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Archives for July 2018

New York Rangers Re-Sign Steven Fogarty

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According to CapFriendly, Steven Fogarty has accepted his qualifying offer, signing with the New York Rangers for one year. The deal is a two-way contract that will pay Fogarty $709K in the NHL, and will keep him a restricted free agent next summer unless he fails to play in 79 games in the NHL. At that point, he would be eligible for Group VI unrestricted free agency.

Fogarty, 25, was originally selected in the third round by the Rangers in 2011, but only made his NHL debut in 2017-18. That was just a single game for the big center, who hasn’t been able to develop into the two-way power forward the team had hoped. With just 20 points in each of the last two seasons in the AHL, he won’t be relied upon for much offense.

Instead, it’s his physical play, defense and leadership that the Hartford Wolfpack will welcome back for another year. Fogarty is still waiver-exempt despite his age, and could be used as an injury replacement throughout the year for the Rangers. He’ll have to show at least some improved skill with the puck to stick at the higher level though, as even the best defensive forwards need to contribute sometimes.

Carolina Hurricanes Sign Calvin De Haan

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The Carolina Hurricanes, known for their depth and talent on defense, continue to surprisingly add top blue line names to the roster this off-season. After previously trading for right-handed scoring threat Dougie Hamilton, the team has reportedly agreed to a deal with arguably the top defender on the free agent market, left-landed shutdown defenseman Calvin de Haan. The Raleigh News & Observer’s Luck DeCock first reported that the team has signed de Haan to a four-year, $18.2MM contract – a $4.55MM AAV. The team confirmed the deal soon after.

De Haan, 27, was No. 9 on PHR’s Top 50 Free Agents List. Although he missed the majority of last season due to injury, de Haan has shown a high-end defensive ability in his pro career. The 12th overall pick in 2009 by the New York Islanders, de Haan has proven to be one of the best shot blockers in the NHL and an extremely reliable presence on the back end. Yet has has also improved his offensive production with each year, including a career-best scoring rate prior to his injury last season. While many may have balked at a $4.55MM value for de Haan in a vacuum, he is clearly superior to nearly every other defenseman in this free agent market.

Carolina is a surprise landing spot for the defensive standout though. De Haan’s arrival in Raleigh will only add to a formidable corps of rearguards that includes Hamilton, Justin Faulk, Jaccob Slavin, Brett Pesce, Trevor van Riemsdyk (an RFA), young pros Haydn Fleury and Roland McKeown, and elite prospects Jake Bean, Luke Martin, and Adam Fox. De Haan’s signing very well could be a sign of more changes coming in Carolina under new ownership and new GM Don Waddell. 

Arizona Coyotes Re-Sign Dakota Mermis

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There won’t be any salary arbitration drama with the Arizona Coyotes this summer, as the team has locked up their one arbitration-eligible player. The team announced that they have signed defenseman Dakota Mermis to a one-year, two-way contract. Salary terms have not yet been disclosed.

A two-way contract for Mermis is a nice achievement for GM John Chayka. Not only has Chayka himself spoken highly of the young defender, but Arizona Sports’ Craig Morgan recently called Mermis a legitimate candidate for the No. 7 spare defenseman role for the ’Yotes. An undrafted free agent out of the OHL’s London Knights, Mermis has boosted his stock through his first three pro seasons and seems poised for an NHL career.

Mermis, 24, played in nine games with Arizona last season. He was held scoreless in limited minutes, but did make his mark defensively. After a 19-point campaign with the AHL’s Tuscon Roadrunners that was followed up by an impressive postseason performance, Mermis is likely to push for playtime with the Coyotes next season. However, the two-way nature of his contract will allow Arizona to stash him in the minors if need be.

Dallas Stars Leading Chase For Erik Karlsson

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After the Ottawa Senators offered superstar defenseman Erik Karlsson a contract that was not well-received, the team gave interested competitors the permission to speak to him about contract terms. NBC Sports’ Kathryn Tappen reported that the Senators’ offer was for eight years at $10MM per season, an amazing amount of money to a layperson but truthfully an insult to Karlsson in light of recent contracts signed by Drew Doughty and John Tavares. As such, Tappen and others have added that other teams are now in hot pursuit and serious trade talks are underway.

As of this evening, the leader in those talks are the Dallas Stars. The Athletic’s Chris Stevenson has heard from a source in the NHL that the Stars have emerged as a front runner for Karlsson and that Dallas and Ottawa are deep in talks about a trade that would include the Norris Trophy winner but not overpaid forward Bobby Ryan, a major hindrance in many teams’ acquisition plans. Stevenson is based in Ottawa and is allegedly close to the Senators and his The Athletic colleague in Dallas, Sean Shapiro, says that he has also heard that the Stars are legitimately interested and that a hypothetical deal is a real possibility.

