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Archives for March 2018

Latest On Ilya Kovalchuk’s Return

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Last offseason was hijacked at some points by Ilya Kovalchuk and his desire to return to the NHL. It seemed as though every day Kovalchuk would waver between returning and staying in the KHL, and eventually it became clear that he would not be able to find a deal that was acceptable for the New Jersey Devils. The Devils owned his exclusive rights, and would have needed to complete a sign-and-trade for Kovalchuk to play in the NHL during the 2017-18 season.

This year, the Devils aren’t part of the equation as Kovalchuk will be an unrestricted free agent, and it looks like we’re in for another sweepstakes (if you can call it that). Kovalchuk today was on Russian TV, and said that he wouldn’t be able to forgive himself if he didn’t try to win the Stanley Cup again. Igor Eronko of Sport-Express even tweets that Kovalchuk wants to play “several years” back in the NHL.

The first-overall pick in 2001, Kovalchuk will be 35 this summer when looking for a deal, which actually comes with both restrictions and opportunities. First of all, any contract he signs in the NHL now will cause a cap hit for the full duration regardless of what he chooses to do. If he retires, either legitimately or once again back to Russia, the full cap hit will be carried by whoever signed him (unless they trade his rights). Interestingly though it also brings the option for performance bonuses to be added to a deal, as long as it is for only one season.

Performance bonuses could be perfect for Kovalchuk, who obviously believes in his own ability but has been away from the NHL for several years. His last full season in North America was in 2011-12, and there’s no telling if he’ll be able to bring his former production this time around. Though he has remained one of the most productive players in the KHL this season, he’s part of a powerhouse SKA St. Petersburg squad who routinely rolls over opponents. Even if he signs with the Stanley Cup favorite (whoever that may be), the gap in talent between the best and worst teams in the NHL is much smaller than in the KHL. Kovalchuk will have to fight for every second of ice time in 2018-19.

The fact that he wants to win a Stanley Cup is interesting, given that several of the teams he previously mentioned as possibilities are entering a rebuild. Kovalchuk at one point said he wanted to play in either New York or Florida, but the Rangers are tearing it down and trying to get younger. The Islanders, though wanting to compete for the Cup, could be facing the loss of John Tavares in a few months, and have struggled down the stretch.

If Kovalchuk does come back to the NHL, which seems likely at this point, he’ll try to hit several milestones over the next few years. When he first left, the sniper had recorded 816 points in 816 career regular season games, including 417 goals and 399 assists. Even with his lost years to the KHL, if he played another few seasons there is a real possibility of him reaching 500 goals and 1,000 points.

Minor Transactions: 03/16/18

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Arizona probably ruined your bracket anyway, so why bother with March Madness anymore? There’s still hockey going on, and like always we’ll keep track of all the minor moves around the league right here. Check back throughout the day to stay up to date (or head to Hoops Rumors if you somehow picked Buffalo, and are still in a basketball mindset).

  • Last night the Edmonton Oilers recalled Ty Rattie from the minor leagues, where he had been the Bakersfield Condors’ best player for much of the season. With 43 points in 53 games, Rattie has once again shown that he can dominate the lower levels. His opportunities in the NHL have been short lived, as he’s suited up just 37 times across parts of five seasons.
  • The Vegas Golden Knights also used last night to send a pair of players back to the AHL, assigning Maxime Lagace and Tomas Hyka to the minors. Malcolm Subban is ready to make his return, as the Golden Knights continue to stroll towards the playoffs.
  • After calling them up to cover for some minor injuries, the Boston Bruins have sent both Anton Blidh and Paul Postma back down to the AHL. The Bruins are set to take on Tampa Bay Lightning in a game with huge playoff ramifications tomorrow, and will hopefully get back some of their injured players.
  • Adin Hill is on his way back to the minor leagues, meaning Antti Raanta is close to returning for the Arizona Coyotes. Raanta hasn’t played in two weeks, but is expected back in the Arizona crease before long. The 21-year old Hill has played four NHL games this season, recording an .891 save percentage.

