Washington Capitals Not Likely To Bring Back Devante Smith-Pelly
Although the Washington Capitals have their affairs in order with most of their impact players after an early-round exit in the playoffs this year, the franchise still has a number of smaller contracts that it will have to deal with in the coming months. The contracts of restricted free agents Jakub Vrana and Andre Burakovsky and unrestricted free agents Carl Hagelin and Brett Connolly need to be dealt with, among others.
One contract the Capitals aren’t likely to deal with this summer is unrestricted free agent Devante Smith-Pelly, who likely will not be returning to Washington next season, according to NBC Sports J.J. Regan. While there was speculation that the team might consider bringing back one of the team’s key players in their Stanley Cup Championship run last season under the right conditions, Regan notes that changed after comments from general manager Brian MacLellan. “Internally we had a couple of issues we had to work through,” MacLellan said of Smith-Pelly, which was not exactly a vote of confidence.
Many have claimed that those “issues” stemmed from conditioning issues and they are likely the reason that the Capitals intend to move on from Smith-Pelly. The big winger struggled this season after scoring seven playoff goals last spring, including several timely ones. Even though Smith-Pelly had more lucrative offers last summer, he opted to sign a one-year, $1MM deal to remain with the Capitals. However, the season didn’t go as planned as he tallied just eight points in 54 games before the team placed him on waivers, sending him to the AHL. He was recalled after T.J. Oshie was injured in the playoffs, but played sparingly. Regan asked Smith-Pelly about his conditioning, which he flatly denied, but did admit he was forced to change his off-season workout plans due to the shortened break:
The summer was different for a lot of guys. I mean, very short. Guys are hurt going into the summer so obviously you don’t have the same routine as you’ve had in years past to get ready. I guess that just affected me more than some other guys. You try to get your footing and stuff happens.
With the team right up against the salary cap and key decisions to make about Burakovsky, Vrana, Hagelin, and Connolly, as well as defensive veteran Brooks Orpik, the team does need several cheap contracts on the book, but it looks like they might be ready to look elsewhere for that talent.
Washington Capitals Place Maximilian Kammerer On Unconditional Waivers
The Washington Capitals have placed Maximilian Kammerer on unconditional waivers, according to Chris Kuc of The Athletic. Kammerer was signed to a three-year entry-level deal last spring, but will likely see his contract terminated if he clears waivers. If that happens, Kammerer would be an unrestricted free agent and able to return to Germany.
Kammerer, 22, had 13 points in 33 games for the Hershey Bears this season but has yet to suit up for them in the playoffs. The Bears are set to start their second round against the Charlotte Checkers on Friday, but are apparently ready to cut ties with the German forward.
For many international free agents that believe they can compete in the NHL, waiting around in the minor leagues just doesn’t work out. It’s not clear what exactly happened between the Capitals and Kammerer, but it appears as though he is no longer in their plans.
Jesse Gabrielle Placed On Unconditional Waivers
Wednesday: Gabrielle has cleared waivers.
Tuesday: The Boston Bruins have placed forward Jesse Gabrielle on unconditional waivers according to CapFriendly, for the purpose of a contract termination. Gabrielle’s season ended early after suffering another concussion in March, his third head injury since training camp. The 21-year old had another year left on his entry-level contract, but he will become an unrestricted free agent instead.
Gabrielle, 21, played this entire season in the ECHL and was even loaned to the Wichita Thunder—affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers—partway through the year. It seems as though the relationship between him and the Bruins has frayed at some point, and he’ll now need to find another opportunity if he wants to continue his hockey career.
The Bruins meanwhile will save a contract spot for next season and no longer have to pay his minor league salary. Originally selected in the fourth round, the team will just have to move on from the missed opportunity and look elsewhere for contributions. This is just another unfortunate outcome from what has turned out to be a frustrating 2015 draft class for the Bruins. The team had six picks in the first two rounds and ten total, but only have Jake Debrusk and Brandon Carlo to show for it as full-time NHL players.
Andrew Agozzino Placed On Waivers
The Colorado Avalanche have placed Andrew Agozzino on waivers, according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports. Agozzino is eligible for the AHL playoffs since he was sent down on February 25th, and could give some help to the Colorado Eagles over the last few days of their season.
