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Snapshots: Zuccarello, Rangers, Nylander

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After Derek Stepan, Dan Girardi, Rick Nash, Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller were all let go by the Rangers, Mats Zuccarello remained as one of the only long-time veterans left on the team. Set to enter free agency after this season, the 31-year-old understands that this could be his final season in New York.

“I think everyone knows that this is where I want to be, and if we figure something out, that’s my main goal,’’ Zuccarello told Colin Stephenson of Newsday. “But at the same time, if they don’t want me, there’s no point in me staying here if they don’t want me. Then I have to go.

“At the end of the day, it’s not up to me. I’ve got one year left on my deal and I’m here to compete and play well, and trying to do my best for the team to win as long as I’m here.’’

The winger is entering the final year of his four-year, $18MM deal with the Rangers, and he finished last season with 53 points.

Let’s take a look at some more notes from around the NHL…

  • Rangers coach David Quinn said he isn’t worried about any of his team’s veterans, even if they may be skeptical of their future with the organization. “I really don’t,’’ he said (via Stephenson). “I just focus on coaching these guys the best I can and try and help them become better players. The contract situation’s really out of my control, and that’s how I look at it. It’s not my job.’’
  • We heard earlier this week that there hadn’t been any progress in the standoff between winger William Nylander and the Maple Leafs. However, Kristen Shilton of TSN tweets that general manager Kyle Dubas and agent Lewis Gross have talked over the past 24 hours. Shilton reiterates that teams have reached out to the Maple Leafs regarding a trade, but the front office has rebuffed the inquiries.
  • Every player placed on waivers yesterday – even surprise Ottawa Senators addition Zack Smith – ultimately cleared. 17 more players were placed on waivers today, and we kept track of them all right here.

NHL Eyeing Columbus For Outdoor Game?

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Could an outdoor NHL game be coming to Columbus, Ohio? NHL commissioner Gary Bettman seemed to hint that it could be a possibility on Tuesday night, according to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic. While the Blue Jackets’ efforts to host an outdoor game have continually been spurned, Bettman suggested that the league has considered the city for a future contest.

“It’s obvious that the (Blue Jackets are) competitive, that they’re playing exciting hockey and the fans are reacting in positive ways,” Bettman said. “It’s even at the point internally — we’re not there yet — (but) we’ve even started focusing on the possibility of an outdoor game. We view Columbus as a great success story.”

The organization is clearly ready for a bigger stage, especially after they made consecutive playoff appearances for the first time in team history. They also hosted a successful All Star weekend back in 2015. The team would push to hold the game at Ohio Stadium, the home of the Ohio State football team. Portzline notes that it’s uncertain if the school would be willing to host, although the 100,000-plus capacity would certainly be enticing to Bettman.

“Other than six or seven teams, every (NHL) team has participated (in an outdoor game),” Bettman said. “We look for a mix. Part of it is to assure we get a national (TV) rating. Part of it is to ensure that when we play in a 70,000-seat facility there’s no doubt it will be sold out. We try to be opportunistic. It’s a function of market. It’s a function of team history and fan base, and it’s a function of performance at the time.”

Bettman cautioned that the league hasn’t taken any tangible steps in bringing an outdoor game to Columbus, but it is the first time the commissioner has openly spoken about the topic.

The Bruins and Blackhawks will participate in the “Winter Classic” at Notre Dame Stadium in Indiana on New Years Day. The Penguins and Flyers will later face off in February at Lincoln Financial Field in Philly.

Flyers’ Jori Lehtera Suspect In Finnish Drug Ring

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Jori Lehtera was already facing an uphill battle to make the Flyers’ roster, and today’s reports certainly won’t help his case. According to Finnish news outlets (and relayed by Sam Carchidi of Philly.com), the veteran center is “one of 23 suspects involved in a cocaine ring in Finland.”

Lehtera has denied any involvement, but according to the reports, some of the suspects in the ring were arrested at the player’s summer home. The operation reportedly involved about two kilos of cocaine.

Lehtera was not present at the Flyers’ practice today, and general manager Ron Hextall only issued a brief statement about the allegations:

“We have spoken with Jori Lehtera and the league office regarding the reports out of Finland, and will reserve any further comment on the matter at this time.”

