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Archives for May 2018

Los Angeles Kings Sign Oscar Fantenberg To One-Year Extension

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The Los Angeles Kings have decided that Oscar Fantenberg has done enough to remain with the organization for another year, announcing a one-year extension today. The deal carries a $650K cap hit at the NHL level, though it’s not clear yet if it is a two-way contract. Fantenberg was scheduled to become a restricted free agent this summer after his one-year entry-level contract expired.

Fantenberg surprised many by making the Kings out of camp last season, and though he played just 27 games in the NHL during the regular season, was called upon in the postseason for the club. The 26-year old two-way defenseman looks like he’ll be an able contributor for the Kings next season, and comes in at an just the league minimum in salary. Though Los Angeles has several options on defense, adding Fantenberg on such a reasonable contract only strengthens their depth.

The fact that the deal is only for one year will make Fantenberg an unrestricted free agent in 2019, at which point he could go after a multi-year contract that comes with a full-time role. That would need some playing time this season, which he’ll hope for behind other left-handed options like Dion Phaneuf, Derek Forbort and Jake Muzzin. Los Angeles has long been rumored to be considering moving one of their more expensive defensemen, and after acquiring Phaneuf from the Ottawa Senators last season there might not be room for everyone.

Morning Notes: Backstrom, Mironov, Comets

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Nicklas Backstrom was present at the Washington Capitals morning skate today, but rotated in and out of the regular lineup. Head coach Barry Trotz wouldn’t give any indication whether the star playmaker would return tonight, calling him a game-time decision once again. Interestingly though as Tom Gulitti of NHL.com points out, Trotz revealed that Backstrom has not been medically cleared, something that was not previously known.

The Capitals are in good shape against the Tampa Bay Lightning as they head into game four up 2-1 in the series. Though the Lightning were able to avoid falling down 3-0 by winning game three, they have a lot of work to do to topple the Capitals. Backstrom’s return would make that even more difficult, especially if he can jump start the Washington powerplay once again.

  • Andrei Mironov has signed a three-year deal back in the KHL after being released by the Colorado Avalanche in March. The 23-year old defenseman never did fit into the Avalanche organization, playing just 10 games for the NHL squad this season. Mironov is technically an unrestricted free agent now that he agreed to a mutual termination with Colorado, meaning we may see him back in the NHL one day. That day will have to wait for now, as he returns to the KHL for Dynamo Moscow.
  • The Vancouver Canucks have signed Tanner MacMaster and Jagger Dirk to one-year AHL contracts, bringing them in after amateur tryouts coming out of college. MacMaster played 18 games for the Utica Comets including five postseason contests, scoring 11 points in the process. The 22-year old forward was a dominant player at Quinnipiac University this season, and will try to prove he can keep up the early performance in his first full season of professional hockey.

Joel Bouchard Named Head Coach Of Laval Rocket

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As many have expected, the Montreal Canadiens have hired Joel Bouchard to be the next head coach of their AHL affiliate. Sylvain Lefebvre had been fired recently as head coach of the Laval Rocket, a job that Bouchard will take after a few years leading the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the QMJHL. The deal is for three seasons, and the Canadiens also announced that Larry Carriere, who had previously been GM of the team, will stay on as director of player personnel and senior advisor for Montreal.

Laval finished their AHL season with 12-straight losses and looked completely disjointed for much of the year under Lefebvre. Bouchard will be tasked with building the program up again and developing some more talent for the Canadiens to utilize. Though winning is important at the AHL level, players need to be better prepared for the NHL when they get the call. Montreal does have some talented prospects, but too often they’ve struggled when asked to play a role at the higher level.

Bouchard, a former NHL defenseman who played 364 games in the league, will bring his signature defensive structure that led to such success in the QMJHL.  The Armada went to their second consecutive league final and finished with a 50-11-7 record on the year, earning Bouchard a Coach of the Year win. Luckily he’ll have his captain with him, as the Canadiens signed Alexandre Alain to an entry-level contract recently and will likely send him to Laval to start the year.

NHL Announces Finalists For GM Of The Year

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The NHL continued to reveal its contenders for their end-of-season awards with the announcement of its finalists for the GM of the Year Award.  Getting the nod this year are George McPhee (Golden Knights), Kevin Cheveldayoff (Jets), and Steve Yzerman (Lightning).

At first glance, McPhee appears to be the overwhelming contender.  Their story is well-documented as an expansion franchise that has shattered records all season long.  They are the lone franchise in any of the four major North American professional sports to win their division in their inaugural year.  And, of course, Vegas is still going strong in the playoffs.