Agozzino, 28, has played more games in the NHL this season than the rest of his career combined, suiting up 11 times for the Avalanche. The undrafted forward has been among the most productive scoring threats in the AHL for years, routinely scoring at least 20 goals and 50 points on whichever affiliate the Avalanche had at the time. Unfortunately that work hasn’t resulted in a ton of playing time at the highest level, but will be a welcome addition to the Eagles down the stretch.
On the final year of his current contract there is little reason for any other team to claim Agozzino, as he will be an unrestricted free agent in a few months. It seems likely that the Avalanche will try to re-sign him to some sort of deal to play at the minor leagues, though perhaps he believes he could get a better opportunity elsewhere. His current deal is actually quite lucrative for a two-way contract, as Agozzino is owed $300K even while in the minor leagues.
Corban Knight Placed On Waivers
Thursday: Knight has cleared waivers and can now be assigned to the AHL.
Wednesday: The Philadelphia Flyers have decided to place Corban Knight on waivers, which would allow him to join the Lehigh Valley Phantoms for their last few games. The Phantoms have six games remaining and are just a few points out of a playoff position in the AHL’s Atlantic Division. Knight is playoff eligible in the AHL thanks to a paper transaction completed on the trade deadline.
Knight, 28, has played in just 21 games for the Flyers this season, recording four points and a -3 rating. The veteran forward has bounced around the league since leaving the University of North Dakota in 2013, but has never really caught on with an NHL club for any length of time. An established two-way threat in the minor leagues, Knight has just 12 points in 50 career NHL games.
His contract is set to expire at the end of this season making him an unrestricted free agent once again, and it seems unlikely that he will get anything more than just a one-year two-way deal. That said, the Flyers could certainly keep him around as injury insurance and a veteran presence in the minor leagues. Another team could potentially claim him in the next 24 hours, but at this point in the season that is very unlikely.
Matt Read Placed On Waivers
Friday: Read has cleared waivers and can now be assigned to the AHL. 2
Thursday: According to Michael Russo of The Athletic, the Minnesota Wild have placed Matt Read on waivers, as he had finally worn out his exempt status by playing in ten games. Read cleared waivers before the season began and had been used as an insurance policy for the Wild, bouncing up and down between the AHL and NHL all season. Zach Parise is back at practice today for the Wild, meaning Read could be on his way back to the AHL should he clear waivers tomorrow.
It seems unlikely that anyone would claim Read at this point, given that he becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year. The 32-year old forward was once a pretty effective member of the Philadelphia Flyers offensive attack, but will likely be limited to spot duty and minor league action for the rest of his playing career. In the AHL this season he has 34 points in 55 games, but that has only translated to a single goal during his ten games for Minnesota.
Read is AHL playoff eligible though, and with the Wild heading to the Calder Cup playoffs in a few weeks his presence will be greatly appreciated. Since moving to Iowa for the 2013-14 season and re-branding as the Wild, the team has not made a single appearance in the AHL playoffs. That’s all set to change this season under head coach Tim Army, who has led the group to a 34-22-12 record through their first 68 games. Iowa has a seven point cushion in the Central Division, but could still potentially catch the Grand Rapids Griffins or Chicago Wolves for an even better seed.
Brad Malone Placed On Waivers
Thursday: Malone has cleared waivers and can be assigned to the AHL.
Wednesday: The Edmonton Oilers have placed forward Brad Malone on waivers. Malone is eligible for the AHL playoffs, and could join the first place Bakersfield Condors tomorrow if he clears.
Malone, 29, most recently played a game for the Oilers on March 11th, and has just 13 under his belt this season. The journeyman forward has played for four minor league and three NHL clubs since being selected in the fourth round in 2007, but has just 30 points in 196 career games at the highest level. That includes exactly zero across his two years with the Oilers.
Scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, it is unlikely that Malone will be claimed. It also isn’t clear if the Oilers intend on bringing him back to the organization on another two-way deal, or if he will have to look for another opportunity this summer.
Blake Pietila, Daniel Walcott Clear Waivers
Saturday: Pietila has cleared waivers, reports NHL.com’s Mike Morreale (Twitter link). He will remain with the Devils, at least for the time being. Meanwhile, Walcott is listed as being assigned to Syracuse (AHL) per the AHL’s Transactions Page which means he has also passed through unclaimed.