Tavares, Islanders Could Work Out Sign-And-Trade

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A “sign-and-trade” scenario, in which a player signs with his current team or another only for the purposes of being traded to a different team, is uncommon in the NHL. It most frequently seen in the NBA, where such deals often offer the teams making the deal some salary cap loophole or benefit. The straightforward NHL hard cap doesn’t require such moves very often; in fact no sign-and-trade has occurred in the salary cap era. However, TSN insiders Pierre LeBrun and Darren Dreger think one high profile free agent could necessitate such a deal: New York Islanders superstar John Tavares.

Now, there is still no word on what Tavares’ plans are this season. He is undoubtedly the biggest name among potential unrestricted free agents this off-season, but could still choose to stay with the Islanders. Tampa Bay Lightning phenom Steven Stamkos was in a similar situation two years ago and waited about as long as possible before simply re-upping with Tampa. Tavares could certainly do the same. Dreger says that Tavares will meet with agent Pat Brisson following the season – which for the Islander should be next month – to discuss the situation and the many factors that could keep him in New York or instead drive him away. Dreger adds that Tavares is expected to inform GM Garth Snow and the Islanders as to what his plans are ahead of the NHL Draft in June.

If Tavares does let Snow and company know that he has decided to move on, it doesn’t rule out his re-signing with the team, again for the purposes of a sign-and-trade. As LeBrun points out, all three parties involved could benefit from such a deal. Tavares could gain an eighth year to his new contract, available only in extensions, if he first signs with the Isles. The team he is traded to could also use the eighth year to lessen the cap hit on the deal by dropping the actual salary as the years go on, as so often happens in lengthy contracts for players of a certain age. Finally, the biggest concern for the Islanders and their fans is obviously watching Tavares walk away for nothing. While they won’t get a return similar to if they had dealt Tavares at the deadline, New York will still get something in exchange for enabling the sign-and-trade. At this point, getting anything at all for losing Tavares has to appeal to the Isles.

Will such a scenario play out this summer? There hasn’t been a sign-and-trade this century, so obviously the odds don’t favor it. However, there are aspects of the situation that lend themselves to this being the exception to the rule. The most likely result is still that Tavares stays in New York. If that doesn’t happen, it likely means he wants to test the open market. Yet, there is a possibility that Tavares will have a specific destination in mind prior to July 1st and, if that happens, a sign-and-trade could be the ideal scenario for everyone involved.

Prospect Notes: Kahun, Tomek, Scarfo

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Not long after the initial report that German Olympic hero Dominik Kahun was drawing NHL interest, there is now a more concrete picture of what the market looks like for the young scoring forward. German new site TZ reports that Kahun’s jump overseas is a sure thing, as ten NHL teams have legitimate interest in signing him. They go one step further, adding that the Chicago Blackhawks are at the top of the list and have offered Kahun a two-year contract worth around $940K per year. While it may not seem like that much, the article indicates that the contract would be worth more than three times Kahun’s current pact with EHC Munich. It’s also a fair value for an unproven import. The 22-year-old certainly shows some promise though, with nearly a point per game pace in the German DEL and at the Winter Games in 2017-18. The Blackhawks, or whoever else ends up winning the bidding war, will land an exciting prospect in Kahun.

  • An intriguing career path continues for young Slovakian goalie Matej Tomek. A third-round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers back in 2015, Tomek originally enrolled at the University of North Dakota in 2015-16 and expected to take over for departed starter, and Hobey Baker finalist, Zane McIntyre. Instead, he lost out to Cam Johnson, who remains the North Dakota starter to this day, and made just two appearances in two seasons, struggling mightily. Tomek left school, joining the USHL’s Waterloo Blackhawks for the 2017-18 season, and saw improved performance at the junior level. Now, Tomek has announced that he’s heading back to the NCAA, committing to the University of Nebraska-Omaha for next season. Tomek still has two years of eligibility remaining, but may only need one to re-establish his pro potential. All three Omaha keepers have struggled this year and Tomek may have an easy path to take over next season. Even if starter Evan Weninger holds on to the job or at least forces a split in net, Tomek can always stick around for the 2019-20 campaign when he would surely be the starter. Either way, Flyers fans should be happy to see another of their many promising goalie prospects working to get back on track.
  • A top senior scorer and college free agent is off the market, but he’s not headed to an NHL team just yet. Ryan Scarfo, the leading scorer for Union College, has signed with the AHL’s Belleville Senators, the team announced. Scarfo will skate with the team on a tryout deal for the remainder of this season, but already inked a full AHL contract for the 2018-19 season. Scarfo, 24, saw a major boost in production in his fourth and final year as a starter for Union. The alternate captain led all Dutchmen in goals and points and his rugged, two-way play also placed him in the top five on the team in plus/minus and penalty minutes. His 20 goals additionally ranked 13th in the entire NCAA. Scarfo has likely reached the extent of his skill development, but with some time in the minors, can further polish his hockey sense. He has some upside to be a bottom-six forward given his ability to be physical and find the back of the net. A strong performance in his first pro season in 2018-19 could earn Scarfo a big-league deal with the Ottawa Senators or another NHL squad sooner rather than later.

