Vegas Golden Knights To Acquire Robin Lehner, Nick Cousins
3:55pm: The Toronto Maple Leafs were actually involved in the Lehner deal as well, part of a complicated three-way salary-retaining trade that makes the deal quite affordable for the Golden Knights. The Maple Leafs will sent Martins Dzierkals to the Golden Knights as well, and receive a 2020 fifth-round pick for picking up part of Lehner’s remaining salary.
1:50pm: The Vegas Golden Knights have swooped in at the last moment to land the best goaltender on the market, snatching Robin Lehner from the Chicago Blackhawks according to multiple reports including Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. Chris Johnston of Sportsnet reports that the Blackhawks will receive Malcolm Subban, Slava Demin and a second-round pick for Lehner. The Golden Knights have also acquired Nick Cousins from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a 2021 fourth-round pick.
Lehner’s arrival in Vegas comes as the team is playing their best hockey of the season, on a six-game winning streak and in first place in the Pacific Division. The big goaltender is having another excellent campaign, registering a .918 save percentage in 33 appearances for the Blackhawks. Lehner is on just a one-year $5MM deal that he signed in the summer to prove his worth once again, but just a small portion of that will have to be covered by the Golden Knights at this point in the season.
The fact that they’ve now brought in another legitimate starter only strengthens Vegas’ position in the Western Conference, and makes them a contender once again for the Stanley Cup. Marc-Andre Fleury‘s struggles had been the only thing really holding the group back, but with Lehner added they should be hard to beat.
The question now is what happens in the offseason, if Fleury doesn’t bounce back down the stretch. His contract carries a $7MM cap hit for each of the next two seasons, but the team now has an opportunity to convince Lehner to stay if they choose. Mark Lazerus of The Athletic (subscription required) reported today that the goaltender offered to sign below market value three-year deal in Chicago but “never got an offer.”
Cousins is also not to be overlooked. The 26-year old is also on an expiring contract but will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season. In 317 career games he has just 95 points, but Cousins can offer some secondary scoring and defensively reliable minutes in the bottom-six. He represents some extra depth for a team that is loaded at this point.
Snapshots: Three Stars, Vegas’ Pick, Marleau, Sheahan, Archibald
The NHL announced its Three Stars for last week with Colorado Avalanche goaltender Pavel Francouz getting the top honors. Francouz, filling in for the injured Philipp Grubauer went 3-0-1 for the week, posting a 1.46 GAA and a .941 save percentage along with a 1-0 shutout over the Anaheim Ducks on Friday. Francouz is in his first full season with the Avalanche and had done an exceptional job as their emergency starter where he ranks fifth in the league with a 2.27 GAA and tied for fourth in the league with a .927 save percentage.
Mika Zibanejad of the New York Rangers received the second star, scoring three goals and five assists over three games for the Rangers. He helped lead New York to three victories as the rebuilding franchise suddenly is within four points of a playoff spot. Calgary Flames forward Andrew Mangiapane takes the third star honors with five goals and six points in three games, which includes his first-career hat trick against Anaheim on Feb. 17.
- The Vegas Golden Knights have been quiet so far on Monday, but the team still managed to pick up a fifth-round pick in 2021 from the Carolina Hurricanes, a condition of the Erik Haula deal this offseason, according to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston. Haula was traded earlier today to Florida as part of a package for Vincent Trocheck, which enacted a condition in the Golden Knights trade which stated that the Hurricanes would send a fifth-round pick to Vegas if Haula was traded to another team for a player.
- The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz adds that even though the San Jose Sharks have traded away veteran forward Patrick Marleau to Pittsburgh earlier today, the veteran is expected to be welcome back next year to San Jose if he is interested. The 40-year-old is just 53 games away from breaking Gordie Howe‘s all-time games played mark. A reunion would allow him to do it in a Sharks sweater next season.
- The Athletic’s Daniel Nugent-Bowman reports that the Edmonton Oilers are currently working on getting extensions worked out for forwards Riley Sheahan and Josh Archibald, both who will be unrestricted free agents at the end of the season. Both players are key players on the team’s penalty kill with Sheahan logging the second-most minutes on the PK, while Archibald is fourth. Both players have fared well after singing one-year pacts this summer. Sheahan has seven goals and 14 points in 57 games, while Archibald has with 10 goals and 17 points in 53 games.
