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Archives for September 2018

John Tortorella Signs Two-Year Extension

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The Columbus Blue Jackets locked up their front office recently to multi-year contracts, and now have done the same with their head coach. The fiery John Tortorella was heading into this final season under contract but has signed a two-year extension that will keep him behind the Columbus bench through 2020-21. GM Jarmo Kekalainen explained why he has kept Tortorella around:

Our team has been one of the winningest in the NHL over the past two seasons and John Tortorella has played a critical role in that success and in raising the level of our team’s play since his arrival. His passion and commitment to being the best has permeated our team and we believe will lead to even greater success in the future.

Tortorella has been with the Blue Jackets since 2015, and has led the Blue Jackets to a 129-87-23 record over that time. The team hasn’t been able to get past the first round of the playoffs, but seem primed to at least compete for the postseason for the foreseeable future. Built on a foundation of solid defense and goaltending, Tortorella has enough talent on the roster to compete for the Stanley Cup this season if players like Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky aren’t shipped out at the deadline. Both stars are heading into the final year of their contracts and could make or break the Blue Jackets’ season.

For an in-your-face coach like Tortorella, it is extremely difficult to operate without some contract assurances. Throughout the years there have been several examples of players feuding with the vocal coach, but in Columbus things have gone relatively smoothly over the past few seasons. That’s not to say there haven’t been incidents, but the Blue Jackets investment for another two seasons doesn’t come as much of a surprise given that Tortorella is one of the few coaches to boast two Jack Adams trophies for Coach of the Year.

West Notes: Pacioretty, McGinn, Tanev

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Speaking with reporters, including David Schoen of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, following their acquisition of Max Pacioretty on Monday, Golden Knights GM George McPhee provided some insight into how the process played out.  While there was plenty of speculation about the winger moving back at the draft, McPhee indicated that they didn’t really get involved in pursuing Pacioretty until after that time.

He added that Montreal was hesitant to grant them a negotiation window to try to work out the contract extension but ultimately were granted a six-to-seven hour timeframe to work with.  McPhee stated that the framework was agreed upon around one minute to the deadline and then they spent the hours following the trade to hammer out the details such as the year-to-year breakdown.  Pacioretty ultimately inked a four-year, $28MM extension and is presently set to be the highest paid skater for the Golden Knights when the puck drops to start 2019-20.

More from the West:

  • Coyotes unrestricted free agent winger Tye McGinn has signed a one-year deal with the Manitoba Moose, the Jets’ affiliate announced. Postmedia’s Ken Wiebe adds (Twitter link) that it wouldn’t be surprising if he winds up at training camp with Winnipeg on a PTO.  McGinn was dealt from Tampa Bay to Arizona back in November but he spent the full season in the AHL, collecting 23 points in 55 games.  The 28-year-old has 89 career NHL contests under his belt and could serve as a depth winger with the big club if injuries strike during the season.
  • The Canucks have received trade interest in defenseman Chris Tanev recently but the offers have been rather weak, reports Jason Botchford of The Athletic (subscription required). Teams have expressed some concern about his ability to stay healthy over an entire season and it’s certainly justified.  The 28-year-old has only reached the 70-game plateau once in his career and has missed 82 games (or the equivalent of one full season) over the last three years.  Considering that track record, that’s going to be a factor in Vancouver’s trade talks involving Tanev between now and the end of his contract in 2020.

2018-19 Season Primer: San Jose Sharks

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With the NHL season now just a month away, it’s time to look at what each team has done this summer and what to watch for in the year to come. Today, we focus on the San Jose Sharks.

Last Season: 45-27-10 record (100 points), third in the Pacific Division (lost to Vegas in the second round of the playoffs, beat Anaheim in the first round)

Remaining Cap Space: $4.38MM per CapFriendly

Key Addition: F Antti Suomela (free agent, JYP, SM-liiga)

Key Departures: F Mikkel Boedker (trade with Ottawa), F Eric Fehr (free agent, Minnesota), F Jannik Hansen (free agent, CSKA Moscow, KHL), D Paul Martin (buyout), F Joel Ward (free agent, unsigned)

[Related: Sharks Depth Chart From Roster Resource]

Player To Watch: F Evander Kane – It was a bit of a surprise when Kane wound up in San Jose for what at the time seemed like a pretty low return.  He fit in quite well after joining the team though, scoring 13 times in 26 games (regular season and playoffs combined).  That was enough evidence for the Sharks to hand him a seven-year, $49MM contract back in May and in the process, making him their highest-paid forward for 2018-19.  Doing so also resulted in them surrendering their first-round pick in 2019 to Buffalo as part of the trade.