Immediately, the question is what the potential return for the Senators could be that would both pry Karlsson out of Ottawa but also keep Ryan there. Shapiro believes that any deal for Karlsson would have to include young defenseman Julius Honka, while Ottawa may actually prefer a more established name like Esa Lindell. It would also make sense for the Sens to target the Stars top blue line prospect, 2017 third overall pick Miro Heiskanen. Others who could be part of the package include young two-way centers Radek Faksa or Devin Shore, recently re-acquired winger Valeri Nichushkin, and project forward Riley Tufte. While only time will tell if a trade is completed and what the pieces will be, this is the first time that any specific team has been confirmed to be in real trade talks for Karlsson and it now seems like only a matter of time before the all-word defender is traded, to Dallas or elsewhere.

Predators Sign Zach Magwood To Entry-Level Contract

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A development camp effort has turned into a first pro contract for one young forward. The Nashville Predators announced today that they have signed center Zach Magwood to a three-year entry-level contract. Magwood participated in Nashville’s development camp last week and impressed with a hat trick in the culminating “Future Stars Game” on Friday.

Magwood, 20, is an undrafted forward out of the OHL’s Barrie Colts. At 5’10”, the right-shooting centerman is on the smaller side, but didn’t let that stop him from improving each year in junior. In 2017-18, Magwood set career highs with 65 games played, 27 goals, 32 assists, 59 points, and a +27 rating. He was the Colts’ fourth-leading scorer and helped the team claim a division title. He then contributed ten points and a team-best +3 rating in twelve postseason games.

Magwood may have some NHL potential down the road, but is likely to develop further in the AHL for a few years. Not only could Magwood afford to grow his game, but he could also stand to grow up physically, filling out his frame to make up for his smaller stature. With Ryan Johansen, Kyle Turris, Nick Bonino, Calle Jarnkrok, and Colton Sissons all natural centers ahead of him on the organizational depth chart, Magwood will be given more than enough time to do just that before any real chance at a regular NHL role.

Vancouver Canucks Extend Darren Archibald

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A fan-favorite enforcer is staying in Vancouver. The Canucks announced this evening that they have re-signed forward Darren Archibald to a one-year, two-way contract extension. The Province’s Ben Kuzma reports that the deal is worth the minimum $650K at the NHL level.

Archibald made headlines this past season when the Canucks rewarded his hard work and leadership at the AHL level by giving him an NHL contract and promoting him to Vancouver. Archibald had previously played in the NHL for the Canucks in 2013-14, but was midway through his third season on a minor league deal with the organization when he was called up last year.

The 28-year-old winger is 6’3″ and 209 lbs. and know first and foremost for his physical style and checking game, but he also recorded a career-high 47 points in 76 games with the AHL’s Utica Comets in 2016-17 and managed to post nine points in 27 games down the stretch for Vancouver last season. While the team appreciates his work ethic, experience, and defensive presence on the ice, he is also capable of modest offense as well. Vancouver GM Jim Benning called Archibald “a big, physical forward who has been a good professional throughout his career” with a “terrific work ethic that our younger players can follow” in the team’s press release.

Vancouver continues to focus on adding hard-working, hard-nosed two-way forwards this season, as Archibald’s extension was preceded by a trio of free agency additions on July 1st that play a similar style: Jay Beagle, Antoine Roussel, and Tim Schaller. 

Blues Re-Sign Robby Fabbri And Mackenzie MacEachern

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The St. Louis Blues remain a busy team this off-season, today inking two restricted free agents to new contract extensions. The team announced a one-year, two-way deal with forward Mackenzie MacEachern and soon after announced a second contract, a one-year, one-way deal for forward Robby Fabbri. The financial terms for neither deal have been disclosed.

Fabbri is the more well-known of these two players, even though he has not played a game since February 2017. The small, speedy winger has been sidelined with multiple ACL injuries in his right knee and missed the entirety of the 2017-18 season. However, Fabbri impressed as a rookie in 2015-16 and was scoring at an even higher rate the following season prior to his initial injury. The Blues have high hopes that the 2014 first-round pick can return to form, but for now it is no surprise that they will play it safe with a one-year deal. Fabbri needs to re-establish his value in St. Louis and that starts with being able to fully participate in training camp this fall and earning his top-nine role back.

MacEachern will also be looking to make an impression on the Blues front office at camp in September, as the 2012 third-rounder still has yet to make his NHL debut through two pro seasons. However, MacEachern faces an uphill battle, as the big forward recorded only ten points with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves last season. MacEachern showed more offensive upside while playing at the University of Michigan, but has yet to find his game at the minors.

After signing two of their restricted free agents today, the Blues now have five qualified RFA’s remaining to sign this off-season, including regulars from last season like winger Dmitrij Jaskin and defenseman Joel Edmundson.

Toronto Maple Leafs Sign Justin Holl

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It’s not as quite as impressive as one of their other recent signings, but the Toronto Maple Leafs have retained an interesting young player. Justin Holl has signed a two-year contract with the team that carries a cap hit of $675K. Holl was an important player for the Toronto Marlies on their way to a Calder Cup this season, and even made his NHL debut in 2017-18.