Minor Transactions: 02/23/20
Yesterday was one of those days that can only be explained by a glitch in the matrix. The Bruins, Lightning, and Penguins – the NHL’s top three teams – were all blown out, while the Capitals lost to the lowly Devils and, if that wasn’t bad enough, Alex Ovechkin‘s 700th career goal was overshadowed by another story line, which was a 42-year-old zamboni driver named David Ayres manning the net for the Hurricanes as an emergency backup and getting the win over his employer, the Maple Leafs. Will some of these teams overreact to these shocking results, especially on the eve of the trade deadline? It’s quite possible. One thing is for certain, roster tweaks could be in store for all involved. Many teams around the NHL could be making minor moves ahead of Monday’s big day, so keep up with all of the action here:
- The Ottawa Senators have reassigned forwards Drake Batherson and Josh Norris to AHL Belleville, the team announced. While Batherson has been part of this up-and-down shuffle all year, playing in 23 games with Ottawa and 37 games with Belleville, Norris made his NHL debut on this recall. The Unvisersity of Michigan standout leads the AHL Senators with 58 points in 51 games this season.
- The Minnesota Wild have recalled a pair of players as they deal with potential long-term injury absences. The team announced the promotion of forward Gerald Mayhew and defenseman Louis Belpedio, both of whom have seen NHL action before but could be in for a larger role this time around. The Athletic’s Michael Russo reports that defenseman Carson Soucy is out for at least one month, while forward Luke Kunin could miss 10-14 days minimum.
- After recalling Sheldon Dries and Logan O’Connor on consecutive days, the Colorado Avalanche were faced with a decision on which to keep at the top level and which to return. The team has apparently opted to keep the youth and motor of O’Connor over the greater experience and scoring ability of Dries, as he has been reassigned to the AHL Eagles. Dries is one of the top point-getters for the Eagles this season, but has skated in just three games for the Avs compared to 40 last year. O’Connor has eight NHL games this year and 13 total, but has just one point to show for it. The University of Denver product does bring a lot of energy and speed to the lineup though.
- Taylor Fedun is back with the Dallas Stars, as the team has promoted the veteran from his conditioning assignment with AHL Texas. Fedun has played in 27 games for the Stars this season, contributing nine points, but was a healthy scratch for ten games before being sent to Texas for conditioning earlier this month. Fedun will be a dependable depth option for Dallas down the stretch and in the playoffs.
- The Vegas Golden Knights added some depth to their forward lines as they announced they have recalled Patrick Brown from the Chicago Wolves of the AHL. The 27-year-old was signed during the offseason away from the Calder Cup Charlotte Checkers, who defeated Chicago in the finals last season. He was brought in to provide a veteran presence for the team’s young prospects. He has six goals and 19 points in 54 games this season. Now, he gets his first opportunity in Vegas. Brown has 36 games of NHL experience, all with Carolina, where he has tallied just a goal and an assist.
- The New York Islanders announced they have swapped forwards. The team has assigned veteran Andrew Ladd to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL. The team also have recalled forward Kieffer Bellows to the team, although Bellows, who was assigned Friday to Bridgeport, never left. He watched the last Islanders’ game in the press box, suggesting that he was expecting to be recalled immediately.
- The Philadelphia Flyers announced they have recalled defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere from his conditioning stint with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL. The blueliner has missed 18 of the team’s last 19 games with a knee injury, but looks ready to return after a two-game stint in the AHL where he had one assist. The Flyers hope he can contribute immediately after a poor season so far where he’s seen his ATOI drop to a career low 18:21.
- Kiefer Sherwood is back up with the Anaheim Ducks who announced that they have recalled him from AHL San Diego. While he hasn’t seen any NHL time this season, he got into 50 games with Anaheim back in 2018-19, recording six goals and six assists. In 37 games with the Gulls this season in the minors, he has 16 goals and seven helpers.
