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Latest On Canucks’ Offseason Plans

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The Vancouver Canucks have lots of questions to answer this offseason. The most pressing one is whether they can get a deal done with head coach Bruce Boudreau, who has a negotiating window until June 1 but no contract extension in place just yet. The two sides have said all the right things when it comes to working together and will have to iron out a deal if the veteran coach is to stay put. It certainly seems like he’s going to be sticking around though, as Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported yesterday on CHEK TV that Boudreau was present (virtually) in the meeting with Russian free agent Andrei Kuzmenko.

Beyond the coaching situation though, more decisions are coming on players like Brock Boeser, Bo Horvat, and J.T. Miller. Currently, none of the three are signed past the 2022-23 season, with Boeser not even signed for next season yet. If the new management group wanted to shake up the core, those three are certainly avenues to consider.

Still, there is another name that earns big money in Vancouver and could potentially be part of a retooling effort. Friedman went on to tell Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK TV that the team is trying to find a trade market for Oliver Ekman-Larsson, just a year after acquiring him from the Arizona Coyotes.

Now 30, Ekman-Larsson is signed to a massive eight-year, $66MM contract that won’t expire until the summer of 2027. As part of it, he also owns a full no-movement clause that gives him total control of his situation. When the Coyotes made it clear that they wanted to move him, Ekman-Larsson gave just two teams that he would be willing to go to–the Canucks and the Boston Bruins. If Vancouver has now soured, it seems he would have to provide someone else if a trade is to occur. The Bruins, of course, found their own Swedish defenseman at the deadline, acquiring and extending Hampus Lindholm to a long-term deal.

It’s not that Ekman-Larsson had a terrible year, as he put up 29 points in 79 games while averaging more than 22 minutes a night. But the contract that was so happily acquired by the previous management group is a difficult one to deal with, even despite the Coyotes retaining a small portion. Vancouver already has nearly $70MM in cap hits committed to next season with just 13 players, making it tough to really add to the group if they wanted to.

Again, the veteran defenseman has full control in this situation. A buyout would be untenable at this point and even if the Canucks wanted to retain additional salary to facilitate trade, Ekman-Larsson would have to first accept the destination.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Looking At The New York Islanders Decision To Fire Barry Trotz

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After the surprising news this morning that the New York Islanders had decided to part ways with legendary Head Coach Barry Trotz, speculation began circulating of why the Islanders and GM Lou Lamoriello arrived at such a decision, and what could be next for both the team and the coach. The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz had an opportunity to listen in on a conference call with Lamoriello to gain some clarity on the situation, providing insight on what Lamoriello had to say.

In sum, Lamoriello, who famously has held his cards close, noted that this decision was his alone, it did not have anything to do with the fact that Trotz has just one year at $4MM left on his contract with the Islanders, and that the team’s performance this year was not the only factor in his decision. It’s no secret that the Islanders disappointed this season, finishing at 37-35-10, good enough for fifth place in the Metropolitan Division after three straight playoff appearances, including two consecutive trips to the conference finals in each of the last two seasons.

When asked for a reason why he made this decision, Lamoriello did not offer much, simply sharing that the team needed a new voice. Speculation did grow as to what he could have meant with that statement. On the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman opined that perhaps during his exit interviews, Lamoriello had heard enough of the players say that they needed a new voice, which ultimately could have convinced the veteran executive that a change needed to be made. Trotz has long been known to employ a strict system for his teams, one which could have worn on the team both mentally and physically. As Trotz himself wondered after this season, perhaps there were things he could have done better, such as utilizing a January stretch of 13 days where the team played just one game for rest, not practice, and considering that this style maybe held up better in shorter spurts, like the playoffs or the COVID-shortened 56-game season.

Naturally, speculation about who could replace Trotz behind the bench on Long Island has persisted throughout the day. One seemingly obvious candidate would be current Associate Coach Lane Lambert, who is still under contract with the Islanders. Lambert has been rumored to be a candidate for a head coaching job for some years, but has remained with Trotz on the bench as far back as their time with the Nashville Predators. As Kurz mentions in another piece, if the organization does truly want a new voice, then promoting the long-time Trotz assistant might not be the move to make.

