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Archives for September 2021

Tyler Bertuzzi Declines Vaccine, Won’t Travel To Canada With Red Wings

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The Detroit Red Wings expect to be shorthanded when they travel to Montreal to battle the Canadiens on October 23. GM Steve Yzerman explained that Tyler Bertuzzi, the Red Wings’ third-highest paid forward, has declined the COVID-19 vaccine and the team anticipates that he will not travel with the club to Canada this season.

Tyler will follow the protocols for non-vaccinated players. Most significant, and not really a part of the protocol, is that as of now and for the forseeable future, you can’t enter Canada unless you are vaccinated. So that obviously will be an issue when we go to play Canadian teams. 

As of now, under the Canadian laws, he won’t be able to cross the border so he wouldn’t be able to play in any games in Canada. 

Because unvaccinated players are not expected to be paid for games/days missed due to COVID-related absences, including those caused by government restrictions and quarantines, Bertuzzi would be forfeiting $191K just for the nine gamedays the Red Wings have scheduled against Canadian teams. With travel days added (along with days in between games on their Western Canada trip from March 12-17) he could be forfeiting quite a bit more.

That said, the Red Wings didn’t actually confirm that Bertuzzi will be suspended during those trips, meaning there is still a chance he could receive his full salary. The benefit of a short suspension, other than saving money for the organization, is that teams will receive corresponding cap relief for those days away from the roster. The Red Wings, who currently sit $15MM under the salary cap ceiling, wouldn’t benefit much from that added space.

Even though deputy commissioner Bill Daly projected just 10-15 players would be unvaccinated when the season begins, that will still pose an issue for some teams as they resume traveling around North America. Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland admitted today that one of his team’s players has also declined the vaccination, though he did not identify the player. While Bertuzzi may only miss eight games, Holland explained that his player could miss up to 30 given the quarantine that would be required for cross-border travel.

Los Angeles Kings Extend Cal Petersen

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After reports emerged earlier today that the Los Angeles Kings were getting close to a deal with goaltender Cal Petersen, PuckPedia reports that the three-year contract extension has been completed. Petersen will carry a cap hit of $5MM starting in the 2022-23 season, signaling that the Kings are ready to start a transition to him as the team’s next starting goaltender. PuckPedia adds the full breakdown:

  • 2022-23: $1.0MM salary + $3.0MM signing bonus
  • 2023-24: $1.0MM salary + $4.0MM signing bonus
  • 2024-25: $6.0MM salary

Petersen, 26, may not be widely known across the NHL just yet, but he will be soon after taking over the Kings’ crease last season. Originally selected by the Buffalo Sabres in 2013, he actually left the University of Notre Dame a year early and became a free agent, deciding to sign with Los Angeles instead of Buffalo. It proved to be a good career move so far, as he quickly climbed the organizational depth chart, made his debut in 2018-19 and played in 35 of the team’s 56 games last season.

All Petersen has ever done is post strong numbers, and he now sits with a .916 through his first 54 NHL appearances. Though that certainly isn’t a lot of experience, the Kings are betting that his price would have gone even higher after the upcoming season where he is projected to take the lion’s share of the work. Jonathan Quick, who appeared to be on the verge of a bounce-back season at the beginning of the year, struggled to maintain his play and finished with a .898 save percentage in 22 appearances, the third season in a row he has posted a number below .905. Given that he’ll turn 36 partway through the upcoming season, the time is right for the team to transition toward Petersen and the future.

Of course, that doesn’t mean Quick is out of the picture. The veteran netminder will still carry a cap hit of $5.8MM this season and next, meaning as it currently stands the Kings have more than $10MM committed to goaltending in 2022-23.

This new contract for Petersen is buying out all unrestricted free agent years but does come in quite pricey. He’s now tied for the 13th-highest cap hit for a goaltender in 2022-23, meaning there will be plenty of pressure to prove his early success can continue.