Philadelphia Flyers Sign Matthew Strome To Entry-Level Deal

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Another familiar name has signed an NHL contract, as the Philadelphia Flyers announced today that Matthew Strome has inked his three-year entry-level deal. Strome is the younger brother of Ryan Strome and Dylan Strome, who have both played in the NHL this season.

Like his brothers, Strome is an intelligent forward from the OHL with question marks surrounding his skating ability. Unlike them, he doesn’t have the elite offensive talent to make up for some deficiencies, and watched his draft stock fall because of it. Strome went in the fourth round in 2017, while his brothers both went in the top-5 overall in their respective drafts. Interestingly though, he may be able to follow a different path to the NHL.

The biggest of the three, Matthew Strome is a real handful to contain in front of the net and can engage physically, something that was a knock on his younger brothers during their draft years. They both had to mature physically before becoming professionals, while the youngest already checks in at 6’3″ 201-lbs. He’s already a talented goal scorer, who has set a new career high with 37 this season for the Hamilton Bulldogs, and might be able to carve out a role as a net-front presence at the next level.

Unfortunately, those problems with his skating still exist, and he’ll need his stride cleaned up if he is ever to make it at the NHL level. As the game becomes faster and faster, there isn’t a ton of ice time for a talented but unproven offensive player who can’t keep up. Strome will have to make his mark as a two-way force, contributing in other areas of the game. For now though, he’ll try to lead the Bulldogs to an OHL Championship and potential Memorial Cup berth, before likely returning to them again next season.

Jets Notes: Hendricks, Hutchinson, Trouba

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The Winnipeg Jets are in an unfamiliar position, firmly in a playoff spot with 12 games left to play. With 92 points, they trail only the Vegas Golden Knights and the Nashville Predators for the Western Conference lead, and are poised to do some damage in the postseason for the first time in their history. Still, that is only if they can stay healthy over the next few months. That’s not something that has come easily to the Jets of late, and Jamie Thomas of JetsTV gives us updates on several players.

  • Matt Hendricks has played 60 games for the Jets this season as a fourth-line veteran presence, giving the team some valuable leadership and chipping in offense now and again. That role will have to go to someone else, as Hendricks is out six to eight weeks with a lower-body injury. That takes him out through the end of the season and much of the playoffs, meaning there is more ice time for the younger players in Winnipeg. Despite his near 600 games in the NHL, the 36-year old Hendricks has played in only 34 playoff games and none in the last five years.
  • Luckily, it’s not all bad news in Winnipeg. There is a possibility that Jacob Trouba makes his return in tonight’s game which would be his first since January 15th. Trouba is a huge part of the Jets lineup, and with Dmitry Kulikov out with a minor injury his return would be extremely important. Trouba is up for another contract this summer, and an impressive playoff performance could increase his cost even more.
  • Michael Hutchinson was forced out of Tuesday’s game against the Nashville Predators after three quick goals, but has now been diagnosed with a concussion. That’s the second goaltender out for the Jets, joining Steve Mason who is working his way back from a knee injury. Connor Hellebuyck will be relied upon even more, while Eric Comrie is the backup for the time being.

