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Archives for June 2019

Dallas Stars Re-Sign Roman Polak

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The Dallas Stars are bringing back one of their free agent defensemen, inking Roman Polak to a one-year extension. The deal will pay Polak $1.75MM for the 2019-20 season, a slight raise over the $1.3MM he earned last year. Stars GM Jim Nill released a statement on the veteran defenseman:

Roman personifies what it means to be a professional and his mentorship to our younger players proved to be invaluable to our organization. His team-first attitude and physical style of play is endearing to both his teammates and the coaching staff, and we’re thrilled to have him back.

Polak, 33, has been something of a hot topic among fans over his career, as his style of play results in two extremes. On one hand, he is a huge physical presence in his own end that can bury the opposition’s best players and protect the front of his net, but on the other he spends much of his time there because he lacks the skills to get the puck out efficiently. While his possession numbers have always been poor, Polak has continuously been a favorite of his coaching staff wherever he goes as a defensive weapon at even strength and on the penalty kill.

This season, Polak suited up 77 times for the Stars and recorded just nine points, but was still given plenty of responsibility when the playoffs rolled around. Averaging more than 19 minutes a night, he led Dallas in hits and was second in blocked shots through their 13-game run.

Polak’s run in Dallas has come after stints in St. Louis, Toronto and San Jose, and will likely see him eclipse the 800-game mark during the upcoming season. For a sixth-round pick that is already excellent, but is even more impressive after the brutal injury he suffered in the 2017 playoffs. Polak was hit by Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik and broke his leg, ending his playoff run with the Maple Leafs. He would rehab diligently and eventually re-sign with Toronto for part of the 2017-18 season, playing 54 games and all seven in their postseason series that year. With that injury behind him, he can continue his career in Dallas and provide the physical counterbalance to offensive defensemen like John Klingberg and Miro Heiskanen.

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Chara, Grzelcyk Have Not Been Ruled Out For Game Five

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Thursday: Both players took part in the Bruins’ optional skate this morning, and were deemed “game-time decisions” by head coach Bruce Cassidy. Chara did not suffer a concussion on the play that broke his jaw.

Wednesday: All eyes are on the Boston Bruins right now, particularly who will suit up for Game Five of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday night. With captain Zdeno Chara suffering a broken jaw in Game Four and Matt Grzelcyk the victim of a concussion-causing hit in Game Two, two of their three starting lefty defensemen are question marks moving forward. John Moore has already drawn into the lineup and is far from a typical depth defenseman, as evidenced by his strong play last game. However, will the Bruins be forced to move further down the depth chart to righty Steven Kampfer or inexperienced rookie Urho Vaakanainen? Both players received regular reps at practice today, while Chara did not participate and Grzelcyk did not take contact.

Yet, don’t be so quick to rule either one out. Head coach Bruce Cassidy, an abnormally honest and open coach when it comes to dealing with the media, would not state that either player was not in consideration for Game Five. He instead simply said that Grzelcyk was still in the league’s concussion protocol, which may be a formality, and Chara missed practice due to a facial injury, as one might expect from a 42-year-old with a broken jaw. Grzelcyk, who seems like the more likely player to return tomorrow night, may have practiced on the team’s “fourth pair” with Vaakanainen, but he also worked with the team’s second power play unit, a role that would seemingly go to one of the replacement players in need of man-up reps. Grzelcyk has had a week to recover from his concussion and may be good to go if he’s cleared by the league.

The more surprising news comes from The Athletic’s Joe McDonald, who believes that Chara will indeed suit up for Game Five, broken jaw and all. Chara did not return in Game Four after suffering the injury, but this could have been more precautionary, whereas with better knowledge of the injury now, the captain feels he is ready to go. McDonald spoke to several of Chara’s Bruins teammates who have played with broken jaws and they assured him that is not fun, but possible. They also vouched for the captain, stating that if anyone could play through the pain, it’s Chara. McDonald writes that his availability likely hinges on whether Chara required surgery to wire his jaw shut, which the team has not revealed. If so, communication, not to mention breathing, would be difficult for the massive defender and would likely keep him sidelined. If not, Chara could play through the pain to close out the Cup run with the Bruins.