Alex Stalock Not Expected To Play This Season

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The Edmonton Oilers announced some bad news today, as GM Ken Holland told reporters that goaltender Alex Stalock is not expected to play this season. Stalock is being evaluated for a possible heart condition and though Holland explained that things could change down the road, he’s not counting on the depth goaltender.

Stalock, 34, is on the final season of a three-year deal signed with the Minnesota Wild in 2019 and carries a cap hit of $785K. He was expected to be the team’s third goaltender this season after he was claimed off waivers last season. Holland is not currently looking to add another veteran option to fill the role Stalock would have, meaning Stuart Skinner is likely once again penciled in as the team’s third option.

While losing a third-string goaltender is certainly not a doomsday scenario for the Oilers, it actually may be worse for them than most teams. Edmonton is currently heading into the season with 39-year-old Mike Smith as the presumptive starter and 33-year-old Mikko Koskinen behind him. The former was excellent last season and has been relatively healthy throughout his long career, but will be counted on to carry the load again without much of a depth chart behind him. Koskinen posted an .899 save percentage in 26 games and has struggled when handed the starting job for any significant stretch.

Skinner, meanwhile, made his NHL debut in 2020-21 and posted strong numbers at the AHL level. His development is coming along nicely, but as a 22-year-old goaltender with only one successful professional season under his belt, he’s still not ready to take on a big role with the Oilers. He may not need to, but losing Stalock puts him one step closer.

Buffalo Sabres Sign Rasmus Dahlin

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The Buffalo Sabres have agreed to terms with star defenseman Rasmus Dahlin on a three-year contract that will carry an average annual value of $6MM. The young defenseman was a restricted free agent but was listed on the Sabres’ training camp roster yesterday, suggesting a deal was coming soon. CapFriendly has the full breakdown:

  • 2021-22: $3.0MM salary + $2.0MM signing bonus
  • 2022-23: $5.8MM salary
  • 2023-24: $7.2MM salary

Dahlin, 21, certainly hasn’t been a disappointment since being selected first overall in 2018, but he also hasn’t been the franchise-changing savior that many Sabres fans were hoping for. The young defenseman stepped directly into the NHL and showed his offensive chops, recording 44 points in his rookie season and finishing third in the Calder Race, but has been dragged down–whether by his teammates or his own inconsistent defensive play–in his own end.

There’s no doubt that Dahlin is one of the most dynamic puck-movers in the NHL, but even that offensive output dropped this season as the Sabres collapsed into a league bottom-feeder once again. A contract like this, which ties Dahlin for the 30th highest cap hit among defensemen this season, certainly doesn’t leave room for a ton of surplus value unless he really gets back to the player he showed early on.

With no Rasmus Ristolainen in the fold now, Dahlin should take on even more responsibility for the Sabres. He heads into this season leading a defense corps that is made up almost entirely of pieces acquired through trade, some of them just cap dumps, and may have another difficult season as he waits for the help of Owen Power, the team’s latest top pick. When he gets him, which by all accounts should be at the end of the upcoming season, Dahlin and the 2021 first-overall pick should form a dynamic duo for the Sabres to build around, each logging big minutes on the left side.

Even though this contract may actually be a bit on the expensive side–Zach Werenski, with comparable if not better numbers, signed a similar bridge deal that was worth just $15MM over three years in 2019–it’s not really an issue for the Sabres who are fighting just to get to the cap floor. The team can certainly afford to pay Dahlin a little bit more to keep him in the fold while they go through another rebuild.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Robert Thomas Signs With St. Louis Blues

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Late last night, the St. Louis Blues announced that they have agreed to terms with restricted free agent Robert Thomas, signing him to a two-year contract. The bridge deal will carry an average annual value of $2.8MM, and allows Thomas to join his teammates on Thursday when Blues training camp opens.