The 30-year-old joined Philly last summer in a deal that sent Brayden Schenn to the Blues. The 2008 third-round pick ultimately appeared in 62 games for the Flyers last season, tallying three goals and five assists. His best season came during his rookie campaign in 2014, when he compiled 14 goals and 30 assists.

Due to his decreased production, Lehtera found himself on the roster bubble heading into the preseason. Despite his $4.7MM cap hit for the following season, there’s a chance that the Flyers could end up sending him to the AHL’s Phantoms. The center’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season.

Rick Nash Open To Staying With Bruins

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Rick Nash would be open to continuing his tenure with the Bruins. The impending free agent told Matt Kalman of NHL.com that he’d consider a return to Boston.

“It was disappointing with having the concussion and having some effects during it and only playing a certain amount of games and then coming back for the playoffs,” Nash said Wednesday. “But everything was positive. The organization was great, the guys were awesome, so it was a great chapter here and hopefully it can continue.”

The 33-year-old was acquired by the Bruins in February, with Boston sending the Rangers a 2018 first-round pick, a future seventh-rounder, defenseman Ryan Lindgren, and forwards Ryan Spooner and Matt Beleskey. Nash went on to appear in 11 regular season games for the Bruins, compiling three goals and assists. He added another five points (three goals, two assists) in 12 playoff games. He ended up missing 12 regular season games due to a concussion.

Nash is hitting free agency for the first time since 2009, when he inked an eight-year, $62.4MM with the Blue Jackets. The veteran has been traded twice since signing that contract, but he still admitted that winning was his top priority heading into free agency.

“Obviously to win, that’s No. 1,” he said. “No. 2 is a good place to live, a good place that my family enjoys. And Boston’s been great. It’s been a pretty seamless transition for us, so everything was positive.”

Penguins GM Discusses Roster Changes, Sprong, Future

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After having won two straight Stanley Cups, the Penguins’ season ended in disappointing fashion on Monday night, as Pittsburgh fell to the Capitals in six games. Following the team’s annual “Getaway Day,” general manager Jim Rutherford took some time to talk with the media.

The 69-year-old, who has been in the role since 2014, touched on a number of subjects, including potential roster changes for next season. Thanks to Sam Kasan of NHL.com, we’ve collected some of the notable soundbites below:

On if the front office is eyeing any potential roster changes:

“It’s a little (too) early to tell. It’s obvious that I’m going to keep an open mind to making some changes. I will make some changes. I can’t give you a definite answer on who that’s going to be right now and exactly the positions.

“We’re a good team, and we will be a good team going forward. We’ll have a chance to win again. We have the nucleus to do that…We also have the pieces in place that are players that other teams are going to want that we’re going to be able to make those changes. Sometimes you don’t always have those players for cap reasons or for different reasons.

On where the team could specifically look to improve:

“It’s fair to say that this will be a different looking team by the time we open next season. It doesn’t mean there will be drastic changes or a lot of changes, but there will be changes in the areas that will become necessary…If we can improve at defense or forward and the right deal comes along we’ll do it.”

On forward Daniel Sprong, who we learned will be a “regular” next season:

“We were very careful with him this year. We develop players in different ways. Certainly he had the ability to come in at certain times and play an offensive role on our team. But he needed to work on his all-around game. He did that.”

On Rutherford’s own future with organization:

“It’s the annual question…[t]he best answer is that I may be around longer than you guys (in the media).”

Sharks Notes: Couture, Hertl, DeBoer

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Last offseason, Sharks general manager Doug Wilson signed defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic and goalie Martin Jones to long-term deals. This offseason, the front office will look to do the same with center Logan Couture.

The 29-year-old will be headed into the final season of a five-year, $30MM contract he signed back in 2013. After having spent his entire career with the organization (and after having led the Sharks with 34 goals last season), Couture is hoping his career will continue in San Jose.

“I’ve always made it pretty clear that this is the place I want to play,” Couture told Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News. “I’m biased, obviously, but this is the best place to play hockey in the world.”

Wilson seemed to echo that sentiment.

