Vegas Golden Knights Shopping Max Pacioretty
Perhaps spurred by the recent progress in getting the 2020-21 season up and running, the Vegas Golden Knights are back at it, working the phones in an effort to make a move to get salary cap compliant. Vegas is one of a number of teams currently over the salary cap upper limit and must shed some salary before play begins. However, the player that GM Kelly McCrimmon is allegedly pushing to other teams may come as a surprise. TSN’s Frank Seravalli reports that veteran forward Max Pacioretty has been the subject of trade talks this off-season, with those discussions picking up steam in recent days.
Pacioretty, 32, may be one of the older players on the Vegas roster but is still an elite scorer. The long-time Montreal Canadien was in fact the Knights’ leading scorer this past season, recording 66 points in 71 games for a career-high scoring clip. He added another eight points in the playoffs. In the two seasons since coming over from the Habs, Pacioretty has shown no signs of slowing down. His loss would be felt in a major way in Vegas, both on the ice and in the locker room.
However, Pacioretty’s $7MM, while commensurate to his production, is a massive weight on the Golden Knight’s salary cap. If the team were to move Pacioretty without retaining any salary, they would not only be under the cap ceiling but would have the flexibility to make an addition if they so desire. Seravalli mentions top available free agent Mike Hoffman or a reunion with Erik Haula as possibilities. One would also think that Pacioretty would still bring in a considerable return as well; he cost Vegas Nick Suzuki, Tomas Tatar, and a second-round pick just two years ago. However, in a definitive buyer’s market, McCrimmon would have to be careful not to give away Pacioretty for too little just for the sake of cap savings. The team was already lambasted for trading top defenseman Nate Schmidt for pennies on the dollar in order to facilitate the signing of Alex Pietrangelo.
One other concern for the Knights’ brass is the locker room culture. There have already been reports of many players being unhappy with the frequent trades that the team has made and the perceived lack of loyalty toward the roster. The team has dealt Schmidt, Haula, Colin Miller, Cody Eakin, Malcolm Subban, Brandon Pirri, and Paul Stastny all in the past 18 months, leaving the young franchise with very little roster consistency. There are certainly some in the room who have to be unhappy to even hear the whispers of a potential Pacioretty move. Others in the media have noted that he is not the only name on the block either, with fan favorite Marc-Andre Fleury likely being floated again as well. Vegas must tread carefully when it comes to making any further moves and a Pacioretty trade in particular can only be made with a considerable return and a plan to replace him with the cap savings.
Salary Cap Deep Dive: Vegas Golden Knights
Navigating the salary cap is one of the more important tasks for any GM. Teams that can avert total cap chaos by walking the tightrope of inking players to deals that match their value (or compensate for future value without breaking the bank) remain successful. Those that don’t see struggles and front office changes.
PHR will look at every NHL team and give a thorough look at their cap situation heading into the 2020-21 season. This will focus more on players who are regulars on the roster versus those who may find themselves shuttling between the AHL and NHL. All cap figures are courtesy of CapFriendly.
Vegas Golden Knights
Current Cap Hit: $82,474,104 (over the $81.5MM Upper Limit)
Entry-Level Contracts
F Cody Glass (two years, $863K)
Potential Bonuses
Glass: $850K
Vegas was able to ease Glass into his injury-shortened rookie year and allowed him to get his feet wet without much pressure which is typically a strong development strategy. They won’t have that luxury moving forward, however, with Paul Stastny being moved back to Winnipeg, opening up a spot for a top-six center. They’re hoping Glass can fill that spot and if he does, he’ll be in line for a big raise on his next deal.
One Year Remaining, Non-Entry-Level
D Carl Dahlstrom ($850K, RFA)
D Alec Martinez ($4MM, UFA)
F Tomas Nosek ($1.25MM, UFA)
Nosek has been a dependable fourth liner in his three years with the team which earned him a small raise on this contract. It’s hard to envision him getting much more, however, given how tight they are to the cap; they can’t afford to pay any sort of premium for someone on the fourth line.