Will Kane be able to maintain that 40-goal pace over the course of a full season?  If so, they’d be thrilled.  However, his history suggests that doing so is unlikely.  As a result, the question is more likely can he at least improve upon his numbers with the Sabres, which ranged between 33 and 45 points.  If that doesn’t happen, then this deal could quickly become an albatross.

The Sharks went into the summer hoping to be big players.  They were one of the teams involved in the John Tavares sweepstakes and were believed to be looking to make a splashy addition via trade once that fell through.  Instead, Kane wound up effectively being their key add which will only up the pressure.

When he’s on his game, the 27-year-old is one of the more effective power forwards in the league.  When he’s not, his struggles have been noticeable.  It’s safe to say that with the contract Kane got, San Jose will be looking for a lot more of the former than the latter.

Key Storyline: The money freed up from dealing away Boedker and buying out Martin is still there.  It stands to reason that they’re still looking to make that big splash although it will be difficult for GM Doug Wilson to do so now with training camps on the horizon as teams will often wait to see what they have before entertaining offers for impact players.

As a result, San Jose is going to be banking a lot of salary cap space which is going to make them an option for any pricey players that hit the trade market throughout the season.  Unlike a lot of teams that have eyes on contending, they should be able to take on big contracts without requiring salary retention which should give them the upper hand.

They didn’t get their big addition over the summer but there’s a good chance they’ll get it at some point during the season.  Watch for them to be active in the trade market.

Overall Outlook: The Pacific Division appears to be up for grabs as there are several teams that could vie for the top spot without many true contenders.  The Sharks are certainly among that group as they’ve brought the core back from last year while a full season from Kane should only help as well.  They may not push for the division title but they’re certainly in the mix for one of the three divisional playoff spots.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Snapshots: Seattle, Reinhart, Senators, Jokinen

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While they still don’t officially have a team yet, that isn’t stopping Seattle from starting the process of assembling their front office.  In an interview with 950 KJR (audio link), Dave Tippett (a senior advisor for the prospective franchise) indicated that he plans to begin the search for their inaugural general manager in the spring with the goal of having that person in place by the draft.  Assuming the franchise is eventually granted, we’re still potentially a couple of years away from this team entering the league but that would allow the team ample time to put together its scouting staff which will be crucial as they begin to scout potential picks for not only the regular draft but the expansion one as well.

Elsewhere around the league:

  • While Sabres forward Sam Reinhart is in town and participating in informal skates with the team in advance of training camp, it’s not a sign that a new deal is close to happening. GM Jason Botterill told Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News that they remain hopeful that they will reach an agreement with the restricted free agent but didn’t provide an update on how negotiations are going.  It’s believed that the 22-year-old is seeking a long-term deal but with the preseason fast approaching, there’s certainly a chance that they could shift their focus to a short-term pact instead.
  • Trade talks regarding Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson have picked up in recent weeks, reports Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch. As for their other prominent pending restricted free agents, Garrioch suggests that Ottawa’s belief is that center Matt Duchene and winger Mark Stone could still be a part of their long-term future.  If that’s the case, they won’t be engaging in trade discussions involving those two for a while.
  • Jussi Jokinen’s tryout with the Red Wings actually came at his request and not Detroit’s, notes Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press. The veteran winger played for Dan Bylsma (who joined the team as an assistant coach this offseason) back in Pittsburgh and obviously was comfortable with his coaching style.  GM Ken Holland acknowledged that their priority remains to take a look at their younger players but stated that they will give the 35-year-old a few preseason games as well.

Poll: How Many Pending UFAs Will Stay With Ottawa?

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The Ottawa Senators made waves last night when they released a bizarre marketing video that seemed intended to settle down fans and sponsors upset with the direction of the team. Owner Eugene Melnyk and defenseman Mark Borowiecki discussed the roster, and how it may look completely different over the next 12 months. Melnyk even went so far to say there will be 10 “new”—rookies or players who played around ten games last season—on the roster this season and 15 or 16 in 2019-20. While that seems difficult to pull off for the 2018-19 season given the veteran group that is there right now, perhaps there is huge turnover coming in the next few weeks and months.

