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Archives for December 2017

Submit Your Questions For The #PHRMailbag

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2018 is almost here and with it will be the countdown to the NHL trade deadline. With teams starting to distance themselves at either end of the playoff race, more and more rumors will surface about rental players and rebuilds. Here’s your chance to ask our very own Brian La Rose about whatever you think your team should do!

Brian will be answering the mailbag on the weekend, but be sure to submit your questions now! Leave a comment below or tweet at @prohockeyrumors using the #PHRMailbag.

Make sure to read our last mailbag, where Brian went in depth on the Kyle Turris–Matt Duchene deal—he knew right away it wasn’t the greatest trade for the Ottawa Senators.

Blackhawks’ Ivan Nalimov Released By KHL Team

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It’s no secret that the KHL and it’s member teams are struggling financially. The uncapped nature of the international league has led to a wide gap in competitive balance and an inflation in salaries that the teams toward the bottom have a hard time paying, but still have to sign if they hope to stay somewhat competitive. However, those decisions have caught up to many clubs who in many cases delayed their payments to players by months at a time and, beginning this off-season, were even forced to cut good players who they simply could not afford.

This unfortunate pattern has not ended and the most recent casualty is young goaltender Ivan Nalimov. Nalimov, who was a sixth-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks back in 2014, has been developing his game in his native Russia with Admiral Vladivostok ever since. Yet, in the midst of a breakout campaign, Nalimov was forced to terminate his contract with the team, citing financial struggles as the main reason, according to KHL insider Aivis Kalnins. Admiral, who sits at the bottom of the KHL’s Chernyshev Division, has the unfortunate and unchangeable situation of being the farthest east team in a league primarily located in western Russia. With high travel expenses and a poor record, the team clearly felt they had little reason to keep paying some of their best – and most well-compensated – players and did not work quickly to solve their payment problems. That apparently includes the 23-year-old Nalimov, who has an impeccable 1.98 GAA and .942 save percentage in 17 games this season. Those numbers place Nalimov among the top goaltenders in the KHL this season, alongside New York Rangers prospect Igor Shestyorkin and veteran Swedish superstar Lars Johansson. However, while those goalies’ teams lead their respective divisions and the pair will get the chance to contend for a title this season, Nalimov’s future is now a total unknown.

 So what’s next for Nalimov? The Athletic’s Scott Powers says not the NHL. Agent Shumi Babaev told Powers that they are assessing their options, but no discussions have been had with Chicago GM Stan Bowman and Nalimov is not anticipating a jump overseas just yet. Despite the young goalie’s impressive season, the Blackhawks are set at the NHL level in goal and Nalimov would rather play in the KHL than AHL. He could certainly benefit from more development time in Europe anyway. There’s no clear answer right now as to what the next step is for Nalimov, though simply signing with another KHL team, one with a more stable financial status, seems highly likely.  The talented young keeper is certainly worth keeping an eye on as he determines how his hockey future will proceed.

Devils Activate Marcus Johansson From Injured Reserve

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The New Jersey Devils announced today that off-season acquisition Marcus Johansson has been cleared to play and has been activated from IR. Johansson is set to return to the lineup tonight against the New York Rangers. Johansson is a nice piece to have back, but the Devils have gotten along fine without him, somehow still blazing through the 2017-18 season making a case for the top team in the Metropolitan Division.

Johansson, 27, was acquired from the division rival Washington Capitals this summer for second-round and third-round picks in the 2018 NHL Draft. More of a cap dump by Washington than a fair deal, Johansson was nevertheless expected to help turn things around in New Jersey this season. While that goal has certainly been accomplished, and far beyond expectations in terms of both time and ability, it has been done largely without Johansson. A slew of injuries – lower-body, concussion, bruised ankle – has limited Johansson to just 15 games with his new team. However, his return will still be a boost to the red-hot Devils. A five-time 40+ point scorer coming off a career-high 58-point campaign, the Swedish forward’s offensive talent is undeniable.

The Devils have a strong 19-9-5 record – one of just four teams left in the league with single-digit losses – and their .652 points percentage puts them atop the Metropolitan Division and second only to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference. Scoring (9th) and power play production (12th) – the hallmarks of Johansson’s game – have not been issues for the Devils, but it won’t hurt to get an added boost. New Jersey was already in good shape and they are about to get stronger. It may be time to start talking about the Devils as possible Eastern Conference spoilers in 2017-18.