Martinez immediately stepped into a prominent role after being acquired from the Kings near the trade deadline as he fit in quite well with his new team. He’s likely to remain in their top four this coming season and he should be one of the more sought-after blueliners on the open market next offseason if he gets there. Dahlstrom was acquired as part of the Stastny trade and will be in a depth role. That’s about all Vegas can afford for that role so if his price tag goes up, chances are he’ll be replaced by someone willing to play for that amount next offseason.
Two Years Remaining
G Marc-Andre Fleury ($7MM, UFA)
D Nick Holden ($1.7MM, UFA)
D Brayden McNabb ($2.5MM, UFA)
F Ryan Reaves ($1.75MM, UFA)
F Reilly Smith ($5MM, UFA)
Smith has been a consistent producer in his three years with Vegas after being a bit more inconsistent during his time with Boston and Florida. He has established himself as a capable top-six winger but he’ll be 31 when he signs his next contract and the market wasn’t too kind to wingers this offseason. Things can change between now and then obviously but while he may be able to land a similar-priced deal in 2022, it’s hard to see a big raise on the horizon. Reaves took a pay cut to stay with the Golden Knights although he’s still one of the more expensive pure fourth liners to recently sign. At some point, they’ll need a cheaper option out of that spot, whether it’s him or someone else.
McNabb is never going to put up a lot of points but there is still a role for a stay-at-home, physical defender. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the importance of players who play that style seems to be diminishing with each year. As a result, even though he’s a good fit on the second pairing most nights, his market two years from now may not be as strong as it should be. Holden has been a serviceable player on the third pairing but that’s another spot that Vegas will be looking to save money on which means they may turn to another player at that time.
Fleury’s contract made some sense at the time he was signed as he was their undisputed starter with no other option on the horizon. Things have changed since then and he now sits as the presumptive backup and $7MM for a second option isn’t ideal no matter how good that player is. It’s believed that the team tried to move him but found no takers at a price point they were comfortable with. A buyout a year from now could be an option if they can’t find a new home by retaining a sizable portion of the contract. In the meantime, Vegas will have one of the stronger tandems in the league next season while also being one of the most expensive ones.
Three Years Remaining
F Max Pacioretty ($7MM, UFA)
Very quietly, Pacioretty has potted 30 or more goals and 60 or more points in five of the last seven seasons which is legitimate front line production. Whether or not he can maintain that in his early to mid-30s remains to be seen but while his contract isn’t a bargain, it’s fair value from when he signed the deal shortly after being acquired in 2018.
Four Years Remaining
F William Carrier ($1.4MM, UFA)
F Jonathan Marchessault ($5MM, UFA)
F Chandler Stephenson ($2.75MM, UFA)
Marchessault is still one of the better stories out there. After starting on an AHL contract and playing a middling role in his mid-20s, he has now emerged as a capable top liner while being paid like a second liner which is good value for Vegas. Stephenson fit in quite well after being acquired in a midseason cap dump from Washington and was rewarded with the four-year deal this offseason. That could prove to be expensive if he goes back to producing more like a fourth liner but at the same time, if he produces at a similar rate from his part year in Vegas, it’ll be quite the bargain. Carrier took a nice step forward offensively last season while playing his usual physical style. Another small step forward in terms of production would give him a good chance to meet if not outperform this contract.
Vegas Golden Knights, Columbus Blue Jackets Confirm Positive COVID-19 Tests
Last night, the Vegas Golden Knights confirmed to Frank Seravalli of TSN that four players recently tested positive for COVID-19. The team explained that all four have been self-isolating and are recovering, but that the off-ice player areas at the Golden Knights facility would be closed through the Thanksgiving weekend. That includes the locker room, lounge, gym, training room, and video room. Seravalli adds that several family members of Golden Knights players have also tested positive.
Today, Seravalli has more coronavirus news. The Columbus Blue Jackets have had a “significant” number of players test positive over the last seven to ten days. The team has released this statement:
The Blue Jackets had several players recently test positive for the COVID-19 virus. Those players immediately began to quarantine and the club closed its off-ice facilities at Nationwide Arena beginning the week of November 16. No voluntary workouts were scheduled this week due to the Thanksgiving holiday. The organization has and will continue to follow all recommended guidelines aimed at protecting the health and safety of our players, staff and community at large as set by the NHL, local, state and national agencies. The club anticipates players returning to our facilities next week for voluntary on- and off-ice workouts.
