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NHL Announces First And Second All-Star Teams, All-Rookie Team

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Following the announcements of the final five NHL regular season awards, the league also revealed their three all-league rosters: the First-Team All-Stars, the Second-Team All-Stars, and the All-Rookie Team. Below are the 2019-20 honorees:

First All-Star Team (link)

G: Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
D: Roman Josi, Nashville Predators
D: John Carlson, Washington Capitals
LW: Artemi Panarin, New York Rangers
C: Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers
RW: David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins

The 2020 First-Team All-Stars are a historic group, the first time since the inaugural all-league honors in 1930-31 that all six honorees are first-time members of the team. Unsurprisingly, this team also covers most of the league’s major awards with Draisaitl taking home the Hart, Ted Lindsay, and Art Ross, Josi winning the Norris, Hellebuyck winning the Vezina, and Pastrnak earning the Rocket Richard.

Second All-Star Team (link)

G: Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins
D: Alex Pietrangelo, St. Louis Blues
D: Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning
LW: Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins
C: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
RW: Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning

The President’s Trophy-winning Boston Bruins finish with a league-best three players on All-Star rosters. Their division rival, and current Stanley Cup finalist, the Tampa Bay Lightning are the only other team with more than one inclusion on the all-star rosters. Noticeably absent from either all-star teams are future Hall of Famers Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals. This is just the third time since 2005-06 that at least one of the pair have not been on a postseason All-Star team, while they have both have been selected in the same year eight times in the past 15 years.

All-Rookie Team (link)

G: Elvis Merzlikins, Columbus Blue Jackets
D: Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
D: Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks
F: Victor Olofsson, Buffalo Sabres
F: Dominik Kubalik, Chicago Blackhawks
F: Nick Suzuki, Montreal Canadiens

The rookie elite, led by Calder Trophy-winner Makar, is an older group than usual. Merzlikins, Olofsson, and Kubalik, all 25 or older, played in Europe for a considerable amount of time before jumping to North America as a polished product, while Makar and Hughes each played a pair of seasons in the NCAA and Suzuki aged out of juniors before turning pro. Nevertheless, the first-year pros were all impressive and still have many  quality years ahead of them.

Connor Hellebuyck Wins 2020 Vezina Trophy

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The Vezina Trophy has been announced and the 2019-20 winner is the Winnipeg Jets’ Connor Hellebuyck. Presented to the best goaltender each season, the award is voted on by the NHL’s general managers. Hellebuyck was selected as the recipient over the Boston Bruins’ Tuukka Rask and the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy.

While quality is often a stronger argument than quantity when it comes to goaltending performance, Hellebuyck’s impressive campaign was an exception. While Rask led all starters in both save percentage and goals against average by a wide margin this season, he did so in just 41 games. Hellebuyck meanwhile played in 58 games, more than 80% of the Jets’ games. He led the league in total shots against and saves, as well as shutouts, and finished second in wins and total time on ice. Yet most impressively given his heavy workload, Hellebuyck finished second to Rask in save percentage among starters and sixth among starters in goals against average. Of the 31 NHL GM’s, 19 cast a first-place vote for Hellebuyck versus ten for Rask, allowing the Jets keeper to edge out the victory.

Hellebuyck, a former college standout at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, has had an up-and-down NHL career, but finally put everything together this year. While he has previously led the league before in wins and saves, he has also had seasons where he has struggled immensely. Winnipeg can likely put those worries to rest after the 27-year-old established himself as one of the best in the game with an outstanding 2019-20 season.

Jets Loan Leon Gawanke To German League

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The Jets have been quite active so far in loaning some of their prospects overseas with goaltender Arvid Holm, defenseman Ville Heinola, and center David Gustafsson all heading across the pond to start next season.  That list has grown again as Eisbaren Berlin of the DEL announced that Winnipeg has loaned defenseman Leon Gawanke to them to start their upcoming season with the expectation that he’ll return once NHL training camps open.

The 21-year-old had a strong professional debut with AHL Manitoba this season, contributing four goals and 22 assists in 48 games before the pandemic hit.  His 26 points led all Moose defenders although it wasn’t enough to earn him a recall despite Winnipeg’s injuries.

Gawanke will be returning to a program that he already has some familiarity with.  Prior to transferring to the QMJHL via the CHL Import Draft, he spent four seasons in that program from 2012-13 through 2015-16 in their junior system.  Now, he’ll get a chance to try his hand at their top professional level even if it is only for a short while.

