Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Archives for July 2016

Shane Doan Returns To Coyotes For 21st Season

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The captain of the Arizona Coyotes and the face of the franchise for over two decades will be back for one more season. Craig Morgan announced late tonight that Shane Doan and the Coyotes have agreed to terms on a one-year deal. It is expected to be worth a total of $5MM, much of which will likely be incentive based.

Doan has had quite the career already, totaling 945 points in 1466 games, which is good enough for tenth and third respectively among all active players. Even with twenty seasons under his belt, he couldn’t help but re-sign for another year in Arizona. Doan, who will turn 40 during the upcoming season, is already the (original) Winnipeg Jets/Phoenix Coyotes/Arizona Coyotes franchise leader in games played, goals, and points, and will only increase his lead this season.

The importance of Doan to the Coyotes cannot be understated, even as the team goes through a rebuilding phase. The captain brings experience and leadership to the locker room and an unmatched physicality and on-ice presence to each and every game. Not only is he a great mentor to the young core of the Coyotes, but he is beloved by the fans as well, whose outpouring of celebration on social media followed soon after the signing was announced. While it seems unlikely that Doan will get that elusive Stanley Cup ring if he plays out yet another season with the Coyotes, the selflessness of his dedication to the franchise is a testament to his character and will continue to make him a hero in the game of hockey.

Coyotes, Rieder Far Apart In Contract Talks

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Arizona Coyotes and Restricted Free Agent (RFA) winger Tobias Rieder are “not close” in contract talks according to Rieder’s agent, Darren Ferris, in a conversation with Arizona Sports columnist Craig Morgan.

Rieder completed his entry-level contract with career highs across the board, scoring 14 goals and 37 points in 82 games. Ferris told Morgan their camp feels Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri and new Coyotes winger Jamie McGinn are fair comparisons for Rieder; while both scored more points than Rieder last season, Rieder has superior possession stats. Kadri and McGinn have both signed new contracts this summer, worth $4.5MM and $3.33MM respectively.

Coyotes rookie GM John Chayka says talks have not progressed in “a while”, and that the team has made what they think is a fair offer. Rieder is not eligible for arbitration, something Chayka says the team isn’t trying to take advantage of. The contract impasse has lead Ferris to explore European and KHL options, but he says Rieder’s first choice is stay in the NHL.

The Coyotes’ qualifying offer, tendered in late June, expires on July 15. The two sides have until December 1 to negotiate a new contract, at which point Rieder is ineligible to play in the coming season.

Arizona has three other key free agents left to sign, captain Shane Doan is a UFA and defensemen Michael Stone and Connor Murphy are RFAs. The Coyotes have $18.68MM in cap space, according to CapFriendly.

Canadiens Owner Confident Subban Trade Is Good For Team

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Montreal Canadiens will be better off for trading P.K. Subban, according to the team’s owner and president Geoff Molson. Molson spoke about the controversial trade at Monday’s press conference announcing the relocation of the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate from St. John’s to Laval.

The Canadian Press quoted Molson as saying he supports GM Marc Bergevin “100 per cent”, however he’s “not surprised how the fans reacted” because they “love him and still will love him”.

Subban has been a larger-than-life superstar for the Canadiens since his debut in 2009-10, amassing 63 goals and 278 points 434 regular season games. He’s added 38 points in 55 post-season games. The Toronto-native also donated $10MM to the Montreal Children’s Hospital last year, where he spends time visiting with patients.

Bergevin has been busy this summer, trading Subban, Lars Eller, and a pair of 2nd round picks picks for Shea Weber, Andrew Shaw, and two different 2nd round picks. He’s also signed highly-skilled, controversial-in-his-own-right Russian winger Alex Radulov to boost the offence, depth defenceman Zach Redmond, and Al Montoya to create competition in goal.

The Canadiens finished missed the playoffs last year, due in large part to Carey Price’s injury which limited him to just 12 games. Price is healthy and is expected start for Canada at the World Cup this September.

Molson said he and Subban have spoken since the trade, and Subban will continue his work with the Montreal Children’s Hospital. The Predators’ only visit to Montreal next season is March 2, a date Molson said he’s looking forward to.

 

Ducks Sign Korbinian Holzer

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Anaheim Ducks have signed Korbinian Holzer to a one-year deal worth $700K, reports TVASports Renaud Lavouie.

The German defenseman scored 0G and 3A in 29 games for Anaheim last year. Holzer was traded to the Ducks from the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2015 for Defenseman Eric Brewer and a 2016 fifth round draft pick. The deal represents a slight pay cut from Holzer’s previous contract—down from $750K.

This move is most likely meant to stock the Ducks’ AHL affiliate San Diego Gulls as the NHL team doesn’t seem to have a spot open on defense come training camp—especially if they sign RFA Hampus Lindholm. Holzer could be used as a call-up for injury purposes, and has enough of a gritty game to eat minutes without posing too much of a liability. He averaged over 17 minutes a night with the Maple Leafs before being traded.

