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Archives for July 2019

Greg Johnson Passes Away At 48

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Former NHLer Greg Johnson passed away on Monday at the far too young age of 48. USA Today’s Kevin Allen relays the news today from Johnson’s friend and former agent Tom Laidlaw, who says Johnson died at his home near Detroit, Michigan. No cause of death was provided, but Johnson was forced to retire early in 2006 due to an irregular heartbeat, making the cardiac ailment the likely cause.

Johnson played 785 games in the NHL, but will be remembered most for the 502 spent with the Nashville Predators. An inaugural member of the 1998 expansion Predators, Johnson led the team in points per game in its first year of existence with a career-best 50 points in 68 games. He would go on to captain the team for the final four years of his career as well. Laidlaw recalls that Johnson cherished his role with Nashville and took less money to stay with the Predators, while former teammate Chris Mason says that Johnson was “a big part of establishing the identity of the franchise.”

Johnson was also well known for being both the captain and star forward of the University of North Dakota in the early 90’s. He had been drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round in 1989 after a near-100 point season in the USHL and quickly proved he was the real deal, recording 272 points in 155 games in his NCAA career. Johnson broke into the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings and also spent time with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks. He accumulated 224 in 785 games in his NHL career and became known for his two-way play and work ethic.

Most importantly though, Johnson is remembered as a great teammate. Allen writes that Johnson was a soft-spoken and caring type of captain, who prioritized taking care of his team. Mason calls Johnson “one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met” and “the kind of guy that Predators wanted their other players to be like on or off the ice.” The Predators themselves released a statement calling their former captain ” a consummate professional and terrific teammate who was an integral part of our community and in developing the Predators culture that we experience today.”

Everyone at PHR wishes the best for the family and friends of Johnson at this time.

Tampa Bay Lightning Sign Danick Martel

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July 9: The Lightning have officially announced the contract for Martel.

July 4: The Tampa Bay Lightning have inked one of their restricted free agents, signing Danick Martel to a one-year two-way contract according to Joe Smith of The Athletic. Martel was eligible for salary arbitration but instead will get his contract done well in advance. The deal will be worth $700K at the NHL level.

Martel, 24, was claimed off waivers at the start of the 2018-19 season from the Philadelphia Flyers, but he ended up playing just nine games for the Lightning. Used as a press box regular, the undersized forward will be brought back to see if he can help the organization for another season. When the Lightning claimed him it seemed odd, given how little opportunity there was in the NHL forward group, but it’s hard to judge a team that has had such success finding undrafted talents out of the QMJHL in the past.

An 102-point scorer in his final year in junior, the 5’8″ Martel took quickly to the professional level and recorded three consecutive 20+ goal seasons with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Proven now at that level, the next challenge will be finding some NHL success. He has just 13 games under his belt at that level, meaning he will become a Group VI unrestricted free agent next summer if he fails to play in at least 67 contests this year. There actually may be a real opportunity for him to do so now that names like J.T. Miller and Ryan Callahan have moved on.

The Lightning still have lots of work to do this summer after signing Martel, as Brayden Point leads a trio of NHL restricted free agents without contracts. The team still has a little bit of wiggle room under the salary cap, but Point’s deal will determine whether they have to make another move to shed salary or not.

Poll: Which UFA Contract Will Look The Worst Next Year?

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When July 1st rolls around every year, excitement around the NHL goes through the roof. Top players are available for nothing but money and fans want their favorite team to shell out the dollars and cents to improve the club. Unfortunately, the deals that are made on the unrestricted free agent market are so often flawed and doomed to fail. Teams overpay for over-the-hill veterans or lock up players already in their prime for far too long. Former NHL GM Brian Burke has long held the belief that more mistakes are made on the first day of free agency than any other.

Every year we get a reminder of just how tricky the free agent market is. In 2017 we saw players like Karl Alzner (five years, $23.1MM), Patrick Marleau (three years, $18.8MM) and Kevin Shattenkirk (four years, $26.6MM) all sign contracts that would be regretted down the road. Alzner has spent time in the minors after clearing waivers, Marleau has already been bought out of the last year of his deal and Shattenkirk could potentially face the same fate later this summer if the New York Rangers are desperate for cap space.