“His play spoke volumes,” Wilson said. “When guys went down or (Patrick Marleau) wasn’t coming back, guys stepping up and showing what they’re made of. They’re ready to have even bigger roles on this team. He’s played internationally…People respect what Logan Couture has done. You take a look at the numbers, what he did a couple of years ago, what he did this year, in the playoffs — he’s a really important part of this organization both now and the future, absolutely.”

Let’s take a look at more notes out of San Jose, all via Pashelka…

  • Forward Tomas Hertl, who established career-highs in goals (22) and average ice time (18:06) this past season, will be headed to restricted free agency this summer. Predictably, Wilson indicated that he’d like the 24-year-old to return. “Tomas is a really important part of how he played is exactly how we expected him,” Wilson said. “He stepped it up to the next level. Looking in this league how the game is played, he’s got size, he’s got hockey sense. He’s a guy that is truly a difference maker…I think his game is only going to get better. He’s a big part of this franchise.”
  • Hertl is in line for a long-term contract after completing the two-year bridge contract he signed back in 2016, and it sounds like he’d like to stick around. “We’ll see what happens, but I love it here with the Sharks,” Hertl said. “The team, organization, everybody. We’ll see. My agent, Doug hopefully figure it out soon. I want to just get it done. It would be nice. I don’t want to go anywhere. I want to stay here and hopefully win Cups.”
  • As Pashelka writes, it’s uncertain how long Pete DeBoer’s contract is, but Wilson confirmed that the coach will be back next season. The Sharks will also retain assistants Steve Spott, Rob Zettler, Dave Barr, Johan Hedberg and Dan Darrow. “I think our coaches did a very good job. They were a part of this journey and this plan,” Wilson said. “When we talk transition, every team in the league had to transition how the game is played, where it’s at, where it’s going. And I think not only the inclusion of some younger players, but adjusting how we play. I think Pete and our coaching staff are open-minded, curious, and have done a very good job. And yes, they are our coaches going forward.”
  • As we heard earlier today, Joe Thornton attempted to come back from a torn right ACL and MCL he suffered back in January. The veteran also indicated that he wanted to return to the Sharks on a one-year deal.

Houston Rockets Owner Interested In NHL Franchise

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Could the NHL come to Houston? If Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta has his way, it would be. The newest NBA owner had his introductory press conference today. While the majority of the questions naturally pertained to the Rockets franchise, Fertitta was asked about the possibility of a NHL team coming to Houston.

“I would put an NHL team here tomorrow, but this one has got to work,” Fertitta said (via Alex Del Barrio of CBS Houston).  “Would I love to have the other dates in the building, do I want to see Toyota Center filled up 300 nights a year, definitely. So we’ll do whatever we can do, but whatever we do is going to make sense. But yes, Will we be aggressive? Yes. That’s my nature.”

“We’ve looked at many NHL teams over the years and it wasn’t a matter of not wanting to bring in somebody as whether they’d be a tenant or not, it’s just that the deals didn’t work,” said Rockets CEO Tad Brown. “Leslie (Alexander) was always looking forward to opportunities that could make the city better, the sports scene in the city better, and Toyota Center more effective and fill more dates. The NHL at the time, the teams that he looked and that we looked at, the numbers didn’t work, the CBA didn’t work, and it just didn’t work for the structure that we had in place.”

As Del Barrio writes, Houston has a long history of professional hockey. Gordie Howe once played for the Aeros of the WHA, while the unaffiliated Aeros of the AHL called Houston their home for nearly 20 years (that franchise ultimately moved to Des Moines, Iowa in 2013). Former Rockets owner Leslie Alexander famously purchased the Edmonton Oilers in the late 1990s, but he was unwilling to meet the clause that required the franchise to remain in Edmonton for another seven years. The city was also considered for an expansion franchise, but teams were ultimately awarded elsewhere.

Several months ago, our own Zach Leach asked if Houston was a viable location for a new franchise. Ultimately, more than 50-percent of you said that the city would be a great fit.