Obviously, the desire is to have all of the players safely prepare for the upcoming season without contracting the disease, but as we’ve seen with other sports this year, that is unlikely. The MLB got through a 60-game season and playoffs, eventually crowning the Los Angeles Dodgers as World Series champions despite several COVID-19 outbreaks that were contained and dealt with around the league. The NFL is continuing their own season, despite many players testing positive for the disease throughout the season.
The NHL, if it is to hold its season outside of a bubble, will likely have to deal with the same situations. When teams were originally preparing for the return to play postseason this summer, there were several outbreaks that kept players off the ice and away from the rink. The St. Louis Blues for instance explained after being eliminated that around one-fifth of their roster had tested positive at some point before entering the bubble. The Golden Knights and Blue Jackets will likely not be the last to announce outbreaks as things start ramping up again.
Henderson Silver Knights Hire Joel Ward, Jamie Heward
The Henderson Silver Knights, who will serve as the new AHL franchise for the Vegas Golden Knights, have rounded out their coaching staff today. The Silver Knights hired Joel Ward and Jamie Heward to serve as assistant coaches for Manny Viveiros, who will be the team’s first head coach.
Ward, 39, is very familiar to NHL fans who watched him suit up for more than 800 games over the last 15 years, playing his final three seasons with the San Jose Sharks under head coach Pete DeBoer, who now leads the Golden Knights. He announced his retirement earlier this year and will now jump right into the coaching ranks with the Silver Knights. If there is someone that knows what it takes to grind your way up from the minor leagues and make an impact at the NHL it’s Ward, who went undrafted out of the OHL, spent four years playing Canadian college hockey at the University of Prince Edward Island and then finally got a chance with the Houston Aeros. Ward would end up scoring 133 goals and 304 points in his 726 regular season games, twice cracking the 20-goal mark in the NHL.
Heward meanwhile only played 394 games in his NHL career, but has already spent quite some time in the coaching circuit. An associate coach for the Vancouver Giants the last two seasons, he had previously spent five years as an assistant and director of player development with the Swift Current Broncos. During two of those years in Swift Current, Heward worked under Viveiros, including when they won the WHL championship in 2018.
The Silver Knights were relocated and rebranded from the San Antonio Rampage when the Golden Knights purchased the franchise in February. They are expected to play at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas whenever the AHL season begins, while they wait on the construction of their own facility in Henderson.
Poll: Who Would Win An All-Canadian Division?
Earlier today, the Toronto Raptors announced that they will begin the upcoming NBA season in Tampa after their request to play at their home arena was denied by the Canadian government. Because of the travel restrictions between the U.S. and Canada, it always seemed impossible for the Raptors—the league’s lone Canadian franchise—to be hosting American-based teams in Toronto. A long quarantine is still required when you enter the country, meaning the logistics of holding NBA games was going to be incredibly difficult.
In the NHL, however, there may be a way around those difficulties. The league includes seven Canadian-based teams, meaning they could play each other in a realigned divisional structure to start the regular season. The seven teams are based all across the country, but would theoretically not need to quarantine between cities—though this is certainly not a guarantee, especially given Toronto’s increased restrictions today.
The idea of an All-Canadian division has been speculated about since the beginning of the offseason, with the general consensus being it would be necessary to get through the 2020-21 season. Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver would be battling it out to be “King in the North.”
If that division does happen this season, who does it benefit? Which team would be the ultimate winner, and who would face an even more difficult task?
The Canucks, Oilers, and Flames all already play each other in the normal Pacific Division, but none of them were able to top the Vegas Golden Knights this year for the first seed. Perhaps if they get away from the expansion powerhouse, they would be even more successful.
The Maple Leafs, Senators, and Canadiens are in the same boat, battling in a tough Atlantic Division that also included two of the league’s best teams. The Boston Bruins had the best record in the NHL when the season was put on pause, while the Tampa Bay Lightning won it all in the bubble. Getting away from the Bruins especially might be a blessing for the Maple Leafs as they try to finally get over the first-round hump.
