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Archives for July 2017

Snapshots: Maple Leafs, Gonchar, Canucks

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have been the subject of much confusion this summer, as the team works under the confines of the salary cap despite two huge contracts for players that won’t play this season. Joffrey Lupul and Nathan Horton and their $10.55MM combined cap hit are destined to sit out the season with long-term injuries, but many believed that the Maple Leafs had work to do to be cap compliant before the season began.

As James Mirtle of The Athletic explains, and GM Lou Lamoriello confirmed to reporters including Kristen Shilton of TSN today, the team is using off-season LTIR for at least one of those players in order to remain under the cap. That means Toronto’s cap ceiling is increased, leaving room for a new Connor Brown contract at some point this summer.

  • The Pittsburgh Penguins have added another former player to their coaching staff full-time, bringing Sergei Gonchar in as an assistant. Gonchar had already been working as a part-time development coach for the club, but will join Mark Recchi and Jacques Martin as assistants next year. Even after losing Rick Tocchet to the Arizona Coyotes, the Penguins have an extremely experienced staff that should be able to fill the roles quite well. Gonchar, 43, is only a few years removed from an outstanding playing career that saw him suit up for over 1300 games.
  • The Vancouver Canucks will have a new ECHL affiliate this season, inking a one-year deal with the Kalamazoo Wings. The Canucks had been affiliated with them before, though the last two seasons the K-Wings have been tied to the Columbus Blue Jackets and Tampa Bay Lightning. They’ll house some distant prospects for the Canucks next season, and try to get back to the playoffs for the fifth straight season.

Detroit Red Wings Still Linked To Thomas Vanek

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According to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit Red Wings are still in contact with unrestricted free agent Thomas Vanek. Recently, Vanek came second in our poll of readers on who they considered the best free agent remaining, only coming in behind the legendary Jaromir Jagr who is getting some interesting offers of his own.

Vanek started last season with the Red Wings after being bought out by the Minnesota Wild, a move that was mostly because of the negative impact he had in his own end. Those same defensive questions remain this summer even after another season of good offensive performance. 48 points split between Detroit and the Florida Panthers—where he was dealt at the trade deadline—marked the 12th consecutive season (every single year of his career) that he’d recorded more than 40.

That type of offensive consistency isn’t easy to come by, and some team will be able to plug him into a sort of specialist role including lots of powerplay time and a regular turn in the shootout. It will be difficult for the Red Wings though, as St. James makes it clear that the team would need to move salary out before bringing in the 33-year old.

The interesting thing about Vanek is that he would once again be a trade candidate at the deadline should he sign with a bubble team, making Detroit a likely landing spot for just part of the season unless they drastically turn around their play from a year ago.

Carolina Hurricanes Sign Jaccob Slavin To Seven-Year Extension

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The Carolina Hurricanes have made a huge commitment to one of the best up-and-coming defensemen in the league, inking Jaccob Slavin to a seven-year, $37.1MM contract extension. The deal will kick in for the 2018-19 season, and carries an average annual value of $5.3MM. Hurricanes’ GM Ron Francis released a statement on the deal: Jaccob Slavin

Jaccob is one of the cornerstones of our team moving forward, and it was important to secure him with our organization long term. We believe he is one of the top young defensemen in the NHL today, and are thrilled that he and his wife, Kylie, have made their home in Raleigh.

Slavin, 23, has come a long way since being selected in the fourth round of the 2012 draft. He notably wasn’t even included in the NHL’s Central Scouting rankings that season, but has done nothing but succeed at every level. The prototypical NHL defenseman these days, Slavin can do it all. Skating the puck out of the zone, and contributing once in the offensive end of the rink, he registered 34 points and was nearly unbeatable in his own end.

On the last season of his entry-level deal, getting Slavin under contract long-term was obviously a priority of both sides. While the $5.3MM salary will be quite an increase next season, he seems destined to become one of the most underpaid players should his development continue. He won’t turn 24 until near the end of next season, and is already a top-pairing player. Logging over 23 minutes a night last season he played in all situations for the Hurricanes.

