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Adam Clendening Placed On Waivers

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Wednesday: Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch reports that Clendening has cleared waivers and will likely be assigned to the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL.

Tuesday: In addition to the Winnipeg Jets and New York Rangers using unconditional waivers to terminate contracts, the Columbus Blue Jackets have placed Adam Clendening on regular waivers today according to Bob McKenzie of TSN. Clendening hasn’t played for the Blue Jackets in a month, and will now likely get a chance to suit up in the minor leagues if he clears.

Clendening is one of the most well-traveled 26-year old players in the NHL. Originally selected 36th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2011, the Blue Jackets are already his seventh organization—not even counting the second stint with Chicago last season. Suiting up for 90 total games split between the Blackhawks, Canucks, Penguins, Oilers, Rangers, Coyotes and now Blue Jackets, Clendening can’t seem to stick anywhere around the league. Despite being an excellent offensive presence in the minor leagues, the most NHL games he’s played in a single season was 31. That’s not to say there isn’t interest, as he continually is acquired through trade or signed to short-term contracts in free agency.

What he can’t seem to secure is a qualifying offer, as he’s been denied one in each of the last three offseasons and is at risk once again of not being retained by the Blue Jackets. Amazingly, the team still does own his rights as a restricted free agent through next season, something that they are risking by exposing him to waivers at this time. Still, Columbus has been carrying two extra defensemen for much of the season and had gotten Clendening into just four games. If he’s not going to play for you, losing him on waivers isn’t much of a risk.

Winnipeg Jets Sign Logan Shaw To One-Year Deal

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Monday: Shaw has cleared waivers and joined the Winnipeg organization. The team has assigned him to the Manitoba Moose for the time being, but could potentially recall him to spend some time in the NHL this season.

Sunday: The Winnipeg Jets have decided to add more forward depth to their roster as they announced that they have signed Logan Shaw to a one-year, two-way contract worth $675K. Shaw, who has appeared in 180 NHL games over his career, has been playing on an AHL-contract with the San Diego Gulls. As part of the contract signing, Shaw has also been placed on waivers, according to Elliotte Friedman.

The 26-year-old Shaw appeared in 72 NHL games last season between the Anaheim Ducks and Montreal Canadiens, but struggled to produce points, combining for just four goals and 14 points. He received a PTO with the Calgary Flames for training camp this year, but FlamesNation’s Ryan Pike reported that Shaw was solid, but unspectacular there. After signing an AHL deal with San Diego, Shaw has fared well, putting up two goals and five points in seven games.

Even with the addition of Shaw, the Jets have only 41 players under contract, which is the lowest number in the NHL. The next lowest is both the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Los Angeles Kings with 44. So, system depth was critical for Winnipeg and Shaw, who should clear waivers, can be assigned to the Manitoba Moose in the AHL.

Tomas Plekanec On Unconditional Waivers, Will Retire From NHL

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Sunday: Elliotte Friedman reports that Plekanec has cleared waivers.

Friday: Despite the Montreal Canadiens suffering several injuries to their forward group, the team announced today that they will place Tomas Plekanec on unconditional waivers for the purpose of a mutual contract termination. Plekanec hasn’t seen much ice time this season but is close to returning from his latest minor injury, but will not suit up again for the Canadiens.

At the press conference to discuss the move with the media, GM Marc Bergevin explained that this was a “hockey decision” to let Plekanec go. The 36-year old forward was near tears when talking about always wanting to retire in Montreal, but did note that he would look for opportunities in the Czech Republic for the next few years. It seems as though his NHL days are over. Plekanec spoke about how the team is in good hands with the young group in the dressing room, and how Bergevin did approach him with the idea of a trade at one point before making this decision.