Patrik Laine Drawing Trade Speculation

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The Winnipeg Jets looked like they might be primed for a long playoff run when things returned this summer, given their Vezina-finalist goaltender and deep offensive attack. Then, partway through the first game against the Calgary Flames, disaster struck. After just three shifts, Mark Scheifele was down. Writhing in pain after a collision with Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk, the Jets quickly lost their most important forward and a huge part of their leadership group.

Later that game, that offensive depth was tested once again as Laine exited with a hand injury. Suddenly, the Jets didn’t look quite as deep or dangerous and it quickly showed on the scoresheet. The team bowed out in the qualification round while scoring just six goals in four games.

Now, after such a disappointing—perhaps unlucky—five-game series, speculation is running rampant over what the Jets will do this summer. It’s no secret that they need to upgrade a defense corps that lost Jacob Trouba, Dustin Byfuglien and Tyler Myers all in one offseason, but how exactly will they address that underperforming offense?

That question apparently leads to Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers, who both find themselves on Frank Seravalli’s Trade Bait board for TSN. The scribe even writes that Laine is “expected to be in play this offseason” as the Jets fix other issues on the roster. The sniper lands fifth on his board, while Ehlers comes in at 12.

It’s not the first time that Laine trade speculation has emerged. Last fall, the talented forward was quoted in Finland saying that he didn’t feel he was playing with the best players on Winnipeg’s roster. That distraction was quickly quashed by the team’s leadership group, but given how inconsistent Laine’s play has been, these questions were bound to surface again.

When he first debuted in the NHL as an 18-year old, it seemed nothing could stop the second-overall pick. Laine scored in his first game and had two hat tricks in his first month as an NHLer. He’d finish with 36 goals and 64 points in just 73 games as a rookie, coming second in Calder Trophy voting behind only Auston Matthews. The next season was even better, with Laine leading the league in powerplay goals and finishing with 44 tallies in all situations. Winnipeg had found the next Finnish Flash, able to score from anywhere on the ice.

But then came 2018-19, when Laine took a considerable step backward. He scored 21 times in his first 24 games, including a five-goal output against the St. Louis Blues in late November, but recorded just three assists over that stretch. Starting in December, he scored just four goals and nine points over his next 36 games and was dropped further and further down the lineup as his overall game suffered. He’d finish with just nine goals in the 58 games from December on, despite still averaging more than 17 minutes a night.

While he rebounded this year with a much better overall performance, speculation about his future in Winnipeg has not disappeared. Part of that also has to do with the fact that his current contract, a two-year bridge deal he signed in 2019, expires after the 2020-21 season. Laine currently carries a $6.75MM cap hit but will earn $7.5MM of the deal next season, after which he’ll be an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent.

Seravalli writes that it’s not “a lock” that Laine will be traded, which is obvious given his immense talent and relative youth. But if big changes are coming in Winnipeg, his name will always be at the center of any speculation.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Central Notes: Jets’ Offseason, Zadorov, Bishop

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The Winnipeg Jets have quite a few of their franchise players under contract for the next four years, so the team is in a win-now mode. With all the injuries and distractions the team suffered during the 2019-20 season, many were thrilled that head coach Paul Maurice and the Jets even managed to make the playoffs. However, having just won two of their last six playoff series in the last few years, Ken Wiebe of Sportsnet writes that the Jets must make changes to their roster to return to the top of the Central Conference.

One way to do that, suggests the scribe, would be for the team to use what remaining cap room that it has and spend on a top free agent defenseman. There will potentially be a few difference-makers available and with the salary cap leveling out at $81.5MM, the Jets could take advantage of several cap-strapped teams and bring in a big-name player.

There are two key possibilities, including St. Louis Blues’ Alex Pietrangelo and Boston Bruins’ Torey Krug. Both are looking for big paydays and may have to look outside the organization unless their respective teams are ready to move out salary to accommodate them. Wiebe notes that Pietrangelo might be a better fit for the Jets as he is right-handed and would be a good fit leading the team’s power play. Both players could be persuaded to sign in Winnipeg with big short-term offers.

  • Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said that defenseman Nikita Zadorov is expected to play tonight in Game 4 of their series against the Dallas Stars, according to Adrian Dater of Colorado Hockey Now. The 6-foot-6, 235-pound blueliner didn’t play during the third period of Game 3 on Wednesday due to an undisclosed injury, but is expected to be ready now. The 25-year-old had a goal and an assist in that game, but it will be his physical presence the team will need if Colorado hopes to even the series against Dallas.
  •  Speaking of the Stars, Matthew DeFranks of the Dallas Morning News reports that there has been a slight change in the status of starting goaltender Ben Bishop. The netminder skated, but remains unfit to play. The team, however, hasn’t been forced to rush Bishop back as backup Anton Khudobin is playing quite well in his place. Khudobin has a 6-4 record with a 2.75 GAA and a .913 save percentage. “Dobby’s been great, but listen, Bish is unfit to play,” said coach Rick Bowness. “It’s as simple as that. I think we’ll just leave it right there.”

Free Agent Focus: Winnipeg Jets

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While the official start date of free agency remains in flux depending on when the playoffs end (the later of October 9th or a week after the completion of the Stanley Cup Final), many teams are already looking ahead to when it opens up.  There will be several prominent players set to hit the open market while many teams have key restricted free agents to re-sign.  Winnipeg doesn’t have a top-end player that’s in need of a new deal but quite a few regulars will need to be re-signed or replaced.

Key Restricted Free Agents

F Jack Roslovic – The shine has come off of the 23-year-old a little bit over the last couple of years but he is still a useful forward for the Jets.  Once viewed as their second-line center of the future, Roslovic has spent the majority of the last two seasons on the left wing.  He set career highs offensively this season with 12 goals and 17 assists in 71 games while seeing his ice time jump up to just below 15 minutes per night during the regular season.  It’s still possible that he has a future down the middle though, especially with some of the uncertainty surrounding Bryan Little.  At the very least, with the slow but steady offensive improvement and his future role still undefined, Roslovic isn’t an ideal candidate for a long-term contract and will likely sign a short-term bridge deal.

D Sami Niku – For the last couple of years, Niku has seemingly been on the cusp of becoming a regular on Winnipeg’s back end but despite all of the turnover and injury trouble he had this season, it didn’t happen.  The 23-year-old has been quite productive at the minor league level with Manitoba but it hasn’t translated to much production at the NHL level as he has just 10 points in 48 career games with Winnipeg.  He’ll be waiver-eligible next season and figures to at least be a regular on the roster which presents a situation where he could take less than his qualifying offer to secure a one-way deal.

Other RFAs: F Mason Appleton, F Jansen Harkins, D Nelson Nogier, F C.J. Suess

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

D Dylan DeMelo – Initially regarded as a throw-in player as part of the trade that sent Erik Karlsson to San Jose, DeMelo has certainly boosted his value over the last couple of years.  This season, he spent a lot of time in Ottawa’s top four before being moved to Winnipeg just before the trade deadline.  The 27-year-old fit in perfectly with his new team and spent a fair bit of time with top defenders Josh Morrissey and Neal Pionk.  As a right-shot player that has shown he can play on the top two pairings, DeMelo is well-positioned to land a sizable raise on his $900K AAV.  Cap-strapped teams (and there will be plenty of them) will certainly be kicking the tires if he can’t agree to a new deal before free agency.

F Cody Eakin – Another trade deadline acquisition, Eakin is coming off of a down year offensively.  After picking up a career-high 41 points in 2018-19, his output dipped to just 15 this season although injuries and the pandemic skew that point total a little bit.  While he isn’t an option for the top six, he is a capable defensive forward and logged nearly 17 minutes per game for the Jets in the playoffs.  In a quiet center free agent market, he should have several suitors although he’ll likely be facing a pay cut from the $3.85MM AAV he had this season.

D Dmitry Kulikov – This was a bit of a bounce-back season for the veteran.  Yes, his $4.333MM AAV was still wildly overpriced but he managed to hold his own logging 20 minutes a night on the back end.  His days of being a fixture in the top four have been over for a while now but a year ago, it looked like he’d likely have to go overseas when this deal expired.  Now, there should be some interest around the league for him to play on a third pairing next season, albeit at a largely-reduced price tag.