Or perhaps it’s the lone Central Division team in Winnipeg who would get the biggest boost. The Jets have been an excellent squad for the last several years, but are in a powerhouse of a division with the St. Louis Blues, Colorado Avalanche, and Dallas Stars all finishing ahead of them in the standings this year. Sure, the other Canadian teams may not be pushovers, but all seven Central teams were included in the 24-team postseason bubble, with the last-place Blackhawks even upsetting the Oilers in the qualification round.
Perhaps who gets the biggest boost is too tough to answer, given the changing rosters all around the league. But if an All-Canadian division does happen, who will come out on top? Make your prediction below and jump into the comment section to explain your thoughts!
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Golden Knights Loan Ryan Murphy To KHL
It turns out that Ryan Murphy’s time in the KHL hasn’t come to an end after all as Dynamo Minsk announced that they’ve added the defenseman on loan from the Henderson Silver Knights, AHL affiliate of Vegas. The deal is for the duration of the KHL season but Vegas reserves the right to recall him to their farm team at any point before then as well.
The 27-year-old spent last year with Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk in the KHL after spending most of the 2018-19 season in the minors. Murphy fared relatively well in his first international stint, picking up eight goals and 15 assists in 56 regular season games which was enough to get him another opportunity in North America as he inked a minor league pact with Vegas back in August.
While he’s on an AHL-only deal for the time being, a good showing overseas could help Murphy’s chances of getting converted to an NHL two-way pact. Cap space is going to be an issue for the Golden Knights all season so as long he’s willing to sign for the minimum, it’s possible that he could suit up for them at some point next season and give them an experienced option (he has 175 games of NHL experienced) at a low price.
Trade Review Poll: Which Off-Season Acquisition Will Have Greatest Impact?
As NHL teams have been forced to shuffle their rosters this off-season in response to the flat salary cap, this off-season has quietly been filled with meaningful trades. While free agent deals always seem to dominate the headlines, there have been at least 20 different trades that sent a notable player to a new locale. This started way back in August, even as the postseason was in full swing, as teams had to look ahead to next season as early as possible to get a jump on cap management. When 2020-21 kicks off, who will make the biggest impact on their new team?
August 25: In a trade that actually contained six players, the only name of immediate note was Kasperi Kapanen making his return to the Pittsburgh Penguins from the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs had initially acquired Kapanen from Pittsburgh in the Phil Kessel trade, but clearly the Penguins maintained interest in the player. Back with the team that drafted him, Kapanen will very likely slot in on the Penguins’ top line with Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel after scoring at a 40+ point full season pace in each of the last two seasons.
September 2: After many years, the Montreal Canadiens finally landed a reliable backup to Carey Price. In what amounted to a salary cap dump for the St. Louis Blues, the Habs acquired former starter Jake Allen. Although Allen played second fiddle to Jordan Binnington again this past season, he returned to form and outplayed the starter with an impressive .927 save percentage and 2.15 GAA. After signing an extension, Allen also has some job security in Montreal and may even have the added incentive of playing well in order to land the starting job for the Seattle Kraken.
September 11: After acquiring Kapanen, the Pittsburgh Penguins knew they needed to shed salary. They turned to former front office exec Bill Guerin, now the GM of the Minnesota Wild. The Wild landed forward Nick Bjugstad at next to no cost and Pittsburgh retained some salary as well. Back in the state where he made his name as a high school and college star, Bjugstad looks ready for a fresh start. In a forward group that is week down the middle and lacking in size, the big center is almost guaranteed a meaningful role. Bjugstad has been streaky and injury prone in his NHL career, but has also shown on multiple occasions that he has 50+ point upside playing a full season on a scoring line.
September 16: The Wild were right back at it a few days later, adding another new face to the forward corps. This time it cost them though. Minnesota acquired Marcus Johansson from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Eric Staal. Johansson provides great versatility as a player who can effectively play any forward position and in any situation. He has also scored at a half-point per-game pace or better for nine straight years with four different teams. Johansson should be able to step in and make an immediate impact. On the flip side, Staal provides the Sabres with a bona fide second line center and veteran leader that they have been sorely lacking. The experienced pivot may not have the positional versatility of Johansson, but is still a superior scoring threat at 36 and knows how to grind out wins in the regular season and postseason.
