Click here to read a transcript of this week’s live chat with PHR’s Gavin Lee.
Archives for August 2017
Tampa Bay Lightning Re-Sign Tye McGinn
The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed their final restricted free agent, inking Tye McGinn to a one-year, two-way contract. No financial details were released, but it would be surprising if he earned much more than the $650K minimum salary in the NHL. McGinn will be a unrestricted free agent next summer.
Drafted in the fourth round by the Philadelphia Flyers, McGinn has been a solid AHL player for several years. He played just 21 games with the Syracuse Crunch last season, but really made his mark in the playoffs by registering 16 points in 22 contests. The Crunch would ultimately fall to the Grand Rapids Griffins, but McGinn will likely return as a first line player once again.
In 89 career NHL games, McGinn has just 17 points. The big winger has a nose for the net, but lacks the high-end creativity and skill required to be an offensive player at the NHL level. He could play in a few games next year for the Lightning, but his role will likely be in Syracuse where he’ll try to help along some of the younger Tampa Bay prospects.
Buffalo Sabres Sign Zemgus Girgensons
One of the last remaining restricted free agents, Zemgus Girgensons has signed with the Buffalo Sabres. The team announced the two-year contract that carries an average annual value of $1.6MM. Girgensons was coming off a one-year, $1.15MM deal and was Buffalo’s last RFA.
Girgensons, 23, still hasn’t been able to fulfill the potential that made him a 14th-overall pick in 2012. The Latvian center has taken steps backwards offensively since his career-high 30-point season in 2014-15, and last year was given just over 13 minutes a night of ice time. With Ryan O’Reilly and Jack Eichel entrenched as the top two options, Girgensons has basically been reduced to a checking option for the team.
Even though he hasn’t turned in much offense, a $3.2MM guarantee is basically no-risk for the Sabres. He’s coming in less than a million dollars over the minimum contract, and does have some redeeming factors. His shot suppression rate as a defensive player has been good, and he’s one of the most physical forwards on the team—especially with Marcus Foligno now in Minnesota.
It will be interesting to see how the team deploys him this season, with Johan Larsson back from a season-ending injury and Jacob Josefson signed as a depth center. Girgensons will be competing with both players for ice time, and that’s if the team keeps Sam Reinhart on the wing all season.
For Buffalo, this leaves them with just under $7MM in cap space to go after some of the NCAA free agents or even perhaps add one of the veteran options still available in free agency. The team should be much improved this year under the guidance of GM Jason Botterill and head coach Phil Housley, as long as they can stay healthy. Last year injuries to almost every key player ruined their season, and they could be in for a big step forward if Jack Eichel suits up for all 82.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Travis Zajac Undergoes Surgery, Out 4-6 Months
Terrible news for the New Jersey Devils today, as the team announced that Travis Zajac is out for 4-6 months following surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle. The injury was sustained during his offseason training program. Zajac will now miss a good portion of the season, with six months from now being the middle of February.
Zajac is coming off another fairly successful season in which he registered 45 points as the team’s number one center. While he hasn’t been a big point producer for some time now, his consistency and defensive effort is a big part of the Devils’ offense. Though they’ll obviously miss his presence in the lineup, it does open the door for some of New Jersey’s young players to step up and prove their talent on the big stage.
In addition to Nico Hischier, the first-overall pick from this year’s draft, the Devils also have a group of centers ready to take the next step. Pavel Zacha, Micheal McLeod and John Quenneville all could step into a role in the middle if the team deems them ready for full-time duty. That’s not to say any of the four would be needed on the top line, as Adam Henrique will likely be given even more responsibility.
Luckily the team also added even more depth this offseason by signing Brian Boyle and trading for Marcus Johansson. Though the latter was expected to play mostly wing in New Jersey, he does have experience at center and could be moved back there if deemed necessary. Still, for a team that struggled to score last year and is trying to compete while Corey Schneider is still in his prime, losing a top option like Zajac is a serious blow.
Nikita Zadorov, Colorado Avalanche Still Working On Contract
Though there has been plenty of rumors that Nikita Zadorov had already agreed upon a contract with the Colorado Avalanche, nothing had yet been announced by the club. Mike Chambers of the Denver Post finally got GM Joe Sakic to sit down and talk about it, and he explained that the contract length has been decided but they are still working on salary.
Both sides agreed to a two-year deal and we just have to figure out the numbers. We’ve got our NHL comps that we’re going with and he’s got to make a decision at some point on what he wants to do.
Zadorov has a contract offer in hand from the KHL, but has been clear that he’d like to stay in the NHL if possible. With Sakic taking a hard stance on salary though, that may have to change. The 22-year old defenseman is a restricted free agent and has little leverage if he stays in North America, as the Avalanche are more worried about slowly building their youth movement than competing in the short term. A holdout by Zadorov wouldn’t hurt a playoff run, for instance.