Going forward, Carolina will rely on their deep defense group to try and start competing with the top teams in the Metropolitan division. All of them though (save for Justin Faulk) will need new contracts sooner or later, with Noah Hanifin, Brett Pesce, Trevor van Riemsdyk and Klas Dahlbeck all set to become restricted free agents next summer. Carolina obviously won’t need to hand out this kind of extension to all of them, but the group will get expensive quickly and may need to be broken up in the near future.

With several defensive prospects knocking on the door to the NHL, Carolina remains in perfect position to move some of their depth for help up front. Though it is unclear if they’re still involved in discussions for Matt Duchene or other offensive upgrades, they certainly have the pieces to jump back into the fray at any point.

For Slavin, giving away four years of free agency may seem like he’s selling himself short, but getting a deal of this amount after just a season and a half of performance is quite a feat. There is no guarantee his play continues, and even if it does he’ll be hitting free agency still with several years of high level play remaining in his career.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Morning Notes: Jensen, Streit, Nolan

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The New York Rangers won’t be signing Nicklas Jensen this summer, despite issuing him a qualifying offer a few weeks ago. The minor league forward has signed a one-year contract with Jokerit of the KHL, which also contains an option for the 2018-19 season.

Jensen was a first-round pick back in 2011, but hasn’t been able to crack the NHL on a full-time basis yet. That didn’t slow him down last year though, as he scored 32 goals in the AHL for the Hartford Wolf Pack, easily a career high. Since the qualified him, the Rangers will retain his exclusive negotiating rights for the time being.

  • There is buzz around the Montreal Canadiens and free agent defenseman Mark Streit this morning, after a report from Marc de Foy of Le Journal de Montreal said that the team had offered him a one-year deal worth $1.5MM. Though he couldn’t confirm that the team had offered it, Eric Engels of Sportsnet thinks that Streit would be silly not to take that deal if presented with it. Streit will turn 40 this season, but was still a fairly effective point producing defenseman last year with both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. His role is obviously diminished, but he can still move the puck and contribute on the powerplay.
  • Ted Nolan will be heading back to the international coaching ranks, as he’s set to take over the Polish National team. Nolan previously coached the Latvian team, and has had stops as the head coach for both New York (Islanders) and Buffalo in the NHL. Nolan has had huge success coaching young players in the junior ranks, and will try to help Poland grow their team to compete on the world stage.

Edmonton Oilers Sign Joey LaLeggia

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Though his arbitration hearing had been set for July 25th, Joey LaLeggia has reached a contract with the Edmonton Oilers according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. The 25-year old has signed a one-year, two-way deal worth $700K at the NHL level. LaLeggia will almost certainly be a Group VI free agent at the conclusion of the contract—he’d have to play in 80 games this season to not qualify.

LaLeggia was a fifth-round selection out of the University of Denver, who has shown at every level of hockey that he could dominate offensively from the back end. That changed slightly this season when he was moved up for left wing after the Bakersfield Condors needed a scoring punch. His 20 goals came third on the team behind only Anton Lander and Josh Currie, two players who’ve played forward their whole life.

Undersized and still a bit lacking in the defensive zone, it’s unclear if LaLeggia’s future lies full-time at forward or if he still has a chance to make it on defense. If that offensive production continues when playing up front, and at the point on the powerplay perhaps he’ll even find his way up to the Oilers as a sort of utility man. The skill is definitely there, now it’s just a question of how to deploy it.

Atlantic Notes: Johnson, Tatar

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Will the length of Tyler Johnson’s contract come back to haunt the Bolts? The Hockey News’ Ken Campbell writes that while he’s only 26 and the numbers were below his value, Johnson may very well already be in decline. Though his numbers were would have been similar had they gone to arbitration, Campbell wonders if Johnson will put up the numbers that got him the deal. Should he get 55-60 points per season, Campbell believes it to be worth the money, calling it a steal. But if his regression continues? He just hopes for general manager Steve Yzerman’s sake that the Jonathan Drouin deal doesn’t come back to haunt him, either.

