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Minnesota Wild Will Have To Make Decisions On Staal, Zucker Soon

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While the Minnesota Wild will likely need to fight every game for the rest of the season to reach the playoffs, there isn’t a lot of talk about what the team intends to do in the offseason, yet there are key decisions the Wild will have to make in the coming months, including what to do with a pair of their top forwards in Eric Staal and Jason Zucker.

While the team is already loaded in forwards who are locked up long-term, both Staal and Zucker have been key players for this year’s team. Staal still has another year remaining at $3.5MM, but would be eligible for an extension on July 1. At 33 years of age, the team is in a tough situation as it wants to make sure they don’t get stuck with a long-term deal with another aging player like it did with Mikko Koivu. However, Staal has put up 61 goals in two seasons for Minnesota and doesn’t look like he’s slowing down. The Athletic’s Michael Russo (subscription required) writes that the team should consider a three-year extension in the $5MM range. He writes he doesn’t see a true slow-down by the veteran. It shows on back-to-back games, but the scribe writes that both his hands and legs haven’t slowed a bit. The real question is Staal still has another year. What if he declines before an extension kicks in? It’s a gamble either way.

Zucker is another player who has taken that next step every year in Minnesota. He has already passed his 22-goal career high from last year. Now with 26 goals, he finds himself on his last restricted free-agent year before becoming a unrestricted free agent after the 2018-19 season. The fear is the Wild could lose Zucker at that point to higher-profile teams, so locking the 26-year-old up this offseason makes the most sense. Russo writes that it could take a six or seven-year offer in the $5MM range to get a deal done. He might be open to signing now as he has quite a few community ties, including the fact that his wife is from Minnesota.

Both players would like to get money that is close to Nino Niederreiter or Mikael Granlund money, which could cause some problems. The team already has six forwards that are locked up until 2020, not including Staal or Zucker. They also have three defensemen locked up long-term as well, so the team might have to find to move out some contracts in the near future to make their cap situation work out the best. To make matters worse, the two players whose deals might hurt the team the most belong to Zach Parise and Koivu. Parise has struggled all season with injuries and, as expected, his 13-year deal he signed back in 2012 is starting to hurt the team. The 33-year-old still will be locked up until the 2025 season at $7.5MM per year with a no-movement clause (another issue if there is another expansion draft in two years). Koivu has had a down year as well. At 34, he just signed a two year extension at $5.5MM at the start of this season which kicks in next year. After putting up 56 points or more in each of the last two years, he has just 35 points in 65 games this year.

One other option, according to Russo, would be to trade Tyler Ennis, who has one year remaining on his deal at $4.6MM AAV. The 28-year-old has just 18 points this year, but if the team retains his salary, they might be able to trade him off to free up some cap room. A buyout of Marcus Foligno is also a legitimate possibility this summer.

Mironov Clears Waivers, Headed To Russia

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Saturday: Mirinov has cleared waivers, according to CapFriendly, and agent Dan Milstein tweets that he will indeed return to Russia.

Friday: The Colorado Avalanche have placed Andrei Mironov on unconditional waivers with the intention of a mutual contract termination. Mironov only signed his entry-level contract last May, but has been up and down between the NHL and minor leagues all season, unable to really find a role on the Avalanche blue line.

A contract termination would allow Mironov to return to Russia, where he has played for the last five seasons. The 23-year old defenseman was originally selected by Colorado in the fourth round of the 2015 draft, when he had already been passed over two years in a row. There was no guarantee that he would come over at all, but it looks like his stint in North America will be a short one.

Mironov has played in 10 games for the Avalanche this season, recording three points. The rest of the year has been spent with the San Antonio Rampage, where he has nine points in 26 games and has generally fared very well.

Interestingly, CapFriendly lists Mironov’s contract as including a European Assignment Clause, which normally means that he could be sent back to Russia but remain in the Avalanche system. A mutual termination would technically void their control over the player and make him an unrestricted free agent. If that’s truly what happens, there is likely some sort of guarantee from Mironov’s camp that he won’t sign with another team in the NHL.

Igor Eronko of Sport-Express first reported that the Avalanche were intending to waive Mironov.

Red Wings Notes: Bertuzzi, Frk, Mrazek, Howard, Nielsen

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After the Detroit Red Wings traded away winger Tomas Tatar last week at the trade deadline, the team has split his minutes in two directions. Prospect Tyler Bertuzzi has replaced Tatar’s spot in the lineup alongside Andreas Athanasiou and Dylan Larkin, while veteran Martin Frk has taken the departed forward’s power play minutes in hopes of proving worthy of returning to a top line in the future. So far, Bertuzzi has fared well in the two games he’s played in Tatar’s even-strength role, picking up two assists, while averaging more that 14 minutes of ice time. However, don’t expect that to stay that way next year, writes the Detroit Free Press’ Helene St. James.