Las Vegas Narrows GM Search To Two Candidates

at CDT | by 1 Comment

The NHL’s newest expansion team has narrowed its GM search down to two candidates, says owner Bill Foley in an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The unnamed Las Vegas team hopes to finalize their decision within a few days.

Whoever takes the GM position will face numerous unique challenges as a product of the expansion process. The new GM will have to run the expansion draft, build a prospect pool from scratch, and balance prudent long-reaching moves with a new fanbase’s desire to see a winning product. The ideal candidate would be experienced and able to quickly hire support and scouting staff.

Foley interviewed seven candidates in his search. Two people thought to have the inside track, however, were not even considered. Panthers President of Hockey Operations (and former Panthers and Blackhawks GM) Dale Tallon told reporters he wasn’t even interviewed. Same goes for Chicago Blackhawks Assistant GM Norm MacIvor.

Possible candidates for the position include former Washington Capitals GM George McPhee, former Arizona Coyotes GM Don Maloney, and current Montreal Canadiens Assistant GM Scott Mellanby. McPhee helmed the Capitals for 17 years, making to the finals in his first season and remaining competitive for most of his tenure. Maloney was let go this off-season in a surprising move for the Coyotes, but knows the market well and kept things afloat during the almost-constant relocation rumors. Finally, Mellanby played with Foley’s hockey advisor Murray Craven during his career, and is rumored to be a leading candidate for the position.

Sharks Re-Sign DeMelo, Sign Kelly

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Sharks have reached an agreement with two defensemen today, signing restricted free agent Dylan DeMelo to a two-year contract, and free agent Dan Kelly to a one-year deal.

DeMelo, drafted in the 6th round in 2011, has spent most of his short pro tenure with the Sharks’ AHL affiliate. He did play 45 games with the Sharks last season, finishing with 2G and 2A. The big defensemen hopes to start the season in San Jose, but will face stiff competition from former 1st round selection Mirco Mueller for the team’s last defensive slot.

Dan Kelly has spent his entire career with the New Jersey Devils’ AHL Affiliate Albany Devils after they signed his as an undrafted free agent. He’s racked up 64 points in six seasons, and is expected to remain with San Jose’s AHL affiliate next year.

Los Angeles Signs Three RFAs

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The LA Kings announced today that they have signed forward Nic Dowd and goalie Jack Campbell to new contracts, while confirming the reported  signing of defenseman Derek Forbort. The three players were restricted free agents and all signed two-year two-way contracts.

Dowd, a 26-year-old forward from the notorious hockey town of Huntsville, Alabama, reportedly signed his second contract with the Kings for $640K per year at the NHL level. Dowd got his first taste of NHL action last season, playing in five games for the Kings. He enters his third pro season in 2016-2017, having split the majority of the past two seasons between the King’s new AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, and their former AHL affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs (now ECHL affiliate), where he helped the team win the 2015 Calder Cup.

Campbell, 24, is new to the Kings organization after coming over from Dallas in a draft day exchange for defenseman Nick Ebert. Campbell was the first goalie selected in the 2010 NHL Draft, as the stars took him 11th overall. However, his career has not turned out as either party planned, leading to the recent trade. Campbell has played in just one NHL game, a start in which he allowed six goals on the way to a loss. He has spent the majority of his career with the AHL’s Texas Stars, but has also spent a significant amount of time down at the ECHL level with the Idaho Steelheads. Campbell is expected to resume AHL play with the Ontario Reign next season, and the Kings hope that the change of scenery will help to get him back to his 1st round-caliber form. If he work his way back into the NHL, he will make a reported $612.5K, and could end up being a great value acquisition by Los Angeles.

 

 

Zach Sanford Signs With Caps, Continuing BC Exodus

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Washington Capitals announced today that they have signed prospect Zach Sanford to an entry-level contract. The contract is for a reported 3 years at $875K per year. Sanford, who was set to be a junior at Boston College this year, will instead enter his first pro season with the Capitals, who drafted him 61st overall in the 2013 NHL Draft. Sanford is the seventh player to depart early from Boston College this off-season, and collegiate hockey players continue to trend towards leaving school early to pursue their pro careers.

Sanford joins defenseman Steve Santini and forward Miles Wood, both New Jersey Devils property, forwards Alex Tuch and Adam Gilmour, both Minnesota Wild prospects, Vancouver goalie Thatcher Demko, and Florida defenseman Ian McOshen as Eagles who will no longer be a part of the Boston College ’16-’17 season, to the surprise of many in the program. The change is evident in Chestnut Hill, as BC men’s hockey will not have a single junior player on this year’s team.

Boston College is not alone in their struggles, as Michigan has lost five players early, including star prospects Kyle Connor (Winnipeg) and Zach Werenski (Columbus), and the defending National Champions, North Dakota, have lost five and counting as well. Many other programs are still reeling from the early exits of one or two of their star student-athletes as well.