Though there is still the formality of clearing waivers and then terminating the contract tomorrow, it seems like the end of the North American journey for Plekanec. Selected in the third round of the 2001 draft, he would make an impact at the AHL level right away and show that the rest of the league made a mistake in passing on him. By the time the league returned from lockout in 2005, he was a full-time player for the Canadiens and wouldn’t look back. Plekanec played in at least 77 games for 11 consecutive seasons (not counting the lockout-shortened 2012-13, in which he played 47 of 48) and was the picture of health and consistency for a team that went through plenty of change. Hitting a career-high of 70 points in 2009-10, Plekanec was a huge part of a Montreal team that went to the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Canadiens will not be on the hook for any of Plekanec’s cap hit, even though he signed his most recent contract over the age of 35. Because the deal was just for one season, the restrictions usually applied to 35+ deals—that is, a cap hit that remains with the team regardless of what happens to the player—do not apply. Only multi-year contracts are punished in this way, meaning the Canadiens are free and clear of anything to do with Plekanec’s contract.

In fact, the last year has been quite beneficial for the Canadiens when it comes to Plekanec. Last spring they traded the veteran center to their rival Toronto Maple Leafs for a package that included a second round pick, only to see him return to play his 1,000th game in Montreal this year. The Maple Leafs were knocked out of the first round anyway, and no other piece from the deal is still on either roster. The fact that he’s willing to step aside and allow the team to fill the roster with the next wave of Montreal forwards is just the latest in a long career filled with putting the Canadiens ahead of himself.

Known best for his trademark turtleneck and goatee, Plekanec will not go down alongside the very greats of the Montreal franchise. He was never part of a Stanley Cup run, and scored just 608 points in his 1,001 games. Still, he’ll be remembered as an efficient soldier by many fans and revered for his loyalty to the franchise to the very end.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Minor Transactions: 11/09/18

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The NHL is unusually active for a Friday night, with six games on the schedule including the Hall of Fame game in Toronto. The New Jersey Devils will take part in the game honoring the new inductees which include Martin Brodeur, Martin St. Louis, Willie O’Ree, Alexander Yakushev, Jayna Hefford and Gary Bettman. As the league prepares to induct some of the greatest to play the game, we’ll keep track on all the more minor moves around the league.

  • The Tampa Bay Lightning have reassigned Cameron Gaunce to the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL after almost two weeks with the team. Gaunce never did suit up for the Lightning, and will now try to get back into game shape with the Crunch. The 28-year old defenseman will likely be the extra man called up several times this season, though his playing time is expected to be restricted to mostly the minor leagues.
  • Given John Klingberg’s injury, the Dallas Stars have recalled defenseman Joel Hanley from the minor leagues. They’ve also moved both Klingberg and Alexander Radulov to injured reserve, though the latter’s stint is retroactive to October 30th. Hanley has five points in 11 AHL games this season, and will try to force his way into the NHL lineup now that they’re missing a big part of their blue line for at least a month.
  • The Ottawa Senators have returned Erik Burgdoerfer to the minor leagues, even as they start their short two-game road trip in Florida. Burgdoerfer has played in just a single game with Ottawa this season, and will spend most of the year in the minor leagues.
  • Jesper Bratt has been officially activated by the Devils and should be in the lineup tonight, a move that needed no corresponding transaction given that Eddie Lack cleared waivers and can remain in the minor leagues. Lack had been on conditioning loan to the Binghamton Devils and will now stay there on assignment. The Devils have sent Kurtis Gabriel back to the AHL though, in order to activate Stefan Noesen for tonight’s game.
  • The Anaheim Ducks have returned a pair of young players to the AHL. The team announced that forward Sam Carrick and defenseman Andy Welinski have been reassigned to the San Diego Gulls. Both players have logged considerable time in the minors already this season, but have only suited up for eight games total for the Ducks.

New Jersey Devils Place Eddie Lack On Waivers

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Friday: Lack has cleared waivers and can be assigned to the minor leagues.

Thursday: The New Jersey Devils had been carrying three goaltenders on their roster since Cory Schneider returned from his hip injury, as even though Eddie Lack was on a conditioning stint he still counted towards the 23-man group. Now they’ve dealt with that situation, as Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports that Lack has been placed on waivers.

Lack, 30, never did get into a game for the Devils this season as Keith Kinkaid was instead given the starting role. The veteran backup has bounced around the last few years, and played in just eight games over the last two seasons. That’s a far cry from the 2014-15 campaign when he went 18-13-4 for the Vancouver Canucks and was among the league leaders with a .921 save percentage. Lack at that point looked like a goaltender who would lock down an NHL crease for years to come, but has since seen his performance decline rapidly.