Friday: You don’t often see waivers at this time of the year, but today two players have been designated. According to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports, Blake Pietila of the New Jersey Devils and Daniel Walcott of the Tampa Bay Lightning have both been placed on waivers. Walcott has not played at all this season as he dealt with a major shoulder injury, while Pietila could now join the Binghamton Devils.
It’s actually great news for Walcott, who is likely healthy enough to contribute for the Syracuse Crunch. The 25-year old defenseman has played the last three seasons with the team and will be joining them as they battle for first place in the entire AHL. He has spent the entire year so far on season-opening injured reserve, and would have required waivers to go down at any time.
For Pietila though this comes after 19 mostly uneventful games with the Devils. The 26-year old forward has just a single point with the team this year and now just four total through his 38-game NHL career. Despite scoring at the college and AHL level, Pietila doesn’t seem to have what it takes to produce in the NHL. He will however help Binghamton if sent there, though they are well out of the playoff race this season.
Pittsburgh Penguins Acquire Chris Wideman
Defenseman Chris Wideman is on the move for the third time this season. The impending free agent has been traded by the Florida Panthers to the Pittsburgh Penguins, reports Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston. TSN’s Bob McKenzie adds that forward Jean-Sebastien Dea heads the other way to Florida.
Wideman began the season with the Ottawa Senators, but was traded to the Edmonton Oilers in November for a sixth-round pick. After he wasn’t a fit in Edmonton, Wideman was sent to the Florida Panthers as part of the package for Alexander Petrovic. He now joins his fourth team of the season in Pittsburgh, but it may be his best opportunity yet at play time. Having played just six games combined since leaving Ottawa, Wideman now joins a team that is currently without Kris Letang, Brian Dumoulin, and Olli Maatta and will ask he and another new acquisition, Erik Gudbranson, to help make up for their absences. For now, Wideman will report to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton but will likely be recalled if Letang and Dumoulin remain sidelined.
Meanwhile, Dea has also been on the move frequently this year. The 25-year-old forward played 20 games with the New Jersey Devils after being claimed on waivers earlier this season, but returned to Pittsburgh via waivers afterward. Dea has spent the majority of the season in the AHL, only playing three games for the Penguins. He now heads to Florida where he will try to prove he is worthy of regular play time. Dea is currently a candidate for Group 6 free agency at the end of the season, so his time with the Panthers could be short-lived.
New Jersey Devils Place Eric Gryba On Waivers
Monday: Gryba has cleared waivers and can be assigned to the minor leagues. The other four players, Chris Driedger, Jeremy Smith, Adam Wilcox and Lee Stempniak also all cleared after signing NHL contracts.
Sunday: While the waiver wire features mostly recently-signed players today, one current player did slip into the mix. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that New Jersey Devils defenseman Eric Gryba has been placed on waivers. The veteran defenseman has cleared waivers previously this season, but could be a more interesting target with the deadline approaching and an underwhelming market for rental defensemen.
Gryba, 30, has had an up-and-down year. Bought out by the Edmonton Oilers this past summer, Gryba signed a one-year deal with the Devils in hopes of continuing his NHL career. Waived initially in late October, Gryba has played in just ten games with New Jersey versus 32 games with AHL Binghamton. Interestingly, Gryba has performed better in the NHL than in the AHL, at least defensively. Gryba is very much a stay-at-home defender with little to no offensive role, but has looked like a reliable depth option during appearances with New Jersey. Meanwhile, his -10 rating in Binghamton is worst among defensemen.
Gryba appears to be a player best suited for a No. 7 or 8 role in the NHL at this point in his career. He’s still solid defensively most of the time and can step in and be a capable presence in his own end, but lacks the offensive contribution or skating ability to play regular minutes, even in the AHL. Fortunately, at this time of year many teams are looking for that dependable deep depth piece. With the defense rental market highlighted by uninspiring names like Adam McQuaid, Michael Del Zotto, Bogdan Kiselevich, and Alex Petrovic, a team might prefer claiming Gryba for the stretch run rather than overpaying for a mediocre addition.