It’s no secret that Johnson has struggled to stay healthy. His numbers have fallen steadily since his career year in 2014-15 where he put up 72 points. His playoff numbers in consecutive seasons were also impressive, and most likely what secured him the contract. Campbell also believes that Johnson is dependent upon his linemates, and in spite of averaging 53 points in his first four seasons, there’s a lot riding on it for him, and the Lightning.

  • There’s more interesting takes coming out of Detroit regarding Tomas Tatar. The curious case of his negotiations began with him saying if he only gets a year, he’s done in Detroit. General manager Ken Holland all but shrugged it off, which led many to wonder just how motivated the Red Wings were to getting a long term deal done. The Detroit Free Press’ Helene St. James reports that the Red Wings are wary of giving Tatar a seven-year deal. This is somewhat understandable in the cap era with the exception of one point–Holland has been more than happy to offer long term deals to players who haven’t exactly produced to warrant them–with Justin Abdelkader being the best example. So with Tatar, it’s curious. The Detroit News’ Gregg Krupa goes a step further, writing that it’s essentially “cap malpractice” if Detroit isn’t paying him because they’re too bloated from other contracts. St. James adds that Tatar hasn’t produced like T.J. Oshie, or Tyler Johnson, but to be fair, Tatar hasn’t been surrounded with the talent the aforementioned have. Further, as Krupa points out, that if a deal isn’t worked out, it’s more evidence of roster mismanagement. Once the model franchise of the NHL, the Red Wings decision making continues to baffle. The team isn’t much improved from last season, they’re strapped financially, and they’re fighting with their leading scorer on a deal. It will be interesting to see how ownership reacts should the Red Wings struggle out of the gate, especially with Holland making it a priority to make the playoffs.

Snapshots: Sabres, Jagr

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News and notes from around the NHL this evening:

  • New Buffalo Sabres GM Jason Botterill spoke to media following the conclusion of the Sabres’ development camp, and says the team is still looking for UFAs, reports Jourdon LaBarber of NHL.com. Botterill says that the team weighs whether to add a player via free agency, or wait and see if something materializes trade-wise. Botterill’s position represents every GM’s quandary in the off-season as no GM wants to miss out on a trade opportunity after filling a need with a higher-priced UFA. But at the same time, no GM wants to be waiting so long that they paint themselves in a corner and their options dwindle to nothing.
  • Staying with the Sabres, the team’s top priorities right now, according to LaBarber, are signing its RFAs. Robin Lehner remains the team’s most important RFA available, and as of now has an arbitration date for July 27, 2017. Most—if not all—players come to deals before the actual arbitration hearings, so expect both parties to agree to terms before then.
  • The ECHL Florida Everblades extended a roster spot offer to legendary NHL veteran Jaromir Jagr. While this was done mainly for publicity reasons and slightly tongue-in-cheek, the team does offer a variety of enticing benefits for Jagr. The team would allow Jagr to play only Friday and Saturday home games, the #68 jersey, the potential to see an alligator in the pond next to the arena, and a sleeper bus stocked with Diet Coke and muffins.

Flyers Sign Scott Laughton To Two-Year Extension

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The Philadelphia Flyers have agreed to terms on a new deal with an important albeit under-performing depth piece, inking young forward Scott Laughton to a two-year, one-way extension. According to Flyers beat writer Dave Isaac, the contract pays Laughton $875K for 2017-18 and $1.05MM for 2018-19. That comes out to a cap hit of $962.5 for the length of the deal.

