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Vancouver Canucks Sign Ryan White To PTO

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A busy day for PTO’s continues, as the Vancouver Canucks have joined the fray. The team announced this afternoon that they have come to terms on a professional tryout agreement with veteran forward Ryan White. There has been little discussion of the 29-year-old this off-season, but it appears as if he’ll at least be given a chance to continue his NHL career in Vancouver.

White quietly tied his career high in scoring in 2016-17, recording 16 points between the Arizona Coyotes and Minnesota Wild. He notched a career-best seven assists over the campaign, with all but one coming in his first 46 games with the Coyotes. Somewhat of a “throw in” as part of the Martin Hanzal trade, White only added three points in 19 games with the Wild and was shutout in three postseason contests. However, he did manage to match his -8 rating in Arizona in 27 less games in Minnesota. For a player that has built his career off of physical, two-way play, a career-worst -16 rating was a disappointing total. Consider a drop-off in hits, blocked shots, and face-off success from his time with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2015-16 and it makes more sense that there has been a lack of interest in a once-prominent checking forward, despite better offensive production.

Luckily for White, the Canucks have shown a willingness to bring in veteran players, in contrast to the opinion of many that they should be focused on re-building. Although Vancouver welcomes back Derek Dorsett for the 2017-18 season, it would not be a surprise to see White turn his PTO into an affordable contract as a depth option for the Canucks. Alternatives such as Jayson Megna and Michael Chaput struggled greatly last season and the team could use an upgrade if they aren’t comfortable giving those checking roles to younger players. Vancouver often lacked an edge last season and if White brings anything to a team, it’s toughness and grit.

David Booth Expected To Sign PTO With Detroit Red Wings

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In a day filled with professional tryout signings, Craig Custance of The Athletic reports that another one is close at hand. David Booth is expected to sign a PTO with the Detroit Red Wings, marking a possible return after two years in the KHL.

Booth last played in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2014-15, scoring 13 points in 59 games. That was a far cry from his career-high of 31 goals and 60 points, marks he registered in a dream 2008-09 season with the Florida Panthers. Two other seasons he recorded 40+ points, but those years seem like ages ago for the 32-year old. Last year he scored just ten points in 31 games for Omsk including their playoff run, and he’ll have to show that he’s both healthy and contributing in order to get a contract from the Red Wings.

Custance also notes that Danis Zaripov, the suspended KHL winger looking for work in the NHL has been connected to the Red Wings, and that his vacancy from Ak Bars may have caused them to reach out and offer Andreas Athanasiou a contract. Zaripov was cleared to sign with an NHL team yesterday, but finds himself looking for a guarantee after teams have already built their rosters.

Snapshots: Ovechkin, Air Canada Centre, Predators

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Alex Ovechkin is coming off another disappointing playoff exit at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and earlier this offseason GM Brian MacLellan said that his superstar forward would need to train differently this offseason to make sure the speed of the game didn’t leave him behind. Ovechkin scored fewer than 50 goals in a full season for the first time since 2011-12, posting just 33 markers all year. It seems he’s taken it to heart, as a report from Tom Gulitti of NHL.com has Ovechkin showing up to optional workouts in Washington markedly thinner.

Ovechkin played last season at 239, but teammates are saying he’s definitely leaner this year which hopefully will translate into more success on the ice. It’s important to note that even though Ovechkin’s goal total dropped, he still posted 69 points due to a big jump in assists. The Capitals will begin the season on Thursday, October 5th when they take on the Ottawa Senators.

  • The Toronto Maple Leafs have reached a landmark agreement with Scotiabank for the naming rights to their arena. According to Rick Westhead of TSN the bank will pay $800MM (CAD) for the 20-year agreement that will change the name from the Air Canada Centre to Scotiabank Arena on July 1, 2018. The deal is the biggest naming sponsorship in North American sports history, and will make the incredibly wealthy Maple Leafs franchise worth even more. It marks the second NHL building named after the Canadian bank, following Calgary’s Scotiabank Saddledome. The Ottawa Senators’ Scotiabank Place was renamed the Canadian Tire Centre in 2013.
  • Any fans who bought a Viktor Arvidsson jersey during his breakout season last year will be disappointed today, as the team announced that he’ll be changing to #33 for next season. Frederick Gaudreau and Vladislav Kamenev will also change, claiming #89 and #91 respectively. Kamanev’s change is the most interesting, after he played just two games with the Predators last season. Though he was expected to press for a roster spot after another big AHL season, this actually may be more evidence that he’ll be given a chance with the NHL club at some point this year.