Ryan Ellis Expected Back January 2nd

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Life is good for the Nashville Predators, who currently lead the Central Division with 46 points in 33 games and are about to get a huge present for Christmas. Ryan Ellis, out all season following knee surgery, is expected to be back in the lineup on January 2nd. That’s according to Predators GM David Poile himself, who told 104.5 The Zone that the defensemen is just working on his confidence after such a long layoff (quote courtesy of Thomas Willis of NHL.com):

The doctor says it’s about confidence now, he’s fully healed. I’m expecting Ryan Ellis will skate the last week of the year and be looking at the first game of 2018 as a time to be back.

Ryan EllisEllis has turned himself into one of the premier defensemen in the league, scoring 16 goals and 38 points last season while being responsible in his own end every night. The 26-year old was named “associate captain” of the Predators in the offseason, after Roman Josi—who was eventually named team captain—suggested Ellis without hesitation for the job. His return will likely feel like that of a huge trade deadline acquisition, especially if he can get back to the level he played at last season.

In the past, the Predators have leaned heavily on their top two pairings to log nearly the whole game and with Ellis’ return they can again. With Alexei Emelin now in the mix they can afford to ease Ellis back in, but it shouldn’t be long until he’s back playing somewhere near the 24 minutes a night he averaged last season. That makes the Nashville defense corps almost unmatched around the league, and will give them another advantage over the rest of the Western Conference. After a turnaround sparked by the acquisition of Kyle Turris, the Predators are a team on the rise and can be considered a legitimate Stanley Cup contender once again.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

What Your Team Is Thankful For: Dallas Stars

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With the holiday season in full swing, PHR will look at what teams are thankful for so far this year. There also might be a few things your team would like down the road. We take a look at what’s gone well in the first few months and what could improve as the season rolls on. So far we’ve covered the following teams:

Atlantic: BOS, BUF, DET, FLA, TOR, MTL, OTT
Metropolitan: CAR, CBJ, NJD, NYI, NYR, PHI, PIT, WSH
Central: CHI, COL, MIN, NSH, STL
Pacific: ANA, ARZ, CGY, EDM, LAK, SJS, VAN, VGK

What are the Dallas Stars most thankful for?

The draft lottery.

2016-17 was a huge disappointment for the Stars. After finishing first in the Western Conference and advancing to the second round a year earlier, Dallas got off to a brutal start last season and couldn’t overcome it to sneak their way into the playoffs. Finishing with 79 points and third-last in the West, it cost head coach Lindy Ruff his job and several players their role on the club.

Still, it wasn’t all bad. After the season, the Stars lost Cody Eakin to the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft, and couldn’t have been that upset about it. The centerman has put up a better season for Vegas than he had in 2016-17, but is still not the 20-goal, 50-point man many had hoped he would develop into. The fact that the Stars no longer have to worry about the two years at $3.85MM that Eakin is still owed on his current deal is actually probably worth more than having him on the team.

Then came the draft, where Dallas won the right to select third-overall and were able to take home exactly what they were after. Though some casual North American observers may have forgotten about Miro Heiskanen as he continues to develop in Finland, the Stars sure haven’t. Heiskanen is playing excellent in the Finnish Liiga, scoring nine goals and 14 points in 20 games while controlling games from the blueline. He is an absolute prototype when it comes to the new era of NHL defensemen, able to play well at both ends of the rink.

Fans should get a good look at his potential when he skates for Finland at the upcoming World Junior Championships, where he’ll remind everyone why he was taken third-overall. The idea of the Finnish duo of Julius Honka and Heiskanen playing long-term together should have Dallas fans salivating.

Who are the Stars most thankful for?

Jamie BennJamie Benn.

Benn continues to be one of the greatest stories in the NHL, going from a fifth-round pick out of the BCHL to a legitimate All-World captain and winger. His 30 points lead the Stars again this season, while his possession numbers and all-around play remain high. He’s the type of player every team around the league would be after if there was a chance, but as he starts his new contract extension it looks like he’ll be in Dallas for a long time.