Trade Rumors: Thornton, Gustafsson, Ennis, Koivu
San Jose Sharks veteran center Joe Thornton has been quite tight-lipped about whether he has any interest in being traded to a contender. However, with just two days left, Thornton admitted to The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz (subscription required) that he is tempted to join a contending team, although the 40-year-old forward also made it clear in the interview that his career is not over yet.
“You know, it is,” Thornton said, when asked whether he is tempted to go to a contender. “But it’s not like I feel like this is my last year. I feel like I’m healthy, I feel like I still have a lot in the tank left. It’s not like a last-hurrah-type thing. I feel good, and my mind feels great. It’s not like, ‘Oh, this is going to be my last shot at it.’ So, that’s where my mind is at right now.”
That could indicated another scenario if Thornton prefers to remain in San Jose to end his career. The team could still trade the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent to a contender before the deadline, allowing him to chase a Stanley Cup with the possibility the Sharks might be able to re-sign him in the offseason once again.
“There’s lots of possibilities,” he said. “That could be an option. There’s lots to play with. It is what it is, and we’ll see what happens. I’m a Shark now, and I love being a Shark.”
- Mark Lazerus of The Athletic reports that while there is no deal in place, the Vegas Golden Knights are the clear front-runners to adding Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Erik Gustafsson before the trade deadline. However, the scribe also notes that Chicago fans shouldn’t get too excited as it is not expected to be a big package. The 27-year-old Gustafsson, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, had a career year in 2018-19, scoring 17 goals and 60 points, but has struggled with the Blackhawks this year as he has just six goals and 26 points.
- Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that the Ottawa Senators are expected to hold out forward Tyler Ennis from Saturday’s game as the team is expected to move him before the trade deadline and want to protect the veteran from possible injury. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that Ennis is a candidate to be traded to the Edmonton Oilers, although there are several teams still rumored to be interested in acquiring him. Ennis could be an interesting trade chip. The 30-year-old has 14 goals and 33 points, his best season since the 2014-15 season. TSN’s Darren Dreger also notes that the Senators are holding out forward Vladislav Namestnikov as well.
- Minnesota Wild center Mikko Koivu has been on a few lists as a potential trade candidate recently. However, The Athletic’s Michael Russo reports that the center has informed general manager Bill Guerin that he will be staying with the Wild for the remainder of the season. Koivu has a no-movement clause as he wraps up his two-year, $11MM contract this season and has made it clear to management that he has no interest in leaving the team. The 36-year-old has struggled this season, posting just two goals and 15 points through 46 games. He has played his entire career in Minnesota, a total of 1,019 games.
Minor Transactions: 02/22/20
At this time of year, every game is important to both ongoing playoff battles and teams’ final decisions on their trade deadline stance. Friday was no different, as the Blues asserted themselves against the division rival Stars, the Avalanche narrowly edged the Ducks to keep up in the Central as well, the Islanders got a much-needed win, and the Oilers, Predators, and Hurricanes all failed to come away with two points in upset losses. However, the fiercest battle in the NHL right now is at the top of the league, where the Bruins and Lightning are simultaneously batting for the Atlantic Division title, the top seed in the Eastern Conference, and the President’s Trophy. As good as Boston has played of late, they have still lost ground to a Tampa club that has been unstoppable since December. After a rare Bolts loss to Vegas on Friday, the Bruins needed to take advantage in a Pacific clash of their own in Calgary. The odds seemed bleak after allowing three goals to the Flames in the first six minutes of play, but Boston shut out Calgary for the rest of the game and came away with a meaningful 4-3 win to increase their lead over Tampa Bay to five points. Whether it is a top contender, a fringe playoff team, or a bottom-dweller, every minor move also has significance at this time. With the trade deadline arriving in just two days, look for today to be a busy day for roster tweaks:
- The Vegas Golden Knights have recalled a pair of players, including Las Vegas native Gage Quinney. The 24-year-old forward has finally earned an NHL appearance with 32 points in 42 games so far this season, among the top producers on the AHL’s Chicago Wolves. The trade of Cody Eakin opens up a roster spot up front in Vegas for Quinney and his teammates in the minors, at least until Alex Tuch returns from injury or the Knights make a trade addition. Also returning to the top level is defenseman Zach Whitecloud, who has skated in seven games with Vegas so far this season.
