Nathan Gerbe Signs With Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed Nathan Gerbe to a one-year, two-way deal. Gerbe will need to clear waivers to sign with the club, usually a formality in these situations. No financial details were released at this point.
Gerbe, 30, hasn’t played in the NHL since 2015-16, instead spending the last two seasons in the Swiss NLA. The forward, known most for his small stature (he stands 5’4″) scored seven points in 47 games for the Carolina Hurricanes during his last tour in the league, but does have a pair of 16-goal seasons on his resume. Despite the usual stereotype about small players being pure skill, Gerbe actually brings a bit of grit and toughness to the game. Willing to throw his body around and dig in the corners, he’s never shied away from the physical side of the game.
The Blue Jackets yesterday sent Brandon Dubinsky away from the club, either for another examination of his eye, or according to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic (subscription required) something more disciplinary in nature. Even before the loss of Dubinsky to a fractured orbital bone the team has been thin at forward for much of the season. Though Gerbe doesn’t represent much upside, he could give them some veteran depth at either the NHL or AHL level and be a useful piece if he can show that he’s still able to compete in the North American game.
Columbus Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger was first to report the deal was close last night.
David Booth, Michael Chaput On Waivers
Tuesday: Both Booth and Chaput have cleared waivers and could be sent to the minor leagues, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. While it seems unlikely that Booth will be loaned to the Grand Rapids Griffins and instead will stay in the Red Wings lineup, Chaput has already been sent to Utica to continue playing.
Monday: We knew Michael Chaput would be on waivers today after the Vancouver Canucks announced it yesterday, but he’s joined by David Booth of the Detroit Red Wings according to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic. Booth has already cleared waivers twice this season, but would need them again to be sent to the minor leagues.
Booth has played sparingly this season for the Red Wings, suiting up in 17 games but averaging just over seven minutes of ice time. The 33-year old veteran signed a one-year, two-way deal in the offseason but hasn’t been very effective scoring just four points. A former 30-goal scorer, Booth returned after two relatively unsuccessful seasons in the KHL and appears to be close to the end of his playing career. It would be surprising to see a claim put in on him, especially after already clearing twice.
Chaput on the other hand could be a potential addition for a team looking for some depth down the middle. A good faceoff man, the 25-year old hasn’t shown much offense during his short NHL career and would likely only be added as a fourth-line player or 13th forward. We’ll have to wait and see whether either is on their way to a new team tomorrow.
Minor Transactions: 01/23/18
The NHL will be taking another break in a few days for the All-Star festivities, and with that tonight’s schedule is packed full of games. With 12 games and 24 teams in action, several minor moves could be made to shore up the edges of a roster. We’ll keep track of all those moves right here.
- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled Matt Tennyson from the minor leagues, adding him back into their defense corps after clearing waivers and being sent down at the beginning of December. Tennyson has played 23 games in the AHL this season, recording just a single assist. Buffalo takes on Edmonton tonight in the second game of their western road trip.
- Kasperi Kapanen is back up with the Toronto Maple Leafs, taking the spot of Frederik Gauthier who has been returned to the minor leagues. Gauthier looked particularly out of his element last night against the Colorado Avalanche, and will have to get back on track in the AHL. It’s not clear if Kapanen will enter the lineup, or Dominic Moore will return to his spot as the fourth-line center.
- The Ottawa Senators have recalled another forward, bringing Mac McCormick up from the minor leagues. Filip Chlapik won’t play tonight due to injury according to Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia, meaning the Senators needed another forward with Mark Stone and Jean-Gabriel Pageau still out.
- Despite David Booth clearing waivers today, the Detroit Red Wings have instead sent Dominic Turgeon and Joe Hicketts to the minor leagues. Both young players suited up last night, but will have to continue their development in the minor leagues.
Canucks Place Michael Chaput On Waivers
The Canucks have placed center Michael Chaput on waivers, per a team announcement on Twitter. This comes on the heels of center Bo Horvat being activated off injured reserve earlier in the day although they didn’t need to waive Chaput to free up the roster spot because of defenseman Erik Gudbranson being transferred to IR.
Chaput has only played nine games with Vancouver this season but he has been up with the team for longer than 30 days since he last cleared so the Canucks have to put him on the wire once again. In those nine games, he was held off the scoresheet while averaging 9:47 per game. He has been more productive at the AHL level with Utica though, collecting nine goals and seven assists in 23 contests.
The 25-year-old is only a year removed from playing a somewhat regular role in the NHL and has been well above average at the faceoff dot the last three seasons so there is a chance that someone in need of center depth could be interested. He carries a cap hit of just over $687K and will be a restricted free agent with arbitration eligibility next summer.
Because the announcement came past the 11:00 AM CST daily deadline, Chaput won’t officially hit the wire until Monday which means that teams will be eligible to claim him until Tuesday.
