North Notes: Benning, Dubois, Puljujarvi
The Vancouver Canucks disappointing 2-5 start to begin the season isn’t a good sign, especially in a shortened season. The team’s record is bad, but the team hasn’t looked good in the process. While Canucks’ fans have always had a poor relationship with general manager Jim Benning over the last seven years, things have gotten worse, according to The Athletic’s Harman Dayal and Thomas Drance (subscription required).
Benning has found himself on the hot seat with criticism coming from Hockey Night in Canada’s Brian Burke, who described Benning as being under “tremendous pressure.” Despite the team’s early struggles to the season, much blame has been placed at Benning’s feet, which includes the team’s choice to not retain any of their three top free agents last offseason: Jacob Markstrom, Chris Tanev and Tyler Toffoli, as well as the fact that the team’s salary cap is critical, especially considering the bloated contract of Loui Eriksson (two years at $6MM AAV).
- While nothing specific was said about the matter, new Winnipeg Jets center Pierre-Luc Dubois, during a press conference with reporters, was asked whether he would consider signing with the Jets long-term. “It already feels good to be here,” Dubois said as part of a long answer which also included lots of praise for Winnipeg and the organization, via The Athletic’s Murat Ates. Dubois said that his father, who works for the AHL’s Manitoba Moose, has been a big ambassador for the city. Dubois has two years to make a decision after signing a two-year, $10MM deal just before the season started.
- With little production coming from the Edmonton Oilers’ first line, the team has moved first-line regular Zack Kassian to the third line and promoted Jesse Puljujarvi to the first line in hopes of shaking up the team’s offense, according to David Staples of the Edmonton Journal. The 22-year-old hasn’t done much on the third line with just an assist in six games, but the scribe writes that he hasn’t fit well next to center Kyle Turris, who is struggling offensively, suggesting a move next to McDavid makes sense.
Patrik Laine Open To “Long-Term Relationship” With Blue Jackets
Over the offseason, Patrik Laine‘s agent made it clear that the enigmatic forward would like a fresh start somewhere else. He had flourished as a goal-scorer with the Winnipeg Jets, but the relationship between team and player never seemed perfect. With Laine set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the year, it wasn’t clear if a long-term deal would ever really happen in Winnipeg.
Now that he’s in Columbus after a blockbuster deal saw the Jets’ sniper head south in exchange for Pierre-Luc Dubois (with Jack Roslovic tagging along), Laine is facing the challenge of building a new relationship with a new organization.
Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen told reporters including Aaron Portzline of The Athletic today that he had already spoken with Laine about a potential extension and establishing a “long-term relationship,” though more serious negotiations are still to come. When Laine was asked if he’d be open to that, he told reporters including Alison Lukan of The Athletic that he would certainly be open to it and had heard only positive things about the city and organization. “Hopefully that’s a spot where I’m enjoying life and enjoying playing hockey,” said the always thoughtful Laine, while head coach John Tortorella explained that he already had a “really good conversation” with the sniper.
What exactly would a long-term extension for Laine look like? That part is entirely unclear at this point. Unlike his fellow 2016 draftee Auston Matthews, who signed a five-year deal in Toronto before his entry-level deal was even up, Laine is playing on a two-year bridge contract that carries a cap hit of $6.75MM and expires after this season. He’ll be eligible for arbitration, giving him a little leverage in negotiations and has been one of the most impressive goal scorers in the league through his first few seasons.
In fact, since he entered the league in 2016-17, only eight players have scored more than Laine’s 140 goals and five of those have played more games during that period. They all have averaged quite a bit more ice time than Laine’s career 17:40 mark, which points to a lack of polish in other areas but only makes his goal totals more impressive.