 

Devils GM Discusses Hischier, Bratt, Roster

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Following a convincing win over the Sabres yesterday, the Devils are now sitting pretty at 2-0. Well, before the season even started, general manager Ray Shero sat down with Amanda Stein of NHL.com to discuss his offseason and opening day roster. In particular, Shero talked about a pair of notable rookies, although he also discussed the factors that went into constructing his 23-man roster. While the whole article is worth reading, we’ve highlighted some of the notable quotes below:

Ray SheroOn first-overall pick Nico Hischier:

“I think every day everybody sees [Hischier] getting more comfortable on the ice and off the ice as well. As camp went on and playing with our veterans, his creativity and vision is certainly something that we didn’t have in this organization. He is everything we hoped so far that he would be.”

On fellow rookie forward Jesper Bratt:

“This is a sixth-round pick. He has been fantastic. Every day and every exhibition game he has made an impact. When you ask about surprises, that’s been a nice surprise, but at the same time that’s how an organization moves along.” 

On how the team’s new players will impact overall performance:

“I think day one of training camp, the players really came to camp in great shape. They know last year was not acceptable, and I believe some of the players that we added, certainly the new players have really pushed the pace and really bought in to what we’re trying to do here.”

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

 

Bruins’ David Backes To Miss “At Least” Three Weeks

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The Bruins are already without Patrice Bergeron and Torey Krug, and it sounds like one of their teammates is about to be out for a month. The team announced tonight that forward David Backes is set to miss “at least” three to four weeks as he recovers from diverticulitis (an infection in the digestive tract). The veteran has been undergoing treatment at MGH and he will be reevaluated in approximately two weeks.

The 33-year-old was set to be the team’s third line right wing alongside center Sean Kuraly and left wing Matt Beleskey. With Backes out of the lineup for the team’s season-opening matchup against the Predators, the Bruins replaced him with Frank Vatrano. The team could shuffle their lineup once again when Bergeron, who is expected to be back in the next few games, returns.

Following a decade with the Blues, Backes signed a five-year, $30MM deal with Boston prior to the 2016 season. After having compiled at least 50 points in five of his NHL campaigns, the veteran slightly struggled during his first year with the Bruins. In 74 games, he finished with 17 goals, 21 assists, and 39 penalty minutes. He also appeared in each of his team’s six playoff contests, collecting one goal and three assists.

Could Senators Trade Kyle Turris?

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We heard recently that the Senators and center Kyle Turris were making “healthy progress” on a contract extension. However, one pundit believes these talks will ultimately lead to a trade. TSN’s Darren Dreger said earlier tonight that he could envision the organization parting ways with the impending free agent.

Oct 28, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Ottawa Senators center Kyle Turris (7) skates during the warmup period against Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

“I think it’s headed to trade,” he said (via TSN.ca). “Trade seems likely. I’m not suggesting it’s imminent, it’s going to happen this week, next month. But before the February 26th trade deadline? Yes, and the simple reason is there has been a fair bit of dialogue between Senators management and the agent who represents Kyle Turris, dating back to early July or late June. Kyle Turris wants to commit long-term to the Ottawa Senators. We’re talking about a seven, eight-year term. So far, the Sens haven’t been willing to do that. So they cannot allow an important piece like Kyle Turris to walk out as an unrestricted free agent.”

For what it’s worth, NHL Network’s E.J. Hradek agreed with the sentiment (via Twitter), noting that “decision time” is coming in Ottawa. Meanwhile, TSN’s Bob McKenzie said he’d be surprised if the team ultimately signed Turris to a new deal.

After having recently inked starting goalie Craig Anderson to a new contract, the Senators had reportedly shifted their focus to Turris. The former third-overall pick is entering the final season of his contract, and he’ll earn an affordable $4MM in 2017. However, reports last week indicated that the 28-year-old was seeking a considerable pay raise at around $6MM annually over seven or eight years. As our own Zach Leach noted earlier this week, he’ll be competing with a number of notable free agent forwards for a hefty contract, and it might be best for both sides to work out an extension. However, if an agreement can’t be made, it makes plenty of sense for the Senators to get some compensation for a player they could lose in free agency.

Turris didn’t live up to expectations during his stint in Phoenix, but he’s turned into a dependable scorer for the Senators. The alternate captain and top line center has collected at least 55 points in three of the past four seasons, including a 27-goal, 28-assist campaign in 2017.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

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