With a $9.5MM cap hit for another seven years, there is definitely some risk involved in Benn’s deal. Who can know what kind of player he’ll be in his mid-thirties, but at this point he’s still the best chance the team has to compete for the Stanley Cup. With Tyler Seguin set to hit free agency in the summer of 2019, it will be interesting if the team decides to keep the dynamic duo together long-term, for what would be a huge chunk of the salary cap.

What would the Stars be even more thankful for?

Healthy and effective goaltending.

The Stars went out and got the starting goaltender they wanted in the offseason, buying out Antti Niemi and bringing in Ben Bishop to handle the load. Unfortunately, Bishop has battled a sore back this season and looked average even when he is in the net. Kari Lehtonen has bounced back from a dreadful 2016-17, but only to about the same level Bishop is playing, which is not good enough.

Bishop and Lehtonen have .908 and .907 save percentages respectively, and the Stars need more than that to get back to being a contender in the league. Especially when you factor in that Ken Hitchcock’s system usually increases save percentages in the first few years, the goaltending simply hasn’t been good enough. There are several issues with this team, but getting Bishop—who signed a six-year, $29.5MM contract with the team—back to playing like the Vezina contender he’s been in the past, could make up for them all.

What should be on the Stars’ Holiday Wish List?

Some more help up front.

Beyond the trio of Benn, Seguin and Alexander Radulov (who’ve been spread out recently to try and spark some more offense) the Stars don’t have enough firepower at forward. Young forward Radek Faksa has done his part, but veterans like Martin Hanzal, Jason Spezza and Antoine Roussel have been almost invisible when in the lineup.

The Stars are still 18-14-3 on the season and within striking distance of the top teams in the Central Division, but to really compete they’ll need a deeper offensive attack. The depth of their forwards pales in comparison to clubs like Nashville, Winnipeg and St. Louis, something that would become even more prominent in a seven-game series.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Poll: What Does Your Team Need For Christmas?

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The holiday season is all about giving, but what could your team use this winter? Last year, we asked the same question and nearly 43% of respondents picked a Top-4 defenseman. Is that still the trend, or are teams more in need of a top offensive talent instead this time around?

With only a few clear sellers at this point in the year, but several “hockey trades” having already been accomplished—Adam Henrique and Sami Vatanen seem to be fitting in nicely in their new locales—it seems that Christmas lists could comprise of almost anything, for any team.

If your team had a chance to pick up a piece in early January in order to take a run at the playoffs, solidify their status as a cup contender, or improve their long-term future what would it be? Vote in the poll and be sure to leave a comment below explaining your decision.

[Mobile users click here to vote!]

Morning Notes: Walsh, Juniors, KHL

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USA Hockey has made another cut from their World Junior squad, sending defenseman Reilly Walsh back to Harvard. Walsh is a third-round pick of the New Jersey Devils, but was one of the younger players in development camp and will have a shot at the team again next year (provided he isn’t in the NHL).

The team is down to 26 players, with the final cuts expected after tomorrow’s final pre-tournament tune up game against Sweden. Walsh, 18, will return to his freshman year at Harvard where he has eight points in his first ten games. The undersized, but elite-skating son of former NHL player Mike Walsh, he’ll be one to watch as his NCAA career progresses.

  • In terms of other World Junior players to watch, Mike Morreale of NHL.com gives us a breakdown of the names eligible for the 2018 draft. Rasmus Dahlin and Andrei Svechnikov obviously lead that group, but there are quite a few other top prospects set to play in the tournament. One to especially keep an eye on is Rasmus Kupari, the 17-year old Finnish forward who is already playing regularly for Karpat. He has his blemishes, but owns one of the highest offensive ceilings in the draft if everything clicks and could go in the top-10.
  • Speaking of offensive upside, KHL insider Aivis Kalnins reports that Admiral Vladivostok has released bought out three key players, Vladimir Tkachev, Ivan Nalimov and Oskars Bartulis. Vladivostok is one of the teams that has had trouble paying its player salaries in the past. Tkachyev, 22, is an extremely undersized forward that has huge offensive skill, and was once heavily courted by the Edmonton Oilers. Kalnins believes that Tkachev has another deal in the KHL already, but Nalimov, a Chicago Blackhawks goaltending prospect, could come overseas. Many will also remember Bartulis from his short stint with the Philadelphia Flyers, after being selected in the third round of the 2005 draft.