Because of those numbers, Laine will enter this negotiation without many direct comparables in the league. The Blue Jackets have plenty of cap space to work with, but they’ve also had a problem in the past actually retaining talent. If Kekalainen truly wants to retain Laine long-term and build a relationship with the star forward, he’ll have to be willing to hand out the biggest contract of his tenure in Columbus. That record is currently held by Cam Atkinson, who signed a seven-year, $41,125,000 contract in 2017. Atkinson’s $5.875MM cap hit comes in well below what Laine is already making and should be shattered by any new deal.
Taxi Squad Shuffle: 1/23/21
It appears as though there will be daily movement this season between the active roster and taxi squad. Although some major names may be highlighted in separate articles, this is where you’ll find the majority of shuffle news each day.
- The Canadiens announced (Twitter link) that they have recalled winger Corey Perry from the taxi squad. He’s expected to make his Montreal debut today against Vancouver with Joel Armia out with a concussion and Paul Byron questionable with a foot injury.
- Ville Heinola is heading back to Winnipeg’s taxi squad as the Jets announced (Twitter links) that the blueliner has been sent down to make room for Dylan DeMelo’s return to the lineup. Heinola logged just over 14 minutes in his season debut on Thursday against Ottawa. Anton Forsberg was added to the active roster after passing through his quarantine period which allowed them to send Mikhail Berdin to AHL Manitoba. Winnipeg also recalled center David Gustafsson from the taxi squad while designating newly-acquired Pierre-Luc Dubois as a non-roster player.
- The Senators announced (Twitter link) that they have recalled Micheal Haley from the taxi squad. The rugged winger will take the place of Tim Stutzle who was placed on IR retroactive to January 16. Today would mark the seven-day requirement to be on there so he’ll be eligible to be activated at any time.
- The Maple Leafs announced (via Twitter) that they’ve added center Travis Boyd to their active roster and that he will join the team for their upcoming road trip. The 27-year-old had 10 points in just 24 games with Washington last season but cleared waivers at the end of training camp.
- Lias Andersson‘s time with the taxi squad was short-lived as the Kings revealed (Twitter link) that he has been recalled to the active roster. It’s the third time he has been recalled already this season and despite going back and forth, the center has played in two games with Los Angeles in the early going.
- Samuel Morin is on this list for the third straight day as the Flyers announced (via Twitter) they’ve promoted him from the taxi squad once again. He’s trying to convert himself into a winger after playing defense throughout his career up until this season but has yet to suit up in 2020-21.
- With AHL training camps getting underway, the Panthers have sent defensemen Brady Keeper and Riley Stillman to Syracuse, per a release from the Crunch. Stillman has played once with Florida this season, logging nearly 17 minutes back on Tuesday while Keeper has been with the taxi squad since the start of the season.
Winnipeg Jets Acquire Pierre-Luc Dubois For Patrik Laine, Jack Roslovic
Morning has arrived and with it the Pierre-Luc Dubois trade that was reported as imminent yesterday. The Winnipeg Jets, considered the favorite late last night, have completed a deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets to add the cornerstone center, as first reported by TSN’s Darren Dreger. The club has parted ways with two disgruntled young pieces of their own: winger Patrik Laine, selected one spot ahead of Dubois in 2016, and RFA center Jack Roslovic, a Columbus native. The Jets also receive a 2022 third-round pick alongside Dubois. Both teams have confirmed the trade.
The Jets have retained 26% of Laine’s salary for the final year of his current contract, according to TSN’s Frank Seravalli, bringing his cap hit down to $4.995MM and making the cap exchange of the two players even given Dubois’ $5MM AAV. Of course, Roslovic will also contribute to the Blue Jackets’ cap and Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that he has already agreed to a two-year contract. Colleague Chris Johnston believes Roslovic’s new deal carries a $1.9MM AAV; PuckPedia adds that the breakdown is as follows:
2020-21: $1.3MM
2021-22: $2.5MM
The qualifying offer at the end of the deal will be $2.28MM, the lower of 120% of the AAV and the final-year salary. It’s also worth noting that with the contract being signed in-season, the AAV will vary each year. This season, the cap charge will be just under $2.018MM while next season, the charge will be a little under $1.844MM.