One possible lineup change that Cassidy could make given the questionable health of his defense unit is to dress seven defensemen and eleven forwards. Whether that means both Chara and Grzelcyk are ready to go, just one can play and Kampfer returns to the lineup, or neither can go and Vaakanainen can make his NHL postseason debut, Cassidy has to strongly consider the option. It’s no coincidence that the two games that the St. Louis Blues have won have come when Boston played with just five defenders for two-thirds of the game. Both were narrow victories possibly prevented by full strength on the blue line. To avoid that situation again, the Bruins could ice an extra defenseman in their attempt to take back the lead in the series. Checking line forward Noel Acciari, little-used veteran David Backes, or ice-cold Jake DeBrusk could be candidates to sit if the team does decided to load up on the back end. The lineup decision, one way or another, likely won’t be made until close to game time on Thursday.

Ottawa Senators Hire Jack Capuano

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New Ottawa Senators head coach D.J. Smith will have some experience alongside him this season, as today the team announced that Jack Capuano has signed a three-year contract as associate coach. Capuano had been working with the Florida Panthers in the same role, but was not retained after Joel Quenneville was given the job this offseason. Smith released a statement on his new associate coach:

Jack brings a wealth of coaching experience in the National Hockey League and is a great fit with our staff. Our goal was to bring in someone who has been an NHL head coach – Jack has that experience and much more. He’s played defence, run a defence and run a penalty kill. He is a detailed, hard-working guy who players enjoy working with. We are happy to have Jack here in Ottawa to help with the growth and development of this team.

Capuano, 52, can be the experienced counterpart to Smith during the latter’s rookie season as head coach. As head coach of the New York Islanders, Capuano went 227-192-64 and made it to the playoffs three times, though won only a single round. Perhaps most importantly for Ottawa, he was a clear factor in the development of several top NHL players including names like John Tavares, Michael Grabner, Josh Bailey, Travis Hamonic, Kyle Okposo, Matt Martin, Casey Cizikas and Anders Lee, all of whom spent their some or all of their formative development years under Capuano. That’s the kind of core the Senators are looking to build in Ottawa, and one they’ll need if they are ever going to get back to contender status in the Eastern Conference.

Winnipeg Jets Re-Sign Seth Griffith

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Though news of the deal came out late last night, the Winnipeg Jets have now officially announced the new contract for minor league forward Seth Griffith. Griffith has agreed to terms on a one-year, two-way contract which will pay him $700K at the NHL level. The 26-year old forward was set to become a Group VI unrestricted free agent this summer.

Griffith has bounced around the league since being selected in the fifth round seven years ago, playing for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, Buffalo Sabres and now Winnipeg Jets. During that time he has barely seen any NHL action, suiting up 79 times—interestingly just a single game below the Group VI threshold. Part of the reason that opportunity has been difficult to find is Griffith’s skill set, as he is an offensive player that can produce on the powerplay and doesn’t fit in quite well in a checking role.

In the minor leagues, that offensive role has suited Griffith just fine. Through 318 AHL contests the undersized forward has registered 300 points, including a 57-point season for the Manitoba Moose in 2018-19. That’s likely the role he’ll return to next season, though he’ll have to clear waivers at the start of the year in order to be assigned to the minor leagues.

Jared McIsaac To Undergo Shoulder Surgery

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The Detroit Red Wings won’t have top prospect Jared McIsaac fighting for a spot on the blue line this training camp. McIsaac will undergo shoulder surgery today in Detroit and will be out for five to six months. McIsaac apparently played injured for much of the season, still helping the Halifax Mooseheads all the way to the QMJHL final and Memorial Cup as host city.

McIsaac, 19, was the 36th-overall pick in last year’s draft and returned to Halifax this season to continue his junior career. The left-handed defensemen ended up with 62 points in 53 regular season games, while also suiting up for Canada at the World Junior tournament. Despite dealing with this shoulder injury through the second half of the season, McIsaac still recorded 16 points in 22 playoff contests and was named to the QMJHL Second All-Star Team.

Interestingly, this injury may actually give Detroit some extra options with their young defenseman. Originally, it was likely that McIsaac would have had to go back to the CHL for another full season given he is not eligible to play in the AHL at this point. That would have been despite him showing quite clearly that he can dominate that league, and is likely ready for the next step. Now, the team can potentially allow him to rehab and then send him to the World Juniors again (if selected and ready) before giving him a short conditioning stint in the minor leagues. In short, there is now no rush to send him back to Halifax right away—something that the Mooseheads certainly won’t be excited about.