Buffalo Beauts Purchased By Sabres Ownership

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The National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL) has operated since 2015, becoming the first North American female hockey league to pay their players a regular salary. Previously, all four NWHL teams were owned by the league itself, but all that has changed. Buffalo Sabres owners Kim and Terry Pegula have purchased the Buffalo Beauts franchise, adding them to their ever-growing Sports and Entertainment brand.

This is a huge step for the Beauts and the rest of the NWHL, who have had to cut salaries in the past to keep the league financially viable. An affiliation with an NHL team will only strengthen their brand, and since the Beauts already play in the Pegula-owned HarborCenter—also the practice facility for the Sabres—the partnership was a perfect fit.

The Beauts are the reigning Isobel Cup Champions, but have fallen well behind the powerhouse Metropolitan Riveters (who have a partnership with the New Jersey Devils) this season. Almost halfway through their season already, the team is in second place at 3-4. Their top scorer and captain, Corrine Buie is the only player to have won two Isobel Cups already, and also boasts a CWHL championship when she was a part of the Boston Blades. She’ll try to three-peat this season, and will have a new ownership group to support her.

Minor Transactions: 12/21/17

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Who cares about a roster freeze. Despite the fact that teams can’t trade or waive players, there was quite a bit of movement around the league yesterday. Today is expected to be no different, and we’ll keep an eye on all the minor moves right here. Make sure to refresh throughout the day to keep up.

  • The Montreal Canadiens recalled Brett Lernout late last night, bringing the young defender up to the NHL for the first time this season. Lernout, 22, has three games under his belt for the Canadiens in the past, and will be another option for the team while Shea Weber nurses his foot injury.
  • The Washington Capitals have recalled Madison Bowey and Jakub Vrana back to the minor leagues once again, after executing a paper transaction yesterday to save some cap room. After reclaiming Nathan Walker off waivers yesterday, the Capitals are pushed right up against the salary cap and need to bank as much room on a day to day basis as possible. With Bowey and Vrana both playing well, neither are expected to actually leave the roster for any games.
  • The Ottawa Senators have recalled Andreas Englund from the AHL, giving them another defensive option for their three-game road trip. In a corresponding move, the team has placed Gabriel Dumont on injured reserve in order to make room for Englund on the roster.
  • The Boston Bruins have recalled Colby Cave from the AHL for the first time in his career, as Brad Marchand, Ryan Spooner and Riley Nash all deal with the flu. The trio are all game-time decisions for the team’s game against the Jets.
  • Tyler Bertuzzi is back up with the Detroit Red Wings, a week after being sent down. Bertuzzi has played just a single game with the Red Wings this season, but is a player they still hope can grow into something special. It’s not clear if Bertuzzi will get into the lineup right away, but with Luke Glendening suffering a hand injury yesterday there could be room for the young forward.

Alex Nylander Assigned To Swedish World Junior Team

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After taking quite a while to make a decision, the Buffalo Sabres have assigned Alexander Nylander to the Swedish World Junior team, where he will compete for the third time. Nylander has been a huge part of Team Sweden in the past, and could be one of the top players in the tournament on a squad favored to medal this year.

Buffalo of course is hosting the tournament this year, meaning Nylander will be in front of a somewhat home crowd despite playing in the United States. Team USA and Sweden actually don’t face off in the round robin, meaning a potential medal round matchup could be a marquee event near the end of the tournament.

Nylander is seen as sort of a disappointment so far in his professional career, after being selected eighth-overall in 2016. Drafted as he was coming off an incredible rookie season in the OHL with the Mississauga Steelheads (at the time coached by his father, Michael Nylander), he hasn’t found as much success in the AHL. With just 34 points in 80 games, there have been some that doubt he’ll ever be quite the offensive talent of his father, or brother in Toronto William Nylander.

Still, there is much to be excited about when you watch the younger Nylander play. His skating is an incredible asset, a mixture power and elusiveness with great edge control, and he has the patented Nylander vision with the puck. Though he hasn’t found his groove yet with the Rochester Americans or the Sabres, counting anyone out at 19—let alone a top pick and son of a legendary Swedish player—is foolish.

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