There seemed to be too much in common between these two clubs for this not to be the eventual deal that ended the Dubois saga in Columbus. Dubois and Laine are a very similar caliber of player, with almost identical draft billing and both currently playing on bridge deals. Both were also not content with their current surroundings. Then there is Roslovic, who was an unsigned restricted free agent still living at home in Columbus early on this season. Perhaps the most disgruntled of all, Roslovic likely could not be happier with staying home. Dubois also has ties to the city of Winnipeg and the organization as his father, Eric Dubois, serves as an assistant coach for the AHL’s Manitoba Moose and his parents live there year-round.
With that said, Columbus’ own beat writer for The Athletic, Aaron Portzline, was skeptical that Laine and Roslovic would be headed to Columbus without another substantial sweetener alongside Dubois. He noted that the Jets were also thought to be seeking a defenseman, an area of strength on the Blue Jackets’ organizational depth chart. Not only did Columbus succeed in making this deal without giving up a Vladislav Gavrikov but they also held on to young blue liners like Andrew Peeke and Gabriel Carlsson at the cost of a third-rounder.
All things considered, the Blue Jackets make out very well in this trade. Dubois is a tough piece to give up, but there is a very strong argument to be made that Laine is the best player in the deal. The big, sniping winger has notched 140 goals and 250 points in 306 NHL games, finishing in the top ten league-wide in goal scoring twice in just four seasons. The 2017 All-Star is one of the most dangerous shooters and power play assets on the planet and should help to bring along some of Columbus’ young centers. That now includes Roslovic, who is 23 years old just like Dubois and Laine and a first-round pick as well. The young pivot has shown flashes of high-end ability and will finally land a permanent top-nine role in Columbus. Of course, the final judgement on the deal will have to wait a couple of years. The Blue Jackets have struggled to retain top talent and head coach John Tortorella has a history of clashing with players, so how contract negotiations play out between the team and Laine (and potentially Roslovic as well) will dictate how successful this move was for Columbus’ long-term success.
As for Winnipeg, the team adds yet another skilled center to a roster that was already deep on the wing and now has the talent to match down the middle. Dubois has recorded 159 points in 239 NHL games, not including a 2020 postseason where he tallied ten points in ten games and averaged nearly 23 minutes per night. While Dubois will miss some time with a mandatory 14-day quarantine, Laine was out of action on injured reserve anyhow. Once Dubois joins the Jets, who have the second-best record in the North Division early on, the team could be primed for a strong season and playoff success. They also will have nearly two seasons to evaluate Dubois before he needs a new contract. The hope in Winnipeg is that playing closer to family and having more sustained success will be enough to keep Dubois content and committed to the club long-term.
While many sources believed that the Jets were the most likely team to wind up completing a deal for Dubois, they were not the only team still in pursuit. Friedman reported last night that the Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames, and Montreal Canadiens were still very much in the mix. He added that the Ducks, a team chock full of talented prospects, were thought to have significantly improved their offer recently. Well-off contenders like the Tampa Bay Lightning and Colorado Avalanche were even been linked to the young forward, who has the makings of a long-term top-six center. In fact, TSN’s Frank Seravalli says that it is easier to name the teams who were not interested in Dubois and assume all other at least kicked the tires. That list of non-suitors includes the Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Vegas Golden Knights. Practically anyone else could have still made a competing offer in time, but with Laine and Roslovic on the table for the Jets, Winnipeg was always likely to come out on top.
Blue Jackets Closing In On Pierre-Luc Dubois Trade
What a difference a day can make. Following Pierre-Luc Dubois‘ benching against Tampa Bay on Thursday which saw him post a career-low 3:55 of ice time, it appeared that trade chatter had started to pick up around the Columbus center. Now, it appears that he could be getting his trade request granted in the very near future. TSN’s Darren Dreger reports (Twitter link) that the Blue Jackets are closing in on a Dubois trade with teams being notified that they’re no longer being considered. He adds Winnipeg as one of the teams that’s still in the mix.