Just one year after the 2018 frenzy and there are already several deals that look like mistakes. Jack Johnson’s long-term deal (five years, $16.3MM) has Pittsburgh Penguins fans shaking their heads, while the Calgary Flames can’t find a spot for James Neal (five years, $28.8MM). Ilya Kovalchuk (three years, $18.8MM) looks like a shadow of what he once was.

Given the history of failure in this period, you can only assume that there will be teams deeply regretting things they did just a few days ago. Even just a year from now they might be trying to buy out some of the contracts they signed, or shipping them somewhere else to free up room. Which will be the worst? Which contract will be so unbearable a year from now that fans will be hollering for its removal? Cast your vote below and make sure to leave a comment explaining why:

Only contracts signed July 1, 2019 have been included

[Mobile users click here to vote]

Ty Rattie Signs In KHL

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After his first season playing more than half the year in the NHL, Ty Rattie is saying farewell to North America. The free agent forward has signed a one-year deal with Lokomotiv in the KHL according to Igor Eronko of Sport-Express, reuniting him with former Edmonton Oilers executive Craig MacTavish, who is now the head coach there. Rattie was not issued a qualifying offer by the Oilers last month, making him an unrestricted free agent.

Rattie, 26, played 50 games last season for the Oilers but recorded just 11 points, never establishing himself as a real offensive presence despite plenty of opportunity. Originally selected 32nd-overall in 2011, he bounced up and down in the St. Louis Blues organization for years before a short stint in Carolina and the last two seasons with Edmonton. In 99 career NHL games he has 30 points, but can’t seem to carve out a good number of minutes anywhere he goes.

A two-time 100-point player in the WHL, Rattie has found plenty of success in the AHL as well. He’ll head overseas to a team with a familiar face behind the bench to try and prove he can contribute with a bigger role, but it’s going to be tough to convince NHL front offices of his worth at this point.

Buffalo Sabres Acquire Henri Jokiharju

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The Buffalo Sabres and Chicago Blackhawks have pulled off a whopper of a trade, swapping Alexander Nylander for Henri Jokiharju. Both players are still on their entry-level contracts for another two seasons.

For Buffalo, the acquisition of Jokiharju continues an overhaul of their blue line. The team has now acquired Brandon Montour, Colin Millar and Jokiharju over the last several months, all three of which are right-handed. This latest trade will only continue to fuel the speculation about Rasmus Ristolainen, but almost certainly means that someone will have to be moved out before long. Casey Nelson and Zach Bogosian also play that side, though perhaps it is not a guarantee that Jokiharju will start the season in the NHL.

He did play 38 games for the Blackhawks last season and held his own at the NHL level. Recording 12 points and strong possession numbers while averaging close to 19 minutes a night at the highest level, his season also included a stint in the minor leagues with the Rockford IceHogs and a trip to the World Juniors where he took home the gold medal with Finland. When the season was over, he joined the Finnish World Championship squad as one of their only players with NHL experience and was a big part of them taking home the gold medal once again.

Overall it was quite the showing for Jokiharju, though his game at times did show the warts usually associated with 19-year old defensemen. The 29th-overall pick from 2017, he’ll need to find a little more consistency in his own end if he wants to really fulfill the promise he showed as a potential top-pairing player. That kind of potential is exactly what the Sabres are hoping to find, but it did cost them a pretty exceptional asset of their own.

Even though Nylander hasn’t quite found his footing yet at the NHL level doesn’t mean he won’t. Selected eighth overall in 2016, the younger brother of Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander has played just 19 games for the Sabres over the last three seasons. Even in the minor leagues, Nylander’s huge offensive ceiling hasn’t shown up consistently enough, leading to just 86 points in 165 AHL games. That performance though doesn’t tell the whole story, as Nylander has dealt with various injuries and could very well be in line for a breakout year at age-21.