While the team does want to get an extended look at Bertuzzi, what it’s really waiting for is next season. Then they will take long looks at winger Evgeny Svechnikov, the team’s first-rounder in 2015, and 2017 first-rounder Michael Rasmussen, who is expected to be the center of the future in Detroit. Rasmussen, is coming off a solid season in the WHL and might be ready to join the Red Wings next season. As for Svechnikov, the hope is that he is ready for a spot in Detroit next season, but has struggled at times in his first year in the AHL.

  • St. James also adds that don’t expect too many call-ups this year as the Grand Rapids Griffins are still fighting for a playoff spot in AHL, so players like Svechnikov, Filip Hronek and Matt Puempel might not see a lot of time in Detroit as they are needed in Grand Rapids.
  • In the same article, St. James writes that the team will have to also take a long look at backup goalie Jared Coreau, who was recalled from the Grand Rapids Griffins after the team traded away Petr Mrazek. She writes that the team has doubts he can be a quality NHL backup and with one year left on Jimmy Howard’s contract, the team will be hard-pressed to find their future starter in one year. One possibility could be signing Mrazek back again in the offseason. With Brian Elliott and Michal Neuvirth already signed for next season, it seems unlikely that the Philadelphia Flyers will retain Mrazek, especially when he has a $4MM qualifying offer. Could Detroit make him their future No. 1?
  • Craig Custance of The Athletic (subscription required) writes that the team might consider extending Howard’s deal for one more year to give the team more time to find their goalie of the future. However, with the Red Wings looking to get as many picks as possible for their future, it would also make a lot of sense for the team to move him before the draft as team’s wouldn’t mind acquiring a veteran with just one year left on his deal.
  • In the same story, Custance also takes a look at the way-too early protected list if there is an expansion draft in 2020 for the Seattle franchise, which seems inevitable. Sadly, the top two players the Red Wings would be forced to protect will be veterans Henrik Zetterberg and Frans Nielsen. The hope is that Zetterberg, who will be 39 by then, will have retired, which would free up a spot, however, Nielsen has a no-movement clause and then, at age 35, should not be on that list. However, the veteran, who would still have two years left on his deal at $5.25MM AAV at that point, is likely going to cost Detroit a quality player down the road.

Injury Notes: Bortuzzo, Mason, Matthews

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The St. Louis Blues are getting some reinforcements on the blue line, as they have activated Robert Bortuzzo from the injured reserve. Bortuzzo has been sidelined for more than two weeks with a knee injury suffered against the Dallas Stars back in mid-February. The big defenseman had played in 55 games with the Blues up to that point and should jump back into the starting lineup sooner rather than later. According to The Athletic’s Jeremy Rutherford, that could even be tonight in a re-match with the Stars with crucial divisional points on the line. The Blues then take four days off ahead of a season-defining road trip against Western wild card contenders: San Jose, Los Angeles, Anaheim, and Colorado. If St. Louis is still alive in the playoff race after these next five games, they could look forward to another addition on defense in the return of Joel Edmundson. In the meantime, Bortuzzo will be looked upon to step up in his return.

  • Another Central Division squad is getting deeper at a key position. After nearly two months of dealing with concussions symptoms, Steve Mason is on his way back to the Winnipeg net and just in time for the stretch run. The Jets announced today that they have assigned Mason to their AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, on a conditioning stint. The Moose in turn announced that Mason will get the start tonight against the Iowa Wild. With just 11 appearances and two head injuries to his name this season, Mason may need some time in the minors to get back in the swing of things and a week plus in the AHL would not be a surprise, but he will eventually make his return to Winnipeg. However, his role has changed dramatically over the course of this season. Signed to a two-year, $8.2MM starter-value contract this summer to presumably bridge the gap to Connor Hellebuyck, Mason instead has performed poorly and missed considerable time, while Hellebuyck has flourished. Mason will settle for a backup role down the stretch, supplanting Michael Hutchinson, and likely next year as well.
  • Auston Matthews isn’t quite ready to return to the Toronto lineup, but he is getting closer. Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston, in speaking with Leafs head coach Mike Babcock, says that Matthews has been skating regularly. Johnston adds that the fortunate part of an upper-body injury, in this case a separated shoulder, is that it doesn’t stop one from skating and keeping up with his conditioning. Matthews is known for his work ethic and has surely been skating hard while on the sidelines. Whenever the Leafs’ doctors give his shoulder the okay, he should be back at full force for Toronto. Sadly, that approval won’t be coming ahead of today’s outdoor game between the Leafs and Washington Capitals at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Matthews will miss his fourth straight game and fourteenth game due to injury in 2017-18.