To that end, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic adds (via Twitter) that Columbus plans to make Dubois a healthy scratch for the rematch against the Lightning on Saturday if he’s still on the roster by then.
At this point, the situation is well-known. While the two sides were able to agree on a two-year, $10MM bridge deal just before training camp, Dubois’ request to be dealt was not rescinded. Although he claimed that he would continue to play hard while waiting for a resolution, that hasn’t happened yet, leading to what has become a very public benching.
The Jets have a pair of players who are believed to want out as well in wingers Patrik Laine and RFA Jack Roslovic; Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic suggests (Twitter link) that both players could make sense as being involved in the deal if they wind up being the eventual destination. A return involving those players would certainly allow Columbus to yield a substantial return although it would create a sizable hole down the middle, a position that they’re already weak at. Meanwhile, Winnipeg would lose some firepower on the wing but would get a controllable second center to put behind Mark Scheifele for the foreseeable future.
In a follow-up tweet, LeBrun adds that the Ducks also remain interested in Dubois. They’ve had interest since this whole process began and would certainly give them a much-needed boost down the middle. They have a little more than $6MM in LTIR room at the moment, per CapFriendly, but that amount will be reduced by $800K once Brendan Guhle returns. That still leaves enough room to absorb Dubois but just barely. Having said that, they’re not a great fit in terms of providing immediate value in a trade though their prospect pool has several high-quality prospects including center Trevor Zegras and defenseman Jamie Drysdale.
In his report, Dreger notes that this is a complicated process which can mean several different things. Depending on who is involved, there could be salary cap elements at play although a deal involving Laine and Dubois is something both teams can afford. If there isn’t a center coming their way though, it’s possible that another move has to be agreed upon to give them one. And, of course, there are quarantine issues to deal with and plan around with there being different rules in different jurisdictions. Dreger suggests that these could be resolved as quickly as Saturday so Dubois’ poor showing last night could wind up being the impetus that ultimately gets a trade completed.
Patrik Laine Moved To Injured Reserve
The Winnipeg Jets have made several transactions today, not the least of which was moving Patrik Laine to injured reserve. Laine has played in just one game so far this season and will not play tomorrow against the Ottawa Senators. Nate Thompson joins Laine on injured reserve, while Dylan DeMelo has been activated and David Gustafsson has been brought up from the minors to the taxi squad.
While Laine won’t play, it is good news to see DeMelo activated after missing the first four games. The 27-year-old defenseman will be a welcome addition for the Jets who have shuffled their defense around on a daily basis this season, especially after he fit in so well down the stretch in 2020. DeMelo was acquired at the deadline from the Ottawa Senators and logged more than 21 minutes a night in ten regular season games with the Jets, before seeing big minutes again in the postseason bubble.
Murat Ates of The Athletic isn’t sure whether it will be Logan Stanley or Ville Heinola coming out for DeMelo, but does note that the later is still a slide candidate should he play fewer than seven games this season. Heinola has played just one so far, meaning they could potentially send him to the minors and allow his entry-level contract to extend another year. Stanley, who is already 22, will become a restricted free agent in the summer no matter how many games he plays this season.
After a tumultuous offseason that saw Laine’s agent suggest a trade would be best for his client, the 22-year-old forward can’t seem to get back into the lineup thanks to his somewhat mysterious injury. Head coach Paul Maurice told Ken Wiebe of Sportsnet that Laine had more testing done today and that “nothing new came up on it.” In that one game Laine has played, he registered two goals and one assist.
Taxi Squad Shuffle: 01/20/21
It appears as though there will be daily movement this season between the active roster and taxi squad. Although some major names may be highlighted in separate articles, this is where you’ll find the majority of shuffle news each day.