- Scott Wilson is on his way back down to the minors, as the Buffalo Sabres announced that they have reassigned the veteran forward. The move is somewhat surprising, as Wilson has contributed two points in four games since being recalled earlier this month and seemingly looked like he would either stick with Buffalo for a while longer or could potentially be a candidate to be traded as an affordable depth addition for a contender. Instead, the impending free agent will head back to the AHL’s Rochester Americans, where he has 19 points in 29 games this year.
- After losing Cody Goloubef on waivers yesterday, the Ottawa Senators have promoted Christian Jaros to fill his place on the back end. Jaros, 23, played in 61 games with Ottawa last season but only six so far in 2019-20. As the Senators get set to trade away multiple pieces before the deadline on Monday, Jaros is one of a number of minor leaguers from AHL Belleville expected to see an increased role down the stretch.
- The injury-riddled Columbus Blue Jackets have recalled defenseman Gabriel Carlsson from the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters. Carlsson was just sent down yesterday, but the team will need him as they take on the Predators tonight without any regulars expected to return to the lineup. Carlsson, a big, stay-at-home defender, has been a good fit in Columbus as a spot starter, even if he has yet to produce a point in six games this season.
- Darcy Kuemper is taking an important step towards returning to the lineup as the Arizona Coyotes have assigned him to the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners on a conditioning stint. He has missed just over two months with a lower-body injury but was one of the top goalies in the league before being injured. Assuming there are no setbacks, he should return to Arizona sometime next week and give them a huge boost in their push for a playoff spot.
- The Philadelphia Flyers have returned defenseman Mark Friedman to AHL Lehigh Valley, reports Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Daily News and Inquirer. He has been shuffled back and forth in recent days and managed to get into Thursday’s game with the big club where he logged more than 16 minutes of ice time.
- With Erik Gustafsson being held out of the lineup with the trade deadline on the horizon (he won’t be joining the Blackhawks for their upcoming road game), Chicago will be recalling defenseman Lucas Carlsson from the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL, reports Mark Lazerus of The Athletic. If he gets into the lineup, it will be his first NHL action. Carlsson is in his second season with Rockford and has 26 points in 48 games this season.
- The Colorado Avalanche announced they have recalled forward Logan O’Connor from the Colorado Eagles of the AHL. With only 12 healthy forwards on the roster, O’Connor should provide some insurance in case of injury for the time being. The 23-year-old returns after a stint with the Avalanche in December where he played seven games with one goal. The forward has 12 goals and 25 points in 40 games with the Eagles.
- The Edmonton Oilers announced they have assigned forward Colby Cave and defenseman Evan Bouchard to the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL. Cave has played in six games since being recalled on Feb. 10, but hasn’t picked up a point in that span. He has one goal in 11 games for Edmonton this season. His assignment likely indicates that Connor McDavid is ready to return to the Oilers’ lineup. As for Bouchard, the 10th-overall pick in 2018, he will have to wait to make his 2019-20 debut. He was recalled Wednesday and has been a healthy scratch twice. He is expected to play with Bakersfield on Saturday and could return to be Edmonton’s seventh defenseman on Sunday again.
Tyson Barrie Drawing Interest As Deadline Nears
The Toronto Maple Leafs’ season certainly hasn’t gone according to plan, creating plenty of speculation over some of their expiring assets. The team is in win-now mode, but Tyson Barrie in particular hasn’t quite fit in since coming over from the Colorado Avalanche and now is swirling around in trade rumors. Frank Seravalli of TSN reports that the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes have all shown some interest in the pending UFA defenseman.
Seravalli indicates that the Maple Leafs would not make a move without getting a defenseman back, even suggesting that a one-for-one deal with Calgary for T.J. Brodie was discussed. Any team acquiring Barrie could potentially sign him to a long-term deal, something that doesn’t appear to be in the works with the Maple Leafs.