Columbus Blue Jackets Claim Jussi Jokinen
The Columbus Blue Jackets have been looking all season for some help at forward, and today they’ll try a new option. The team has claimed Jussi Jokinen off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings, meaning he’ll join his third team of the season. Jokinen was first signed by the Edmonton Oilers, and then traded to the Kings in exchange for Mike Cammalleri.
Columbus has been rumored to be involved with several forwards around the league over the last year, including making an offer for Matt Duchene before he ended up in Ottawa. While Jokinen isn’t an answer to all of their problems, he does represent an interesting fit in one spot in particular. The Blue Jackets’ powerplay has been among the league’s worst all season, and that’s where Jokinen has made a living over his career.
Since entering the league in 2005-06, Jokinen has recorded 196 of his 552 points on the powerplay, putting him 43rd in the NHL during that time. While he’s certainly not as dominant a presence there as in the past, he can certainly help a group that hasn’t been able to find any consistency this season.
Jokinen also has experience at center, though he hasn’t played the position full-time in several years. With the Blue Jackets finding themselves lacking depth down the middle at times, his versatility will come in handy. Still, that doesn’t preclude the fact that he has just six points on the season and will turn 35 before the season is over. There is no guarantee he can find some of his past success, though Columbus seems about as good of a fit as he could ask for.
Golden Knights Recall Jason Garrison
When the Vegas Golden Knights selected 13 veteran defenseman in the NHL Expansion Draft this past June, traded for Shea Theodore, and signed Brad Hunt, it was clear that moves would need to be made to handle their overage on the blue line. Yet, even after trading away Marc Methot, Trevor van Riemsdyk, David Schlemko, and Alexei Emelin soon after selecting them, it still left the NHL’s newest team with a log jam on the back end. The long-term injury status of Clayton Stoner also helped the cause, but by the end of October, the team was faced with no options remaining but to waive Griffin Reinhart and, more surprisingly, Jason Garrison. Both players cleared waivers and were assigned to the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, where they have remained since.
However, Garrison is finally getting the chance to return to the NHL ranks. The Knights announced today that they have recalled Garrison from the Wolves. With Jonathon Merrill and Luca Sbisa both sidelined with injuries, Vegas is in need of some added depth on the blue line for the first time this season. The Expansion Draft pick from the Lightning is expected to join the team on their current road trip in Tampa and could make his return against his former team. A veteran of over 500 NHL games, Garrison was once a formidable defender, though his play has slipped as his age has climbed. Nevertheless, few would have expected the 33-year-old to have just four NHL games under his belt in 2017-18 versus 31 games logged in the AHL.
While Garrison cleared waivers earlier this season, the Knights do face some risk by calling him back up to the big league squad. If Garrison stays on the roster for less than 30 days or plays in less than 10 games, he can safely be returned to the AHL. However, should Garrison exceed either of those limits, he would need to be passed through waivers again if the Knights want to demote him prior to the NHL Trade Deadline. If Garrison performs admirably in that short stint, he could prove to be a tempting option for another contender to grab on waivers. Thus, Vegas faces a situation where they either want to return Garrison to the minors as soon as possible or ensure he stays on the roster until the Trade Deadline has come and gone.
Los Angeles Places Jussi Jokinen On Waivers; Paul Martin Clears
Paul Martin has cleared waivers today and can be sent to the San Jose Barracuda, while the Los Angeles Kings have placed Jussi Jokinen on waivers. The Kings acquired Jokinen earlier this year in exchange for Mike Cammalleri, but he’s been generally ineffective with just five points in 18 games.
Jokinen, 34, signed a one-year $1.1MM contract with the Edmonton Oilers this offseason, but got off to a dreadful start to the year with just a single point in his first 14 games. That comes just two years after he was a 60-point player in Florida, where he recorded 34 even-strength assists. Jokinen’s fall from grace has been sharp, but his relatively low cost could potentially lead to a claim.
If he does sneak through waivers, the Kings would be able to bury nearly his entire cap hit in the minor leagues. Though that would be a tough spot to play for a veteran of 923 NHL games, it would certainly provide them with some experienced depth for a playoff run.
Martin on the other hand comes with a much higher price tag. His $4.85MM cap hit is in effect through next season as well, making him almost impossible to claim on waivers. As Craig Custance of The Athletic writes, any team looking to add him would need to send money back or have the Sharks retain some of his salary.
For now though, a trip to the AHL might be the best thing for Martin. He’s only played in three games all season and needs to prove that he can still contribute before any team wants him. Remember that clearing waivers actually does increase his trade value, as any acquiring team would be able to immediately move him to the minor leagues without going through waivers again. The Sharks will save a prorated $1.025MM against the cap by burying him for the time being.
Montreal Notes: Danault, Shaw, Shaw
The Montreal Canadiens have announced several incidents up front, including Phillip Danault experiencing concussion-like symptoms. The 24-year old forward took a Zdeno Chara slapshot to the head this weekend, and will now be re-evaluated on a daily basis.