Calle Jarnkrok Out Rest Of Regular Season With Upper-Body Injury

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The Nashville Predators have announced that Calle Jarnkrok will be out for the rest of the regular season, after suffering an upper-body injury in Tuesday’s game. The release does not include any details on a potential playoff return, or a timeline on his recovery. According to Adam Vingan of the Tennessean, Jarnkrok was seen with his right arm in a sling after the game.

Jarnkrok, 26, has been one of the most versatile players for the Predators all season long. After being a depth center for the team in his first few seasons, Jarnkrok has moved back and forth to the wing whenever the Predators have needed him to, and it has resulted in a career-high 35 points and a +20 rating. He logs more short-handed ice time than any other forward for the Predators, and has even contributed on the powerplay whenever asked.

Though the Predators loaded up down the middle this season by adding Kyle Turris and Mike Fisher, and acquired Ryan Hartman at the deadline to give them another young weapon, losing Jarnkrok will hurt. Nashville looks like the top contender for the Stanley Cup as they head towards the playoffs, but even with their impressive depth can’t take too many hits like this. We’ll see how their lineup shakes out after dealing with the loss, and who steps into the important penalty killing role down the stretch.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Scott Eansor Earns Two-Year Contract With New York Islanders

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Hard work continues to pay off for Scott Eansor, who has earned his first contract with the New York Islanders after a strong season in the AHL. The team announced today a two-year, two-way contract with Eansor, though financial details were not released. Because of his age (22), this is the standard entry-level contract length.

The 5’9″ 185-lbs forward had been playing under an AHL contract this season after going undrafted during his junior career. In 57 games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Eansor registered 16 goals and 22 points.

The Islanders were very familiar with what Eansor could bring even before he started playing for their minor league team. He was the counterpart to Mathew Barzal for several years with the Seattle Thunderbirds, taking some of the defensive load off his shoulders while chipping in offensively. If he could one day play a similar role in the NHL, the Islanders would be extremely happy. That goal is still a long-shot, but Eansor has continued to work hard to make it a reality. He’ll have to continue to impress at the minor league level, but as the league turns to more and more undersized players, his chances have never been better.

Edmonton Oilers Sign Kirill Maksimov To Entry-Level Contract

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The Edmonton Oilers have inked another one of their 2017 draft picks, signing Kirill Maksimov to a three-year entry-level contract. Maksimov was selected in the fifth round and is currently playing for the Niagara IceDogs of the OHL.

The definition of a project pick, Maksimov has always shown talent but not always results. A dual citizen (Canada/Russia) that has been back in Canada for years, Maksimov joined the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL after going in the second round of the midget draft. In his first two seasons in the OHL, there was clear skill but only moderate production, scoring 59 points in 120 games. This year has been different though, as the 18-year old has put up 73 points for Niagara trailing only Akil Thomas (a potential first-round pick in 2018) for the team lead, despite playing only 59 games.

Though he’s certainly not ready to jump right to the NHL, Maksimov continues to show off an improved game and will try to carry that into the professional ranks at some point. Next year he’ll have to return to the OHL if he doesn’t crack the Oilers, but could play some games for the Bakersfield Condors down the stretch if signed to an amateur tryout.

Minor Transactions: 03/15/18

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Yes, March Madness is about to open and unless your favorite NHL team is in the thick of a playoff race you might be tempted to turn on some basketball—the staff at Hoops Rumors certainly wouldn’t hold it against you—but there is still a lot going on around the hockey world. We’ll keep an eye on all the minor moves around the league, and update them right here. Check back between halves to make sure you don’t fall behind.

  • After Frederik Andersen left last night’s game for the Toronto Maple Leafs, the team has recalled Garret Sparks under emergency conditions. Andersen is out with an upper-body injury and won’t play tonight against the Buffalo Sabres, but there is no indication on how long he’ll be out. Sparks has been arguably the best goaltender in the AHL all season, and will get a chance to at least back up in tonight’s game.
  • The Boston Bruins have used two emergency recalls, bringing Anton Blidh and Paul Postma up from the minor leagues. The Bruins are dealing with injuries to Jake Debrusk, Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug, who all left the last game against the Carolina Hurricanes and did not return. It’s not clear which ones will be out for the team, but any of them would be tough blows for a team chasing the Tampa Bay Lightning for first place in the Eastern Conference (and perhaps the league).

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