As for Trotz, who ranks third all-time in wins among NHL coaches, Friedman believes he will have no shortage of suitors for his services, including teams currently without a head coach, and perhaps even some who do have one, at least for the time being. One team without a coach, who Friedman speculates as a fit, is the Winnipeg Jets. Friedman cites Trotz’s Manitoba roots as a reason he could be convinced to take the job with Winnipeg, though interest on either end of course is unknown.

With the news not even a day old yet, how the situation plays out for both the Islanders and Trotz is yet to be decided, and though Lamoriello did not share much, there was enough to speculate on one of the game’s great coaches and one of the league’s more intriguing head coaching positions. As Lamoriello told the media, including Kurz, he does not have a timetable for finding a new head coach, and at least for now, the rest of the Islanders coaching staff does remain intact.

Snapshots: Montembeault, Mukhamadullin, Tynan

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The Montreal Canadiens have officially announced that Sam Montembeault underwent wrist surgery last week, a successful procedure that took place in New York. The young netminder is expected to make a full recovery in time for the start of training camp in September. Montembeault’s role at that training camp remains to be seen, as is his spot on the organizational depth chart.

An arbitration-eligible restricted free agent this summer, Montembeault ended up playing in 38 games this season for the Canadiens, posting a .891 save percentage in the process. That was because of the injuries to Carey Price (and Jake Allen), injuries that are still putting the veteran netminder’s career in doubt. If Price doesn’t return to the Montreal crease, it would be Allen’s net at present, with the backup position up for grabs between Montembeault and Cayden Primeau, the only two other goaltenders under contract. Obviously, a free agent signing could change that, meaning a quick return to health is important for the future of Montembeault.

  • The New Jersey Devils have officially assigned Shakir Mukhamadullin to the AHL, now that he has arrived in North America. The top prospect will join the Utica Comets for practice, but general manager Tom Fitzgerald said Mukhamadullin will just watch for the time being and only enter game action when he’s comfortable enough. The Comets kick off their series against the Rochester Americans tomorrow night.
  • It’s always an incredible achievement for a player to be named MVP in consecutive seasons, but that’s exactly what T.J. Tynan has accomplished. The Ontario Reign forward was named the most valuable in the AHL once again, following the honor in last year’s shortened season. Now 30, the 5’8″ Tynan has only ever played in 21 NHL games and has never scored a goal at the highest level, but is an absolute dynamo in the minor leagues. With 98 points in 62 games this season he raised his AHL total to 446 career points.

Minnesota Wild Sign Pavel Novak

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The front office work for a team never stops, even when they’re in the thick of a tight playoff series. The Minnesota Wild have signed Pavel Novak to a three-year entry-level contract that starts next season. Novak spent this season with the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL but saw his season end last month with a first-round defeat.

Novak, 20, was a fifth-round pick of the Wild in 2020, after his first season in North America. While that season will be remembered most for the 58 points in 55 games he scored, the young forward also made an impression with an eight-game suspension for a brutal hit from behind, when he sent a Kamloops Blazers player flying into the boards. That kind of play is actually rather uncommon for Novak, who was given just 14 penalty minutes this season when he returned to the WHL after spending 2020-21 back in the Czech Republic.

A talented offensive player, he had 29 goals and 72 points in 62 games this season, while also taking a short break to attend the World Junior tournament that was ultimately postponed. Despite turning 20 last month, he will still be eligible for the event when it is held later this summer, though this time he’ll be there representing the Wild.

Novak will be eligible to play in the AHL next season and his entry-level contract will kick in regardless of where he spends the year.

Latest On Sharks’ Offseason Plans

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The San Jose Sharks announced a pair of extensions today, locking up Alexander Barabanov and Jaycob Megna for the next two years. Those deals were necessary for two players who have found a home in San Jose but certainly not the headline-making news that fans are hoping for, now that the team is going to be under new management.