Even though Zadorov was a big part of the Ryan O’Reilly trade, he hasn’t yet turned into the shutdown defender the Avalanche had hoped for. While his big hits make highlight reels on the regular, he recorded just 10 points last season and has been generally just average in his own end. It’s clear that Sakic has a set number that he’ll pay, and is willing to endure threats of a KHL departure.
Sakic also mentions Matt Duchene, and the continuing possibility of a trade. Duchene is expected currently to join the team at training camp but Sakic “will be listening to offers.” Recently, Darren Dreger of TSN said that pushing Duchene back into the Colorado dressing room could be a mistake after the public availability this summer, but it doesn’t sound like Sakic’s ask has softened any. If he’s still looking for a blockbuster return for Duchene, he might have to start the year with the squad and wait for a desperate team to come forth later in the year.
Blackhawks, Red Wings Not Pursuing Will Butcher
Craig Custance of The Athletic filled us in on some of the teams that haven’t called on NCAA free agent and reigning Hobey Baker award winner Will Butcher, saying that Detroit, Chicago, Toronto and San Jose all haven’t contacted him. Custance adds Columbus to the list of teams who have reached out, which also includes Buffalo, New Jersey and Vegas. Dave Isaac of the Courier-Post adds that the Flyers also are not pursuing him.
Butcher is expected to start visiting clubs that have reached out in the next few days, and should make a decision before the end of the month. The University of Denver defenseman is coming off a season in which he scored 37 points but still comes with plenty of concerns over his size and ability to transition to the NHL level.
With several teams inching closer to the contract cap, handing out an entry-level contract for a 22-year old fifth-round pick isn’t possible for everyone. That said, his high hockey IQ and growth in the college ranks has enticed at least a few teams that have little to lose. Columbus is an interesting addition, as the Blue Jackets already have a huge pipeline of young defenders. There doesn’t seem to be a clear path to the NHL for Butcher there, though perhaps their evaluation process has led them to believe he can make an immediate impact.
Unlike Jimmy Vesey last year, who nearly the entire league was in agreement with regards to his ability to play at the NHL level (if in a slightly reduced role from the one he was used to at Harvard), there is no guarantee that Butcher ever makes it. While he’s been clear that he is willing to start his professional career in the AHL, it would be foolish to sign with a team without a clear NHL role in the future. Even if his career doesn’t pan out, the opportunity he’s been given right now as one of the top college free agents is one he’ll take his time with and make the best decision for his future.
Snapshots: Coyotes, Granlund, Horvat, Heeter
The Arizona Coyotes are excited about their offseason moves, and perhaps none more than Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The Coyotes star defenseman has gained a friend and pairing in Niklas Hjalmarsson, who has played with him on the international stage in the past. The two Swedes will team up on Arizona’s first pair this season and try to make some noise in the Western Conference. Speaking with Dave Vest of NHL.com, Ekman-Larsson spoke about his new teammate:
I’m super excited about [playing with Hjalmarsson]. He’s super easy to play with. He talks a lot and he’s a good skater and moves the puck. I would say he’s underrated.
While Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook got a lot of the national press out of Chicago, any Blackhawks fan will tell you that Hjalmarsson was an integral piece to the three Stanley Cup teams. He was a defensive rock for the club for many years, and will try to allow Ekman-Larsson to open up his game a little bit while still taking on the tough matchups.
- Michael Russo of the Star Tribune reports that Mikael Granlund rolled his ankle in Finland and has been seen on crutches, but is still expected to be ready for training camp. It will slow down the young forward’s offseason training, but luckily he seems to have escaped serious injury. Granlund will be relied upon heavily for the Minnesota Wild this season after signing a three-year, $17.25MM contract this summer.
- In other Granlund news, Rick Dhaliwal of NEWS 1130 reports that Markus Granlund’s wrist is fully healthy and the Vancouver Canucks forward is already skating. Granlund underwent surgery in March to correct an ongoing issue, but is “100%” and ready for training camp. Coming off a 19-goal season, he could jump onto a top-line role once again for the Canucks.
- Granlund also told Dhaliwal that he thinks Bo Horvat’s new contract will be done soon. Horvat is still sitting as a restricted free agent even though Canucks’ GM Jim Benning has been clear he wants to lock him up long-term. The young center will likely be the new face of the franchise in Vancouver once the Sedin twins leave town, and will be looking for a contract which adequately compensates him for that.
