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Archives for December 2020

Luke Martin Signs In The ECHL

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If there was ever a year not to turn down a contract offer, it was 2020. Former Carolina Hurricanes prospect Luke Martin may have just learned that the hard way. Although there is no definitive proof that Martin not signing with the Hurricanes was entirely one-sided, it at least appeared that way. Now, months after his draft rights expired and he became an unrestricted free agent, the University of Michigan product has had to settle for an ECHL contract. The Greenville Swamp Rabbits have signed Martin, as well as Wolverines teammate Jake Slaker, to one-year contracts, the league announced.

Martin, 22, was a second-round selection by Carolina back in 2017 out of the U.S. National Team Development Program. However, he had actually played his freshman season at Michigan in his draft year. So while some have been critical of Martin’s offense in the NCAA compared to his junior numbers, the Hurricanes knew what they were getting after watching a full season of Martin at the college level. The true hallmarks of Martin’s game lie in his size and defensive ability. The 6’2″, 220-lb. defenseman plays a physical yet smart checking style and has sound defensive awareness. He was a net +29 over four years at Michigan. However, in that time he did only contribute 30 total points. If there was hesitation on Carolina’s part about a contract, it was based on his lack of skill and offensive upside.

At 22, Martin still has room to grow and improve, but not as much as most prospects seeking an entry-level contract. In a quiet off-season, where even seasoned veterans are struggling to find minimum deals, teams likely felt their contract limit and salary dollars could be better spent. Yet, Martin not even finding an AHL deal is a surprise, though an ECHL pact does allow him to get started right away without any additional roster moves. The NHL parent club of the Swamp Rabbits, the Florida Panthers, will certainly keep an eye on Martin and the taxi squad pulling would-be AHLers from the roster could open up space for Martin to spend much of the season with the Charlotte Checkers once the AHL returns to action. Whether or not these opportunities produce results and an NHL contract next time around remains to be seen. For now, Martin’s case serves as a warning to draft picks to think twice before spurning your drafted NHL club’s contract offer.

 

Ridly Greig Signs Entry-Level Contract

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Ridly Greig may have missed out on his World Junior experience, but he won’t finish 2020 empty-handed. The Ottawa Senators have signed Greig to a three-year, entry-level contract, his first professional deal after being the 28th overall pick in this fall’s draft. Senators GM Pierre Dorion released a short statement on the deal:

Ridly plays with an edge in all facets of the game. He’s a highly competitive centre with strong character who is difficult to play against, driven and especially motivated. We’re looking forward to monitoring his development.

Greig, 18, tested positive for COVID-19 in early November, just before joining the Canadian World Junior selection camp. That positive test ultimately ended any possibility of him making the team, though it would have been a battle anyway given how deep the forward group is. A star for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL, Greig scored 26 goals and 60 points in 56 games last season while also often being asked to check the opponent’s top forwards.

Just like many top prospects, Greig is now waiting to see what happens to him this season. It’s been nearly ten months since his last competitive action and the WHL has not yet set a return date. If the junior league is canceled he could potentially go to the AHL, though that minor league has also not officially announced any schedule yet either. Ottawa’s ECHL affiliate, the Brampton Beast, will not be playing this season after opting out of the 2020-21 campaign with the other North Division teams. Greig likely isn’t ready for NHL action, but could potentially be a taxi squad player to keep his development pointed in the right direction unless an overseas assignment could be found.

At any rate, he’s now under contract with his first professional organization, the first step to becoming an NHL player. Should he play in fewer than seven NHL games this season, his deal will slide forward at least one year.

Minor Transactions: 12/29/20

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Training camp is just a few days away and things are heating up in the hockey world. With waivers open and rosters being announced, minor transactions will come fast and furious all across the league. We’ll keep track of them right here.

  • Jordan Schmaltz will be attending training camp on a professional tryout with the Arizona Coyotes according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. Schmaltz, 27, last played in the NHL during the 2018-19 season, suiting up for 20 games with the St. Louis Blues. The 25th overall pick in 2012, he was never able to really translate his game to the NHL level.
  • Speaking of the Blues, the team has announced that Alexei Toropchenko and Nikita Alexandrov have both been loaned overseas. Toropchenko will stay with Kunlun Red Star in the KHL where he has been playing, scoring eight points in 25 games so far this season. Alexandrov will head to KooKoo in Finland, where he will spend the season at the Liiga level. The Blues’ release notes that both players could be recalled when their European seasons end.
  • Spencer Abbott, who played two games at the NHL level before heading overseas, will continue his playing career in Germany during the upcoming season. The 32-year-old winger has signed in the DEL after spending the last two seasons playing in the SHL.
  • Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Gabriel Fortier has been traded in the QMJHL. The slick forward, in his final season of junior eligibility, has been moved by the Moncton Wildcats to the Shawinigan Cataractes, the team announced. The return is only a conditional pick, as Fortier could join the Lightning or more likely a minor league affiliate this season, in which case Shawinigan would get their pick back. If Tampa opts to return him to juniors though, then the Wildcats would receive at least a 2022 third-round pick but it could grow as high as a 2021 first-rounder depending on production. Fortier is no stranger to change after initially being acquired by Moncton midway through last season, only to finish the year with better than a point-per-game pace, earning the team’s captaincy to begin this year.
  • Defenseman Ty Murchison of the U.S. National Team Development Program has made his college choice. The young blue liner announced his commitment to Arizona State University today, continuing the program’s pipeline from California. The former L.A. Jr. King is a talented two-way defenseman who plays an aggressive style, currently leading the USNTDP U-18’s in penalty minutes. Murchison is expected to be a middle round pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft before beginning his NCAA career next year.