As for Cheveldayoff, 2017-18 has been the year where his patience has been rewarded as Winnipeg is full of homegrown drafted and developed talent.  While he typically has been viewed as hesitant to make a big move, that changed at the trade deadline when the Jets acquired Paul Stastny who has fit in quite well so far, collecting 28 points in 33 games (regular season and playoffs) heading into action on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, the Lightning set franchise records in wins (54) and points (113) while taking home the Eastern Conference title.  They’re also filled with players developed in-house although Yzerman made a pair of key trades in the past 12 months by acquiring Mikhail Sergachev from Montreal last offseason and adding Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller from the Rangers at the trade deadline.

Unlike the majority of the awards, these were voted on by a panel of NHL executives, all 31 general managers, and some media members at the conclusion of the second round of the playoffs.  The winner will be named on June 20th.

Offseason Keys: New York Rangers

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While the playoffs are ongoing, many teams have already started their offseason planning.  What storylines lie ahead around the league?  Our Offseason Keys series continues with a look at the New York Rangers.

While the Rangers were hopeful to be battling it out for a postseason spot, they certainly didn’t hesitate to start selling when they no longer believed a playoff position was feasible.  They were very active at the trade deadline and they certainly will be a team to watch for at the draft with three first-round picks in their pocket.  Beyond deciding how to use those (keep them all, trade up, etc), here are some keys to their offseason.

Find Their Next Coach

In a move that didn’t come as too much of a surprise, GM Jeff Gorton decided to make a coaching change and let veteran head coach Alain Vigneault go.  For a while, it looked like their sights were set on Denver University bench boss Jim Montgomery but instead, he went to Dallas.  As a result, New York is the lone team still on the market for a head coach.

Before they can really identify who is next on their list, Gorton may need to make a decision on just how deep this rebuild will go.  If they want, they can turn this around pretty quick and if that’s the plan, then a more veteran coach might be the way to go.  If they plan to rebuild and restock the cupboards for a couple more years though, a first-year coach becomes a more palatable option.  Considering Montgomery appeared to be their target, the latter is the likelier scenario.

Some coaches have been speculatively linked to the Rangers so far.  Boston University’s David Quinn is another college coach that they’re believed to have interest in but it appears he wants to stay where he is while he has already been tabbed to run the bench for the USA at the next World Juniors.  Sheldon Keefe is having another successful season with Toronto’s AHL team and will likely be in the mix as well.  Alternatively, if they want to go with someone more experienced, they could look at veterans such as Dan Bylsma and Dave Tippett or current assistant Lindy Ruff.

Address The Defense

While it wasn’t necessarily a big deal down the stretch, the loss of Ryan McDonagh as part of the deadline day trade with Tampa Bay is something they’re really going to feel in 2018-19.  Kevin Shattenkirk didn’t have a great first season in New York while Marc Staal, while still serviceable, is better used in a lower role, something that may not be an option if their back end is left unattended.

One player who was supposed to help a bit in that regard was Brendan Smith.  Signed to a four-year, $17.4MM extension after joining them at the 2016-17 deadline, he was supposed to solidify their top-four.  That didn’t happen and he eventually cleared waivers.  Now, Gorton is faced with a tough decision – are they better off buying him out, trading with retention, trying to find a swap of bad contracts with another team, or let this ride out?

In the meantime, the Rangers appear to be positioned to give their youngsters a lot of playing time.  Brady Skjei (a pending RFA) is a safe bet to play a big role but players like Anthony DeAngelo, Rob O’Gara, Neal Pionk, and John Gilmour aren’t as proven.  Even though the mantra of a rebuilding team is to let the prospects play, they may still want to add a veteran that can ease some of the pressure and perhaps allow one of those younger defenders to play top minutes at the minor league level.

Re-Sign Their Key RFAs

Not many teams have as many notable restricted free agents as New York does, especially up front.  Skjei is their key defender to re-sign on the back end but four of their top-nine forwards are in need of new deals and all of them have arbitration eligibility.

The most prominent among these is center Vladislav Namestnikov.  He was the key player coming back as part of the McDonagh deal and at the time the trade was completed, he was playing a significant role with Tampa Bay and it looked like he had established himself as a legitimate scoring forward in the NHL.  Things didn’t go so well in his new home, however.  He collected just two goals and two assists in 19 games on Broadway which largely overshadows the 44 points (20-24-44) in 62 games with the Lightning.  Were his struggles just a short-term thing or a sign of things to come?  If they suspect the latter, it’s hard to give him a long-term deal but with him just being two years away from UFA eligibility, a short-term ‘prove it’ deal is quite risky.  This is going to be a particularly interesting case to watch.