The 22-year-old forward took a pretty drastic step backward this season when he posted just three goals and 12 points in 33 games while seeing his playing time decrease to just over 13 and a half minutes a night. Once seen as a future second-line center, it’s difficult to know exactly where Thomas will top out now after failing to really take that next step in the early part of his career.

Still, this two-year bridge deal gives him a chance to show that 2020-21 was the fluke and he can get back to (and exceed) the 42-point player he was the year before. A smart defensive player, he has struggled at times to generate offense for himself–incredibly registering just 22 shots in 33 games last season–and his linemates. In 169 career games, he has 22 goals and 87 points.

For the Blues, even if they believe in Thomas’ long-term outlook, there was no way they could make this deal stretch further into the future. Every additional year would likely make the cap hit creep up, and the team is capped out at the moment while they continue to carry Vladimir Tarasenko on the roster. In two years, when this bridge deal is up, there will be a ton of money coming off the books for the Blues, as Tarasenko, Ryan O’Reilly, Oskar Sundqvist and Ivan Barbashev are all scheduled for unrestricted free agency. The same summer, Jordan Kyrou–who signed his own two-year, $5.6MM deal last month–will also be up for a new contract.

While there are other promising prospects in the Blues system, it really is on Thomas and Kyrou as the two young options to bridge the gap from the veteran core to that next wave. Until Klim Kostin or others prove they’re ready for the NHL full-time, Thomas and Kyrou will remain the only two forward on the team under the age of 25. By getting them both signed to reasonable bridge deals, the Blues have given themselves the opportunity to take advantage of any breakouts that result in surplus value.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Minor Transactions: 09/21/21

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Today certainly had a flurry of big-name news, a rarity for this time of year. But even through the Kirill Kaprizov contracts and the Elvis Merzlikins extensions of the world, NHL teams have made a flurry of minor transactions today in preparation for training camps. As camps begin and rosters are announced, players still without a confirmed home for next season will pop up across the league. Here are some of today’s minor transactions:

  • The expansion Seattle Kraken have added a good bit of depth on try-out deals. The team’s invited Tye Kartye and Cole Mackay of the Soo Greyhounds to camp, as well as Francis Marotte of the ECHL’s Allen Americans. Kartye and Mackay, both forwards, have been teammates with the Soo since 2018. Both haven’t played hockey since the 2019-20 season due to the OHL’s shutdown in 2020-21. They were both on the path to success, however, potting over 50 points individually. They’ll gain some valuable experience at an NHL camp. Marotte, a 26-year-old netminder, comes in after just one season of professional hockey. He impressed in the ECHL this year, boasting an 8-3-1 record and .917 save percentage.
  • The Vegas Golden Knights have added a trio of their own on tryouts, headlined by defenseman Ian McCoshen. Now 26, the former second-round pick by Florida now hasn’t seen NHL action since 2018-19. He’s unlikely to see NHL ice within the Vegas organization, one of the deepest defenses in the league, but could be a solid AHL body if he ends up signing with the team. They’ve also brought in OHLers Kaleb Pearson and Daniel D’Amato. Pearson scored 52 points in 62 games in 2019-20 with the Owen Sound Attack, and he’s headed to Prince Edward Island to play collegiate hockey this season. D’Amato will suit up for his Erie Otters again this year after scoring 32 points in 63 games back in 2019-20.

Training Camp Notes: Bruins, Blue Jackets, Penguins

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As development camps begin to wrap up around the NHL, training camp rosters have been released throughout the day and into the evening. There’s been a variety of rather interesting surprises and irregularities as the rosters have been released to the public. One of the more unusual aspects of the day has to do with the Boston Bruins training camp roster. It appears as though veteran AHL defenseman Aaron Ness will be attending camp with the team. While no contract terms have been announced, he had previously signed a professional tryout contract with the Seattle Kraken. A contract announcement can likely be expected in the near future.