German Star Dominik Kahun Eyeing Jump To NHL

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It certainly feels like Germany is about to take that next step toward becoming a legitimate hockey power. After an amazing run to the gold medal game at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, coached by arguably the best German player of all-time, Marco Sturm, hockey fans in Germany and around the world are starting to realize that German hockey has quietly gained a foothold in the NHL and has now announced its presence on an international scale. With the likes of Leon Draisaitl – easily the biggest threat to unseat Sturm or Jochen Hecht as the top German to ever play – Tobias Rieder and Tom Kuhnhackl making an impact as forwards in the NHL, Dennis Seidenberg (a German legend in his own right) and Korbinian Holzer still playing key roles on the blue line at the highest level, Philipp Grubauer and Thomas Greiss doing their best to be the next Olaf Kolzig, and young Dominik Bokk set to soon join the ranks as a surefire first-rounder in 2018, the quantity and quality of German players in the NHL may be at an all-time high.

So, it’s no surprise that there is interest from NHL teams in one of Germany’s top home-grown players. Munich-based news site “Abendzeitung” sat down (link in German) with forward Dominik Kahun, one of the heroes of the German Olympic team,  who said he has already received ample interest from the league. The article indicates that “the time has come” for the young German to make the jump to highest level. Kahun, 22, finished with the second-most points for Germany at the Winter Games and clearly outplayed former NHL talents like Christian Ehrhoff and Marcel Goc. His success came as little surprise to German fans, as Kahun was having the best season in the DEL, the top German league, of any of his national team compatriots. Playing for EHC Munchen alongside veteran American Keith Aucoin, Kahun is 15th in points, 7th in assists, and tied for 16th in plus/minus in the DEL so far in 2017-18. His 40 points in 41 games is tied for the fourth-best clip of any player with 40+ games on the year and is already a big step up from his 32- and 30-point totals from the past two seasons. Nearly every player close to Kahun in terms of DEL production this year is on the wrong side of 30, while the young left winger has only just begun to tap into his potential.

Kahun is not guaranteed to find immediate success in the NHL. It will take time for him to adjust to the speed and especially the physicality of the league and even the smaller ice surface. Playing on IIHF ice against non-NHLers at the Olympics was not a true indication of how he would play at the next level. However, Kahun is young enough and clearly talented enough to develop into a strong player down the road. He already possesses the all-important understanding of a complete, two-way game and is a strong enough skater to play at both ends of the ice. He also comes equipped with good stick-handling skills and offensive instincts. The right team willing to work on his development and give him chances to succeed could have a gem in Kahun.

Perhaps even more importantly, should Kahun find success in the NHL, it would continue to inspire a new generation of hockey fans and young hockey players in Germany. While the 2018 Olympics were largely dismissed by many North American spectators due to the non-inclusion of NHLers, the results still meant a lot to other participating countries, none more so than Germany. If their Olympic hero turns into the next great German NHL player, possibly playing for a long time with the likes of Draisaitl and Bokk, there’s no telling what the impact of these Games and that silver medal could have on the next class of young players and a country on the rise in the hockey world.

Submit Your Questions For The Post-Deadline #PHRMailbag

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The trade deadline has come and gone, and while we saw Ryan McDonagh head to a new team in his quest for the Stanley Cup, other high-priced trade bait stayed put. Who will be moved this summer? Where does Erik Karlsson play in 2018-19? Which teams made out the best on deadline day?

All of your questions will be answered this weekend in our post-deadline mailbag, so make sure to submit them using #PHRMailbag on Twitter or by leaving a comment down below!

You can read our last mailbag right here, where Brian La Rose explains why he believed McDonagh was the best non-rental option truly on the market.

Vincent Praplan Signs Entry-Level Contract With San Jose Sharks

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Entry-level contracts continue to be given out, but this time it is not a drafted prospect that has signed, but an Olympic athlete. Vincent Praplan has signed an entry-level contract with the San Jose Sharks, not long after finishing his stint with the Swiss national team at the Olympics. Praplan attended training camp with the Sharks in 2017, but has played this season in the Swiss NLA.

The 23-year old forward has no doubt been on the radar of NHL teams for several years, dating back to his single season in the OHL with the Brampton Battalion. As a 19-year old, Praplan recorded 53 points in 61 games in that lone season before returning to the NLA full-time for the last four years. This season brought 38 points in 45 games, and continued development of his defensive game.