Center Kevin Hayes plus wingers Ryan Spooner and Jimmy Vesey are also in need of new deals.  Hayes is coming off of a season where he set career highs in goals (25), faceoff percentage (50.5%), and average time on ice (17:21) which will help his case should it get to a hearing.  Spooner quietly posted the highest point-per-game average of his career and is only one year away from UFA eligibility.  Meanwhile, Vesey’s sophomore campaign was a lot like his rookie year so a shorter contract may be the way they go there.  Any way you look at it, Gorton is going to be quite busy these next couple of months getting this many regulars locked up.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Injury Updates: Backstrom, Subban, Carrier, Perron

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Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom took an important step in his recovery as he works to return to Washington’s lineup.  Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post notes that after taking part in a pair of optional skates earlier this week, Backstrom returned to regular practice on Wednesday.  However, his status remains up in the air for Game Four against Tampa Bay on Thursday.

Given that he’s dealing with a hand injury, taking faceoffs would be a challenge for Backstrom.  However, head coach Barry Trotz stated that he would still use the center in the lineup even if he isn’t 100% recovered, citing that there are many other areas he could contribute in even if he can’t take the draws.  Backstrom is one of three Capitals forwards averaging more than a point-per-game this postseason and he will certainly make a big impact whenever he gets the green light to return.

Other injury news and notes from around the league:

  • Golden Knights backup goaltender Malcolm Subban is dealing with an undisclosed injury or illness, head coach Gerard Gallant told reporters, including Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review-Journal (Twitter link). As a result, Maxime Lagace will serve as the backup to Marc-Andre Fleury in Game Three tonight against Winnipeg.  Subban is listed as day-to-day so there is no word yet on whether or not he will be available for Game Four on Friday.
  • Still with Vegas, the Golden Knights will once again be without winger William Carrier tonight. NHL.com’s Shawn Rourke notes that he has yet to resume skating since being sidelined late in the second round.  With that in mind, it’s certainly fair to wonder if the 23-year-old will be able to get back into the lineup before the series comes to an end.  Meanwhile, winger David Perron, who missed Monday’s contest due to an illness, is listed as a game-time decision.

Atlantic Notes: Kucherov, Stralman, Red Wings Draft

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While July 1st is known for the opening of free agency, it’s also the first day that players with one year remaining on their contracts can sign contract extensions.  That will be the case for Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov, who has vastly outperformed his current deal, one that carries a cap hit of $4.767MM.  In an interview with Sportsnet 650 (audio link), Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman suggests Tampa may be in for quite the battle to get a new deal done:

“But Kucherov made it pretty clear the last time that they used the full weight of the CBA on him, and next time he’s going to use the full weight of the CBA on them.“

The last time the 24-year-old was in need of a new deal, he had no arbitration rights and the team was tight to the salary cap.  That won’t be the case next time around – not only will he be able to go to arbitration, he could conceivably force a one-year deal and get to unrestricted free agency.  With Kucherov hitting the 100-point mark plus the expected increase in the Upper Limit, the Lightning may very well have to go past the $8.5MM AAV they gave Steven Stamkos to get an early extension done.

Elsewhere in the Atlantic:

  • Also with the Lightning, defenseman Anton Stralman will not face any disciplinary action for his retaliatory hit on Washington winger Tom Wilson on Tuesday night, reports Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post. The rationale for the decision stems from Wilson being judged to having turned his back after seeing Stralman approaching and Stralman’s angle which was deemed to target the shoulder.
  • The Red Wings will head into next month’s Entry Draft with a clear need to get younger on the back end. Not surprisingly, GM Ken Holland acknowledged to Ted Kulfan of The Detroit News that they will likely be drafting multiple defensemen in the early stages.  Detroit will be active in the first half of the draft with a total of seven selections in the first three rounds.

Samuel Morin To Undergo Knee Surgery

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The Philadelphia Flyers have several promising young defenseman expected to push for full-time roles on the team next season. One of them however has a long summer ahead of him just to get healthy enough to contribute. Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Samuel Morin’s season is over due to a knee injury that will require surgery. Carchidi adds on Twitter that it is unknown whether Morin will be ready for training camp in September.

Morin lost nearly the entire season to injury this year, dealing with an apparent groin injury for several months. According to Carchidi, he sustained the knee in the Phantoms’ recent five-overtime marathon game against the Charlotte Checkers. That’s a tough blow for the huge defender who suited up just twice for the Flyers this season, but was still expected to compete for a role next season.