Arizona Coyotes Sign Robbie Russo

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Late last night, the Arizona Coyotes announced that they have signed Robbie Russo to a one-year two-way contract. Russo was scheduled to become a Group VI unrestricted free agent this summer after failing to amass 80 NHL games through the first several years of his professional career. The team did not provide the financial details of the contract.

Russo, 26, was originally a fourth-round selection by the New York Islanders in 2011 but ended up signing with the Detroit Red Wings after four years at Notre Dame. He immediately made an impact at the minor league level, recording 39 points in 71 games as a rookie for the Grand Rapids Griffins, and being a key part of their Calder Cup championship the following year. He made his NHL debut in 2016-17 as well, suiting up 19 times for the Red Wings. Unfortunately that offensive flair was limited to the AHL, as Russo failed to record a single point during his stint with Detroit.

In Arizona, Russo’s success in the minor leagues didn’t end. He recorded another 39-point season in 2018-19 for the Tucson Roadrunners, and is likely ticketed back to the AHL this year. While he provides some depth for the NHL club, there is little reason to believe he can develop into a full-time player for the Coyotes in short order.

Snapshots: Capuano, Roslovic, Tryamkin

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New Ottawa Senators head coach D.J. Smith was given full control over hiring his staff, has yet to make any additions. However, a familiar name could be on the way. The Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch reports that former New York Islanders head coach Jack Capuano is in talks to join the team. Capuano spent seven years as the Isles’ head coach and was an assistant for the Florida Panthers over the past two years. However, he became a free agent when new Panthers’ hire Joel Quenneville decided not to retain his services. A former AHL head coach as well, Capuano brings experience, but also a familiarity with working with young players, of which the Senators have plenty. Garrioch adds that GM Pierre Dorion stated today that the team hopes to have some assistants in place before the upcoming NHL Draft, meaning Capuano’s official addition could be imminent.

  • The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline reports that Winnipeg Jets forward Jack Roslovic has fired long-time agent Ken Robinson. Roslovic was a first-round pick of the Jets in 2015, but has been buried on the team’s organization depth chart and unable to break out. Roslovic has reportedly requested a trade out of Winnipeg several times and he remains unhappy with his current role, despite finally playing a full NHL season last year. With a number of difficult decisions to make this off-season up against the salary cap, the Jets may not be eager to move an affordable piece like Roslovic. Unfortunately, the young forward’s move to a new agent likely implies he wants someone to put more pressure on them to make a move than his last agent did. If Roslovic hits the trade market, expect his hometown Columbus Blue Jackets to be interested.
  • The Vancouver Canucks may have lost prospect defenseman Nikita Tryamkin to the KHL two years ago, but they remain interested in bringing him back. The Province’s Patrick Johnston reports that GM Jim Benning is keeping tabs on the big blue liner and looks forward to hopefully having him back with the team down the road. Tryamkin has one year remaining on his contract with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, so the reunion won’t be coming this off-season. However, talks have already begun with agent Todd Diamond about a future deal. Tryamkin initially left the team over frustration with role in the season-and-a-half he spent in North America. However, the 2014 third-round pick has improved his play in Russia and has also developed into a locker room leader for Avtomobilist. He would likely play a much larger role for the Canucks in his second time around.

UFA Notes: Skinner, Engelland, Pardy

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Buffalo Sabres fans were hoping that 40-goal scorer Jeff Skinner would be re-signed by now and each day closer to July 1st increases the nervousness that they are feeling. However, TSN reports that GM Jason Botterill is not worried, at least not yet. Botterill remains confident that the two sides will come together on an extension, which as of the last update was in the eight years and $70-80MM range. Unless Skinner’s rights are dealt elsewhere, which seems unlikely given the GM’s optimism, no other team can match the Sabres’ offer given the benefit of that eight year. Botterill says that talks with Skinner have been ongoing since January, but there was brief pause in negotiations while Buffalo searched for their new head coach. However, Botterill notes that Skinner has since spoken to that new hire, Ralph Krueger, who also believes that Skinner will remain a Sabre. It seems that the two sides are back on a positive path, but with time running out before the free agent market opens, no assumptions can be made just yet.