Los Angeles Kings Sign Andreas Athanasiou

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December 29: The Kings have officially announced the Athanasiou contract, which comes in at the one-year, $1.2MM terms that were reported. The speedy forward will be a restricted free agent again when the deal expires.

December 28: The Los Angeles Kings are getting faster. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports that Andreas Athanasiou is expected to sign a one-year deal with the Kings, giving him a place to play with training camp just a few days away. Friedman adds the salary is expected to be around $1.2MM.

Athanasiou, 26, is one of the most exciting and yet frustrating players in the NHL, all at the same time. The fourth-round pick has incredible speed and skill, which resulted in a 30-goal season during the 2018-19 campaign, but too often tries to do it all himself or fails to capitalize on the talents of his linemates. Last season, his fifth with the Detroit Red Wings, he scored just ten goals and 24 points and was a -45 before a midseason trade took him to the Edmonton Oilers. The hope was that his speed could fit in beside Connor McDavid, but Athanasiou quickly found himself pushed down the Oilers lineup and he recorded just two points in 13 games for the team.

In the offseason, Edmonton decided to not even extend Athanasiou a qualifying offer, despite trading two second-round picks (and Sam Gagner) for him just a few months earlier. That decision was because of the $3MM salary the offer would have carried, but it still was a surprising move given the draft capital they had shelled out to acquire him. Now, after a long wait, Athanasiou will finally get a chance to prove that he can still be an effective weapon at the NHL level.

There’s no doubt that he can score, but it’s hard to know exactly how to best maximize Athanasiou’s talent. In Los Angeles, it seems unlikely that he would be a good fit beside slower veteran names like Anze Kopitar or Jeff Carter, but perhaps he could form a lightning-fast trio with Adrian Kempe and Austin Wagner. No matter where he fits in, it’s a worthwhile gamble for a team looking to turn things around after a few poor seasons.

Like some of the other late-offseason signings, Athanasiou also represents a potential deadline trade chip. If he receives an opportunity on the powerplay or starts the season hot, maybe the Kings can cash in for a couple of draft picks of their own.

Latest On Vince Dunn

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The St. Louis Blues have some gymnastics to pull off at the start of the regular season, moving players to long-term injured reserve and finalizing contract details with Mike Hoffman, who agreed to a professional tryout for the time being. They also have another contract to finish, this time with restricted free agent Vince Dunn who remains unsigned currently.

On the Dunn front, progress is being made according to Andy Strickland of Fox Sports Midwest, who tweets that the negotiation will get done in time for training camp. Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports something similar, tweeting that Dunn’s agent told him that the defenseman would be in training camp when it opened.

Technically Dunn too could sign a tryout agreement to get into camp with the Blues if they need to wait out the cap complexities, but it’s great news for St. Louis fans that were worried about their young RFA. The 24-year-old has turned into quite the player over the last few seasons, recording at least 23 points in each of his three years in the NHL despite averaging just over 17 minutes a night.

That number could increase with Alex Pietrangelo gone, though newcomer Torey Krug figures to take over the PP1 duties for the Blues. Ten of Dunn’s points (including four of his nine goals) came with the man advantage last season.

Coming off his entry-level contract, Dunn was still not eligible for salary arbitration and doesn’t have a ton of leverage if he wants to play this year.

Edmonton Oilers Sign Devin Shore, Ryan Stanton To Professional Tryouts

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The Edmonton Oilers are bringing some veteran players to training camp, signing both Devin Shore and Ryan Stanton to professional tryouts.

Shore, 26, spent the first part of last season with the Anaheim Ducks before a deadline deal sent him to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Sonny Milano. In all, he ended up playing 45 games and recording 12 points, but did also suit up for two postseason matches in the bubble. A veteran of nearly 300 NHL games, Shore’s best offensive production came back in 2016-17 with the Dallas Stars when he scored 13 goals and 33 points.

Stanton meanwhile has a lot less NHL experience but has been a pro for a decade now. The 31-year-old defenseman first hit the AHL in 2010 after going undrafted and has 120 games at the NHL level, mostly with the Vancouver Canucks. Last season he spent the entire year with the Ontario Reign of the AHL, scoring five points in 36 games.

While Stanton seems an unlikely candidate for much NHL time, he does have experience with the Oilers organization. Before playing for Ontario, he spent two years with the Bakersfield Condors. That could be where he ends up even if he earns an NHL contract in camp. Shore though could potentially be a depth forward for the Oilers, or perhaps a taxi squad player capable of stepping into the lineup in a pinch. He’ll have to earn that NHL deal to do it, but given his history it’s certainly not out of the question.