It’s not clear when Danault will return to action, which is a big blow for the Canadiens. The young center has 23 points on the year after putting up a solid 40-point season in 2016-17, his first full-time NHL campaign. His loss weakens what is already a thin group down the middle, while also removing the team’s third-leading scorer.
- Unfortunately, Danault’s announcement comes just after the team revealed that Andrew Shaw is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury suffered in the same game against the Boston Bruins. Shaw will be reevaluated in a week’s time, but it’s just another blow for a forward group that was already struggling. Shaw has 19 points on the year and leads the team in powerplay goals with five.
- Earlier the team claimed Logan Shaw off waivers from the Anaheim Ducks. He’ll wear #49 with the club and give them some needed depth down the middle, but is far from an answer to their disappointing season. Shaw has just 25 points in 150 career games, and hasn’t played a ton of center at the NHL level.
- One has to wonder whether these latest injuries will accelerate the Canadiens’ trade deadline plans, as they now have a huge hill to climb to get back into the playoff race. Without Danault and Shaw, and still eight points behind the New York Rangers for the second wildcard spot, the Canadiens look destined to be sellers at the deadline. Andrew Shaw was considered a potential piece for sale despite his contract, but it’s unclear how this latest injury will affect his market.
Paul Martin Placed On Waivers; Montreal Claims Logan Shaw
The early reports were true, and Paul Martin has indeed been placed on waivers by the San Jose Sharks according to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic. LeBrun also notes that the Montreal Canadiens have claimed Logan Shaw off waivers from the Anaheim Ducks.
Martin, 36, has had a rough season as he battled through injuries and a lack of playing time. The Sharks have seemingly moved on from him, and are currently looking for a trade partner to give him another opportunity. While a waiver claim could certainly offer that, it’s more likely that he goes unclaimed and heads to the San Jose Barracuda to try and rebuild some value. His $4.85MM cap hit this year and next is a real impediment to any team that is interested, and any deal right now would likely have to include some degree of salary retention.
If Martin does clear, and immediately starts to play for the Barracuda, there is obviously still a place for him in the NHL. The veteran defenseman recorded 26 points and more than 19 minutes a night just last season, and has been an effective stay at home counterpoint to Brent Burns‘ roving nature in the past.
It’s important to note that both the Minnesota Wild and Toronto Maple Leafs are at the 50 contract limit, and would need to move out a player in order to make a claim or acquire Martin in trade.
Shaw on the other hand was just waived by the Ducks after they claimed J.T. Brown from the Tampa Bay Lightning, and now finds his way to Montreal to help their forward depth. The 25-year old has eight points in 42 games for the Ducks this season, and provides some size—though not a ton of physicality—for the Canadiens to insert into their bottom-six.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Paul Martin Could Be Headed For Waivers
As reported by Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, veteran defenseman Paul Martin is being shopped by the San Jose Sharks. That claim was confirmed by GM Doug Wilson to Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News, who said the team is working with Martin and his representatives to try and get him a new opportunity. On Twitter, he relayed comments from Martin’s agent Ben Hankinson:
It’s kind of a tough one for him because he knows he can play and he wants to play with the Sharks. Right now, there isn’t a spot for him. That’s his first choice but obviously the goal is to play somewhere and help a team win in the NHL. Now we’re going down that path and trying to find a team. Paulie wants to play and he’d love to win. Kind of walking down that pathway now to see where he could be a fit.
Additionally, Pashelka reports that Martin could find himself on waivers in the next few days, which would result in a stint with the San Jose Barracuda if not claimed.
Martin has played in just three games this season after dealing with several injuries and the impressive play of several other Sharks’ defenders. In the third year of a four-year, $19.4MM contract, the 36-year old defenseman comes with a $4.85MM cap hit, a prohibitive factor for many potential claiming clubs. It’s hard to imagine any team would claim him on waivers, which would come with the responsibility of his entire remaining contract. More likely may be a trade with the Sharks retaining some salary, in order to receive a real asset in return.
If he does end up on waivers and goes unclaimed, a stint in the AHL might actually be the best thing for the veteran. Though he’d obviously like to be playing in the NHL, he hasn’t been able to show that he’s still able to contribute at this level, and sitting in the press box isn’t doing anything to change that. A few weeks logging big minutes in the AHL might entice a team to bring him aboard for their playoff run. Martin does have plenty of playoff experience, suiting up for 115 postseason games in his career with three different clubs. He logged more than 22 minutes a night with the Sharks in 2015-16, on their way to the Stanley Cup final against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
In the meantime, the Sharks have activated Dylan DeMelo from injured reserve and loaned Marcus Sorensen to the minor leagues. DeMelo hasn’t played in 10 days, and has suited up for 22 games this season.