- The New Jersey Devils finally have Eric Comrie out of the COVID protocol and have added the goaltender to the active roster. In response, Gilles Senn, who had been serving as the third goalie on the taxi squad, has been sent to the minor leagues. In his place, the team has added defensive prospect Kevin Bahl to the taxi squad.
- The Winnipeg Jets have moved Ville Heinola and Kristian Vesalainen back to the taxi squad while assigning David Gustafsson to the Manitoba Moose. On off days, you’ll often see the Jets rotate players on entry-level contracts through the taxi squad to save money, though this also could be opening up a spot for Tucker Poolman to return from the CPRA list or another transaction.
- With concerns that Philippe Myers could miss considerable time after leaving last night’s game with an injury, the Philadelphia Flyers have recalled Derrick Pouliot to the taxi squad. The 27-year-old defenseman played two games last season for the St. Louis Blues, spending most of the season in the AHL and recording 39 points in 58 games. The eighth-overall pick in 2012, Pouliot has 202 NHL regular season games to his name.
- The Nashville Predators have sent Mathieu Olivier back to the taxi squad, returning Ben Harpur to the AHL in the meantime. Olivier has played in two games this season and seemed likely to stay in the lineup for last night’s match, but the game was postponed due to several positive COVID-19 results on the Carolina Hurricanes. The 23-year-old has yet to record his first NHL goal through the first ten games of his career.
- Sam Montembeault has been sent to the Syracuse Crunch by the Florida Panthers, as the team waits out another COVID-related break in the schedule. The team has moved Riley Stillman into the resulting taxi squad spot for the time being, allowing them to save some cash and cap space while they wait to get back on the ice.
- The Los Angeles Kings have returned young defenseman Tobias Bjornfot and off-season addition Lias Andersson to the taxi squad. Veteran Mark Alt replaces Bjornfot on the active roster while forward Boko Imama has been reassigned from the taxi squad to the AHL’s Ontario Reign. The Kings seem as if they will take advantage of their nearby affiliate to switch up their active roster and taxi squafd fequently when playing at home.
This page will be updated throughout the day as more moves are officially announced.
Canucks Announce Loan Agreement With AHL’s Manitoba Moose
Given the ongoing border restrictions related to the Coronavirus pandemic, there was always a sense that Canadian NHL clubs maintaining their American AHL affiliates could pose problems this season. The Vancouver Canucks however have found a work-around. The team has announced that they have reached a loan agreement with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose that will allow them to assign players to the Winnipeg Jets’ affiliate this season. The Canucks will also continue to maintain their relationship with their own AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets, who are also receiving players from the St. Louis Blues this year.
By striking a deal with the Moose, the Canucks have essentially added yet another level of recall ease this season. Beyond their active roster, the Canucks already have their six-man taxi squad who can be recalled immediately. They now have a second layer of players who will be assigned to Manitoba and will require just a seven-day quarantine before joining the NHL club. This initial group will include Tyler Graovac, Ashton Sautner, and Arturs Silovs, per the team release. Finally, they will have a younger, developmental group remaining in Utica who, if absolutely necessary, can be recalled but will require a fourteen-day quarantine period in accordance with federal regulations.
Now that this relationship is in place between Vancouver and Manitoba, the next question becomes whether the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers will also explore a similar arrangement. While four of the seven Canadian teams have AHL affiliates within their own national borders and the Canucks are now linked with one of those clubs, the Flames and Oilers still have American affiliates and face the same inconvenient federal quarantine policy should they need to make a recall beyond their taxi squad. Manitoba, the farthest west of the four Canadian AHL teams, would also be the most reasonable for the Alberta clubs, but should the Jets nix the idea of yet another rival stealing play time from their prospects, there are affiliates in Binghamton, Laval, and Toronto that could serve the same purpose.