September 24: The Penguins make their third different deal in less than a month, sending veteran forward Patric Hornqvist to the Florida Panthers for defenseman Michael Matheson and forward Colton Sceviour. While Matheson and Hornqvist are both overpaid, they each still bring value to their new team. Matheson, likely to play a bottom-pair role for Pittsburgh, is a huge upgrade to the players the Penguins rolled out on their final pairing last season. A perennial 20+ point producer and sound defensive player, Matheson will not be asked to play the same minutes as he did in Florida, but will still make the same impact in the minutes he does get from Pittsburgh. Hornqvist meanwhile has not played in more than 70 games in over four years, but is quietly still the same 50-point player that he always has been, just on a per-game basis. An expert net front presence and power play asset, Hornqvist will likely play a major role for a Panthers team that lost two of its top scorers to free agency.
September 26: In what was one of the more obvious salary cap dumps in recent memory, the New York Rangers traded away veteran defenseman Marc Staal and a second-round pick in exchange for “future considerations”. The lucky team on the other side was the Detroit Red Wings, who made out like bandits with a nice draft selection and a new veteran leader for their blue line. A young, rebuilding team who has seen countless veterans leave, many of whom just this off-season, Detroit adds a new face with years of experience and leadership in Staal. While he is definitely in decline at 33, Staal is still a strong defensive presence, a plus player, and a penalty kill asset. Even without much offensive upside, Staal seems locked in for at least a top-four role in Detroit.
October 5: It wasn’t the strategy that anyone expected, but the San Jose Sharks decided to try to solve their issues in net by bringing in another struggling veteran to compete with their current struggling veteran. Devan Dubnyk, who comes over from the Minnesota Wild, is just a few years removed from being one of the top keepers in the game. However, this past season he was not even close to that level of play, recording an .890 save percentage and 3.35 GAA, albeit in limited showings. He was one of the few goalies who performed worse was San Jose’s existing starter, Martin Jones. Dubnyk has more experience and his peaks are much higher than Jones’, but he is also four years older and may have less of an ability to return to form. Perhaps the goal is simply to elevate Jones’ game by giving him an established backup to compete with, but there is always the possibility that Dubnyk emerges the victor.
October 6: Two teams on the fringes of being contenders, each with specific needs up front, made a big swap that will have ramification far beyond this next season. The Montreal Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets exchanged restricted free agent forwards Max Domi and Josh Anderson, each of whom will look to rebound and play a major role for their new teams. Domi fills a need at center for Columbus and hopes to use his new two-year extension to finally earn a long-term home after bouncing around early in his NHL career. A player who has shown immense scoring potential, including a 72-point season in 2018-19, Domi could be a major difference-maker on the second line for the Blue Jackets, who desperately need scoring depth. Anderson was not able to provide that this past season, missing most of the year due to injury and underperforming when healthy. However, he too had a breakout 2018-19 campaign, recording 27 goals and 47 points. The Canadiens believe that this is his long-term yearly value, as they did not hesitate to sign Anderson to a seven-year deal. Montreal needs size up front and they hope the 6’3″, 220-lb. Anderson can be an impact power forward for years to come.
October 7: The Ottawa Senators have a deep pipeline of goaltenders, but did not have anyone ready to be a starter this coming season and perhaps for a couple seasons after that. As a result, they ignored that depth and landed a starter for the present who doubles as a starter of the future in young Matt Murray. A streaky, but accomplished keeper, Murray came over from the Pittsburgh Penguins at the price of a second-round pick and a prospect, but will be well worth it if he can solidify the net for the Senators. They certainly seem to think he will, signing him to a long-term deal. At just 26, Murray already has just under 200 regular season appearances and over 50 postseason appearances, with a pair of Stanley Cups backed up by stellar stats.
The same day, the Nashville Predators and Minnesota Wild swapped forwards, as the Wild continued to address the center position while the Predators got younger and faster. Minnesota acquired veteran center Nick Bonino to anchor the team’s third line, as he has for so many other teams. A two-way pivot who is good for 30-40 points and solid defensive play, Bonino is a useful addition for the Wild. Going the other way was 22-year-old Luke Kunin, who recorded 31 points in 63 games in just his third pro season this year. The 2016 first-round pick has found success at every level and on every team he has played for. Aiming for a top-six role in Nashville, Kunin could be an impact player right away and for years to come.