When looking at the Senators salary structure, there is certainly a few things that stick out. Only Bobby Ryan is signed for more than three seasons, and just Marian Gaborik and Zack Smith are even under contract that long. Almost the entire roster is set to hit unrestricted free agency in either 2019 or 2020, meaning there is a good chance they could have a much different looking group down the line.

That different look though is predicated on the idea that the Senators won’t re-sign any of their pending free agents. While Erik Karlsson seems like he’ll be gone soon and at the very least won’t be re-signing with Ottawa, Mark Stone and Matt Duchene have both remained open to the idea. Beyond them though are other key players like Ryan Dzingel and Chris Wideman, both scheduled for unrestricted free agency in 2019.

So how many of those pending UFAs will stick around? Vote below for all the players who you believe will re-sign with the Ottawa Senators before the beginning of the 2019-20 season. Leave your comments on where you think they are heading below!

[Mobile users click here to vote!]

Logan Shaw To Attend Calgary Flames Training Camp

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The Calgary Flames have signed another veteran forward to a professional tryout, this time bringing in Logan Shaw according to Kristen Anderson of Postmedia. Shaw finished the season with the Montreal Canadiens, but was not issued a qualifying offer and became an unrestricted free agent.

Shaw, 25, was selected in the third round by the Florida Panthers in 2011 and slowly worked his way through their minor league system including a stint in the ECHL. In 2015 he made his NHL debut and played 53 games for the Panthers, lining up mostly on the wing. That was the last chance he’d get in Florida though, as he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks during the 2016-17 season to the Anaheim Ducks and became a part-time NHL player for them. In 97 games for the Ducks over two seasons, Shaw recorded 18 points and showed that he could play center in a pinch.

When his role with the Ducks diminished and he was put on waivers this past season, the Canadiens claimed him and used his versatility to fill out the bottom of their roster. Scoring six points in 30 games with Montreal, Shaw actually saw the most ice time of his career. That didn’t earn him a contract though, and he’ll be hard pressed to fight his way onto the Calgary roster. Already the Flames had several players battling for fourth line spots this season given their additions further up the lineup, and it’s hard to see any inside track Shaw might have. Still, he’ll be able to showcase his skills and prove that he still belongs at the NHL level somewhere around the league.

Minor Transactions: 09/11/18

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The hockey world keeps spinning as we prepare for NHL training camps this week. We’ll keep track of the minor moves right here:

  • The Rochester Americans have signed Anthony Florentino, Eric Knodel, Alex Wideman and Michael Houser to one-year AHL contracts. The minor league franchise is working hard to bring in culture of winning and has been remaking the entire organization this summer. These four will likely see more time in the ECHL this season but provide valuable depth for a hopeful playoff run.
  • The Manitoba Moose have signed Emile Poirier accoridng to J.F. Plante of Le Droit. Selected in the first round of the 2013 draft, Poirier never could crack the Calgary Flames line up on a regular basis and didn’t receive a qualifying offer from the team this offseason. Publicly battling with alcohol abuse, Poirier told Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun that he had put that part of his life behind him and is focusing on hockey. He’ll have to fight hard to make it back to the NHL, but at just 23 years old there is still a chance he can make an impact.

Steve Yzerman Stepping Down As Tampa Bay Lightning GM

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In one of the more unbelievable turns of the offseason, Joe Smith of The Athletic is reporting that Steve Yzerman will step down as General Manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning and move into an advisory role. Julien BriseBois, currently the Assistant General Manager and a target for many years by other teams around the league, will move into the vacated position. Yzerman has just one year remaining on his contract with the Lightning, but cited family reasons for his departure from the GM role.

Understandably, the first reaction to this move will be to look at the Detroit Red Wings as Yzerman’s next destination. The legendary forward started his managerial career with the Red Wings after retirement, and has been linked—however tenuously—to the organization ever since. Smith and Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press are reporting that Yzerman told Lightning players that he was “heading back to Detroit” but it’s not clear if that means a job is waiting, since he also still has a home in the area. Ken Holland, the current GM of the Red Wings signed a two-year extension earlier this year and has still shown no indication that he is ready to move on to a more senior role.

Yzerman has done a wonderful job with the Lightning since taking over in 2010, signing their homegrown stars to team-friendly contracts and bringing in plenty of surrounding talent. The Lightning are a perennial Stanley Cup contender and should be for the foreseeable future. For now, he says that he is completely committed to the Lightning organization for the remainder of his contract, though wouldn’t go into things down the line.