Elsewhere from training camps around the league:

  • Another surprise inclusion comes in the form of a veteran goaltender. The Columbus Blue Jackets released their roster today, including 30-year-old veteran netminder Jean-Francois Berube. The Quebec native, originally a selection of the Los Angeles Kings in 2009, is returning to the organization after a one-year stint there in 2018-19. It was played entirely with the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters. While Berube’s numbers have dipped in recent seasons, he was once a capable third-string option and still could provide valuable goalie depth to the organization. Similar to Ness, no contract terms have been released yet for Berube, but it’s something to look out for.
  • The Tribune-Review’s Seth Rorabaugh reports that forwards Sam Houde and Josh Williams are attending Pittsburgh Penguins camp on amateur tryout contracts. Both signings could help plug some organization depth weaknesses caused by a cascading injury effect. Houde comes to the team after serving as the captain for the QMJHL’s Chicoutimi Sagueneens, scoring 28 points in 29 games during his final QMJHL season. Williams, a winger out of the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings, showed off his goal-scoring skills this year with 17 goals and 30 points in 22 games. Both could slot into depth roles in the AHL and could eventually become bigger parts of the organization if signed.

Minnesota Wild Sign Kirill Kaprizov For Five Years

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The Minnesota Wild have re-signed winger Kirill Kaprizov to a five-year, $45MM contract. The deal carries a $9MM average annual value and takes him through the 2025-26 season. Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reports that the deal carries a no-movement clause for the final two years. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports the full salary breakdown:

  • 2021-22: $5.0MM
  • 2022-23: $10.0MM
  • 2023-24: $12.5MM
  • 2024-25: $10.0MM
  • 2025-26: $7.5MM

Minnesota had to wait five years after they drafted Kaprizov to see him in NHL action, but all can agree that he was worth the wait. This year’s Calder Trophy winner, Kaprizov was nearly a point-per-game talent. Playing over 18 minutes a night, the 23-year-old Russian led the Wild with 27 goals and 51 points, only missing one game all year. The Athletic’s Michael Russo reports that he’s due to arrive in Minnesota tomorrow and will deliver an in-person press conference pending vaccination status.

A full training camp and another year of acclimation to North America are both good omens for Kaprizov’s performance in 2021-22. A dominant scorer and a lethal power-play presence, Kaprizov aims to not only lead the Wild but to be one of the best talents in the Western Conference. Kaprizov put together a remarkable two-way performance for a rookie last season as well, posting a 51.2% Corsi for at even strength and boasted impressive advanced analytics as well. Steps forward in any regard will solidify his status as an elite talent and quickly make this deal worth its price tag.

The move comes after months of negotiations and nervousness on the part of Wild fans. The term and the dollar amount aren’t necessarily a surprise to anyone who’s been closely following the situation, however. A $9MM cap hit was reported as the likely value by The Athletic’s Michael Russo weeks beforehand.

Despite all the fanfare made about Minnesota’s salary cap situation this offseason following the buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, the Wild still remain in decent shape for 2021-22. Kaprizov was the only remaining restricted free agent on the roster, and they’re still left with $3.2MM in space considering a 22-man roster. The true crunch comes next season, where the cap penalty due to the buyouts increases by a full $8MM.

Regardless, it’s an immediate relief for Wild fans, who’ll have five more years (in all likelihood) of a player who captured the eyes and hearts of many this season. Expected to be a franchise cornerstone moving forward, the Wild now look to push even further towards contention.

All salary cap figures courtesy of CapFriendly.com.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Images.

Elvis Merzlikins Signs Five-Year Extension

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The Columbus Blue Jackets have locked up their starting goaltender, signing Elvis Merzlikins to a five-year, $27MM contract extension. The deal kicks in for the 2022-23 season and runs through 2026-27, carrying a $5.4MM cap hit. Previously, both Merzlikins and tandem mate Joonas Korpisalo were scheduled to become unrestricted free agents after the upcoming season. Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports the full contract details:

  • 2022-23: $5.25MM
  • 2023-24: $6.0MM
  • 2024-25: $6.0MM
  • 2025-26: $5.525MM
  • 2026-27: $4.225MM

Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen released a statement on the deal:

Goaltending is a position of strength for our team and Elvis Merzlikins has been an important part of that over the past two seasons so we are very excited to have agreed to terms on a contract extension that will keep him in Columbus for at least the next six years. He is big, athletic and has a tremendous passion for the game and we believe he will be an integral part of our success in the coming years.