Kalle Kossila, Jean-Sebastien Dea Clear Waivers

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December 29: Kossila and Dea have both cleared waivers.

December 28: Today is the first day for the playing season waiver period and two teams have already taken advantage of it. Kalle Kossila of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Jean-Sebastien Dea of the Buffalo Sabres have both been placed on waivers according to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet.

Kossila was recently loaned to EHC Munchen by the Maple Leafs, where he has played two games so far. The fact that he has now been placed on waivers likely confirms that he will not be returning to North America for training camp, at least not until things start up for the AHL. The 27-year-old forward has played in 19 NHL games over the years, all of them coming with the Anaheim Ducks. Last year he was limited by injury to just 12 appearances for the Toronto Marlies, meaning this season is something of a comeback for the former St. Cloud State star.

Dea meanwhile signed a two-year, one-way deal with the Sabres in 2019 but played just three NHL games with the team last season. With some new faces coming into Buffalo his chance to make the roster always seemed slim and this move likely confirms he will not be there when games start in a few weeks. The 26-year-old did have 39 points in 57 games for the Rochester Americans last season, so he would still be an asset to the AHL organization if minor league games get underway.

Both players will be available to the rest of the league, but neither seems likely to be claimed at this point.

Chicago Blackhawks Issue Medical Update On Jonathan Toews

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The Chicago Blackhawks have issued an update on the status of Jonathan Toews, who will not be participating in the upcoming training camp. Toews himself explains that this offseason he has felt “drained and lethargic” and does not have a timetable for his return. Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman released this statement:

Jonathan’s health is our top priority as he deals with this medical issue. The Chicago Blackhawks organization and our medical staff will provide all necessary resources to help him return to playing hockey. While he will not report to training camp on January 3 and will be out indefinitely, we will continue to support him as he is an important part of our family. I’ve been in regular communication with Jonathan recently and will continue that as he takes care of his health.

It is not clear at all what is happening to Toews, but the team will issue further updates as they learn about his condition.

This is the third forward the team has lost in the last few weeks, following major surgeries to Kirby Dach and Alexander Nylander that will likely keep them out the entire season. Hopefully, Toews, the team captain and face of the franchise, will be able to return before long. He is asking for privacy as he focuses on his health and recovery.

Morning Notes: Toews, Mehta, Stuetzle

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The Chicago Blackhawks will already miss Kirby Dach for a good chunk (if not all) of the season and might be without their captain as well. Jonathan Toews will miss training camp and the start of the season due to an illness according to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic and Darren Dreger of TSN, with an official statement from the team expected at some point today.

The Blackhawks are off to a horrible start to the upcoming season if Toews is held out for any serious length of time and it leaves them scrambling for center depth. Dylan Strome, the likely candidate to step into the top-line role, isn’t even signed yet and remains a restricted free agent with just a few days until camp starts. Hopefully, Toews can return before long.

  • The Florida Panthers have hired Sunny Mehta as Vice President of Hockey Strategy & Intelligence, bringing in one of the forefathers of hockey analytics. Mehta was one of the first real leaders in the analytics space, serving as Director of Hockey Analytics for the New Jersey Devils from 2014-2018. An interesting resume also includes time as a professional poker player and consultant for several MLB organizations.
  • Though it shouldn’t come into play this season, the entry-level contract for Tim Stuetzle does include a European Assignment Clause that could send him back to Mannheim in Germany if he doesn’t crack the Ottawa Senators roster. Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia reports that the DEL squad asked for it to be included and waited to make sure the NHL would actually play before releasing the young forward. Stuetzle, who is logging huge minutes for the shorthanded German team at the World Juniors, is expected to step directly onto the NHL roster when the tournament concludes.

Buffalo Sabres Sign Riley Sheahan To PTO

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The Buffalo Sabres left a few spots open on the training camp roster they released yesterday and now at least one of them will be filled by a veteran forward. Riley Sheahan has agreed to a professional tryout for the Sabres and will attend training camp in a few days.

Sheahan, who is amazingly still only 29, feels like he’s taken a lap around the entire NHL in the last few seasons. The 6’3″ center has played for four different teams since the start of the 2017-18 season, suiting up for the Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins, Florida Panthers, and Edmonton Oilers. He’ll now try to continue his circuit in Buffalo, though an NHL contract is far from a sure thing.

Never a top offensive player, Sheahan has still produced solid seasons over the years as a bottom-six center that can penalty kill and doesn’t drown you at even-strength. That said, a team looking for a playoff spot likely needs more than the handful of goals that he’ll provide. Over the past two seasons, Shehan has just 17 goals and 34 points in 148 games.

The Sabres have plenty of added depth up front, but a name like Sheahan might still be useful as a taxi squad player that can come in and out of the lineup when injury strikes. He’d need an NHL deal for that and to clear waivers, but that may not be a problem given the restricted market free agents are dealing with.

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