Long-time general manager Doug Wilson has stepped down, leaving the Sharks with Joe Will as interim manager until a more permanent solution is found. When that new solution is found, however, there will be some huge questions to be answered in terms of the direction of the team. After an almost unprecedented era of regular season success, that saw the Sharks qualify for the postseason in 19 of 21 seasons, they’ve missed the playoffs in each of the last three and now face some difficult decisions.

The biggest among those: what to do with an aging, expensive defense corps?

The Sharks have $26.5MM in cap hits tied up in three defensemen that will all be at least 32 at the end of this month. Erik Karlsson, the youngest of the three, carries an $11.5MM cap hit through 2026-27. Marc-Edouard Vlasic, 35, is signed at a $7MM cap hit through 2025-26. And then there is franchise legend Brent Burns, who despite turning 37 a few months ago, is still carrying an $8MM cap hit through 2024-25.

It is Burns’ future that is perhaps the most intriguing. Karlsson and Vlasic each have full no-movement clauses, blocking any potential trade unless they approve it but Burns will have to submit a new list on July 1, one which would allow the Sharks to trade him to three teams without getting his approval again. While that obviously doesn’t give them much wiggle room, Burns’ front-loaded contract, shorter term, and still strong play have at least sparked some speculation. On today’s 32 Thoughts podcast, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet explained:

I believe they had some trade talks with a couple of teams on Karlsson this year. However, I don’t think that has gone anywhere, and I’m told it’s not that likely, because it’s just a big contract. Burns has three years left, the contract in terms of actual salary goes down, and he’s still a heck of a player. 

I just think that everybody recognizes here that there is the possibility this might be one of the ways that the Sharks try to break up their logjam, as long as they get what they want. I was told specifically by one of the teams that they are not giving Burns away. That is just not happening. There is a package they want and they are going to demand it. 

Though the contract carries an average annual value of $8MM, Burns is owed just $16.5MM over the last three years of the deal, $3.5MM of which will be due in signing bonuses next season.

Despite his age, Burns has continued to be a huge factor for the Sharks on the ice. He averaged more than 26 minutes a night this season, played in all 82 games, and racked up another 54 points. Though some may think of the veteran defenseman as an offense-only player, he actually logged nearly three minutes a night on the penalty kill this year, while recording a career-high 150 blocked shots. That level of play is obviously still valuable, but there is so much risk in having nearly a third of the salary cap tied up in those three aging defensemen.

One can see exactly why by dissecting the play of Vlasic, who has taken several steps back in recent years. Once one of the most feared shutdown defenders in the entire league, his playing time was slashed dramatically this season, to the point where he was averaging just over 15 minutes a night when he was in the lineup. A buyout is one way out for the Sharks but if they went that direction this offseason, they’d be carrying a substantial cap hit through 2029-30. Friedman and co-host Jeff Marek both agree that while a buyout did seem like a possibility, Will spoke as though Vlasic would be coming back at the team’s end-of-year media availability.

An interesting wrinkle in all of this is the situation surrounding Mario Ferraro, arguably the team’s most valuable defenseman behind Burns. The 23-year-old is a restricted free agent this offseason and could be in line for a hefty raise, if the team wanted to sign him long-term. As it stands that doesn’t really even seem possible with so much money tied up elsewhere, meaning the team could have to go short-term and try again later; Ferraro does not have arbitration rights this offseason and would theoretically have to sign his qualifying offer if the team wanted to squeeze him (or an offer sheet elsewhere).

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Seattle Kraken Extend Max McCormick

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The Seattle Kraken have completed a bit of offseason work, signing Max McCormick to a two-year contract extension. The two-way deal carries an average annual value of $762.5K and keeps McCormick from hitting the open market this summer as an unrestricted free agent. Kraken general manager Ron Francis released the following statement:

Max is a valuable part of the leadership group in Charlotte as the Checkers begin their playoff run. He impressed us with his play in Seattle. We are excited that he is returning to our organization for the next two years.