However, Boston College has become the face of this trend. With seven underclassmen players leaving this summer to go along with many that preceded them over the past few seasons, the Eagles know all too well of this worrisome trend and the harsh effects it can have on a program’s ability to compete. The rise of NCAA hockey has been very apparent over the past decade and has been imperative to the continued growth of both grassroots hockey in the United States and a growing American fan base. But with key players now departing earlier than expected, college programs may have to go back to the drawing board in a recruiting sense, changing the ways that they analyze players and build teams based on the likelihood that those recruits will stay or leave. While a storied program like Boston College can replace even a talented prospect like Zach Sanford with relative ease, many programs could be left damaged for years following the early exit of a centerpiece player. It is an issue that will continue to draw attention in the college ranks and throughout hockey.

Full Salary Arbitration Hearing Schedule

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The NHLPA released the full schedule of arbitration hearings today, which will not include Jordan Weal, after he re-signed with the Philadelphia Flyers earlier today. Teams and players can still negotiate up until the hearing, and many will reach agreements before going to arbitration. For more information on the arbitration process, check out part one of our full guide.  Here is the full schedule:

PLAYER ELECTED FILINGS

Arizona Coyotes
Michael Stone – August 4, 2016

Colorado Avalanche
Tyson Barrie – July 29, 2016
Mikhail Grigorenko – July 22, 2016

Detroit Red Wings
Danny DeKeyser – July 28, 2016

Minnesota Wild
Jordan Schroeder – July 27, 2016

Nashville Predators
Calle Jarnkrok – August 4, 2016
Petter Granberg – August 3, 2016

New York Rangers
Kevin Hayes – July 27, 2016
Chris Kreider – July 22, 2016
Dylan McIlrath – July 21, 2016
J.T. Miller – August 2, 2016

Ottawa Senators
Mike Hoffman – August 4, 2016

Philadelphia Flyers
Brandon Manning – August 2, 2016
Brayden Schenn – July 25, 2016

St. Louis Blues
Jaden Schwartz – July 20, 2016

Tampa Bay Lightning
Alex Killorn – July 20, 2016
Vladislav Namestnikov – July 29, 2016

Toronto Maple Leafs
Frank Corrado – July 26, 2016
Peter Holland – July 25, 2016
Martin Marincin – August 2, 2016

Washington Capitals
Marcus Johansson – July 20, 2016

CLUB ELECTED FILINGS

Detroit Red Wings

Petr Mrazek – July 27, 2016

Top-Line Options Remaining In Free Agency

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

For many teams, free agency is a place to find a player or two to slot into your top two lines, to supplement the core you already have in place.  Edmonton went out and got Milan Lucic, to add some veteran toughness while replacing the outgoing offensive contribution of Taylor Hall. Vancouver added Loui Eriksson in a questionable move for a team who hasn’t quite decided what direction they’re headed in, and Buffalo brought on Kyle Okposo to ride shotgun with their young talent up front.

Now that the madness has died down, the market for these top-six players is extremely thin, with only a few names having established themselves there in the past.  With Shane Doan surely re-signing with the Coyotes, and Patrik Elias looking as though it’s either Devils or retirement, two of the most well known names among this group aren’t going anywhere.  Here are the other possibilities for a team to add to their top-six:

(number in parentheses represents ranking on our Top 50 UFAs)

  1. Jiri Hudler (18) – Though Hudler is now 32-years old and took a significant step back last season, he still represents one of the better second-line options available. His 46 points in 2015-16 split between the Flames and Panthers were a disappointing total for a player coming off a 31-goal, 76 point season but still ranked him right alongside players like Andrew Ladd (46 points, $38.5MM) and David Backes (45 points, $30MM).
  2. Kris Versteeg (25) – While Versteeg is probably better suited as a third-liner on a good team, he has shown the ability to move up in the lineup consistently in the past.  A three-time twenty goal scorer, Versteeg has scored at least 34 points in each of his seven healthy seasons.  He can play either wing, and brings a level of physicality to his game as well.
  3. Radim Vrbata (27) – Vrbata is clearly on the downswing of his career, having put up just 27 points and a whopping -30 mark last season.  Now 35, he’ll look to sign a cheap deal and could be a nice value signing for a team pressed against the cap. Remember, this is a guy who has over 250 career NHL goals, and is just one season removed from the second 30-goal season of his career.
  4. Alex Tanguay (33) – Though he’s now 37, Tanguay continues to produce like a second-line center, putting up another 35 point campaign despite having a much reduced role after a trade to Arizona.  For a team looking to shelter their young forwards, a veteran like Tanguay can provide some offensive punch on a cheap, short-term deal. He’ll likely break 900 points in what has been an excellent career for the former Avalanche stalwart.
  5. Brandon Pirri (NR) – Despite Pirri’s reputation as a bottom-six forward, some teams might see the former Panther as a second-line option, due to his previous goal scoring ability.  Pirri has potted 36 goals over the past two seasons, including 22 in 2014-15. The problem is that he’s racked up just 17 assists over the same time.  He was an outstanding scorer in his AHL career, and is still just 25-years old, meaning that taking a shot on him might not be the worst gamble among the remaining options.

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

scroll to top