Prospect Notes: Khovanov, Jokiharju, Rookie Camps

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It’s been an up-and-down summer for Alexander Khovanov. Expected to be a top pick in the 2018 draft, Khovanov was planning on coming to Canada to join the junior ranks and compete right in front of the eyes of NHL scouts. Because of his public commitment, he went second-overall to the Moncton Wildcats in the CHL Import Draft, but eventually re-signed with Ak Bars in the KHL for three years.

Now, according to the Moncton Times & Transcript, Khovanov will miss at least six months of development due to contracting hepatitis A. He’s battling the illness in Russia. It’s a tough break for a player who was expected to go somewhere in the first round, as his draft year is compromised almost entirely. Hockey fans will hope for a quick recovery from the young forward.

  • Scott Powers of The Athletic catches us up on several of the Chicago Blackhawks’ prospects, including Henri Jokiharju who is now considered likely to start training camp with the club. Last we heard it was in doubt after he suffered a knee injury in July. Jokiharju was the Blackhawks’ first-round selection this year, and will likely return to the Portland Winterhawks where he was outstanding as a 17-year old rookie. Scoring 48 points in 78 games, he was one of the most impressive puck-rushing defensemen in the entire WHL, and should only develop further this year.
  • Our friends over at Roster Resource have added the rookie camp rosters for all the teams who have announced them thus far, giving you a quick look at who will be competing over the next few weeks. The site has also added depth charts all the way down through the ECHL, giving unprecedented information all in one place for your favorite team. Make sure to keep their page bookmarked all season for an easy check of where players are stationed throughout the year.

Brandon Pirri Returns To Florida Panthers On Tryout

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Professional tryout season is alive and well. Brandon Pirri is the latest player to sign a PTO, inking one with the Florida Panthers today. The forward will return to the team with which he found the most NHL success, scoring 22 goals in the 2014-15 season. Pirri will join Nikolai Belov as a Panthers PTO, fighting for the last few spots on the roster.

One of the most interesting things about that 22-goal season from Pirri, is that it came with just two assists. Pirri had never been known as a pure sniper before, posting huge assist totals in the AHL as he dominated competition with his offensive skill. Nearly a point-per-game player in the minor leagues, that level of offense has escaped him since he left Florida, spending time with Anaheim and last year with the New York Rangers. Pirri scored just 18 points in 60 games despite being given a chance on the team’s powerplay. He just didn’t seem to fit in New York, and couldn’t find a job on the open market this summer.

Pirri is just 26, and the Florida Panthers desperately need offensive weapons to fill out their lineup. They have several roster spots up for grabs, but the veteran will have to fight off youngsters like Owen Tippett and Henrik Haapala in order to make the squad.

John Tavares & The Islanders’ Arena Deal

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John Tavares will be one of the most polarizing figures in hockey this season, as fans all around the league wait to see if he will re-sign with the New York Islanders. Tavares has only ever expressed his desire to stay in New York, but has been clear he wants to see what happens with the team’s new arena bid before making a long-term decision. The Islanders moved to Barclays Center in 2015, a decision that has been widely regarded as a failure both in terms of location and interior aesthetics and sight lines. The team has been looking for a new home to move into that would provide some stability, the leading option being Belmont Park in Elmont, NY.

John TavaresArthur Staple of Newsday updated us on the Tavares negotiations today, shooting down a rumor that the star center had turned down an offer of $84MM. Tavares and the Islanders have “barely talked numbers” and are just waiting on the arena news before really beginning negotiations. The problem, is that Randi Marshall of Newsday, who has been covering the Belmont Park news from the start, jumped in by saying that proposals won’t even be submitted until September 28th, and a decision isn’t expected for at least four months after that (though that last bit of information is just an educated guess from Marshall).

That wait will be torturous for the Islanders, as it puts them very close to the trade deadline of March 1st. If there is no immediate answer on where the Islanders will play long-term holding onto Tavares through the end of the season is a huge risk. For a team that would need to start a rebuild without their superstar, letting him walk in free agency without recouping any value would be devastating. While there is no reason to get ahead of ourselves, the Belmont Park is one to keep a close eye on in a months time. If there are realistic competing bids for the site—which Marshall believes is a certainty—you’ll start to see more and more trade speculation surround the 26-year old.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Detroit Red Wings Still A Possibility For Thomas Vanek

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We’ve heard it all summer, but Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reports that the Red Wings are still in contact with Thomas Vanek about a potential return. Vanek’s agent Steve Bartlett told St. James that the team remains in the “possibility range” though other teams have increased interest recently. The team will likely have to make a roster move of some sort to get under the salary cap if Andreas Athanasiou does eventually sign—something that many of our readers doubt at this point—and would need to work even harder to fit Vanek in.