Interestingly enough, McCormick actually returned to an old stomping ground when he joined the Kraken organization this season. Because the team did not yet have their own AHL affiliate up and running, Seattle sent players to the Charlotte Checkers, where McCormick spent most of the year. He’d already spent a season with the Checkers in 2019-200, when he scored 35 points in 56 games while also racking up 120 penalty minutes. While his penalty numbers may have dropped, McCormick was once again a solid player for Charlotte this season, scoring 13 goals and 29 points in 46 games.

Meanwhile, his NHL career is still a big scattershot. Since signing with the Ottawa Senators out of Ohio State University in 2014, McCormick has played 93 games at the highest level, but never more than 30 in a single season. He suited up ten times for Seattle this year but failed to register a single point.

With the Coachella Valley Firebirds set to start play next season as the Kraken affiliate, players like McCormick are the perfect foundation for the AHL roster. He poses little risk of claim on waivers but can serve a role as an injury replacement at the NHL level if needed. There’s even a chance that he ends up as the Firebirds’ first captain, given he wore an “A” as an alternate for the Checkers this year and Zac Dalpe–who has the “C” this year in Charlotte–is signed with the Florida Panthers.

San Jose Sharks Extend Alexander Barabanov, Jaycob Megna

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The San Jose Sharks have decided to keep Alexander Barabanov around, reaching a two-year extension with the versatile forward. The deal keeps him under contract through 2023-24 and will carry an average annual value of $2.5MM, according to Chris Johnston of TSN. Johnston adds that it will include a ten-team no-trade clause, and signing bonuses of $1.0MM in 2022-23 and $500K in 2023-24. Barabanov was set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Interim general manager Joe Will released the following statement:

Alexander had a very good first full year in the NHL, showing that he is a consistent point producer and playmaker. Paired with his grit and hard work, he has the potential to improve upon his success this past year.

Barabanov, 27, has found a perfect fit in San Jose since arriving there in a 2021 trade. The Toronto Maple Leafs seemingly gave him a fresh start after struggling to get into their lineup, and things exploded nearly immediately for the Russian winger. After scoring seven points in nine games down the stretch in 2020-21, Barabanov returned with another strong campaign for the Sharks this year, scoring 39 points in 70 games. While he isn’t expected to be a top-end offensive producer, his work ethic and two-way ability make him a valuable piece that can move around the lineup.

In fact, given he has spent the vast majority of his time in San Jose with Tomas Hertl, who the Sharks just signed to a massive eight-year extension, it made a ton of sense to keep Barabanov in the fold. The two, along with Timo Meier, who has often been on the right side, have found nice chemistry together and produced at both ends of the rink. Whether Barabanov’s success is mostly a product of Hertl is another question entirely, and one that will certainly need to be answered if he ends up finding himself somewhere else in the lineup at some point in these next two years.

Minutes later, the Sharks announced that they have also signed Jaycob Megna to a two-year extension. The 29-year-old defenseman was scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent this summer after finding a nice role with the Sharks this year. In 44 games, the 6’6″ Megna averaged over 19 minutes a night, easily the biggest opportunity of his professional career. Originally selected 210th overall in 2012, he had played just 43 NHL games before this season, all with the Anaheim Ducks, and none of them had come since 2019.

The team did not immediately release details on Megna’s contract, though Will also released a short statement on the deal:

Jaycob is a reliable player that defends well. He is a high-character person that was recently recognized by Team USA and will be playing for his country at the World Championship.

Hockey Canada Announces 2022 IIHF World Championship Roster

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The roster is set, with just a few days to go before things kick off for Hockey Canada at the 2022 IIHF World Championship. The defending gold medalists will be icing a rather youthful roster this season, highlighted by some of the league’s up-and-coming stars, along with some established top-end youngsters.