  • The Vegas Golden Knights are also hoping to re-sign a key player, veteran leader Deryk Engelland. However, the Knights are not going up against competing offers, but rather the draw of retirement. Engelland, 37, has enjoyed a decade of NHL action and could be tempted to hang them up. If he chooses to keep playing though, there is little doubt that he would only stay in his adopted home town of Las Vegas. Knowing this, The Sin Bin reports that the Golden Knights have made an offer to their alternate captain. It’s likely another bonus-laded, low cap hit one-year contract like the one he has signed in each of the past two years. At this time, Sin Bin notes that he has yet to accept. Engelland will likely take some time to consider his next step in his career after another long season.
  • Adam Pardy has answered the call of retirement, but not after first accomplishing his ultimate goal this season. Pardy, 35, led his hometown Newfoundland Growlers to the ECHL’s Kelly Cup Championship in their inaugural season and now, The Telegram reports, he can ride off into the sunset. Pardy, while technically a free agent, has not been on an NHL contract in two years. He did play in 342 NHL games with five different teams over his long and winding career path though, last suiting up for four games with the Nashville Predators in 2016-17. After a year abroad in Sweden, he returned home to Newfoundland for an opportunity he couldn’t pass up with a pro team in his home province. Pardy recorded a career-best 21 points in 41 games and played a key role in a deep playoff run en route to a meaningful championship.

Erik Karlsson Undergoes Surgery

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Despite not having a contract with the team for next season, the San Jose Sharks have announced that Erik Karlsson underwent successful surgery on a groin injury. Karlsson is expected to recover fully in time for 2019-20.

The star defenseman was forced to miss a do-or-die game six against the St. Louis Blues in the Western Conference Final due to this injury, which hampered him for much of the 2018-19 season. Karlsson ended up playing just 53 games for the Sharks after they acquired him from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a huge package of assets, and while he did record 45 points during that time he couldn’t be the difference maker they were hoping for when it mattered the most given his injury.

This injury has also caused some to question what Karlsson’s free agent market will be. While he is still one of the best offensive defensemen in the league, the 29-year old has now dealt with multiple major injuries over the last few years and poses plenty of risk going forward. Even if he is ready to start the season on time, there is no guarantee he comes back with quite as much dominance as he has shown in the past. With teams likely having to commit close to, or even above $10MM per season on a long-term deal to secure his services, that uncertainty could cause some to pause.

In the Sharks’ case specifically, they should know better than anyone if Karlsson can return to form. The team has expressed an interest to re-sign him in the past, though would have to give up another asset to Ottawa in the form of a second-round pick if they did. The team also has to consider the fact that they already have four players on the roster making at least $7MM per season for at least six more years, three of which are on the wrong side of thirty already. The team has plenty of cap space at the moment, but will have to prudently spend it if they want to stay where they are as contenders in the Western Conference.

Latest On Jason Zucker’s Trade Market

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The Minnesota Wild have tried to trade Jason Zucker multiple times. At the trade deadline this year, the Wild had a deal fall through with the Calgary Flames at the last minute while just last month they tried and failed to get a deal done with the Pittsburgh Penguins for Phil Kessel. It should come as no surprise then that Zucker comes in near the top of The Athletic’s new trade board (subscription required) or that he was the topic of discussion on TSN 1040 radio today. Host Mike Halford —who also works at The Athletic—reported that a source told him the Vancouver Canucks are interested in the Wild forward and that there are several trade proposals already on the table.

Zucker, 27, is one of the last bastions of the Minnesota forward core that former GM Chuck Fletcher built during his time there. Since taking over, new GM Paul Fenton has jettisoned Nino Niederreiter, Mikael Granlund and Charlie Coyle, bringing in some different faces to try and change their playoff outcome. Unfortunately, the Wild didn’t even make the playoffs this season and now face an uphill climb back to contention. If Fenton is trying for a long-term approach to that problem it would make sense to move Zucker’s remaining four years at a $5.5MM cap hit for future assets—though Kessel would have not been that kind of acquisition.

The Canucks however do have plenty of good young players to target, if Minnesota is interested in sending him that direction. The interest from Vancouver is obvious, given how well their young forwards performed this year and the huge amount of cap space they currently enjoy. Even though he didn’t replicate his outstanding 2017-18 season, Zucker still produced 21 goals and 42 points last year for the Wild, and is one of the fastest skaters in the league. His deal only takes him through until he turns 31, and the Canucks have a need on the left side of their top-six beside either Bo Horvat or Elias Pettersson.

Still, because of Zucker’s value the Canucks won’t be the only ones interested. That same Athletic trade board has several quotes from executives around the league wondering why the Wild would even be interested in moving him, meaning Vancouver would likely need to pay a premium to win the bidding.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

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