San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson had this to say about Praplan in the team release:

Vincent is a highly skilled playmaker who can play any forward position. We saw first-hand at our rookie tournament last summer what he can do with the puck and think he will fit perfectly within our puck pressure system. His speed allows him to be a threat on the penalty kill, and his offensive instincts make him an asset on the power play. We’re excited for him to join our organization.

Now listed at 6’1″ 195-lbs according to the Sharks, Praplan was the most dangerous Swiss forward at last year’s World Championships, where he recorded seven points in eight games. He has plenty of international experience, and is a worthwhile gamble for the Sharks.

It seems likely that his contract will begin next season, though no official word has been released so far.

Colorado Avalanche Sign Conor Timmins To ELC

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The Colorado Avalanche have inked another top prospect, signing defenseman Conor Timmins to a three-year entry-level contract. Timmins is currently injured and sitting out for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, and will almost certainly see his contract slide and begin in 2018-19.

Timmins was selected 32nd-overall in 2017, and has seen his play take another step forward this season. The two-way defender was off to a roaring start with the Greyhounds before helping Canada to a gold medal at the World Junior Championships. Timmins was arguably Canada’s best defenseman, recording the highest +/- rating in the tournament with a +15, and being named one of the team’s top three players. Logging important minutes against other team’s top players is not a new concept to the 19-year old, who has an incredibly active stick in the defensive zone and breaks up plays early and often.

To go with that defensive prowess, Timmins also has 35 points through 30 games in the OHL this year and can contribute offensively in different ways. Not a pure powerplay quarterback like his future teammate Cale Makar, Timmins instead distributes the puck effortlessly at even-strength, and often springs teammates for chances heading into the offensive zone. Of his 83 assists the last two seasons, only 21 of them have been with the man advantage.

In Colorado, they can look forward to many years of Timmins manning the right side, as long as his development continues as it has the last year. Though the injury is stealing valuable time from his junior career, there is still plenty of time for him to grow and improve in the professional ranks next year. Born in September, Timmins was one of the older players in his draft class and could make an impact in the AHL as soon as next year. For a team that was without much to look forward to on defense just a year ago, Colorado now boasts three top prospects (including Samuel Girard) that could make their group one of the best in the coming years.

Snapshots: Calgary, Mironov, Murray

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The Calgary Flames were involved in a battle for funding for a new arena for quite some time, until the talks were abruptly halted in September. After Mayor Naheed Nenshi was re-elected in October, there hasn’t been any progress or even discussion on how to fix the deteriorating financial situation the Flames find themselves in.

Today according to the Canadian Press, as part of his tour through Western Canada, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman spoke about how the Flames are now relying on the league’s revenue sharing program instead of contributing to it as they had in the past. The Flames have indicated their dedication to the community in the past, but hinted that could change if it becomes impossible to operate a financially sound organization. While much of the back and forth in this story has been public posturing, Calgary’s hockey team remains without a long-term fix to their arena situation.

  • Andrei Mironov will indeed head back to Russia after terminating his contract, and as agent Dan Milstein of Gold Star Hockey explains on Twitter, he’d like to thank everyone in the Colorado Avalanche organization. It doesn’t seem like there is any bad blood between the two sides, but there just wasn’t a fit for Mironov after signing his entry-level contract last May. The 23-year old defenseman played just 10 games in the NHL, and will likely return to the KHL.
  • Matt Murray was back on the ice doing drills today, though didn’t take any live shots from teammates. That’s huge news for the Pittsburgh Penguins, who despite having faith in Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith, obviously would rather have their two-time Stanley Cup winner in net for the playoffs. We saw first hand last night the struggles that the rookie tandem could have, as the Boston Bruins chased DeSmith from the net in the first period and ended up with eight goals. There is still no timeline for Murray’s return from a concussion, but seeing him on the ice is a good first step.

Minor Transactions: 03/02/18

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As always, we’ll keep track of all the moves teams make between their NHL and minor league clubs right here. Check back throughout the day to see if your favorite team has made a transaction.

  • The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled Dominik Simon from the AHL, bringing him back up after just a few days in the minor leagues. Simon was sent down on trade deadline day in order to be eligible for the AHL playoffs, but hadn’t played a game with the club as they were off all week. Instead, Simon will return to the NHL where he has 11 points in 28 games this season.
  • Ty Rattie has been returned to the AHL by the Edmonton Oilers, after a call-up last week. Rattie is one of the Oilers four post-deadline recalls after he was “papered” on Monday to be eligible for the AHL playoffs. He can move up and down the rest of the year, unless his waiver clock is reset by spending enough time in the NHL. Rattie originally cleared back in September, and spent almost the entire season in the minor leagues.

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