Remember that this is a player who competed three times at the World Juniors, scoring 28 points in 21 games. He also won the CHL Rookie of the Year award in his only season with the OHL’s Mississauga Steelheads, scoring 87 points in 63 games. His puck possession skills are excellent and he can create offense both for himself and his teammates, even if his overall game hasn’t quite come together yet.

The Blackhawks have some recent history to look back on in terms of high picks finally fulfilling their potential upon arriving in Chicago. Dylan Strome was in much the same situation as Nylander when he was hopping back and forth between the minor leagues and Arizona Coyotes. Before joining the Blackhawks he had registered just 17 points in 48 games with Arizona but immediately broke out in Chiacgo to the tune of 51 in 58. That kind of offensive explosion is exactly what GM Stan Bowman will hope for once again.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Jared Bednar Signs Two-Year Extension

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The Colorado Avalanche have signed head coach Jared Bednar to a two-year extension, keeping him in the organization through the 2021-22 season. Bednar was heading into the final year of his current deal but will get some security with which to work. GM Joe Sakic released a statement on the hiring:

Jared has done a tremendous job behind the bench and has earned the opportunity to continue leading this team. He is an outstanding coach who has the full trust of his players, coaches and staff. He has guided this franchise to two straight playoff appearances and we are excited with what this group can do moving forward.

Bednar has had quite the three seasons in Colorado, since being named head coach in late August 2016. He replaced the outgoing Patrick Roy, who had left the team suddenly just before training camp was set to start after struggles with management. Bednar has just a few weeks to prepare for his first NHL job, and that initial season did not go well. Coming off a championship with the Lake Erie Monsters, Bednar took control of a Colorado team that hadn’t made the playoffs in two seasons and things spiraled quickly out of control. The Avalanche would finish the 2016-17 season with just a 22-56-4 record, and many expected them to move on to a more experienced coach with more time to prepare.

Sakic stuck with Bednar though and it paid off in 2017-18 when he led the Avalanche back to the playoffs. A 43-30-9 record and a breakout season for Nathan MacKinnon—finally out of the shadow of Matt Duchene after an early season trade—was a huge turnaround in such a short period of time. Last season they followed it up with a second consecutive postseason appearance, and another outstanding year by MacKinnon and running mates Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog. Though the Avalanche struggled at times thanks to their dependence on that top line, Bednar still pushed enough buttons to guide them through the first round of the playoffs.

Now, with some added punch up front—the Avalanche brought in Joonas Donskoi, Nazem Kadri, and Andre Burakovsky—and a budding star on defense in Cale Makar, the outlook is outstanding in Colorado. Bednar will be there to guide it for the foreseeable future, trying to complete the trifecta of a Kelly Cup, Calder Cup and Stanley Cup in his coaching career.

Dillon Heatherington Re-Signs With Dallas Stars

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Dillon Heatherington didn’t bother filing for arbitration recently and instead has re-signed with the Dallas Stars. The depth defenseman inked a one-year two-way contract with the club that could take him right into unrestricted free agency depending on what happens this season. The Stars would need to play Heatherington in 69 NHL games this season to avoid Group VI unrestricted free agent status next summer. He will earn $700K at the NHL level this season, according to CapFriendly.

The 24-year old Heatherington has played in just 11 NHL games over the last two seasons, but is a key part of the Texas Stars’ blue line. Suiting up 73 times for them in 2018-19 the 6’4″ defenseman recorded 24 points and 75 penalty minutes while wearing an “A” as one of the alternate captains. Texas is likely where he is headed again this season, though he’ll have to clear waivers at the beginning of the season in order to go there.

Originally a second round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Heatherington has not yet been able to crack an NHL roster for very long. He’ll try to make that a tough decision this fall, but it will be difficult. The Stars have several strong options on the left side already, including newcomer Andrej Sekera. If one of them struggles or suffers an injury though, you can bet Heatherington will be one of the first few call-ups.