- The Toronto Marlies have signed a goaltender to work with Garret Sparks this year. The team announced they’ve signed Cal Heeter to a one-year AHL deal, bringing him in after a solid end of the season with the Calder Cup champion Grand Rapids Griffins. Antoine Bibeau, the previous goaltender for the Marlies was not given a qualifying offer this spring and signed with the San Jose Sharks.
Poll: Which UFA Contract Will Look The Worst Next Year?
Famously stated by former NHL GM Brian Burke, July 1st is the day which teams make the most mistakes. They see players on the unrestricted free agent market and pay too much and for too long based entirely on what they’ve already accomplished in their careers. Rarely is there a contract to a star player that accurately reflects his future value, and never does an offseason pass without someone drastically overpaying.
Last year there were immediate doubts about the long-term deals handed out to players like David Backes, Milan Lucic and Loui Eriksson, and though each had varying levels of success in their first year could all be called disappointments. Those contracts could get even uglier as they go on, and look like a ridiculous deal in a few seasons.
This year had less star power on the free agent market, and a headliner in Kevin Shattenkirk that actually took less money and term than almost anyone expected. He headed to the Rangers for just four seasons despite being arguably the most sought-after player on the market, and while he easily could start his decline it’s hard to call his contract much of an albatross. In fact, only two UFAs even received a contract of five years in what was a relatively tame free agent period. Karl Alzner and Alexander Radulov led the way, though much longer extensions were given out to players like Carey Price and Brent Burns.
Looking at just the UFA deals from this summer (which excludes things like T.J. Oshie’s contract that was signed on June 23rd), which do you think will look the worst in a year? We’ve included some of the top candidates, but don’t hesitate to list another contract in the comments below and explain why you think it will be the worst.
[Mobile users click here to vote!]
Morning Notes: Tavares, World Cup, Krushelnyski
The New York Islanders continue to be the center of attention when it comes to 2018 free agency. As we creep closer to training camp and the start of the regular season, many are questioning why superstar center John Tavares hasn’t signed an extension yet. Tavares is set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer but doesn’t seem worried about the lack of a deal. He told Arthur Staple of Newsday that “there’s really no rush” and that he’d take as much time as he needs.
He did admit that he’s keeping an eye on the Islanders’ search for a new home, but that those things are out of his hands. It’s interesting that Tavares so publicly stated his attachment to the arena search, and will drum up a new round of speculation over whether he’ll leave if a permanent home isn’t found within the next 10 months. There’s obviously much more going into his decision, but the Islanders need to soon find some stability on and off the ice.
- Rick Westhead of TSN reports on the financial take from last fall’s World Cup of Hockey, announcing that the NHL and NHLPA split a $44MM profit. Though that may sound like a big number, players who participated earned just $86K while others got $10K. Both of those numbers are pre-tax, meaning many of the players earned even less. $86K may seem like a lot to some, but for the top players who gave up much of their training camp and put themselves at risk of injury it doesn’t seem like enough. While both sides want this event to continue, it’ll likely take a bigger paycheck to have it run long-term.
- Alex Krushelnyski is back in the AHL, after signing with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms today. The 26-year old played 43 games for the Binghamton Senators last year, recording just seven points. Krushelnyski has been an outstanding scoring threat in the ECHL but has had trouble finding his footing in the upper minor league. He’ll join the Philadelphia Flyers’ affiliate as they look to repeat their 48-23-5 season from a year ago.
Latest On Alexander Wennberg, Josh Anderson
The Edmonton Oilers got their big name restricted free agent locked up when they signed Leon Draisaitl to an eight-year, $68MM contract yesterday and perhaps it will start a run on RFA signings. According to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, the Columbus Blue Jackets have had contact with Alexander Wennberg and Josh Anderson this week to start up negotiations again. Portzline’s quick to point out that this shouldn’t be misconstrued as progress, but the two sides hadn’t spoken in weeks.
Wennberg stands as probably the most important RFA still on the market outside of David Pastrnak in Boston, as he’s coming off a 59-point season in which he proved that he can be a #1 center. His 46 assists tied for 15th in the league, and he developed into one of the most dangerous powerplay weapons in the league. His playmaking ability is unmatched on the Blue Jackets, and heading into his age-23 season should get a hefty raise.
Anderson on the other hand is a sort of lineup tweener, who likely shouldn’t be played in your top-6 but still scored 17 goals last year. His production in limited minutes was a huge part of the Blue Jackets’ success but they have to be wary of paying for a possible career-high. Those 17 tallies came on an impressive 14.3% shooting percentage and could easily regress back to 10-15 this year. While he does offer physicality and versatility, Anderson doesn’t have high-end creativity or skill. While that won’t stop him from being an integral part this season, the Blue Jackets have some young players to pay in the next few years and can’t afford to tie up too much capital in a bottom six winger.