October 8: The Ottawa Senators continued to add via trade when they swung a deal for physical defenseman Erik Gudbranson from the Anaheim Ducks. A player who has now been traded three times in two years, Gudbranson is either in demand or expendable. He could be both for the Sens, who will give him a top-four role and let him be the defensively responsible counter to their other younger, more offensively-inclined defenseman, then could look to trade him away before his contract expires at year’s end.
Another defenseman was sold off for a late pick the same day and that was Ryan Murray. Though Murray has had immense struggles with health over the years, he had been a good player for the Columbus Blue Jackets when active. However, the team’s depth forced them to deal him away and the New Jersey Devils were the lucky recipients. While Murray is still remembered for his puck-moving pedigree as the No. 2 overall pick in 2012, he has taken on more of a two-way, defensive prowess in the pros and is very solid (again, when healthy). The Devils will almost certainly give Murray top-four and perhaps even top-pair opportunities and if they are fortunate enough to have him for a full season, they could be looking at one of the best value additions of the off-season.
October 9: As the Vegas Golden Knights cleared space for the off-season’s biggest free agent signing, it meant letting go of a proven veteran asset. The Knights traded center Paul Stastny to the Winnipeg Jets, letting go of a valuable two-way forward. While Stastny had an off year this past season, he is just one year removed from recording 42 points in 50 games, a 69-point full season pace. And he finished the season prior to that with none other than the Jets, with an incredible performance of 13 points in 19 regular season games followed by 15 points in 17 postseason games. Stastny has already shown that he can be an elite producer with Winnipeg’s talented forward group and has tremendous upside in the coming season. Even at 34, don’t be surprised to see the all-around forward return to form and potentially even rival the 70-point seasons of his early playing days.
October 10: If Chicago Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman knows one thing, it’s how to make a trade involving Brandon Saad. Saad was traded away to the Colorado Avalanche in a four-player deal, marking the third time in five years that has been traded away or to the Blackhawks. The key return for Chicago was young defenseman Nikita Zadorov. In Saad, the Avalanche add a legitimate top-six forward who will help their depth, especially in light of the injuries suffered by some of their top players last season. Saad has recorded 47+ points four times in seven full NHL seasons and would have hit 47 on the nose again this past season based on an 82-game pace. A consistent scorer with great finish and possession ability, Saad is a nice get for the Avs. Meanwhile, as Chicago begins a rebuild they have new cornerstone piece on defense in the 6’6″, 235-lb. Zadorov. A big, physical defenseman, Zadorov can sit back and be a reliable defensive presence, freeing up other members of the Blackhawks’ budding new defense corps, like Ian Mitchell and Adam Boqvist, to play their offensive game.
The same day, the New Jersey Devils made another buy-low addition, landing Andreas Johnsson from the Toronto Maple Leafs. A young player who has already shown signs of 50+ point upside, Johnsson will now find consistent top-six time and power play opportunity in New Jersey, which should get him closer to that mark. In need of impact wingers for Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes but not willing to derail the rebuild with high-priced trades or contracts, the Devils land a young player at next to no trade cost who is signed for several more years at an affordable price. It is the perfect fit and should pan out.
October 12: The Colorado Avalanche were back in the headlines a couple of days later when they dealt two second-round picks to the New York Islanders for RFA defenseman Devon Toews. The Islanders needed cap space and dealt from a position of immense depth and talent on defense. Yet, Toews was critically underrated in New York and the team gave up a very talented player. The rich get richer in Colorado, as Toews joins another strong blue line, but this time will be locked in for a top-four role and will get his due attention on one of the league’s top contenders. Even with only two NHL seasons under his belt, Toews has proven to be productive, defensively sound, an asset in puck possession, and overall capable of big minutes and an every-situation role. Toews may not be the biggest name traded this off-season, but could wind up as one of the best acquisitions.
