News and notes from around the NHL:
- Perennial AHL forward Alex Guptill has signed with the ECHL’s Manchester Monarchs. The Monarchs moved from the L.A Kings’ AHL affiliates to its ECHL affiliate after the Kings created the Ontario Reign for the AHL’s new Pacific Division. Guptill was originally drafted by the Dallas Stars 77th overall in 2010, and was included in a package going back to the Ottawa Senators for Jason Spezza. Guptill mired in the Sens system before being traded to Buffalo, where he spent time with the AHL Rochester Americans. The forward put up 3G and 6A in 23 AHL games last year.
- Part of the holdup in Johnny Gaudreau’s contract negotiation is the length of the contract. Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet 960 The FAN in Calgary looks at the effects of a long term contract and what that means for both the Flames and Gaudreau. If the Flames do sign their young forward long-term, expect the value to be higher than teammate Sean Monahan and closer to Vladimir Tarasenko’s eight-year deal worth $7.5MM a year.
- Former NHLer Blair Jones has joined the Iserlohn Roosters in the German DEL. Jones was drafted 102nd overall in 2005 by the Tampa Bay Lightning, and bounced between Tampa and Norfolk for five years before being traded to Calgary. He played three seasons for the Flames and the AHL Abbotsford Heat. Jones last saw NHL action with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2014-15, going pointless in a four game call-up. Jones had success in the AHL but could never translate that success in the NHL. He amassed 294 points in 466 games in the AHL, but only 17 points in 132 games in the NHL.