There are teams who could take a chance on the 6’4″ goaltender though, as they deal with injuries or inconsistency from their own starters. Los Angeles, Arizona, Ottawa and others could all potentially use a veteran netminder to give them some more experience in the crease, and with Lack’s $650K salary he would cost just as much or less than their current options. Still, there have been other goaltenders like Anton Forsberg and Mike Condon who have passed through unscathed already this season for one reason or another, and Lack may experience the same. If he does, he’ll be solid depth for the Devils at the minor league level.

Nashville Predators Place Carl Persson On Unconditional Waivers

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After just a few months with the organization, Carl Persson has been placed on unconditional waivers according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports. Persson was signed in May to a two-year entry-level contract, but has only played in the ECHL this season. His contract will likely be terminated tomorrow, allowing him to return to Sweden for the rest of the season.

Persson, 23, had an excellent season in the SHL last year that included 13 goals and 24 points in 52 games. The undrafted forward looked like a good bet to at least give the Predators some minor league depth, but obviously isn’t pleased with his role in the ECHL. This has been an uncommonly active year for contract terminations, with the Predators already parting ways with Tyler Moy as he pursued an opportunity in Switzerland. Like Moy, Persson will actually become an unrestricted free agent once again and could potentially sign with another NHL team, though that seems extremely unlikely at this point.

For the Predators, this will open up another contract slot going forward making them one of the teams to watch when it comes to this year’s late-season free agent market. With roster room, ample cap space and a solid tradition of success, the team should be very attractive to free agents from the NCAA and Europe. Though Persson didn’t work out, the Predators will continue to try and find value from the fringes.

Mike Condon Officially Assigned To AHL

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Though Mike Condon cleared waivers earlier this month, the Ottawa Senators hadn’t actually assigned him to the minor leagues yet. That changed this morning, when the team officially moved their veteran goaltender to the Belleville Senators to get some work in and regain his confidence. Mike McKenna has already been up with Ottawa for the last few days, and served as the backup for their most recent game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The move may be to prepare for Brady Tkachuk’s return from injured reserve, as Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia reports that the young forward is back in a full-contact sweater today at practice.

Condon, 28, struggled mightily in his first two appearances this season for the Senators and needs to hit the reset button on his career. After a bad year behind a disappointing team in 2017-18, he’s on the edge of being pushed out of the NHL entirely. Ottawa will give him a chance to find his groove again in the minor leagues, but it’s not like Condon has a huge body of work to fall back on. His rookie season in Montreal, when forced into action due to a Carey Price injury, Condon showed he could be useful but not outstanding in the NHL. A .903 save percentage that year wasn’t good enough to post even a .500 record with the Canadiens, and he couldn’t secure a long-term job.

In Ottawa, his .914 save percentage was a huge part of the upstart Senators finish in 2016-17 and eventual run to within a goal of the Stanley Cup Finals. That year though is the only one in which he’s posted numbers anywhere near league average in the NHL, meaning questions surrounding his ability are bound to creep into conversation until he proves otherwise.

Undrafted, Condon signed out of Princeton University and is now in the second season of a three-year deal with the Senators. His contract carries a cap hit of $2.4MM, but more importantly to a team like Ottawa actually pays him $3MM next season. That amount is way too much for an organization to keep in the minor leagues, meaning he either needs to find a way to improve his play or likely find himself on his way out of town.

Tyler Moy Clears Unconditional Waivers

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Nov 5: Moy has indeed signed with Lausanne HC in Switzerland for the remainder of the 2018-19 season.

Nov 1: The Nashville Predators have placed Tyler Moy on unconditional waivers for the purpose of a contract termination. Moy is in the second year of a two season entry-level contract signed back in 2017 after graduating from Harvard. The sixth-round pick will be an unrestricted free agent once the contract is terminated.