Laughton, 23, has been somewhat of an enigmatic player for the Flyers since being drafted 20th overall in the 2012 NHL Draft. Laughton has played in 109 NHL games in his four pro seasons, but skated in just two NHL games last season. Unlike the progression of most young players, Laughton’s role and production increased in the first three years of his career, culminating in a career-best 71 games and 21 points in 2015-16, and then he lost his roster spot entirely last season. Laughton seemed to be developing into a stable bottom six center, but coach Dave Hakstol and the Flyers seemed to quit on him last year. Yet, he has signed a two-year deal that is one-way no less and appears to have his job back.

Even when he was a regular for the Flyers, Laughton was still only given a modest 11 minutes of ice time on average. When sent down to the AHL, Laughton scored at a greater clip, but still nothing overly impressive or anywhere near his junior totals. It’s clear that Laughton is far from the first-round caliber player the Flyers though he was, at least at this point in time. Yet, GM Ron Hextall and company must have a plan for the young center; one that allows him to get NHL ice time and experience while playing in a lineup that has also added well-rounded veteran centers Valtteri Filppula and Jori Lehtera in recent months. Where Laughton thrives is in the two-way checking game and on the penalty kill. If this new contract is going to work out for either side, it seems Laughton will have to embrace his best attributes and dominate as a fourth-line skater and short-hand specialist, or else he could be facing waivers.

Dallas Stars Re-Sign Gemel Smith

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After locking up Radek Faksa to a new contract yesterday, GM Jim Nill and the Dallas Stars were back at it again today, announcing an extension for forward Gemel Smith. Smith signed a one-year, two-way deal with financial terms not yet disclosed.

Smith made his NHL debut in 2016-17, skating in 17 games and recording three goals and three assists. He also added 33 points in 53 games with the AHL’s Texas Stars. The 2012 fourth-round pick hadn’t found that kind of scoring success since he was a star forward with the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack.

While Smith seemed poised to take on a bigger role with Dallas this season, the additions of Alexander Radulov, Martin Hanzal and maybe even Tyler Pitlick and Brian Flynn could mean even less opportunity for Smith. At just 5’10”, Smith plays a surprisingly hard-nosed, physical game. He may need to focus more on that side of his game than his offensive ability to earn his initial role with Dallas.

Sabres To Wait On Sam Reinhart Extension

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While new GM Jason Botterill and the Sabres front office are reportedly working diligently on an extension for star center Jack Eichel in hopes of having a deal done this summer, they aren’t placing the same emphasis on a new contract for a fellow young forward. With one year remaining on his entry-level contract, it seems that the Sabres are content to let Sam Reinhart reach restricted free agency next off-season before working out a new deal.

Reinhart, the #2 overall pick in 2014, has not yet performed to the same level as Eichel, the #2 overall pick in 2015, or even the Winnipeg Jets’ Patrik Laine, the #2 overall pick in 2016. While Reinhart has certainly been an important part of the Buffalo offense the past two years, it seems that the jury is still out on his long-term value. Reinhart has played in 79 games in each of the past two seasons, racking up 42 and 47 points respectively. While that is a nice contribution, a near-number one pick is expected, at the very least, to register 20 goals and 20 assists in a season, which Reinhart has yet to do. While Reinhart’s two-way game is coming along nicely, he has also been abysmal at the face-off dot. Reinhart simply has a ways to go to reach his potential and is thus not a priority to re-sign with a year remaining.

None of this is to say that Reinhart is not a valued member of the current and future Sabres, only that he has not reached the level of some of his teammates. A new deal for RFA goalie Robin Lehner and an extension for Eichel, two players that simply play larger roles in Buffalo, are taking precedence. However, when next summer roles around, Reinhart will get his fair share of attention. Still just 21 years old, Reinhart is a power play weapon and an expert sniper. Botterill acknowledged that he’s “excited with Sam”, but added “I don’t think something from a contract standpoint will be happening this summer”. Reinhart has another year to show that he’s still growing as a player and is worth perhaps more than what he’s accomplished so far, and that opportunity may just work out in his favor.

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