New York Rangers Acquire Adam McQuaid

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The New York Rangers have added some help on the blue line, acquiring Adam McQuaid from the Boston Bruins. The Bruins in return will receive a 2019 fourth-round pick, conditional seventh-round pick and Steven Kampfer.

In Boston there had been a log jam on defense since John Moore was signed this summer, with eight healthy NHL defensemen on the roster. The idea of sitting at least $4MM in cap space every night never seemed appealing, and by moving out McQuaid they’ve added some flexibility for the rest of the season. That doesn’t mean the move is risk free though, as we’ve seen several of the Bruins defenders deal with injury in the past and as Stanley Cup contenders they’ll need all the depth they can take. McQuaid, though not exactly an offensive dynamo, was a warrior on the ice who could bring an incredibly physical game and be counted on to stand up for his teammates. He was also incredibly well-liked among the fan base, though it was obvious he didn’t have a full-time role going forward.

For the Rangers, the team adds a respected veteran presence to the blue line to help what will be an incredibly young club over the next few seasons. McQuaid is under contract for just this season at a $2.75MM cap hit, but it wouldn’t be entirely surprising to see the Rangers re-sign him to a short-term deal before the end of the year. New York is in a clear rebuild mode, though after acquiring several impressive trade packages last year could turn things around in short order.

McQuaid is now 31 and played just 38 games last season as he dealt with a broken leg early in the season. His career-high in points, 15, is almost a decade behind him and likely out of reach moving forward. Losing his presence in Boston won’t change their outlook for the season, but he also didn’t come at much of a cost for the Rangers. Kampfer, who will return to the Boston organization that signed him as a college free agent after four years at the University of Michigan, doesn’t have a ton of NHL upside and will likely spend the season in the minor leagues. He could be depth if the Bruins find themselves dealing with multiple injuries, but there are other younger defensemen in the organization that he’ll need to battle for that right.

Ottawa Senators Preparing For Huge Roster Turnover

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Late last night after much of the hockey news had died down for the day, the Ottawa Senators released a video of defenseman Mark Borowiecki and owner Eugene Melnyk discussing the future of the organization. Touching on subjects from dressing room leadership to overcoming the low expectations for 2018-19, Melnyk made clear he would be staying with the franchise for a long time and will not move it from Ottawa. He also noted an interesting point about roster construction, explaining how quickly the rebuild will get underway:

This coming year we’re going to have 10 out of the 22 players are going to be new. Meaning they’re either rookies or they’ve played maybe under 10 games last year. Then the following year, it’s going to go up to about 15 of the 22, maybe 16. So that’s a total turnover you know, which is exactly what should be in a rebuild. 

Stripping your roster down to the studs and letting a group of young players grow and mature together is often a strategy for struggling teams who want to rebuild, and the Senators saw a similar situation play out just down the road in Toronto a few years ago. In fact, when the Maple Leafs traveled to Ottawa to open the season in 2016 they had seven rookies in the lineup including Auston Matthews, who scored four times despite the loss. That would appear to be the blue print for Melnyk and the Senators as they look to pull a similarly speedy rebuild.

The question though becomes how do they achieve the goal of having 10 rookies on the roster at the beginning of the year. The team currently has at least 19 players—Mark Stone, Bobby Ryan, Matt Duchene, Zack Smith, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Ryan Dzingel, Tom Pyatt, Magnus Paajarvi, Max McCormick, Colin White, Marian Gaborik, Erik Karlsson, Cody Ceci, Chris Wideman, Ben Harpur, Thomas Chabot, Craig Anderson, Mike Condon and Borowiecki—who played more than 10 games for the organization last season and should at the very least be battling for roster spots. While perhaps Melnyk was exaggerating and players like White and Chabot would still be considered “rookies” given their relative youth and inexperience, it seems likely that there will be substantial turnover in the rest of the group.

We’ve heard for months that Karlsson may be on the block, speculation that will only increase given his complete absence from this video, but other players including Stone and Duchene are both heading into the final years of their contracts and could be shipped out for prospects and picks. If the Senators are committed to a full scorched earth rebuild, they are powerful assets in trade.

At the very least, we should expect the Senators to be involved in trade talks all season. Even though Melnyk and Borowiecki seem excited about playing the underdogs this year, the amount of roster turnover that the owner mentions isn’t possible without some transactions coming through the pipe quickly. Camp starts in just a few days and Senators rookies should be licking their chops on the opportunity that is apparently there for the taking.

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