There have been rumors from Swiss news outlets that Moy, whose mother was born in Switzerland, has been in talks with various clubs in the NLA but nothing so far has been announced. A standout in his senior year in Harvard scoring 45 points in 36 games, he hasn’t quite been able to replicate that success in the minor leagues and had been playing in the ECHL for part of this season. That can’t be what he expected when he signed with the Predators, which could have led to him wanting to terminate the deal.

If there’s no bad blood between the two, it could allow him to return to the Predators organization down the road if his play improves at his next stop. He’ll turn 24 in July though, meaning he’s closing in on the end of prospect status and entering the veteran depth portion of his career.

Nathan Walker, Matt Donovan Placed On Waivers

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Monday: Friedman reports that all three players have cleared waivers today, meaning Walker will be sent to the minor leagues. Donovan meanwhile has signed a two-year deal with the Predators and can now play in the NHL this season.

Sunday: Elliotte Friedman reports that two players were put on waivers today, as the Washington Capitals have waived forward Nathan Walker, while the Nashville Predators waived defenseman Matt Donovan. Friedman also notes that the Calgary Flames have placed Yasim Ehliz on unconditional waivers with the purpose of releasing him from his contract.

With Washington Capitals’ Travis Boyd expected to be activated off of LTIR shortly, someone on the roster had to go and with the impressive play the Capitals have received from recent waiver claim Dmitrij Jaskin, Walker was the only option left to put on waivers. Walker was placed on waivers by the Capitals last year and he was claimed by Edmonton on Dec. 1. However, the Oilers decided not to keep him and placed him back on waivers on Dec. 20, allowing the Capitals to claim him back and send him to Hershey. The team hopes it can slip him past without going through the same troubles this year. Walker only managed to appear in three games this season with just an assist, so putting him on waivers made the most sense.

Donovan’s situation was a little more confusing as he isn’t even on the team’s roster as he signed an AHL deal with the Milwaukee Admirals, the Predators AHL affiliate. However, the fact he’s on waivers means that Nashville has signed the 28-year-old blueliner to a NHL-level contract, which would require the team to send him through waivers. Early reports suggest the team has signed him to a one-year, two-way deal. Donovan, a fourth-round pick in 2008, played much of the early part of his career with the New York Islanders organization, including a 52-game stint with the Islanders in the 2013-14 season even though most of his career was spent in the AHL. He played the past two years in the SHL before joining Milwaukee. He has six goals and six assists in 13 games so far this year.

Calgary originally signed Ehliz back in June after the 25-year winger wrapped up his eighth-year in the German DEL. The undersized forward, however, didn’t make the Flames NHL team and has had trouble cracking the Stockton Heat lineup in the AHL as he has only appeared in four games with no points and a minus-5. It’s likely Ehliz would prefer to return to Europe to continue his career.

Nashville Signs Matt Donovan To Two-Year Deal

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When the Nashville Predators placed AHL defenseman Matt Donovan on waivers yesterday, it was clear that they had signed him to some sort of NHL contract. That’s the only reason that would have made them send him through the waiver process, but it wasn’t clear what the deal was. Now, CapFriendly reports that Donovan has signed a two-year two-way contract that carries a $675K cap hit at the NHL level.

Donovan, 28, has spent the last two seasons in Sweden playing for Frolunda after finding himself without a contract in the summer of 2016. A fourth-round pick by the New York Islanders in 2008, he played just 67 NHL games with the organization and instead spent most of his time racking up points at the AHL level. An excellent offensive defenseman, Donovan was leading the Milwaukee Admirals in scoring this season after accepting another AHL deal to return to North America, and has now been rewarded for his hard work. The Predators will add him to a stable of offensively-minded defensemen in the organization, and hope that the lessons he learned in Sweden can translate to more consistent play in his own end.

The best part about this deal for the Predators is that Donovan can still be placed in the minor leagues and help the Admirals to AHL success, while being a potential call-up down the line. The team didn’t have a ton of NHL experience among their potential call-ups, meaning any rash of injuries to their NHL group could leave a huge hole on the blue line. There’s no guarantee that Donovan can fill a spot like that adequately, but he does at least have a history of success in several different professional leagues.

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