2017 has been quite a busy year in the hockey world. There have been several big trades, the first expansion team in over 15 years, and much more. Over the coming days, PHR will take a look back at the top stories from around the game on a month-by-month basis. Next up is a look at the month of October.
Shipachyov Saga: When the Golden Knights signed center Vadim Shipachyov, they were hoping to get a top-six center that could play a big role right away. Suffice it to say, that didn’t happen. He was cut in training camp as a waiver-exempt player and was allowed to not report to the minors while waiting to be recalled. That happened a couple of weeks later but Shipachyov did not make much of an impact in his three games (although he did score a goal). That resulted in another AHL demotion and this time, Vegas suspended him when he didn’t report. The team gave him permission to pursue a trade but shortly thereafter, it was announced that he had given up on playing in the NHL and intended to return to the KHL. It wound up being quite the precipitous drop for Shipachyov in October as he went from a projected key player to effectively out of the league in the span of just a few weeks.
Eichel Extension: While his entry-level contract doesn’t expire until the end of June, the Sabres didn’t waste much time getting their franchise pillar signed to a long-term deal, inking Jack Eichel to an eight-year, $80MM pact. Although the AAV comes in $2.5MM below Connor McDavid (the first overall in 2015, one spot ahead of Eichel) who set a new standard for post-ELC deals this offseason, the money still came as a surprise to some considering he had yet to reach the 60-point mark in each of his two full NHL seasons. Although Buffalo continues to struggle mightily, Eichel is rewarding management’s faith in him as he is hovering near the point-per-game mark as we near the midway mark of 2017-18.
Jagr To Calgary: It took a while but 45-year-old winger Jaromir Jagr finally found a home, signing a one-year contract with the Flames. The deal guarantees him $1MM with an additional $700K in games played bonuses and $300K in postseason bonuses. While he was coming off a 46-point campaign with the Panthers the year before, the future Hall of Famer has yet to be productive in his new home. Through 21 games, he has just a single goal along with six assists while his 13:06 average ice time is a career-low by nearly four minutes per night.
Eaves Hospitalized: Ducks winger Patrick Eaves was hospitalized and diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a disorder that affects the nervous system and can cause weakness, numbness in limbs, and eventually paralysis. Fortunately, this was caught fairly early in the process and doctors believe that he will be able to make a full recovery. There is no timetable on when (or if) the 33-year-old will eventually be able to return to Anaheim’s lineup.
More Big Extensions: Eichel’s deal with Buffalo wasn’t the only notable long-term extension signed in October. The Jets inked winger Nikolaj Ehlers to a six-year, $42MM deal, one that will make him the second-highest paid forward on the team behind top scorer Mark Scheifele. Ehlers is coming off a 64-point season and is on pace to reach the 60-point mark once again this year. Meanwhile, the Panthers raised some eyebrows with their decision to hand defenseman Mark Matheson an eight-year, $39MM deal. Matheson had just one full NHL year under his belt when this deal was done but clearly, the team is confident that he’ll be able to hold down a top-four spot for the long-term.
Key Injuries: The injury bug wasn’t kind to Minnesota or Los Angeles in October. Wild winger Zach Parise underwent back surgery that has kept him out of the lineup to this point in the season (although he’s now on a conditioning assignment). The veteran has averaged at least 0.6 points per game in each of the last six seasons and his eventual return should be a big boost for Minnesota. Meanwhile, Kings center Jeff Carter sustained a laceration to his left leg that has kept him out of the lineup since then with no update on when he may be able to return. Carter led Los Angeles in goals last season with 32 and his loss has been a big blow to their offense. Brooks Laich was signed to take Carter’s spot in the lineup for the Kings but he has since been waived and released.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.