Other UFAs: D Nathan Beaulieu, D Anthony Bitetto, F Gabriel Bourque, G Laurent Brossoit, F Seth Griffith, F Mark Letestu, D Luca Sbisa, D Cameron Schilling, F Logan Shaw, F Nick Shore

Projected Cap Space

With Morrissey’s extension kicking in for next season, Winnipeg is up to nearly $66MM in commitments to just 13 players, per CapFriendly.  With roughly $15MM in cap space to fill out their roster with another eight to ten players, it’s unlikely that the Jets will be able to afford another big-ticket contract.  The good news is that with a light crop of restricted free agents, they should still have some flexibility to work with on the open market as they look to retain or retool their back end.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

David Gustafsson Loaned To Allsvenskan

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Among the players being loaned out to European leagues, it’s no longer only prospects that are years away from making an NHL impact. Now teams are starting to find landing spots for young players who have a good shot at making the roster when the 2020-21 season starts too. David Gustafsson, who played 22 games with the Winnipeg Jets this season, has been loaned to Tingsryds AIF of Sweden’s Allsvenskan (second tier).

Gustafsson, 20, scored his first NHL goal with the Jets but was held scoreless otherwise and managed just seven points in 13 AHL contests. Still, he’s a big part of their future after being selected 60th overall in 2018 and making an impact at the SHL level.

This move is a bit curious, given he’s already competed and succeeded at the highest level in Sweden, but it will certainly give Gustafsson a chance to build on his game and get some confidence coming into NHL training camp. The Jets release specifically states that the young forward will return when the 2020-21 season begins in North America.

Dale Hawerchuk Passes Away At Age 57

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The hockey world is in mourning today as Dale Hawerchuk passes away at the age of 57 after a long battle with cancer. His son Eric announced the news on Twitter, receiving an outpouring of support from all around the hockey community.

One of the greatest, and perhaps most underrated players of all time, Hawerchuk played 16 years in the NHL. In 1,188 career regular season games he scored 518 goals and recorded 1,409 points, good for 20th on the all-time list. Though his Winnipeg Jets were routinely ousted from the playoffs by powerhouse Smythe Division opponents, there was never any doubt in Hawerchuk’s status as one of the game’s greats.

A Calder Trophy winner in 1982 after scoring 45 goals and 103 points as a rookie, Hawerchuk would record five more 100+point seasons in his career. A mid-career move to the Buffalo Sabres made him one of the greatest for two franchises, while he finished things with time in St. Louis and Philadelphia.

In his post-playing career, Hawerchuk had been a long-time head coach of the Barrie Colts of the OHL and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001.

From everyone at PHR, we wish the best for the Hawerchuk family and mourn the loss of one of hockey’s giants far too early.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Snapshots: Predators, Lauko, Lipon

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The Nashville Predators have made a couple of changes to their coaching staff for the 2020-21 season, announcing today that they will not renew the contract of assistant Dan Muse. Rob Scuderi, who had been serving as an assistant on an interim basis, will be returning to his role as defense development coach.

Muse had been with the Predators for three seasons following a stint as the head coach of the Chicago Steel (USHL). Nashville will begin the search for new assistants immediately, giving John Hynes a chance to bring in his own team as he prepares for his first full season behind the Predators bench.

  • Jakob Lauko will start the 2020-21 season with HC Karlovy Vary of the Czech league but is expected back with the Boston Bruins when NHL training camp opens. The 20-year-old forward spent this season with the Providence Bruins, scoring just nine points in 22 games. The limited action was due to a knee injury Lauko suffered at the very start of the World Junior tournament, meaning any games he can play in the Czech Republic will be beneficial to his development.
  • J.C. Lipon’s contract with the Winnipeg Jets is up and the 27-year-old forward will take his talents to the KHL. Dinamo Riga has signed Lipon to a contract for the 2020-21 season after he failed to make it to the NHL once again this year. A third-round pick back in 2013, Lipon made his NHL debut in the 2015-16 season but hasn’t been back to the NHL since. Instead, he played 61 games for the Manitoba Moose this year, scoring 31 points.

Cheveldayoff Expects To Spend This Offseason

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Last summer wasn’t a fun one for the Jets as salary cap issues resulted in several key veterans leaving the roster without much of a chance to retain or replace them.  However, Dustin Byfuglien’s departure gives them a lot more cap room to work with and GM Kevin Cheveldayoff told reporters, including Postmedia’s Paul Friesen, that they will be looking to spend this offseason.  With a little less than $66MM in commitments and no pending free agents that are in line for significant raises, Winnipeg will have enough flexibility to at least try to fill one of their two primary holes, a top-four defenseman, or a second line center with Bryan Little’s future in doubt.  If Little can’t play, he’d be eligible for LTIR which could then open up some more short-term spending flexibility.

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