Vancouver Canucks Sign Three Players

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The Vancouver Canucks have signed three of their restricted free agents, inking Reid Boucher, Brogan Rafferty and Josh Teves to two-way contracts. Boucher’s deal is just for one season, while Rafferty and Teves have each re-upped for two. That leaves the team with just Brock Boeser and Nikolay Goldobin still to sign among RFAs.

News came out this morning that Boucher was close to a deal with the Canucks, and now the 25-year old has indeed re-signed to bring a level of minor league offense to the club. He registered 62 points last season in just 56 AHL contests and should help the Utica Comets tremendously once again if he can’t crack the NHL lineup out of camp. Boucher has 133 NHL games under his belt, meaning he very well could be the first call-up in case of injury concerns.

Rafferty, 24, signed out of Quinnipiac just a few months ago and got into two games with the Canucks down the stretch. Coming off his short-entry-level contract the undrafted defenseman was unlikely to get a big deal, but the Canucks have done well to at least secure two years of his services. Still a complete unknown at the NHL level, Rafferty will be competing in camp for a spot on the right side but has some tough competition now that the team has added Tyler Myers and Oscar Fantenberg. He’ll more likely start in the AHL given his waiver-exempt status.

So too will Teves in all likelihood, who was also signed out of the NCAA recently. The undrafted 24-year old defenseman played four years at Princeton before making the jump to the NHL for one game down the stretch. Another player who will battle for a job in camp, the left side is just as crowded in Vancouver with Quinn Hughes likely staking a claim and Jordie Benn coming in on a two-year deal.

Malcolm Subban Re-Signs With Vegas Golden Knights

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Just a few moments after the announcement of his scheduled arbitration hearing, Malcolm Subban won’t need it anymore. The young goaltender has re-signed with the Vegas Golden Knights on a one-year deal worth $850K. Golden Knights executive George McPhee released this statement:

We are pleased to announce this one-year contract for Malcolm. He’s been a valuable contributor to our team over the last two seasons. We are excited to continue to work with Malcolm and help him reach his full potential as an NHL goaltender.

Subban, 25, is set to return as Marc-Andre Fleury’s backup next season and get another chance at really establishing himself in the NHL. Though he has played 43 games for the Golden Knights the last two seasons, he has just a 21-14-4 record and .906 save percentage. While that’s good enough to start the odd game, it’s not exactly positioning himself to take over as the full-time starter should Fleury’s age catch up with him at some point. If he ever wants that role, he’ll have to improve his consistency dramatically this year.

For the Golden Knights though, it was unlikely they were going to find a substantially better option on the open market for this type of contract. The near-minimum salary is exactly what they needed as they continue to deal with cap issues, and if another opportunity presents itself Subban’s deal can be entirely buried in the minor leagues. Betting that the 2012 first-round pick can improve as he enters the usual prime goaltending years isn’t a bad one either, especially knowing that depth goaltending hits waivers frequently throughout the year.

Subban will be a restricted free agent again next summer with arbitration rights.

Minor Transactions: 07/09/19

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There are still several top free agents out on the market, but teams are also busy filling out their organizational depth charts and providing competition at the minor league level. With that in mind, we’ll keep track of those smaller transactions right here:

  • The Toronto Marlies have re-signed Giorgio Estephan, Tanner MacMaster and Alex Gudbranson to minor league deals, adding to their already impressive depth. The Marlies have been one of the most active minor league clubs in free agency and look like they’ll have a strong system again at both the ECHL and AHL levels. The Newfoundland Growlers, who won the Kelly Cup in their inaugural season, will happily welcome back Gudbranson who served as alternate captain last year.
  • Ryan Zapolski, who suited up for the United States at the most recent Olympic Games, will play for the Vienna Capitals of the EBEL next season after struggling for Jokerit in 2018-19. The 32-year old goaltender has found success everywhere he has played, and will now experience a new city and league in Austria.
  • Wayne Simpson, who played for the Rochester Americans last season and has been a strong offensive contributor in the AHL for several years, will play in the DEL next season for ERC Ingolstadt. The 29-year old was never drafted but has recorded at least 36 points in each of his six professional seasons.

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