Amazingly, the very last trade made in the NHL so far this season came nearly a month ago. In the final push needed for the Vegas Golden Knights to sign Alex Pietrangelo, the team dealt top pair defenseman Nate Schmidt to the Vancouver Canucks in order to clear the necessary space. It was quite a sacrifice and one the Canucks are happy about. At the cost of a third-round pick, a team who had had a disastrous off-season that point landed a bona fide top pair defenseman who is signed long-term. Schmidt did it all for Vegas: team-leading minutes, 30+ points, defensive awareness, shot blocking, possession, power play and penalty kill roles, and even locker room leadership. A player with a strong all-around game who is respected by teammates and opponents alike, Schmidt is a rare player to come across. Vancouver essentially lucked into him and it might just be the best trade of the off-season.
What do you think? Which trade acquisition will have the greatest impact in 2020-21 and beyond?
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Free Agent Profile: Erik Haula
Despite the excitement of the free-agent flurry that started off the 2020 offseason, things have calmed down now quite a bit and yet there remain a number of free agents out there for teams to pick up. Yet with little cap room remaining for most the playoff hopefuls, teams are being extra cautious about paying out too much to free agents. especially if they are coming off a down season. That perfectly explains the situation for free-agent center Erik Haula, who has now found himself looking for a fourth team in just two-plus seasons and is coming off a 12-goal campaign last year.
The 29-year-old will be hitting 30 during the 2020-21 season and has dealt with numerous injuries, including a gruesome leg injury that held him to just 15 games in 2018-19. However, that hasn’t stopped teams from showing interest in the center, one of the few potential impact centers remaining on the free-agent market, who was ranked 16th in our PHR Top-50 Free Agents. If healthy, he has the potential to fill a second-line center role or be a top third-line option in the middle. He has the potential to put up goals, scoring 29 goals in Vegas’ inaugural season in 2017-18.
Despite Vegas’ love for Haula, the team even had cap issues after their second season and were forced to send Haula to the Carolina Hurricanes to free up some cap room. Haula signed a three-year, $8.25MM contract ($2.75MM AAV) with Vegas as part of a deal for the Golden Knights to select him in the expansion draft from Minnesota and looked like a significant find after the first year. The injury held up that outlook for the next season and Carolina was hoping to recapture some of that offensive magic last season. Instead, he struggled through more knee injuries on and off and only appeared in 41 games with 12 goals before the Hurricanes packaged him to Florida for Vincent Trocheck. Haula scored no goals in seven games for the Panthers before the team’s season ended.
However in the right system and with plenty of extra time to allow his knee to fully mend, Haula could fill a significant hole in a team’s middle and if everything goes right, could thrive there.
Potential Suitors
Not surprisingly, Haula has received significant interest from at least 10-12 teams, yet no deal has been struck. The forward is likely looking for a potential long-term deal, deals that aren’t really offered to players right now as several free agents have had to ink one-year deals in hopes that the 2021 offseason may prove to be more lucrative and hopes that COVID-19 may settle down in a year.
Perhaps one of the most obvious suitors would be returning to the one team where he had the most success. The Golden Knights might be a perfect fit for Haula as the team was forced to send off center Paul Stastny to Winnipeg to save cap room and with Cody Glass‘ rookie season having also been interrupted by injury, there is a clear opening for a No. 2 center in the system. Of course, the team is so tight against the cap that the team doesn’t even have the money for a minimum-salaried deal without clearing more cap room, which will be difficult. The team has already made it clear they will not be moving now back-up goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, which means they will be spending $12MM on their goalies this coming year.
Rumors that the Pittsburgh Penguins could be looking for a third-line center to fill in some depth for another Stanley Cup run with their veteran squad. Pittsburgh doesn’t have a clear-cut third or fourth-line center, so Haula would be a big addition to a team that needs to get more scoring from their bottom-six. Of course, the team must look at their cap issues as well. Other teams such as the New Jersey Devils and the Vancouver Canucks have come up although there are likely many others, but only the Devils have the cap room to easily bring him in.
Projected Contract
PHR initially projected Haula to receive a three-year, $11.25MM deal, although that number now looks quite high considering some of the contracts that other players have received in the last week or so. Players ranked much higher, such as Evgenii Dadonov and Tyler Toffoli each had to settle for less than they were hoping for. Dadonov received three years and $15MM from Ottawa, while Toffoli signed a four-year deal at $17MM with the Montreal Canadiens.
