve dramatically if the team wants to start winning. However, their signings also have another key importance to the team.
Perhaps more than anyone, the most likely benefactor to these signings will be center Bo Horvat, who has always been forced to take penalty killing minutes in the past as part of his responsibilities. However with the retirement of Henrik Sedin, suddenly Horvat’s responsibilities have changed, according to Jason Botchford of the Vancouver Sun. The team needs more scoring without the Sedin twins and the team will turn to their four-year pro to take his game to that next level and reducing his minutes on the penalty kill should only help him carry that out.
Horvat’s numbers have been solid, but now that he’s likely moving into the No. 1 center position, he must continue to improve. The 23-year-old has increased his scoring over the past four years, going from 14 goals in his rookie campaign, to 16, then 20 and this year posting 22 goals, even though he played in the least amount of games in his career (64).
That grit created by Beagle and Roussel especially should benefit someone like Elias Pettersson, who the team hopes will become one of the next great scorers in Vancouver. However, while the 19-year-old is 6-foot-2, he weighs in at 161 pounds and the presence of one of those players could remind other teams to stay away from their prized prospect.
Metropolitan Notes: Johnson, Myers, Rangers
While defensemen have been receiving big deals in the last week or two, one deal that caught many by surprise was the five-year, $16.25MM deal that Jack Johnson signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins signed on July 1. While Johnson was a highly-touted prospect at one time and developed into a solid NHL veteran, the five-year term seemed like a lot considering that the 31-year-old had lost his job at the end of the season with the Columbus Blue Jackets and instead took up a role as a healthy scratch for the remainder of the season and the playoffs. Johnson finished the year posting
Regardless, Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford had coaches’ Mike Sullivan and Sergei Gonchar look into the three games leading up to Johnson’s benching and they walked away with a positive impression and the team signed the veteran.
The Athletic’s Jesse Marshall (subscription required) took a look at the three games before Johnson was benched and analyzes and breaks down the veteran’s play, citing that his performance was solid, but underwhelming and while the defenseman did have some bad luck at times, what stood out the most was his lack of involvement in the team’s offense as he seems to only have been focusing on his defensive game, which might be exactly what Rutherford and the Penguins want out of Johnson.
- Charlie O’Connor of The Athletic (subscription required) writes that the Philadelphia Flyers’ signing of Christian Folin almost guarantees that defensive prospect Philippe Myers will begin the season with the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The 21-year-old undrafted free agent had a solid rookie season with the Phantoms last season and was expected to get a “long look” in Flyers training camp in September. However, with six quality NHL established defenseman already on the roster (not counting the injured Samuel Morin), Myers would have to beat one of them out to make the team. General manager Ron Hextall wouldn’t allow Myers to make the team as the team’s seventh defenseman when he could return to Lehigh Valley and get valuable playing experience. So, while many were upset that the team went out and signed Folin, it’s likely that Folin will man that extra defenseman role instead.
- The New York Rangers have been talked about as a potential third-team in any deal involving Erik Karlsson. The team has $23.7MM in cap room to work with and with the team in a quick rebuild, this would be the perfect time to add more picks or prospects to that effort. While the team might be open to acquiring Ryan Callahan from Tampa Bay, The Athletic’s Rick Carpiniello (subscription required) writes that the team will not take on the contract of veteran Bobby Ryan, who still has four years at $7.25MM remaining on his deal. He writes that the Rangers don’t believe they will still be rebuilding in three or four years and being burdened by that deal down the road wouldn’t make any sense.
Canucks Prospect Quinn Hughes Undecided On Turning Pro For 2018-19
The Canucks are in discussions with the representatives for prospect defenseman Quinn Hughes to determine whether he should turn pro for 2018-19 or return to school for his sophomore year, reports Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre. The matter is expected to be discussed further on Friday.
Hughes was the seventh-overall selection back in last month’s draft following a strong rookie season at the University of Michigan that saw him collect 29 points (5-24-29) in just 37 games. He also spent time with Team USA at both the World Juniors as well as the World Championships back in May which certainly helped his draft stock.
At just 5’10, the 18-year-old is undersized for his position which could give Vancouver pause as to whether he’s ready to handle the rigors of full-time NHL duty already. They could certainly benefit from his mobility and offensive prowess on their back end, however, so there’s no obvious right way to go.
One other option in play here is for Hughes to turn pro but play at the minor league level. He’s eligible to do so since he was drafted out of the NCAA and not the CHL. While that would still put an early end to his college eligibility, going this route would allow him to ease into the pro game and be available to be recalled at any point by the Canucks should it be deemed necessary. For his part, Hughes hasn’t stated that he wouldn’t be open to starting with AHL Utica and hasn’t made a guaranteed NHL roster spot part of negotiations to this point.
While technically a decision could be made in training camp, college players rarely attend as their college classes will have already started. As a result, expect both sides to come to an agreement on which route to take in the near future.
Vancouver Canucks Extend Darren Archibald
A fan-favorite enforcer is staying in Vancouver. The Canucks announced this evening that they have re-signed forward Darren Archibald to a one-year, two-way contract extension. The Province’s Ben Kuzma reports that the deal is worth the minimum $650K at the NHL level.