Holl, 26, may not look like much of an NHL prospect after failing to earn an NHL contract after college and spending the first several seasons of his professional career in the minor leagues, but with new Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas he very well could be. Holl has been a pet project of Dubas since he joined the organization in 2015, and lists him as one of Toronto’s great successes of their new player development program. Holl seemed to reward his then-AGM’s faith when he received an emergency call-up, scoring two goals on his first two NHL shots. The big defenseman is anything but lumbering, and loves to carry the puck and jump into the rush—sometimes to the detriment of his team’s defensive structure.

The Maple Leafs are notoriously thin on the right side of their defense, with Nikita Zaitsev and Connor Carrick representing the only two true right-handed options with much NHL experience in the organization—Ron Hainsey, who also played the right side last season is left-handed. Holl could very well represent the next available option along with newcomer Igor Ozhiganov. Prospects Timothy Liljegren and Jordan Subban aren’t ready for the NHL at this point, meaning there very well could be another chance for Holl to make an impact at some point this season.

Robin Lehner Signs With New York Islanders

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The New York Islanders have made several additions since losing captain John Tavares in free agency, the most recent of which was re-acquiring Matt Martin from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Now, the team has brought in Robin Lehner to help their situation in net. Lehner was allowed to become an unrestricted free agent when the Buffalo Sabres decided not to extend him a qualifying offer, and has now signed a one-year contract with the Islanders worth $1.5MM.

Lehner, 26, had a rough career in Buffalo after being acquired by the Sabres along with David Legwand in exchange for a first-round pick. With high expectations heaped upon him, he was asked to play behind one of the worst rosters in the league on a nightly basis and still performed admirably. In his first two seasons in Buffalo he registered a .921 save percentage through 80 games, and looked like he might be the long-term answer in net as the team rebuilt. Unfortunately, his play slipped last season and after several incidents of losing his cool on the ice over his time in Buffalo, the team decided to move on instead of giving him what would have been a $4MM qualifying offer. Linus Ullmark and Carter Hutton will take over for the Sabres, leaving Lehner out on free agency looking for a new home.

After goaltenders like Hutton, Cam Ward, Petr Mrazek and Jaroslav Halak all got snapped up quickly in free agency, it wasn’t clear where Lehner would find that new home. The only place left that seemed to need a starting goaltender was New York, but it’s clear from the contract that they’re not positive he’s the long-term answer. Lehner will be an unrestricted free agent again in a year’s time, and will have to prove that he can keep calm and put up those impressive numbers once again.

He’ll have to battle Thomas Greiss to do it, who will actually make more than twice as much as Lehner next season. The 32-year old Greiss is signed for another two seasons at $3.33MM, but struggled immensely last season and registered an .892 save percentage. Where new head coach Barry Trotz will go to start the year is unclear, but he’s navigated a goaltending tandem before, most recently in Washington with Braden Holtby and Philipp Grubauer. If he can get anything close to the same level of play out of even one of Lehner or Greiss, the Islanders will be a much improved team in 2018-19.

Matt Martin Traded To New York Islanders

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The New York Islanders have acquired Matt Martin from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for goaltending prospect Eamon McAdam. No salary was retained in the transaction, meaning the Islanders will have to carry the full $2.5MM cap hit for the next two seasons. Interestingly though, Martin was paid a $1.5MM signing bonus on July 1st for what was already a front-loaded contract, meaning New York will actually only pay $2.5MM in actual cash for Martin’s work through 2019-20.

Martin, 29, was pushed out of the Maple Leafs lineup this season due to the emergence of Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson, playing in only 50 games and watching through the entire first round of the playoffs. Though he was extremely well-liked in the dressing room, there was simply no spot for Martin on Toronto’s roster going forward, and the team desperately needed cap relief for next season when Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander will all be on their next contracts. $2.5MM in cap space isn’t insignificant, especially when the team didn’t have to give up a single asset to rid themselves of it.

In fact they acquired McAdam, who was originally picked in the third round by the Islanders but hasn’t been able to secure a job even at the AHL level. Coming to Toronto he may have a similar problem, as the team already has Garret Sparks, Calvin Pickard and Kasimir Kaskisuo under contract. One of the first two may be moved up to the NHL should the team believe they can help more than current backup Curtis McElhinney, but there isn’t a lot of room on the Toronto Marlies either way. Beyond this year, the team also owns the rights to NCAA goaltender Joseph Woll, who is headed back to Boston College but could be ready for professional action in 2019-20. It’s not clear where McAdam lands in that group, though he could be loaned to another AHL team like Kaskisuo was last season.

With this deal the Islanders will be able to reunite a line of Martin, Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck that was once considered the “best fourth line in the NHL” though that is certainly not guaranteed. Over the last few days the team has also signed bottom-six forwards Leo Komarov and Tom Kuhnhackl, while they still have Ross Johnston and others that could compete for spots. If that trio is put back together, it will be interesting to see if they can be as effective as they once were at pinning defenders in with physicality.

Martin struggled to find ice time in Toronto this season so the move makes sense, and opens up another roster spot for a young player or free agent acquisition. The Maple Leafs currently have some openings on their fourth line, though new faces like Josh Jooris or Par Lindholm could fill those roles. Either way, it does seem like fresh-faced GM Kyle Dubas has a clear plan for the Maple Leafs going forward—one that no longer included Martin.

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