Even though his point totals have skyrocketed after the coaching change in Toronto, Barrie still hasn’t been the ideal right-handed option that the Maple Leafs hoped for. His play on the defensive side of the puck hasn’t been good enough, and the team has struggled since he was forced into even more puck-moving responsibility when Morgan Rielly suffered his injury. That’s not to say that Barrie isn’t having a solid season offensively—his 33 points still ties him for 22nd among league defenders—or that he might not dominate in a more limited role elsewhere. His upside as an elite powerplay quarterback and near 60-point defenseman will obviously bring in plenty of suitors if the Maple Leafs really make him available.
Perhaps this was always considered an option, given how the Maple Leafs need more long-term stability on the blueline. Jake Muzzin is expected to be re-signed by the team and Justin Holl already has agreed to an extension, but that still leaves plenty of minutes up for grabs, especially on the right side. If the team is able to flip him into a defenseman with term, one can understand the process in selling a high-priced rental during a playoff chase.
Winnipeg Jets Acquire Cody Eakin
The Winnipeg Jets are bringing one of their hometown kids back to Manitoba. Cody Eakin has been acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for a conditional 2021 fourth-round pick. Eakin is on the final season of a four-year $15.4MM contract and set to become an unrestricted free agent in July. The pick can become a 2021 third-round selection if the Jets make the playoffs or Eakin re-signs. Vegas will not retain any salary in the transaction.
Apparently, the Jets have decided not to follow in their yearly tradition of spending a first-round pick on a rental second-line center at the deadline. After acquiring Paul Stastny in 2018 and Kevin Hayes in 2019, Eakin comes this season to try and give them a little more depth at the position for a playoff push, even if he won’t be expected to serve in the same top-six role.
The 28-year old has shown he can perform offensively in the past, even as recently as the 2018-19 season when he scored 22 goals and 41 points for the Golden Knights. But that Eakin has been nowhere to be seen this year as his four goals and ten points match Adam Lowry‘s disappointing totals for the season. Interestingly, Eakin and Lowry were teammates for a while with the Swift Current Broncos of the WHL and will get a chance to reunite in the Jets’ bottom-six down the stretch.
For the Golden Knights getting rid of Eakin’s contract was likely reward enough, making the conditional pick icing on the cake. The team wasn’t getting any production from the former Dallas Stars forward and needed room if they are going to activate Alex Tuch before the end of the year or make another acquisition. Nicolas Roy can slide into the lineup on a regular basis for the time being, while they grab another piece of draft capital to use in other discussions.
The Jets have assigned Andrei Chibisov to the minor leagues to make room on the roster.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Minor Transactions: 02/20/20
While teams try to prepare their rosters for the coming trade deadline, there will be plenty of movement up and down between the NHL and AHL. Eight important games are on the schedule for tonight, and as the last minute tweaks happen we’ll keep track of all the minor moves.
- The Dallas Stars have sent Joel Kiviranta back to the minor leagues, after playing in four games earlier this month. Kiviranta has 11 total appearances on the season and a single goal, but really hasn’t been used as a full-time option in Dallas yet. The 23-year old was signed out of Finland last spring and still has another year left on his deal.
- Gabe Vilardi is expected to make his NHL debut tonight for the Los Angeles Kings, finally recalled after a long recovery period. The 20-year old Vilardi was drafted 11th overall in 2017 but played just four games during the 2018-19 season as he dealt with chronic back issues. His work has paid off however, scoring 25 points in 32 games this season with the Ontario Reign and making it to the NHL.
- The Vegas Golden Knights have sent Jimmy Schuldt and Zach Whitecloud back to the minors after using them to complete a salary cap transaction yesterday. The team gained as much cap relief as possible when they moved Alex Tuch to long-term injured reserve.
- A pair of players have been reassigned by the Vancouver Canucks as well, as the team announced that forward Tyler Graovac and defenseman Guillaume Brisebois have been returned to the AHL’s Utica Comets. Graovac has missed considerable time due to injury this season, but in his limited action has suited up for the Cancucks more than the Comets, whereas Brisebois has been a fixture on the Utica blue line with no NHL appearances yet this season.