Archibald made headlines this past season when the Canucks rewarded his hard work and leadership at the AHL level by giving him an NHL contract and promoting him to Vancouver. Archibald had previously played in the NHL for the Canucks in 2013-14, but was midway through his third season on a minor league deal with the organization when he was called up last year.
The 28-year-old winger is 6’3″ and 209 lbs. and know first and foremost for his physical style and checking game, but he also recorded a career-high 47 points in 76 games with the AHL’s Utica Comets in 2016-17 and managed to post nine points in 27 games down the stretch for Vancouver last season. While the team appreciates his work ethic, experience, and defensive presence on the ice, he is also capable of modest offense as well. Vancouver GM Jim Benning called Archibald “a big, physical forward who has been a good professional throughout his career” with a “terrific work ethic that our younger players can follow” in the team’s press release.
Vancouver continues to focus on adding hard-working, hard-nosed two-way forwards this season, as Archibald’s extension was preceded by a trio of free agency additions on July 1st that play a similar style: Jay Beagle, Antoine Roussel, and Tim Schaller.
Sven Baertschi Signs Three-Year Contract With Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks have signed restricted free agent Sven Baertschi to a three-year contract that carries an average annual value of $3.367MM. Baertschi, 25, will be eligible for unrestricted free agency at the end of the deal. GM Jim Benning included a statement regarding his young winger along with the press release:
We’re very pleased to sign Sven to an extension. He’s a talented offensive player. We look forward to seeing Sven further develop his complete game and become a consistent contributor to our success.
Tim Schaller Signs With Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks have added some bottom-six players in Antoine Roussel and Jay Beagle already, and now will continue that trend with a deal for Tim Schaller. The former Boston Bruins forward has inked a two-year, $3.8MM contract with the Canucks. GM Jim Benning released a statement regarding his newest forward:
Tim adds size to our forward group and can play throughout our line-up. He’s responsible defensively and last year showed he can make regular offensive contributions as well. We’re excited to welcome him to the Vancouver Canucks.
Schaller provides the Canucks with both size (he’s 6-foot-2, 210 pounds) and penalty killing skills as he led all Bruins in short-handed time on the ice. While he’s versatile, he primarily played left wing for the Bruins on their fourth line, but has the versatility to move to center if needed. Schaller signed a two-year deal with the Boston Bruins last season and thrived there, most especially this season when he played in all 82 games this season, totaling a career-high 12 goals and 22 points.
Washington Capitals Sign Michael Sgarbossa, Jayson Megna
The Washington Capitals have added some depth to the Hershey Bears, signing minor league veterans Michael Sgarbossa and Jayson Megna to one-year, two-way contracts.
Sgarbossa gives Washington a center to likely replace Travis Boyd who was one of Hershey’s top centers there a season ago. Sgarbossa spent last year with the Winnipeg’s Jets AHL affiliate and put up solid numbers, including 16 goals and 40 points. The 25-year-old was not promoted. Regardless, however, Sgarbossa has 48 games of NHL experience and also provides the Capitals depth options in case of injuries. Sgarbossa did get 29 NHL games in the 2016-17 season with the Florida Panthers, posting two goals and seven points.
The 28-year-old Megna also provides much needed center depth and has even more experience than Sgarbossa. Megna has played in 113 NHL games, but spent much of the season with the Utica Comets, the Vancouver Canucks AHL affiliate. In 25 games there, he scored four goals and 13 points and played in one game for Vancouver.
Anaheim Ducks Sign Swedish Forward Anton Rodin
The Ducks are importing some scoring help for the coming season. Sportsnet reports that Anaheim has signed Anton Rodin, a former Swedish Hockey League MVP and brief member of the Vancouver Canucks. Rodin finished the 2017-18 season with HC Davos of the Swiss NLA, but will now return to North America to join the Ducks. Contract terms are not yet available.
Rodin, a second-round pick back in 2009, has had trouble making his mark in the NHL. He came over to the U.S. for the 2011-12 season, but found himself playing in the AHL for next two seasons without a callup, prompting the Swede to return to the SHL, the next season, which is where he stayed for another three years. He returned to Vancouver and got into three NHL games, but spent most of his time with the Utica Comets before asking for his release in November of this season.
Travis Boyd Re-Signs With Capitals
The Washington Capitals are holding on to one of their top minor league contributors, announcing a new two-year deal with Travis Boyd. The contract carries an $800K AAV. Boyd is expected to compete for a starting job with the defending champs next season.
Boyd, along with free agent acquisition Nic Dowd, will be expected to compete for the open fourth-line center position, according to the Washington Post’s Isabelle Khurshudyan. The fourth-line center position, which used to belong to faceoff specialist Jay Beagle, is open now after he signed a four-year, $12MM contract with the Vancouver Canucks. Boyd will be given every opportunity to compete with the veteran Dowd for that spot.
Boyd has spent the last three seasons with the AHL Hershey Bears tallying up 52 goals while adding 163 points. The 24-year-old was a restricted free agent after signing a one-year deal last offseason for $650K.