Vanek remains one of the more inexplicable free agent cases this summer, still without a job despite scoring 48 points in 68 games last season. His defense and lack of foot speed is clearly a sticking point, but many teams could use his offensive punch in various situations. The fact that he remains one of the better shootout specialists in the league is just a bonus, but one that can be worth real points in the standings.

If Vanek did return to Detroit, you’d have to expect he would be a trade candidate at the deadline again. With the Red Wings unlikely to really compete for a Stanley Cup, Vanek could net them another draft pick this year. As we’ve discussed previously, Vanek has no Olympic motivation since Austria did not qualify for the tournament last summer.

Calgary Flames Bring In Tanner Glass On PTO

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In a move that feels like it came right from Brian Burke’s mouth, Tanner Glass has been signed to a professional tryout by the Calgary Flames according to Rick Dhaliwal of News 1130. Dhaliwal confirms that the Vancouver Canucks, a team Glass spent two years with, had no interest in bringing him into camp.

Glass, 33, has spent the last three seasons with the New York Rangers organization, playing 134 games while bouncing up and down from the minor leagues. Known almost exclusively as a “tough guy”, Glass actually was a playoff story for the Rangers this year scoring four points in seven games—more than either of J.T. Miller or Kevin Hayes.

The Flames have been known for mixing toughness with skill, and Glass definitely will bring some of the former. If he can secure a job with the team, he’ll likely play the role of the 13th (or 14th) forward and only be inserted into the lineup on certain nights.

Jared Cowen Signs PTO With Colorado Avalanche

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One of the more interesting names to keep an eye on this summer was Jared Cowen, and he’ll now head to camp with the Colorado Avalanche on a professional tryout. If the 26-year old is healthy, he should stand a good chance at making the club as they by no means have depth at the position.

The question of his health does remain though, as Cowen filed a grievance against the Toronto Maple Leafs when the team tried to buy him out last summer. It would ultimately fail, but Cowen would still miss the entire 2016-17 season with hip problems, and hasn’t played in an NHL game in 18 months.

Selected ninth overall by the Ottawa Senators in 2009, Cowen showed all the signs of developing into a premiere shut down defender. His 6’5″ frame allowed him to eliminate attackers and get into passing lanes, but quickly his foot speed started to drag and he found himself chasing the play more often than not. The Senators would eventually include him in the Dion Phaneuf trade, but Cowen would never play a game for the Maple Leafs.

Still young enough to make an impact, if Cowen can show his hip is fully healthy and his skating is to an acceptable level the Avalanche could have a nice third-pairing option for extremely cheap. If not, it could spell the end to a once promising NHL career.

Morning Notes: Butcher, Drouin, Bourque

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The team at CapFriendly returned from a quick vacation to drop a bombshell on the hockey world today, reporting that Will Butcher’s entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils includes maximum performance bonuses. Though many players are given max Schedule A bonuses, that can total up to $850K if they reach various milestones, just six players drafted outside the top two overall picks have ever been given the max in Schedule B—that is until now.

Butcher becomes the seventh such player and could earn up to $2.85MM in bonuses each year, making his deal worth a potential $3.78MM per season. While these Schedule B bonuses are difficult to achieve, it’s likely another factor in his decision to sign with the Devils. Though teams can offer little variance in terms of salary for entry-level players, bonuses can be used as a negotiating tactic like any other free agent.

  • Jonathan Drouin and Alex Galchenyuk will both begin training camp in Montreal as centers, according to J.F. Chaumont of the Journal de Montreal. Chaumont spoke with head coach Claude Julien, who would like to see what each of them can bring to the position before making any decisions. Galchenyuk has a checkered history with the position on the Canadiens, while Drouin was used almost exclusively as a winger in Tampa Bay. Both clearly have enough talent to drive a line from the middle, but will have to be more consistent in their own end if they want to be leaned on heavily in the Montreal rotation.
  • Rene Bourque has signed in Sweden for the upcoming season, according to TSN. The 35-year old Bourque played last year with the Colorado Avalanche, scoring 18 points in 65 games. In 725 career games he’s registered 316 points, including a pair of 27-goal campaigns with the Calgary Flames in his youth. Bourque is another example of an undrafted college player making an impact in the league, but will now take his game to Europe to look for more success.

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