Considering that Haula is coming off two injury-plagued and disappointing offensive seasons, it doesn’t seem likely that he can easily pry a long-term deal away from any team and may have to sign a one-year “prove it deal,” except for the fact that his services as a center could give him slightly more leverage than most free agents remaining on the market.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Vegas Golden Knights Re-Sign Keegan Kolesar
The Vegas Golden Knights have inked one of their restricted free agents, signing Keegan Kolesar to a two-year contract. The deal carries a $725K average annual value at the NHL level.
Kolesar, 23, came to the Golden Knights in one of the franchise’s first post-expansion draft trades back in 2017. The team used a recently acquired second-round pick to bring the power forward over from the Columbus Blue Jackets organization just after he posted a WHL-leading 31 points in the Seattle Thunderbirds playoff run. He was a nearly unstoppable force for the Thunderbirds that season and obviously one that made an impression on the Golden Knights staff. That pick, it turns out, was used by the Blue Jackets to select Alexandre Texier, who has already established himself as a full-time NHL option.
That can’t be said about Kolesar, who has just a single NHL game under his belt as he heads into his fourth professional season. The 6’2″ 227-lbs winger did score 20 goals in 2018-19 for the Chicago Wolves but took a step backward offensively this year by finding the back of the net just three times. While his offense was never his real calling card, if Kolesar is to ever really become an impact player for the Golden Knights he’ll have to find a little more consistency at that end of the rink.
For now, he represents a hard-working, physical presence that could be inserted into the bottom-six as early as this season. As the Golden Knights continue to work around huge monetary commitments to players like Mark Stone, Max Pacioretty, Marc-Andre Fleury and now Alex Pietrangelo, they will always have the need for inexpensive fourth-line options. At the league minimum for the next two years, Kolesar represents just that, even if he doesn’t have a lot of NHL experience to this point.
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Marc-Andre Fleury Happy To Stay In Vegas, Share Net In 2020-21
When the Vegas Golden Knights signed Robin Lehner to a five-year, $25MM contract extension, it seemed certain that usurped starter Marc-Andre Fleury and his $7MM price tag would be elsewhere by next season. However, it has been weeks since Lehner’s signing and between the high cost of moving a contract like Fleury’s and concerns over Lehner’s recovery from upcoming shoulder surgery, it now seems more likely than not that Fleury will be back with Vegas next season. If this is indeed the case, the respected veteran is just fine with that.
Fleury tells Jean-Francois Chaumont in a recent piece by Le Journal De Montreal that he too assumed he would be elsewhere next season and is still a bit surprised that the Knights are committing so much cap space to their goalie tandem next season. The following is a translated except from his interview:
I was stressed. I watched the news, it wasn’t always good rumors for me. There are always a ton of rumors, but there aren’t many that come true… I still found it surprising as an outcome. My name was circulating quite a bit for a trade. But I am happy. I am lucky enough to stay in Vegas. I will still play for a good team. I won’t have to move, which is also a good thing… I am ready to share. This year, I also expect it to be a strange season. There will probably be several games in a few days, there will be a condensed schedule. I think not all teams will have the choice to use their two goalies. For this year, it will be a good thing to have two competitive goalies. It will give our team a good chance.
Fleury’s point about the likelihood of a condensed 2020-21 schedule explains both why there was interest from other teams in the high-priced veteran but also partly why Vegas decided to keep their duo together. Having two competent goalies will be crucial this coming season and the Knights realize, even with their talented roster, that a reliable tandem is key. Fleury himself even admits that Lehner is the future for the Golden Knights and will almost certainly serve as the “starter” once he is back to full strength. And the soon-to-be 36-year-old Fleury is also better off as a “backup” at this point in his career. However, with the high likelihood of fewer days off and more back-to-backs this coming season, it will be more of a 1A and 1B scenario for Lehner and Fleury and the pair could be one of the best goaltending combos in the NHL. What happens beyond next season – Fleury has an additional year remaining on his contract – remains a mystery, but Vegas has figured out their finances and are well-positioned in net for a busy 2020-21.