- It’s been a bit of a whirlwind in the Florida Panthers’ bottom-six of late, with Jayce Hawryluk and Denis Malgin departing and Danick Martel and Mason Marchment arriving. As a result, the team has brought back a familiar face fore the time being, announcing the recall of Dryden Hunt. Hunt has skated in 20 games with the Cats this season and another 35 with the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds.
Golden Knights Interested In Erik Gustafsson
Earlier on Wednesday, the Golden Knights made a big addition to their back end with the acquisition of Alec Martinez. If they have their way, they may not be done there as Jesse Granger of The Athletic reports (Twitter link) that Vegas has shown interest in Blackhawks blueliner Erik Gustafsson.
The 27-year-old picked up 60 points last season to finish sixth in the NHL in scoring by a defenseman. However, he hasn’t been anywhere near as productive this year; although he leads all Chicago blueliners in points, he only has 26 points in 58 games. He recently admitted that his contract situation – he’s a pending unrestricted free agent – has weighed on him this year.
Vegas had to do considerable salary cap maneuvering simply to fit Martinez in which involved moving Alex Tuch to LTIR and recalling three players so their cap space is limited. However, with Gustafsson carrying a $1.2MM cap hit (just $500K above the league minimum), it’s one that they should be able to afford.
However, many other teams can also afford someone at that price tag and while his numbers are down, Gustafsson is still one of the more intriguing blueliners out there that could be moved by Monday’s trade deadline. Contenders could use him in a sheltered role with power play time which is probably his ideal role anyway so Chicago should have considerable interest outside of Vegas.
The Golden Knights have shown a distinct preference to avoid rental players but with nearly $69MM in cap commitments to just a dozen players for next season, it’s unlikely that they would be able to afford to give Gustafsson an extension. That means for this occasion at least, they’ll have to go against that strategy.
Vegas Golden Knights Acquire Alec Martinez
Wednesday: The trade for Martinez has been officially announced. Vegas receives the veteran defenseman in exchange for their 2020 second-round pick and St. Louis’ 2021 second-round pick. The Kings will not retain any of Martinez’ salary.
The Golden Knights have also recalled Jimmy Schuldt, Zach Whitecloud and Nicolas Roy, while placing Alex Tuch on injured reserve.
Tuesday: The Vegas Golden Knights are trying to get in on the defenseman party, as Bob McKenzie of TSN reports they are working on a deal that would see Alec Martinez arrive from the Los Angeles Kings. In return, McKenzie believes the Kings would receive a package of two second-round picks. The deal has not been completed yet, and may not be officially announced until tomorrow, even though Martinez will not play for Los Angeles this evening.
Martinez, unlike the other rental defensemen traded today, has another year left on his contract. He also carries a $4MM cap hit, meaning the Golden Knights would need to make some extra room by either sending down a player or having the Kings retain some of Martinez’ salary. That also could be the hold up in the deal, as by waiting another day they will open enough cap space to fit Martinez in without any salary retention. Vegas sent down Zach Whitecloud earlier today and sit with just 20 players on the roster.
The Golden Knights do have two second-round selections this season (their own and Pittsburgh’s) and three next year (their own, New Jersey’s and St. Louis’). They also have a desperate need for some help on defense if they are to compete in the Pacific Division, which is so tightly packed there is just two points between first and fifth. More specifically, the Golden Knights need a player who can quickly get the puck up to their talented forwards to take some pressure off Nate Schmidt and Shea Theodore. While Martinez hasn’t had the same offensive impact the last few years in Los Angeles, he was once a staple on the team’s powerplay and has multiple 30+ point seasons.
The fact that he is signed for another season is also a huge bonus for the Golden Knights, who currently have three regulars in Nick Holden, Jonathon Merrill and Deryk Engelland set to become unrestricted free agents in the summer. Though Whitecloud, Nicolas Hague and Jimmy Schuldt all could be up in the NHL next year, Martinez gives Vegas another legitimate top-four option.
Over each of the past five seasons, Martinez has averaged at least 21 minutes a night for the Kings, playing in all situations. His versatility is maybe his best attribute, especially the fact that he has no problem playing the left or right side (despite being left-handed). That will certainly come in handy (pun intended) during a playoff run, as teams often deal with injuries on the back end.