The full roster will be:

G Chris Driedger
G Logan Thompson
G Matt Tomkins

D Thomas Chabot
D Ryan Graves
D Nick Holden
D Dysin Mayo
D Travis Sanheim
D Damon Severson
D Zach Whitecloud

F Josh Anderson
F Mathew Barzal
F Drake Batherson
F Max Comtois
F Dylan Cozens
F Pierre-Luc Dubois
F Morgan Geekie
F Noah Gregor
F Kent Johnson
F Adam Lowry
F Dawson Mercer
F Eric O’Dell
F Nicolas Roy
F Cole Sillinger

For a player like Mayo, this selection truly solidifies the hard work he has put in over years of grinding in the minor leagues. The fifth-round pick spent parts of seven seasons in the AHL before arriving this year with the Arizona Coyotes and becoming one of the team’s most reliable options. Now 25, he’ll be suiting up for his country for the first time at a major international tournament.

Meanwhile, someone like Cozens is taking the next step in representing his country, after last captaining Team Canada at the 2021 World Juniors (where he scored an incredible 16 points in seven games). The Buffalo Sabres forward had 38 points in his first full-length NHL season and has huge upside as a potential franchise cornerstone. The same could be said for players like Johnson and Sillinger, two names that will likely drive the offense for years to come in Columbus.

Perhaps the most interesting name in the group is Dubois, given the Winnipeg Jets center doesn’t have a contract for next season. Pending restricted free agents, especially ones as important as Dubois, usually skip the tournament because of insurance issues and the risk of injury. Instead, he’ll head overseas to play in a tournament he’s already attended twice previously, despite still just being 23 years old.

Pierre McGuire Fired By Ottawa Senators

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The Ottawa Senators have made a change to the front office, firing vice president of player development Pierre McGuire according to A.J. Jakubec and Steve Lloyd of TSN.

It hasn’t even been a year since the Senators hired McGuire, announcing him on July 12, 2021. Notably, the press release that day included a statement from late owner Eugene Melnyk, not general manager Pierre Dorion, who is still in control of the front office after signing an extension in September. Dorion is trying to take the team from a rebuilding club to a contender, though things did seem to take a slight step backward this season when the team struggled out of the gate.

McGuire, 60, had returned to an NHL front office after more than two decades in a broadcasting role–a role he will likely be returning to now that he’s a free agent once again. His most recent role before this one was as a scout with the Senators in 1996, and a quick exit this time around could spell the end of his time in NHL front offices entirely.

For Ottawa, player development is more important than anything. As a club that isn’t among the league’s financial elite, getting value out of young players on entry-level contracts is the entire game. If McGuire wasn’t getting the best out of that development, it makes sense for the team to move on. With the likes of Jake Sanderson, Ridly Greig, Tyler Boucher joining the organization, the development department will be in the spotlight for the next little while.

Mikyla Grant-Mentis Signs With Buffalo Beauts

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May 9: The Beauts have made it official, announcing the one-year contract for Grant-Mentis. Jeff Marek of Sportsnet tweets that the deal is worth $80K USD and has already started to attract players from the PWHPA.

May 6: The free agency period for the PHF has been open for several days now and teams have started spending the additional money they have this time around. After a massive private investment in the league, the salary cap increased to $750K per team (up from $300K last season), allowing much more competitive salaries for the star players.

Competitive is certainly what could describe the deal that Mikyla Grant-Mentis is about to sign. According to Chris Johnston of TSN, Grant-Mentis will sign a “landmark” contract with the Buffalo Beauts worth more than $100K CAD, leaving the Toronto Six behind after negotiating with multiple suitors. Johnston confirms it is a one-year contract, meaning it would represent more than ten percent of the Beauts’ salary cap.

Grant-Mentis, 23, finished second in league scoring this year with 30 points in 19 games for the Six after being named MVP in the shortened 2021 season. This will actually be something of a return for the Brampton, Ontario native, who actually debuted in the PHF (then the NWHL) for Buffalo in 2020 after spending four years at Merrimack College.

News of a six-figure contract like this is a big step for a league that has continued to announce positive news over the last few months, including the appointment of Melody Davidson as league director just a few days ago.

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