Merzlikins, 27, certainly hasn’t taken the usual path to stardom in the NHL, but he nevertheless is well on his way to establishing himself as one. Selected in the third round of the 2014 draft, the Latvian netminder was playing as a teenager in Switzerland. He would remain there for another five seasons, putting up outstanding numbers while routinely suiting up for his country internationally. Time and again he would stand out as the best player on the Latvian side, keeping them in games where they were vastly outmatched and posting numbers like his .940 save percentage at the 2018 tournament.

In 2019, at the end of the 2018-19 season, he finally decided to sign with the Blue Jackets and start his North American career. He would end up playing just two games in the minor leagues, quickly showing that he was more than ready for the NHL. In that rookie season, he posted a .923 save percentage in 33 appearances, good enough to finish fifth in both Calder and Vezina Trophy voting.

Last season, those numbers dropped a bit, but Merzlikins was still able to register a .916 on a struggling Columbus team. His partner, Korpisalo, finished with an .894 and likely lost the race to be the Blue Jackets’ long-term goaltending option. This new contract all but confirms that, though obviously the 27-year-old Korpisalo could also be retained at a lower price to secure the position.

While he has played the smaller half of the games the last two seasons, Merzlikins should be expected to take the lion’s share this year if he can stay healthy. In fact, just a few weeks ago he told reporters that he wants to play as much as he can, even hoping to win the Vezina as a tribute to his close friend Matiss Kivlenieks, another Blue Jackets goaltender who tragically passed away earlier this summer at age 24. Merzlikins credits Kivlenieks for saving his and his pregnant wife’s life, who were standing 20 feet away when a fireworks mortar struck the young netminder.

Merzlikins, the new father–his son, Knox Matiss Merzlikins was born on August 20–is now locked up long-term in Columbus and carries the 12th highest cap hit among NHL goaltenders. That rank is likely to go down as more contracts are signed, but the Blue Jackets have put their faith in him as their starter for the next several years.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Tyler Motte Recovering From Surgery

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Heading into the 2020 bubble playoffs, many fans around the league may have never noticed Vancouver Canucks forward Tyler Motte. He had registered just 38 points in 187 games to that point in his career, bouncing from Chicago to Columbus to Vancouver as a depth player moving in and out of the lineup. But in that condensed postseason, Motte made a name for himself with endless energy and a few well-timed goals, helping the Canucks reach game seven of the second round.

When things resumed for the 2020-21 season, the bang-and-crash forward suddenly found his role increased for the Canucks. He averaged more than 16 minutes a night through his first 15 games, scoring five goals in the process. Unfortunately, he was injured in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs and eventually found himself on long-term injured reserve, meaning he’d miss a good chunk of the season. He dealt with two other stints on the sideline with injuries and ended up with just 24 games played last season.

Now, after it was made clear that Motte wouldn’t be available to the Canucks at the start of training camp, Rick Dhaliwal and Thomas Drance of The Athletic have confirmed it is because he is rehabbing from an undisclosed surgery. Vancouver GM Jim Benning explained that the team will “see where [Motte] is at here in the next three weeks.”

On the second season of a two-year contract signed after that strong playoff performance, Motte will carry a cap hit of $1.225MM this season. That three-week timeline mentioned by Benning likely refers to the period from now until the team’s first game, which will be held in Edmonton on October 13. If Motte’s not ready to join the lineup by then, the team will have to find another option to take his minutes and penalty-killing role.

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