Taxi Squad Shuffle: 01/18/21
It appears as though there will be daily movement this season between the active roster and taxi squad this season. Although some major names may be highlighted in separate articles, this is where you’ll find the majority of shuffle news each day.
- Pierre Engvall has been promoted from the AHL roster to the taxi squad by the Toronto Maple Leafs after Nick Robertson suffered a knee injury on the weekend. Engvall’s $1.25MM contract actually makes it difficult for him to see the active roster given how tight the cap space is for Toronto, though it could be possible in the coming days should Aaron Dell and Jason Spezza both clear waivers today.
- Given it is a game day for the Montreal Canadiens, Alexander Romanov has been recalled from the taxi squad. The rookie defenseman has been excellent so far for Montreal but will find himself on the taxi squad between games in order for the Canadiens to accrue extra cap space throughout the season.
- The Winnipeg Jets have recalled both Ville Heinola and Kristian Vesalainen from the taxi squad, while moving Tucker Poolman to non-roster status. Poolman has been listed on the COVID Related Protocol Absences list for the last two days.
- The same can be said about Shayne Gostisbehere of the Philadelphia Flyers, who today was given the non-roster designation as well. Connor Bunnaman has been recalled from the taxi squad for the Flyers, who are expected to be without Sean Couturier when they take on the Buffalo Sabres this evening.
- Mackenzie MacEachern has been assigned to the taxi squad by the St. Louis Blues, while Jake Walman is up in his place. Colton Parayko missed practice today but is expected to play, meaning Walman’s recall may just be precautionary.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled Kevin Czuczman to their taxi squad from AHL camp, adding some depth to the traveling group after placing Mike Matheson on injured reserve. The team also assigned Sam Lafferty to the taxi squad, while sending Anthony Angello and Frederick Gaudreau to the AHL. Given that Kasperi Kapanen practiced today and is clear of the COVID protocols, expect him to be added to the active roster before tomorrow’s game.
- Linus Ullmark will miss tonight’s game for the Buffalo Sabres due to personal reasons, so the team has recalled Jonas Johansson from the taxi squad. Carter Hutton, the team’s other goaltender, allowed five goals on 27 shots in his first appearance this season.
- The Nashville Predators have recalled Mathieu Olivier from the taxi squad, replacing him with Ben Harpur who was recalled from the AHL. Olivier played in the Predators game on Saturday, recording six hits in just under 12 minutes of ice time.
This page will be updated throughout the day.
Penguins Showing Interest In Jack Roslovic
The list of remaining restricted free agents that aren’t playing overseas begins and ends with Jets winger Jack Roslovic. He has made his preference for a trade known but as of yet, nothing has come to fruition and so he sits at home while hoping for his fortunes to change. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports in the latest Saturday Headlines segment (video link) that the Penguins are among the teams that are quite interested in bringing Roslovic in.
The 23-year-old hasn’t quite lived up to his first-round billing after being the 25th overall pick back in 2015 but he has become a serviceable middle-six winger and managed to put up career highs offensively last season despite the pandemic with 12 goals and 17 assists in 71 regular season games while chipping in with a pair of assists in four postseason contests. A natural center, Roslovic could still shift back down the middle which would only boost his long-term value.
Considering the situation, a short-term bridge deal of one or two years makes the most sense for both Roslovic and whoever winds up signing him, be it Winnipeg or someone else. It’s hard to see him checking in at much more than double his previous salary which would put him in the $1.65MM to $2MM range or so.
What will make a trade tricky for Pittsburgh is that they don’t have that much cap room to add Roslovic without subtracting someone from their roster first or as part of the deal and with this being a year where moving money and making trades is going to be more difficult than usual, it’s not an insignificant factor. Pittsburgh has gotten off to a bit of sluggish start (though they got their first win today) but it appears that GM Jim Rutherford is already looking to add to his roster with an eye on Roslovic, just as long as they can afford his next contract first.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.