Selected 11th-overall in 2013, the 22-year old Morin is considered to have the entire package on defense and should be a capable player for the Flyers down the road. A good first pass, size and solid skating ability makes him an asset at both ends of the rink, and his nasty streak and physical play remind many of the previous generation of NHL defenders. That said, he’ll have to get healthy and show that this injury-plagued season wasn’t a trend in his career before taking over as a full-time player on Philadelphia’s blue line.

Morgan Frost, Carter Hart To Join Lehigh Valley Phantoms

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Though they’re both not expected to get into the lineup at this point, Morgan Frost and Carter Hart will be joining the Lehigh Valley Phantoms during their Eastern Conference Finals matchup against the Toronto Marlies. Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Frost will join them on the road, while Hart will meet the team when they return for game three.

Frost, 19, was the Flyers’ first-round pick last summer and put up an incredible 112-point season with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. His club barely missed out on an opportunity to go to the Memorial Cup, but he’ll get some more high-level experience by just being around the Phantoms during their Calder Cup run. The two-way center has propelled himself into the conversation as one of the best prospects in the entire league with his play this season, especially following his 29-point postseason run. Frost only turned 19 two days ago, and is likely headed back to the CHL next season.

Hart on the other hand has been among the best—if not the best—goaltending prospects in the world for the last few years, and was selected 48th overall in 2016. The 19-year old won his third consecutive Goaltender of the Year award in the WHL, while also taking home league MVP honors after an incredible season with the Everett Silvertips. Hart posted a 31-6-3 record and .947 save percentage this season, and took Everett all the way to the finals before losing to the Swift Current Broncos. Hart will likely enter professional hockey next season, leaving junior hockey as arguably one of the best WHL goaltenders of all-time.

Arizona Coyotes Discussing Eight-Year Extension With Oliver Ekman-Larsson

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Many have speculated on the future of Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2019. Many pointed to the struggles of the Arizona Coyotes as a reason why the superstar defenseman would want to leave in free agency, though he has maintained all along that he loves the city and would stay if possible. Today, that possibility became a little more clear.

Craig Morgan of AZ Sports is reporting that the Coyotes are discussing an eight-year extension with Ekman-Larsson, a deal that he would be eligible to sign as early as July 1st. The contract would carry an average annual value of “slightly above $8MM,” which would be a raise on his current $5.5MM cap hit (though he is set to earn $7MM in salary next season).

One of the things that makes Ekman-Larsson such an attractive potential free agent is his youth, given that he will only turn 27 this summer. That means an eight-year deal only takes him to his mid-thirties, an age where he’ll hopefully still be effective. The fact that other teams could only offer him seven years is likely what has the defenseman interested, along with maintaining his role as the face of the franchise and helping the next wave of Coyotes prospects reach new heights.

Last summer, the team brought in several pieces that were seen as attempts to retain Ekman-Larsson. Niklas Hjalmarsson, his good friend and Swedish national team partner was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks, while Ekman-Larsson’s younger brother Kevin was added to the Tucson Roadrunners organization.

Though there has been a lot of disappointment during his time in Arizona, there are signs that might be coming to an end. Clayton Keller broke out as a rookie and recorded 65 points, while other young players like Max Domi and Christian Dvorak put up respectable campaigns. Jakob Chychrun showed off his work ethic returning from injury and should be a big part of the defense corps for many years, while Dylan Strome is ready to explode onto the scene.

The Coyotes also hold the fifth-overall pick and will get to add another blue chip prospect to the mix this season, perhaps even one that will make an impact alongside Ekman-Larsson on the blue line in the years to come. All told, it doesn’t look as bleak in the desert as it may have a year ago.

Interestingly, there’s something to the idea that Ekman-Larsson could secure a substantially higher salary should he wait for the summer of 2019. Though teams can only offer him a seven-year deal, it’s not out of the question to think he might be able to secure an average annual value closer to $10MM. While that seems expensive given that there are only two defensemen—P.K. Subban and Brent Burns—who currently carry $8MM+ cap hits, that number will likely increase substantially in the next few years as the salary cap continues to increase. Drew Doughty and Erik Karlsson are both almost certainly going to receive more than $8MM per season when they hit free agency in 2019, and it’s not out of the question to think Ryan Ellis or Ryan McDonagh could join them depending on how the market lands and the next year plays out.

For now though it seems like Ekman-Larsson is happy to stay with the only organization he’s ever known. We won’t be able to hear about the deal officially until the summer months, but it now looks as positive as ever for the Coyotes.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

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