2018 has been quite a busy year in the hockey world. There have been several big trades and free agent signings, plenty of changes behind the bench, and much more. Over the coming days, PHR will take a look back at the top stories from around the game on a month-by-month basis. Next up is a look back at May.
GM Movement: Quite a few teams hired their new general managers in this month. Kyle Dubas was put in charge of the Maple Leafs, a move that saw Mark Hunter (the other candidate for the job) resign while outgoing GM Lou Lamoriello took that same role with the Islanders. Meanwhile, Paul Fenton got his first chance at running a franchise as the long-time Nashville executive was given the reins in Minnesota.
Kruger-Martinook Swap: Trades aren’t often made during the playoffs and are even rarer when they’re made at this time by someone in an interim GM role but that was the case when the Hurricanes shipped center Marcus Kruger and a 2018 third-round pick to the Coyotes for winger Jordan Martinook and a 2018 fourth-round selection. Martinook has fared relatively well in Carolina with eight goals already on the season while Kruger never suited up in the desert. He was flipped to Chicago later in the summer as part of the Marian Hossa trade. Hossa, meanwhile, announced midway through May that his playing days were over.
Kane Extension: The Sharks liked what they saw after acquiring Evander Kane at the deadline as they gave the winger a seven-year, $49MM extension to get him to forego the UFA market. The 27-year-old made an immediate impact down the stretch with 14 points in 17 games following the trade while adding four goals in the playoffs as well. Worth noting here is that with the move, San Jose now owes Buffalo a first-round pick in 2019 (that can be deferred to 2020 if the Sharks miss the playoffs). Kane hasn’t had as much of an impact through the first half of 2018-19 but still projects to be an impact top-six forward for the considerable future.
Coaching Hires: General managers weren’t the only ones securing new jobs in May. Dallas found their replacement for Ken Hitchcock in Jim Montgomery while the Rangers also turned to the college ranks to hire David Quinn. Carolina decided to promote from within, handing the head coaching role to Rod Brind’Amour while removing the interim GM tag from Don Waddell at the same time just days after the Kruger-Martinook trade.
Koskinen To Edmonton: The Oilers decided to do their goalie shopping early, inking KHL star Mikko Koskinen to a one-year, $2.5MM contract. The deal was viewed as a significant gamble considering he had just four games of NHL experience under his belt with the Islanders before this, not to mention that spending that much money on a backup goalie (let alone an unproven one) was particularly risky give Edmonton’s salary cap situation. Fortunately for them, the 30-year-old has overcome a slow start and has put up considerably better numbers than Cam Talbot in nearly equal playing time so far this season. It may have been a gamble but it has paid off so far.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.